Chagrin Valley shampoo bars

[finotti]

Dear all,

I've bought a while ago some samples of Chagrin Valley shampoo bars. I liked them and made a full order. The one I liked the most was the Olive & Babassu, but I also ordered a Neem & Tea Tree, Nettle and Mud & Clay.

To my surprise, I now have difficulty rinsing my hair properly. I started using vinegar rinses daily and even increase the amount of vinegar I was using before. Still, it will not rinse the soap out. I even get some soap residue in my hair brush.

I also tried using less soap. But it already made very little lather (I don't think I was using that much at first, to be honest), and then I was getting practically no lather at all. (One thing I noticed, even with the samples, was that a little water would instantly kill the lather. I was used to use a little water to spread the lather evenly, but I could not do it.)

I considered it was a bad batch, but all three kinds of bars had the same problems.

I think I already know the answer, but I thought I should ask for any recommendations before tossing them out (or PIFing for anyone interested). Has anyone had similar experience? (I should have tried QCS or MW, so that at least the money would have gone to a member...)

Thanks,

 

[Price]

I tried some CV shampoo bars last year. I had no problem with them, but I ended up liking the QCS more, so that's what I've been using ever since. I have fairly short hair, and I just wet it and run the bar over my scalp 2-3 times. I get plenty of lather and no problems at all rinsing.

The obvious answer if you're getting soap residue in your brush is to use less product, but I see you've already tried that. Did that effect start immediately after you started using them? If not, there is likely something else to blame. Maybe a different water treatment? I remember a few years ago when the town I lived in changed their water treatment facility, my water went from fairly hard to very soft, and I suddenly found it impossible to rinse away soap & shampoo until I adjusted the amount I was using.

Maybe you did just get a bad batch. Have you tried contacting CV about it?

 

[finotti]

I tried some CV shampoo bars last year. I had no problem with them, but I ended up liking the QCS more, so that's what I've been using ever since. I have fairly short hair, and I just wet it and run the bar over my scalp 2-3 times. I get plenty of lather and no problems at all rinsing.

The obvious answer if you're getting soap residue in your brush is to use less product, but I see you've already tried that. Did that effect start immediately after you started using them? If not, there is likely something else to blame. Maybe a different water treatment? I remember a few years ago when the town I lived in changed their water treatment facility, my water went from fairly hard to very soft, and I suddenly found it impossible to rinse away soap & shampoo until I adjusted the amount I was using.

Maybe you did just get a bad batch. Have you tried contacting CV about it?

Thanks for the reply, Price. I did move recently, although did not leave town, but maybe that is the difference. Still, I don't see how anyone with the same kind of water can rinse it at all. I've tried and spent a lot of time rinsing....

I did write CV, but just recently. I haven't heard back from them yet.

Thanks again,

Luis

 

[drocu]

Thanks for the reply, Price. I did move recently, although did not leave town, but maybe that is the difference. Still, I don't see how anyone with the same kind of water can rinse it at all. I've tried and spent a lot of time rinsing....

I did write CV, but just recently. I haven't heard back from them yet.

Thanks again,

Luis

I haven't used this product but it sounds like hard water to me. Do you have trouble rinsing off other types of soap like hand soap or dish soap? It does seem odd that the same town would have such different water. Is it well water?

 

[finotti]

I haven't used this product but it sounds like hard water to me. Do you have trouble rinsing off other types of soap like hand soap or dish soap? It does seem odd that the same town would have such different water. Is it well water?

I haven't had any trouble with other soaps and residue, but I will pay closer attention. BTW, I had the same issue while out of town in Albuquerque, NM. But maybe the water was of the same hardness as in my new home.

Thanks!

 

[finotti]

FWIW, I checked with my water company and my water is has 7 gpg, which according to wikipedia, is in the borderline between "moderately hard" and "hard". I wonder how people with really hard water can handle it.

Oddly enough, I haven't had any difficulty lathering my shaving creams and soaps. (Thank goodness.)

No replies from CV yet, although it is not fair to complain about that yet.

 

[kingfisher]

I use the Mystic Waters shampoo bar, and I add a little water to it to make MORE lather. it lathers and rinses wonderfully, smells great, and my hair is healthier than it has been in years.

Never tried the Chagrin Valley bars. Don't see a need, because the MW bar works so well.

 

[JayHawkMechanic]

Of the bars you have mentioned I didn't care for and I also had some that did not lather very well but, I have tried several that not only produced lather like crazy but also worked well on my hair. I didn't like the Olive and Babassu, I found it did not lather well either.As with any soap residue, I've never had that problem though it did take a while for me to get used to the switch over from the commercial shampoo.

Chris

 

[finotti]

Just an update: CV finally wrote me back (delayed by vacation and being short handed). As far as customer service goes, despite the delay, for which they apologized, it was informative and friendly reply. Also, quite long, so either they took the time to reply or copy and pasted some other message(s).

As far their suggestions, they basically referred to the site, more precisely: Adjusting to Shampoo Bars, Baking Soda Rinse, Vinegar Rinse and Hard Water.

I still have to try to do the baking soda rinse to see if helps with residue. On the other hand, I lathered in my hands today and applied the lather to the hair, instead of rubbing the bar on my hair directly. I rinsed and repeated, as suggested by them also. I followed with the vinegar rinse and made sure to rinse for a long time. All this seemed to help, but it is a bit early to tell. It is a bit more work than I had to do before (before I moved, when I suppose I had softer water), but I'll wait and see if the benefits are worth it.

I thought I should post this in defense of CV and perhaps it might also help other with difficulties with shampoo bars.

Thanks for all the replies,