Bars vs Liquid: Which Shampoo is Best for Your Pets?

At DERMagic, we offer both liquid and solid bar shampoos and conditioners. This often results in questions about which one is best. The answer to that question is similar to a grocery store asking you if you prefer paper or plastic. Both forms have their benefits and today, we’re going to discuss what those are for each.

What are Shampoo Bars?

We’re assuming you know a little about liquid shampoos since they have dominated the pet industry for years. They are easy to use, simple to store, and easily accessible. However, they are not environmentally friendly.

Shampoo bars are solid versions of a liquid shampoo and work in the same way. They both clean and moisturize. However, rather than squeeze liquid shampoo or conditioner into your hand, you will wet the bar to activate the foam, then massage into your pet’s coat.

The Difference in Ingredients

In order to have liquid shampoo, chemicals known as surfactants are used. Some surfactants are better and safer than others. We only use surfactants that are safe for your pets, safe for the environment, and safe for you.

Rest assured, all of our shampoos are free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates and fragrances. We only use pure essential oils to scent both our liquid and solid shampoos and conditioners. 

Treating Conditions

The good news is that all of our shampoos are effective for any yeast-related conditions and best of all, any of our shampoos can (and should) be used for regular maintenance. This is especially true of pets who are susceptible to yeast.

Shampoo is a wash-off product, which means there are no real benefits beyond cleaning the skin.

Conditioners are slightly different because while they are also wash-off products, they can (and should) leave a few qualities behind. This can vary according to how it’s formulated, but for instance, our conditioner bars leave the fur silky smooth and conditioned, while acting as a type of repellent for dirt and oil that other conditioners can attract. Essentially, our conditioner bars help keep your pet’s fur soft and clean for longer.

The trick to resolving yeast is our Skin Rescue Lotion, Hot Spot Salve and other yeast-related support products. If you’re treating yeast, you should absolutely be using our Skin Rescue Lotion.

These are the full directions for use. Be sure to follow them exactly if you are treating yeast-related conditions (including alopecia x and/or Black Skin Disease) in a pet. 

Why, then, would we recommend using our shampoo and conditioners during treatment? That’s where the pH level comes into play (along with our pure essential oils). The goal is to have a higher pH shampoo (and both our liquid and solid versions work well). We’ll talk more about those factors below, but our higher pH shampoos are why it's fine to choose any “scent” during treatment. 

Benefits for the Environment

Since we wholeheartedly believe in natural products, we’re concerned about the environment. Eliminating plastics is one way that we can help keep our planet clean. This is where shampoo and conditioner bars come in…

While shampoo bars have been around for a while, they’ve only recently—in the last couple of years or so—started to gain popularity. They became quite popular due to their long-lasting, easy to transport qualities. But, they are also excellent for our environment as there is virtually no waste.

About pH

All of our shampoos have a relatively high pH to help discourage yeast overgrowth, leaving your pet’s fur shiny and soft. Choosing your favorite comes down to personal preference. Our essential oils play a large role in deciding this as each imparts specific qualities for your pets. These include:

• Chamomile-Sage: This bar contains relaxing chamomile and sage to calm pets during bath time.
• Rosemary: Ideal for sensitive skin, our rosemary shampoo bar has a refreshing scent and is excellent for use on animals who shy away from other scents.
• Lemongrass-Spearmint: This stimulating blend is ideal for those who prefer not to be overwhelmed by a scent. Lemongrass has natural repellent qualities for pests but a relaxing scent for people and pets.
• Diatomaceous Earth: This bar contains Diatomaceous Earth which has the ability to discourage pests (but is not a substitute for a veterinarian-recommended flea and tick program)
• Rosemary-Lavender: Ideal for people who prefer the relaxing blend of lavender while rosemary helps stimulate hair follicles and encourages fur growth.

How Long Do They Last?

This is largely dependent on the size of your pet, how frequently you bathe them, and the length of your pet’s fur. In most cases, a shampoo bar will last at least twice as long as our 12 oz liquid shampoo.

We hope this helps you make the right decision on shampoos and conditioners for your pets, but as always - if you have questions - you can reach us via our store chat (on the front page), or via email at info@dermagic.com.