Essential-oil only · Clean label · Plastic-free
A botanical, low-tox ritual for healthy hair
★★★★★ 4.7/5 | 134,430 reviews
- No "fragrance" loophole scented only with chamomile, rose geranium, and cedarwood essential oils. Every scent ingredient is named on the label.
- Rinses clean, even in hard water pH-balanced (5.0–5.5) cleansing, not alkaline soap. No film, no residue, no vinegar rinse needed.
- Softer from the first wash 92% felt softer hair after 1 wash*
- A time-tested ritual the fermented Longsheng rice water the Red Yao women have passed down for generations
- One $13.99 bar = 100+ washes plastic-free, vegan, Fair Trade certified
Our Story
A ritual older than the ingredient label
In the rice terraces of Longsheng, the Red Yao women have washed their hair with fermented rice water for generations. Viori works directly with these communities — Fair Trade certified since 2021 — and turns that ritual into a plastic-free bar.
- Fair Trade USA certified
- Direct Red Yao partnership
- Plastic-free
Read the label
All 27 ingredients, explained & scored.
EWG Skin Deep hazard scores (1–10, lower = lower concern) — checked against ewg.org, not written by us. The full 19-line label is just below.
1–2 low concern · 3–6 moderate · 7–10 high — every score on this label sits at 3 or below.
Longsheng Rice Water
Fermented rice water from the Longsheng terraces — amino acids and antioxidants that smooth the strand so hair reads soft and shiny.
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate
Coconut-derived and mild — not a sulfate. The line that replaces SLS/SLES, and the reason washing doesn't leave that stripped, squeaky after-feel.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate
Plant-derived conditioning salt — a methosulfate, not a sulfate. It's what lets the conditioner detangle without silicones.
The one score above 2 on our label — shown anyway. EWG's 3 reflects class-level data on conditioning salts; its cancer and reproductive categories rate LOW.Cocoa Butter
Puts back what cleansing takes out, so gentle doesn't mean dry ends.
Shea Butter
Softens without coating — part of why the bars rinse out light instead of weighing hair flat.
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein
Rice protein broken down small enough to bind to hair, supporting flexibility and tensile strength.
Castor Oil
Cold-pressed from castor seeds and rich in ricinoleic acid — the fatty acid that leaves strands pliable and glossy instead of brittle. Conditions the scalp without heavy buildup.
Aloe Vera
The moisture-rich leaf that keeps "clean" from meaning tight.
Scores from EWG's Skin Deep database, checked July 2026. Look any of them up yourself: ewg.org/skindeep — and the other 11 lines are printed below, because a label you can't finish reading isn't transparent.
before & After
The Power of Plant-Based Ingredients
"I was so happy to find one that is color safe... my hair is still fresh looking as far as the color. I love how soft, shiny and thick my hair feels."
"After TWO uses my hair looks way healthier and feels softer than it has in a year. Even my husband noticed how shiny it was!"
"Nothing ever works on all of my hair — it's several different textures all mixed together. Now my hair feels soft all over and the frizzy bits are smoother than they've been in ages!"
Castor Oil Shampoo Bar for Brittle & Dry Hair
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Castor Oil Shampoo Bar – Brittle & Dry Hair | VIORI
A castor oil shampoo bar with rice water for brittle, dry hair that snaps instead of bends. Brittle hair doesn't need more moisture on the surface — it needs...
2
Castor Oil Shampoo Bar – Brittle & Dry Hair | VIORI
A castor oil shampoo bar with rice water for brittle, dry hair that snaps instead of bends. Brittle hair doesn't need more moisture on the surface — it needs...
Description
A chamomile-rose shampoo bar with fermented Longsheng rice water — a low-tox cleanse scented entirely with essential oils. Sodium cocoyl isethionate, a coconut-derived cleanser, lifts oil and product residue at a pH of 5.0–5.5, so the bar rinses clean without the film alkaline soap bars leave in hard water. Rice-water amino acids and inositol strengthen and soften the strand; castor and rice bran oils condition without weight. Chamomile calms the scalp, rose geranium balances oil. No sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrance — every ingredient on the label is there for a reason you can read.
