How to store a shampoo bar so it stays dry in the shower
In short: A shampoo bar lasts longest if it can air-dry all the way round after your shower and doesn't sit in the splash zone. The best option is to hang it freely on the wall, for example with a magnetic holder, or to put it on a rack with drainage. In a closed dish or tin, on the other hand, it quickly goes soft and dissolves.
Why shampoo bars go soft so quickly in the shower
A shampoo bar is basically concentrated shampoo without the water. As soon as it gets wet, it starts to dissolve. If it then sits in a puddle, it keeps dissolving, even when you are not using it. The underside turns mushy, residue sticks to the dish and the bar is used up within a few weeks. So what matters is not how often you use it, but how quickly it dries again afterwards.
The options compared
| Storage | Does the bar dry? | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Closed dish | poorly, water collects underneath | bar goes soft from below |
| Dish with rack or drainage | better, but the contact surface stays damp | rinse it out regularly |
| Sisal or cotton pouch | moderately, hangs freely | pouch stays wet for a long time, good for travel |
| Magnetic holder on the wall | very well, air all the way round | press a bottle cap into the bar, done |
| Metal tin | for transport only | let it dry first, otherwise it goes soft |
5 tips to make your shampoo bar last longer
- Hang it instead of laying it down. The less surface in contact, the faster it dries. A magnetic holder holds the bar by a bottle cap, so nothing touches the underside.
- Keep it out of the spray. Choose a spot where the shower doesn't hit it directly.
- Don't hold it directly under the shower head. Better to lather the bar briefly between wet hands or straight in wet hair.
- Air the bathroom. In a damp, unventilated bathroom nothing dries properly.
- Cut large bars in half. One half in the shower, the other half dry in the cupboard.
Storing a shampoo bar with a magnetic holder
Here's how it works with Soapi: press the holder with its waterproof adhesive pad onto tiles or glass, no drilling needed. Wet the shampoo bar and after about an hour press an ordinary bottle cap halfway in. The crimped edge grips the bar firmly, and the magnet holds the bottle cap. Soapi holds bars up to 250 g, so large shampoo bars too.
When the bar gets small towards the end, simply press the remainder onto a new bar or take it with you when you travel.
Frequently asked questions
How should I store a shampoo bar in the shower?
So that it can dry all the way round after your shower: hanging freely on a magnetic holder or on a rack with drainage, away from the direct spray. Not in a closed dish.
Why does my shampoo bar go mushy?
Because it sits in water after your shower. A shampoo bar keeps dissolving when wet, even when you are not using it. Letting it hang freely and keeping it out of the spray helps most.
Can I keep a shampoo bar in a tin?
For transport, yes, but only once the bar is dry. In the shower a tin is not suitable, because water collects inside.
How long does a shampoo bar last?
That depends on its size, your hair length and how you store it. Stored dry, a bar lasts considerably longer than if it is constantly damp.
Can a magnetic soap holder hold a shampoo bar too?
Yes. A shampoo bar works just like soap: press in a bottle cap, hang it up. Soapi holds up to 250 g.
Read on: Soap dish or magnetic soap holder? and Hair soap or shampoo bar?