Sometimes I hear people loudly disparaging solid toiletries. Their complaints often have the same pattern. They have tried solid toiletries once. They didn’t try it at home first, but took an untested product on a two week trip. They chose the wrong product for their hair. They applied the product incorrectly. They stored the product in the wrong type of container. Needless to say, their experiment was a failure! Unfortunately, they didn’t blame themselves. They blamed their mistakes on solid toiletries instead. Sigh.

Solid toiletries are great for travel! They save space and weight. They can’t burst open over the contents of your bag. They free up space in your liquids bag for souvenir jams. With that said, using them correctly requires some knowledge. Most things come with a learning curve. The same is true for using solid toiletries. Let us talk about all the mistakes you can make when using solids.

Mistake 1 – Assuming all solid toiletries are the same

I personally know of over sixty solid shampoos. There are shampoos for oily hair, curly hair, fine hair, straight hair, dandruff hair, etc. There are almost as many conditioners. There are solid bug wipes, shaving soaps, toothpastes, body washes, deodorants, and sunscreens. Most important, each comes in its own formulation – just like liquid toiletries. That means you can buy the wrong product for you, just like you can with liquids. Do you remember how hard it was to find the “right” liquid shampoo? Don’t expect to get the right solid product on your first try. I had to try seven different types of solid shampoos. Finally, I found the one that worked for my hair!

The process for finding the right solid is the same as it is for liquid toiletries. I had to read many reviews. I also did several internet searches before I found the right product for me. You should expect to do this too. All that hard work will pay off on the trip. You can travel for multiple months and your hair and skin will feel great.

Mistake 2 – Assuming there is an all-in-one product

Let’s talk pH here. The pH of hair is different than the pH of skin. Additionally, the pH of skin is different than the pH of your mouth. That means you will most likely need different products for different applications. Consider taking multiple smaller versions of different products instead of a single large does-it-all bar. It will work better in the long run.

I personally take separate face wash, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and tooth tabs. I take smaller versions of each instead of the entire bar. The total volume is around the same as one does-it-all bar.

Mistake 3 – Not using trial size products

Some complain that they spent excessive amounts of money on solid toiletries. They bought multiple full sized products without trying them first. This is a case where using trial size and mini size toiletry items would be beneficial. Don’t commit to a large and expensive solid bar without trying it first. Trial sized minis are how I finally found my favorite solid shampoo.

If you can’t find a trial size for your desired product, try splitting a larger bar with friends. One of the benefits of solid toiletries is that you can cut them down into smaller pieces. Split the bars and split the costs.

Mistake 4 – Not testing products at home

Trying something for the first time on travel is asking for disaster. Always test everything first at home! Test your clothes, test your bag, test your toiletries! That way you won’t be trapped by a poor choice for an entire trip. Testing is especially important if you have allergies or other sensitivities. You want to have access to your regular doctor in case of a severe reaction.

I should also note that you should try the product multiple times at home. Sometimes it takes multiple exposures to trigger a reaction. I had a reaction to one bar on the third use. I had to make a quick run to find hydrocortisone cream while my eyes were swelling shut. Thank goodness it was a short trip!

Mistake 5 – Not following the application directions

Different toiletries have different application directions. The application can make a huge impact on the effectiveness of a product. Please follow the directions that come with the toiletry. Many vendors have directions on their website.

If the directions say to foam the bar in your hands, do that. If the directions say to stroke the bar across your hair, do that. If the sunscreen says to apply it thickly, do that. If you ignore the directions then the failure is on you.

Mistake 6 – Storing the product when wet

Storing a solid when wet will almost guarantee a heap of goo. At a minimum, you should pat the product dry. Don’t be surprised that a product designed to dissolve in water will dissolve when you leave water on it!

Pat the product dry with a piece of paper or towel. If you can leave it sitting out to dry for a few minutes, even better. I will carry my wet bars back to my bedroom when staying in hostels. I avoid storing them right away. Even a few minutes of drying time makes a difference.

Mistake 7 – Using the wrong storage container

Ironically, some vendors sell horrible storage tins for their product. Never use a container that seals in the moisture. You will almost always end up with goo. The best storage containers will allow the toiletry to dry out. They will also keep the toiletry contained and prevent it from getting on other items. I have personally found the following containers work best:

• Specialized soap storage bags like the Matador soap bag
• Sisal soap bags
• Rolling a small amount of aluminum foil loosely around the product
• Rolling a Korean towel loosely around the product
• Using a light mesh bag

Note that each of these containers allows the solid to breathe and dry out. Most of these containers are inexpensive and fairly light. They are also far more compact than the special soap containers that cause so many problems!

Knowledge is power and a lot less goop

Just like most things, you have to practice to become competent. Avoid the seven deadly sins of solids listed above! Try some solid toiletry experiments at home before taking them on a long trip. Solid toiletries can be beneficial for your travels – if you use them correctly.