Ingredients
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Longsheng Rice Water, Cocoa Butter, Sodium Lactate, Glycerin, Cetyl Alcohol, Shea Butter, Butylene Glycol (Plant-Based), Stearic Acid, Vitamin B8, Vitamin B5, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Broccoli Seed Oil, Bamboo Extract, Rice Bran Oil, Castor Oil, Rose Geranium Oil, Ho Leaf Oil, Orange Peel Oil, Vitamin E, Cedarwood Oil, Patchouli Leaf Oil, Aloe Vera, Rose Chamomile Flower Oil, Jasmine Flower Extract, Rose Flower Oil
Ingredients Explanations
Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate — derived from coconut fatty acids; a mild, pH-balanced surfactant that cleans without the harsh stripping associated with sulfates, making it a gentler choice for buildup-prone scalps and color-treated strands. (EWG: 1)
Behentrimonium Methosulfate — plant-derived conditioning agent (typically from rapeseed oil); detangles and smooths the cuticle without silicone coating. (EWG: 1)
Longsheng Rice Water — fermented rinse water from Longsheng, China, used for generations by the Red Yao women; rich in inositol, amino acids, and B vitamins that support strand flexibility and surface smoothness.
Cocoa Butter — cold-pressed from cacao seeds; a rich emollient that seals moisture into dry, brittle strands and supports a soft, pliable feel. (EWG: 1)
Sodium Lactate — the sodium salt of naturally occurring lactic acid; helps maintain the bar's pH balance and supports moisture retention in the hair fiber. (EWG: 1)
Glycerin — plant-derived humectant; draws moisture from the air into the hair shaft, keeping strands hydrated without heaviness. (EWG: 1)
Cetyl Alcohol — a fatty alcohol derived from coconut or palm; acts as a lightweight emollient and texture agent — not a drying alcohol. (EWG: 1)
Shea Butter — cold-pressed from the shea tree nut; rich in oleic and stearic fatty acids that seal in moisture and support scalp comfort, as documented in cosmetic dermatology literature. (EWG: 1)
Butylene Glycol (Plant-Based) — plant-sourced humectant and texture enhancer; helps active ingredients penetrate the hair cortex and keeps the formula feeling lightweight. (EWG: 1)
Stearic Acid — a saturated fatty acid found in shea and cocoa; contributes to bar structure and helps condition the hair surface. (EWG: 1)
Vitamin B8 (Inositol) — a naturally occurring carbohydrate found in rice water; cosmetic research suggests it can penetrate the hair cortex to support smoothness and reduce breakage.
Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) — provitamin derived from pantothenic acid; binds to the hair shaft, adding moisture and supporting strand flexibility. (EWG: 1)
Hydrolyzed Rice Protein — rice protein broken into smaller peptides that can bond to damaged areas of the hair cortex; supports tensile strength and helps reduce breakage, consistent with findings in cosmetic hair science literature (Cruz et al., 2016). (EWG: 1)
Broccoli Seed Oil — cold-pressed from broccoli seeds; high in erucic acid, which gives hair a silicone-like smoothness and shine without any synthetic coating. (EWG: 1)
Bamboo Extract — derived from bamboo stems; a natural source of silica that supports hair structure and adds body to fine or straight strands. (EWG: 1)
Rice Bran Oil — pressed from the outer bran layer of rice; rich in gamma-oryzanol and vitamin E, it contributes luster and helps protect the hair surface from environmental stress. (EWG: 1)
Castor Oil — cold-pressed from the castor bean; ricinoleic acid content supports scalp comfort and contributes to the luster and flexibility of each strand, with shine and conditioning properties supported in cosmetic research literature (PMC12978418; PubMed 35816075). (EWG: 1)
Rose Geranium Oil — steam-distilled from Pelargonium graveolens; contributes the bar's soft, floral-green scent note — present as a true essential oil, never synthetic fragrance. (EWG: 1)
