My Zero Waste Shower Routine

This might be my first "routine" that I have been able to adapt to be completely zero waste. Which makes sense given that I shower everyday, and it doesn't hurt that my shower routine was pretty minimal to start with. But I'm excited to show you my zero waste shower routine and how I've been keeping up with it. I even have a lot of alternative ideas you can use if these products aren't your thing! 

Shampoo/Conditioner - Plaine Products: I first bought the shampoo, conditioner and body wash from Plaine Products back in July of 2020. I just finished the body wash a few weeks ago and still have a little under half left in the shampoo and conditioner bottles. So while the price is high I will say the products will last you long enough to make it worth it to me. I also love Plaine Products because when you're ready for a replacement bottle they'll mail you a new bottle and you mail your used bottle back to them. This way they can sanitize and refill it and send it out again. While the pumps are made from plastic they're yours to keep and use so you only ever need one set and they don't end up in the landfill. 

Alternative - Shampoo and conditioner bars: I tried shampoo and conditioner bars as my first foray into zero waste from The Earthling Co. and honestly I thought product wise they were great. My only complaint was that I felt they ran out pretty quickly. They say shampoo/conditioner bars should last you at least 3 months but I think mine really only lasted me a month and a half. This could be on me for poor storage, I did keep them on a bar stand but they might have still been getting wet more often than they should have. That said I think they're a great option for anyone considering going zero waste and the start up cost pretty low.

Face Wash - Cereve Foaming Cleanser Bar: I'm so glad I found this face wash in a bar form. It works great and my skin loves it. In addition I've already been using it for two and a half months so far and it barely even looks used at all. Not to mention it's cheaper than what I was using before!

Body Wash - Plaine Products: As mentioned I originally bought body wash from Plaine Products back in the summer of 2020. Read below in the refill section to see how I refilled my bottle cheaper than replacing with Plaine Products!

Alternative Body Wash - Soap Bars: Bars of soap are cheap, accessible just about everywhere and are a great zero waste alternative. You can buy them in either little cardboard boxes or with just a paper wrapping around the outside. This is a great option for body wash because I'm sure everyone frequents a store where bars of soap are sold. I don't have a specific brand to recommend but try looking at your regular grocery store or see if a local business near you makes soap!

Razor - Planet Kind Gilette: I just talked about buying this razor from Target last week on the blog but now that I've been using it I can say I really love this razor! I love that it was really cheap, made from recycled materials, plastic free packaging and refill blades end up costing only $2.50 each. 

Alternative Razor - Safety Razor: A safety razor is a great alternative to disposable razors for zero waste, however they can be quite pricey and come with a learning curve so be sure to do your research before buying to find one that will work for you. ​

Refills: 
I've talked a lot about how I use Plaine Products and how you can mail your containers back to them to be refilled and reused. Which is great! However, when it came time to re-purchase my body wash I discovered a refill van in Philadelphia called Ray's Reusables! This van frequents all the different farmer's markets in Philly which is amazing since once a month I can walk to my local park and get refills on whatever products I needed.

Reduce Water: Lastly, one huge way to reduce waste in the shower is by using less water! You can start by taking shorter showers, take cold showers, or turn the water off while you lather up. This is something anyone can start doing today and it saves you money too!

I started bringing my Plaine Products bottles to Ray's Reusables van and just having them filled there, this way I can avoid the shipping back and forth of the Plaine Products. I also found that it was cheaper to have her refill my containers. If you are looking for a cheaper alternative to Plaine Products try searching for a local refill option near you. Luckily though if you don't have a local equivalent near you you can still use Plaine Products and save packaging!

I know I've mentioned Plaine Products quite a bit in this blog post and while they're what I have been using just know that they are definitely not the only option so don't feel discouraged if it's not something you are on board with buying!

What is your zero waste shower routine like? Let me know in the comments below!