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Ditch the plastic; retain that fresh, clean feeling.

Cleaning out your bathroom bin can make you realise just how much plastic waste all of your moisturising, serum-ing and deep mask-ing results in.

Hair routines, in particular, account for a hefty amount of plastic pollution. In the UK, we chuck 520 million bottles of shampoo every year. However, the good news is that there are some eco-friendly changes you can make without the need to ditch your regular haircare routine.

Shampoo bars, for example, cut down on packaging, the creation of new plastics and water wastage. And despite their petite size, some claim to contain two bottles' worth of shampoo, at just a fraction of the size and cost.

Not sold yet? We asked 530 women to try shampoo bars for six weeks to see if they’re really as good as they seem. Keep scrolling to find their top recommendations.

They do exactly the same job as a liquid shampoo – just with better eco credentials.

In fact, there are shampoo bars dedicated to moisturising, cleansing, banishing grease, calming scalps – you name it, there’s a bar for it.

They also usually come in recycled, recyclable or biodegradable packaging (or some totally naked), all while using minimal water to get a lather going.

Our testers said they found that some were so effective, they didn’t need to follow up with the conditioning step in their routine (more on that later).

The key is to let your bar dry out in between washes, otherwise you could end up with yours crumbling.

Some come with a handy string that can be hooked around your shower unit to let them drip dry, while others include fancy tins to promote drainage.

If you have neither, simply put them on a soap tray and let them dry naturally. And to get that lather going again, just add water and work between the palms of your hands until some foaming starts to occur.

530 beauty testers tried 35 brands of shampoo bar for a six-week period to see which ones delivered on hydration and smoothness.

They rated them on their cleaning capabilities and the overall differences they saw to their hair.

Meanwhile, in the Women’s Health Lab, we used a Diastron machine on wet hair to measure the smoothness of hair after being washed with each shampoo bar.

Packed with nourishing argan oil and rich botanicals endorsed by the best of the best, Kew Royal Botanic Gardens, this bar trumped all others on test. It left everyone with cleaner scalps and gave 73% more hydrated strands.

It didn’t disintegrate during the six-week trial and 82% said they thought it lasted longer than their usual shampoo bottle.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable Size: 85g

Winning brownie points for cuteness, this adorable bar is made with 98% naturally derived ingredients. The koala was not only easy to hold, but provided a deep cleanse for 92% of scalps, managing to leave colour looking refreshed for 75%.

One tester appreciated that only a small amount was needed to cover their long curly hair, while no testers reported any irritation.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable Size: 85g

Claiming to give straw-like tresses a new lease of life, this bar did a good job at smoothing strands in our lab test, and provided an effective clean for 92%.

It wouldn’t be our top pick for adding shine, but one tester described their hair as 'soft and silky', with 77% saying their ends felt better.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable Size: 85g

The eco-friendliest of shampoo bars, this features zero plastic, while all the materials are biodegradable and recyclable – what more could you ask for?

The bar left 60% with softer, more nourished ends and banished dehydration too. One tester found they could skip the conditioner step, while another raved about the “swishy” effect they were left with.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable, plastic-free and biodegradable (soap and packaging) Size: 100g

Featuring juicy mango to nourish fried strands and leave hair smelling lush, this bar did a great job in our lab test for smoothing stressed out tresses.

It created a rich lather easily and left one tester saying their hair 'had never looked better'. Overall, 75% would stick to this shampoo in the future.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable packaging and biodegradable formula Size: 80g

Said to last up to 50 washes, this shampoo bar stood the test of time. It didn’t melt or break up during on test but still left all testers with a deep clean. It also aced our lab test for smoothing frazzled strands, leaving 71% happy with how great their hair felt.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable and plastic-free Size: 50g

Lush is known for its innovative approach to naked packaging, with this shampoo bar also earning praise among testers for its delish scent, which one described as 'divine'.

It provided a thorough cleanse for 92% too, leaving them with feather-soft, nourished strands. What’s more, the bar itself didn’t crack during the trial.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Packaging-free Size: 55g

Yes, a shampoo bar can be used on curly hair. This one claims to be suited to all curls and waves, leaving a coconutty-citrus scent behind.

It was a top pick for those that struggle with frizz, with some loving how volumised and manageable it made hair, leaving 75% loving the final look.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable and plastic-free Size: 90g

Colour-treated hair is often high maintenance and involves a lot of pricey products, but this bar does the trick. It upped the vibrancy of those with colour-treated strands, and improved hydration and pillow-softness for 85%.

Everyone was happy with the cleaning job it did and felt it lasted longer than their usual bottled shampoo.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable and recycled Size: 80g

This 97% biodegradable formula is jam-packed with sustainably sourced honey, aiming to replenish stressed-out hair.

It lasted until the end of the test for everyone – no crumbling in sight – and left 77% looking like they’d just had a colour refresh at the hairdressers. Not bad for £3.99.

Key specifications Fragrance free: Yes Sulphate free: Yes Sustainable packaging: Recyclable and plastic-free Size: 60g