Ho Leaf Oil — steam-distilled from the leaves of Cinnamomum camphora; a clean, linalool-rich essential oil that contributes a light, woody floral note as part of the bar's botanical fragrance profile. (EWG: 1)
Orange Peel Oil — cold-pressed from citrus peel; adds a bright, fresh top note to the scent and contributes antioxidant properties to the formula. (EWG: 2)
Vitamin E (Tocopherol) — a natural antioxidant derived from plant oils; protects the formula's oils from oxidation and supports scalp comfort. (EWG: 1)
Cedarwood Oil — steam-distilled from cedar wood; contributes a warm, grounding base note to the scent profile as a true essential oil. (EWG: 1)
Patchouli Leaf Oil — steam-distilled from Pogostemon cablin leaves; adds an earthy, grounding depth to the botanical fragrance — the kind of scent that smells like a garden, not a perfume counter. (EWG: 1)
Aloe Vera — cold-pressed gel from Aloe barbadensis leaf; a lightweight humectant that supports scalp comfort and adds slip to the lather without heaviness. (EWG: 1)
Rose Chamomile Flower Oil — distilled from chamomile and rose; contributes soft, calming floral notes to the bar's botanical scent profile as a true essential oil, not a synthetic parfum. (EWG: 1)
Jasmine Flower Extract — derived from Jasminum officinale blossoms; adds a soft, natural floral depth to the scent profile as a botanical extract, not a synthetic parfum. (EWG: 1)
Rose Flower Oil — steam-distilled from Rosa damascena petals; rounds out the floral scent signature with a true botanical rose note — the kind Willa recognizes immediately as the real thing. (EWG: 1)
How To Use
1. In a warm shower, wet your hair thoroughly — the more steam, the more the bar's botanical oils will open up and lather.
2. Hold the bar between your palms and rub gently to build a creamy lather, or glide the bar directly from root to mid-length two to three times — avoid dragging it repeatedly to the ends to prevent tangling.
3. Work the lather into your scalp with your fingertips using slow, circular movements, letting the sodium cocoyl isethionate lift buildup without stripping your scalp's natural balance.
4. Rinse thoroughly with warm water, then finish with a cool rinse to help close the cuticle and encourage the shine castor oil and broccoli seed oil are there to support.
5. If you are transitioning from a silicone-heavy liquid shampoo, allow 3–4 washes for your hair to recalibrate — this is your scalp, finally unburdened of synthetic coating, finding its own rhythm.
6. Store the bar on a draining soap dish between uses to extend its life and keep it from softening — a dry bar lasts significantly longer than one sitting in pooled water.
Verified reviews
Real customers, unpaid opinions.
No more synthetic products in plastic bottles for us. This is the real thing.
After TWO uses my hair looks way healthier and feels softer than it has in a year.
Nothing made my hair softer and silkier. I will never change to another brand.
“Feels softer than it has in a year”
"I'm so thrilled to have found this product! I try to go plastic-free as much as possible, but I was very hesitant to do so with hair products. I have long wavy hair and just didn't want to risk damaging it with something that didn't work. Well, flash forward to a month or so ago, my $30-per-bottle salon shampoo and conditioner weren't performing as well anymore. My hair was frizzy, greasy and flaky at the root and dry at the bottom. So I figured I didn't have anything to lose by trying something new! After TWO uses my hair looks way healthier and feels softer than it has in a year. It smells amazing, and even my husband noticed how shiny it was! 10/10 would recommend."
“A pleasurable ritual rather than a regimented duty”
"I feel that I am not wasting the product and that I only use what I need. My hair feels amazing every time I use it. I actually look forward to washing my hair — it feels like a pleasurable ritual rather than a regimented duty and the fragrance is amazing." [excerpted]
‡ Review from Viori's other rice-water body bars — results may differ.
