Montalbano Solid Shampoo Bar

I'm going to be honest - when Lush announced that they would be bringing out another six solid shampoo bars, I was a little disappointed. Firstly, I would much rather they bring out a selection of new vegan conditioners as I would love to find an alternate to Veganese. Secondly, it takes forever to test out and review shampoo bars; I knew that these new additions would be a two-three month project, which is a commitment I will have problems fitting into my very busy schedule. However, there was a part of me that was slightly excited to see these new products released into the shops and so I snapped them all up when they made an appearance in the Lush Kitchen.

Montalbano Solid Shampoo was the first of the lot to be released, and having read it's write-up, I was really excited to try it out. Crammed full of amazing ingredients, this product sounds almost good enough to eat. When it arrived, my initial reaction was intensified tenfold, and I had to fight away the urge to sink my teeth into this beautiful bar. 

The inclusion of lemon oil, lemon juice, lemon peel, lemon peel powder and lemon myrtle oil means that this shampoo bar is a highly citrusy and gorgeously zesty addition to the shampoo family. An initial sniff reveals that this bar smells a lot like Stepping Stone Scrub - a bright, almost sour natural lemon smell that's incredibly uplifting and rather potent to the senses. Be prepared to have this overpower pretty much any other cosmetic that you may have in the bathroom - it definitely makes a statement.

Lemon harvests a powerhouse of redeeming qualities for both the skin and hair - it cleanses and rejuvenates hair without stripping away the essential oils needed to keep your locks moist and in good condition. The high concentration of vitamin C also helps to give your hair it's natural shine and will leave your locks with a natural glow. 

The inclusion of green olives, which at first sounds a little strange, helps to strengthen hair and they also add a very subtle bitterness to the overall aroma of this product. The olives are included as little pieces which sit throughout the bar and they wash away easily without getting caught in your hair.

Montalbano is one of the most generous solid shampoo bars - lathering up the very instant it comes into contact with water. In fact, I would recommend that you're quite scrupulous when it comes to the application of this shampoo and only lather it across your hair for about 2-3 seconds. The bar is generous during use - creating a thick and very soft foam that immediately makes your hair feel smoother. The smell of this incredible product remains poignant throughout the whole experience, although I was a little disappointed to discover that I couldn't detect it once I applied my conditioner afterwards. 

This shampoo is amazing - leaving your hair feeling really silky soft and well-nourished from the word go. My hair is quite thin naturally but can often develop a frizzy wave that prevents me from being able to wear my hair down without straightening it first. Montalbano reduced this frizziness without flattening my natural wave, and I have been able to wear my hair down without using any other products to control the stray strands.

Furthermore, I usually find that I have to wash my hair most days as some shampoos leave it feeling slightly greasy by the end of the day. With this product, I have been able to reduce this down to every other day, which above everything else, saves me money and time. 

My hair has a natural shine to it which really brings out my highlights - this is without making it look greasy. Finally, in the two weeks that I have been using this shampoo bar, I have not noticed any fading of my hair dye and if anything, it's only heightened the different colours that are present. 

I was really not expecting to get these results with this shampoo bar, and if anything, it's only got me more excited about trying out the other ones when they arrive. This is the first permanent solid shampoo bar that I've awarded full marks for, and I'm really excited that Lush will now have a product I can buy regularly without having to stock up when it makes a fleeting visit. If you're not sure whether or not to invest in this product, I hope that this review will convince you to give it a whirl - it may just steal your heart.

Quantitative Ingredients: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Green Olives (Olea europaea), Sicilian Lemon Oil, Fresh Lemon Juice, Lemon Peel, Popping Candy, Lemon Peel Powder, Rosemary Absolute, Organic Lemon Myrtle Oil, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Perfume, Gardenia Extract.

Vegan?: Yes.

2014 Price: £5.75