“They last forever”
"I moved away from toxic products over a decade ago but still struggled to find a hair care product that I felt worked well and actually improved my hair, until I found Viori. So so happy with these, and they last forever!! I wash my hair 3–4 times per week, swim in the ocean weekly and sweat everyday and still my hair is softer and brighter than ever!!!" [excerpted]
“No more synthetic products in plastic bottles for us”
"I recognized the story of women of the Red Yao tribe known for their very long and beautiful hair... I have been wanting to switch to bar form to ensure zero waste but didn't know where to start. After the very first time of using the castor oil shampoo and conditioner, my hair felt silky soft. My teenage daughter tried it too and loves it. No more synthetic products in plastic bottles for us. This is the real thing. It's so rare anymore to be able to purchase something that holds value, does not harm the environment, and brings joy." [excerpted]
“Supple and glowing after one use”
"I always use 'organic, top of the line' hair care products. I took the time to research a variety of companies who also sell 'Bar Hair Products'. I was impressed with your company and thus I chose to give you a try. I must admit that I was very pleasantly surprised!!! My hair looked and felt so soft and shiny. It will be very difficult for me to use up my other very expensive products." [excerpted]
“Softer than it's been in years”
"Absolutely love these shampoo and conditioner bars! I've used them twice now and my (previously!) dry, frizzy hair is softer than it's been in years! Nothing ever works on all of my hair — it's several different textures all mixed together. Now my hair feels soft all over and the frizzy bits are smoother than they've been in ages! With no additional products at all! And the scent — oh my, the chamomile rose is heavenly!"
‡ Review from Viori's other rice-water body bars — results may differ.
“It's only Viori for me”
"I was looking for something natural to use as the store bought shampoos and conditioners leave my hair dry. I've tried many other shampoo and conditioner bars with unsatisfactory results. But after only 3 uses of Viori, my hair is silky again. It's only Viori for me! Even the scent is fabulous and there is absolutely no competition." [excerpted]
“Not bulky bottles or wasting product”
"The scent of this shampoo bar is simply lovely & that makes me happy because I'm big on scents. It's a very soft rose scent, not at all overpowering & it lasts on my hair. The bar itself lathers really well if I rub it directly onto my hair. Overall I'm delighted with this shampoo bar & it's even better that there's not bulky bottles or wasting product. Highly recommend!" [excerpted]
6 Million Bars Sold
bars sold since 2020 — at 100+ washes each, that's hundreds of millions of washes without a single plastic bottle in the shower.
THE PROBLEM
"Clean" haircare keeps making you choose
Your values, your ingredients, or your hair. You shouldn't have to pick one.
The "fragrance" loophole
A shampoo can list 20 botanicals and still hide dozens of undisclosed synthetics behind one word. If the scent ingredients aren't named, you can't actually know what's in it.
Natural bars that leave a film
Most natural bars are alkaline soap (pH 9–10). In hard water that means waxy residue. It's not your hair failing at natural — it's the wrong chemistry.
The bottle habit
Every wash from a bottle is single-use plastic on a schedule — bought, emptied, replaced, forever. "Recyclable" doesn't stop the next one being made.
THE ANSWER
One bar that answers all three
A bar built around what your hair actually needs — and nothing it doesn't.
Scented entirely with named essential oils — no "fragrance" line. Not soap — a coconut-derived cleanser at pH 5.0–5.5 that rinses clean in hard water. No bottle at all. And underneath, fermented Longsheng rice water delivering amino acids and inositol with every wash.
See the full systemBacked by the science
WHY BOTANICAL ACTUALLY WORKS
Longsheng rice water is rich in inositol — a carbohydrate that supports the hair fiber from within — plus amino acids from fermentation that strengthen and smooth with every wash. The base matters as much as the actives: a coconut-derived cleanser at pH 5.0–5.5 keeps the cuticle flat, so the bar rinses clean instead of leaving the film alkaline soap bars do — and gentler cleansing means less breakage when you comb.
NOT SURE THIS IS YOUR BAR?
Find your bar in 2 minutes
Every head of hair is different. Take the hair quiz and get a recommendation matched to your hair type, scalp, and scent — no guessing at the shampoo aisle.
How To Use Videos
WHAT MAKES VIORI DIFFERENT
Everything you want to know — answered in 30 seconds or less.
Build Your Bundle
BAR, DUO, OR THE FULL SYSTEM.
Start with the bar, or build a ritual that works from scalp to ends.
The Bar
The Castor Oil Shampoo Bar, doing exactly what it was made to do.
- Sulfate-free cleanse with sodium cocoyl isethionate — coconut-derived, not harsh
- Longsheng rice water and hydrolyzed rice protein strengthen brittle strands from within
- Castor oil and shea butter leave hair pliable, not stripped or coated
- Rose geranium, chamomile, and cedarwood — essential oils only, no synthetic fragrance
- Zero plastic — one bar replaces one bottle
The Duo
Pair the shampoo bar with its matching conditioner bar for a complete, plastic-free wash ritual.
- Shampoo bar cleanses gently; conditioner bar seals and softens without silicone buildup
- Botanical ingredients work in sequence — cleanse, then nourish at the fiber level
- Formulated without ingredients known to leave waxy residue — a noticeably lighter feel, even in hard-water areas
- Consistent scent story from wash to rinse — floral, grounded, not perfume-counter sweet
- Two bars, one wooden soap dish, no plastic in sight
The Full System
Three products, one cohesive ritual — for the shelf you have been building toward.
- Everything in the Duo plus a bamboo bar holder
- Holder keeps bars dry between washes — extends bar life
- The complete low-tox wash-day ritual
- Every formula free from sulfates, silicones, parabens, and synthetic fragrance
- Longsheng rice water runs through the system — sourced, storied, and purposeful
FAQ
GOOD TO KNOW BEFORE YOU BUY.
Yes. The title names castor oil's best-known use; the formula is a gentle, pH-balanced everyday cleanse, and Viori's own product tags list it for normal hair. If buildup is your issue, the low-pH rinse-clean chemistry is the part built for you.
The label is the answer: plant-based and naturally derived ingredients, no sulfates, parabens, phthalates, or synthetic fragrance. The scent comes only from named essential oils — chamomile, rose geranium, cedarwood, orange peel, patchouli. Every ingredient and its EWG rating is explained above.
In consumer testing across Viori bars, 92% felt softer hair after one wash (220-person panel) and 87% reported less breakage in 4 weeks (412 self-reporters, 3× weekly use).* This bar holds a 4.6 rating across 981 reviews.
Those were almost certainly cold-process soap — alkaline, pH 9–10, which reacts with hard water and films. This is not soap: a coconut-derived cleanser at pH 5.0–5.5 rinses clean, no vinegar rinse required.
Calming chamomile and soft rose geranium over a cedarwood base. Honest answer: essential-oil scents are subtler than synthetic perfume and fade sooner. That's the trade you make for a fully disclosed label — most customers say the spa-like scent during the wash is the point.
The shampoo bar cleanses and tones. The conditioner bar seals in the moisture and amino acids from the rice water and protects the cuticle between washes. For bleached hair — which is porous and loses moisture quickly — using both gives you the full repair benefit. The shampoo bar alone is a meaningful upgrade over a sulfate purple shampoo, but the duo is where the real difference shows.
Yes — most people need 2–3 washes for their hair to adjust from liquid shampoo to a bar formula. During that time your hair may feel slightly different as it clears out residue from previous products. Bleached hair typically adjusts faster than untreated hair because the cuticle is already more open. Stick with it past the first wash.
Yes — sulfate-free and pH-balanced, generally suitable for color-treated hair. Reviewers use it across the whole family.
Each bar lasts 60–80 washes, which is the equivalent of 2–3 bottles of liquid shampoo. The bar stays dry between uses when stored on a bamboo holder with airflow drainage, which extends its life significantly. If you are washing 2–3 times a week, one bar typically lasts 5–8 months.