Shampoo Bottles
By catdla1
@catdla1 (6005)
United States
November 24, 2008 2:50pm CST
Does anyone besides me, avoid certain brands of shampoo simply because trying to open the bottle in the shower often results in broken nails? There's one brand (beginning with a "V", that I love the shampoo, but almost never bought because of the horrible and poorly designed bottles. Looking at other brands in the store, there seems to be many that require using a thumbnail to pry them open to use.
I've solved this by saving dish soap bottles to refill with the shampoo (or conditioner). Many dish soap bottles are better designed for handling with wet hands, and they are superior for opening and closing. I especially like the pump bottles, but the ones you have to pull up to open are easy to pack for traveling. Another plus, is that the smaller dish soap bottles fit nicely onto shower shelves, and are less 'tipsy'.
4 people like this
13 responses
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
25 Nov 08
One that I had been using started with an "A" and nearly broke my nails every time I tried to open the top. I did manage to open it by using a wash cloth. It is best to open the lids before you get into the shower. Your nails soften in water and it is more difficult to open the bottles. Even so, they should improve the lids.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
25 Nov 08
You mean they did not even offer you free coupons? The cheapscates. Most food producers and other companies that I have heard of will offer you coupons or even a free product, just for making an enquiry.
1 person likes this
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
30 Apr 10
The problem that I mostly had to deal with aside from hard-to-open bottles are those that are seemingly not refillable because you cannot turn and remove the caps off.
Here in the Philippines, there's one brand of shampoo that sells large refill sachets of shampoo which is more economical than buying it with the bottle.
But since I wasn't able to buy the actual bottle, I had to use another brand only to discover that my brand was not equipped with that screw-like thingy underneath the cap.
So I had to use the smaller bottle, that of Victoria Secret's body wash, and refills it only when the contents run out.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
30 Apr 10
Some condiment bottles may work. We have mustard bottles with removable tops. Anything that comes in a squeeze bottle can be used, as long as it's thoroughly cleaned first. I'm sure that nosy visitors wonder why I keep ketchup and mustard in my shower, but they don't dare ask...
@Theresaaiza (10487)
• Australia
1 May 10
And I hope nobody dared to squeeze it into their sandwich thinking that you like eating yours inside the bathroom, and they wanted to do the same!
@rusty2rusty (6763)
• Defiance, Ohio
26 Nov 08
Oh I have noticed that about the shampoo bottles and avoid certain ones for that very reason as well. I never thought of using a dish soap bottle and refilling it will shampoo. Thats a great tip. Have you ever gone to the shampoos web site and made a suggestion about the bottle tops? I do agree some need a new design.
1 person likes this
@randomosity_prevails (1110)
•
24 Nov 08
I don't know about it being certain brands, but I hate the bottles that have a flip lid set into the lid of the bottle, if that makes any sense. They're the ones I have to wedge up with a thumbnail, which is hard when they're wet! The only brand I can think of that does this is Head and Shoulders though, which I don't buy anyway.
I always buy the bottles with either screw lids, or the flip lids that have a little tab to flick them open with. I think if my favourite shampoo changed the lids, I'd have to decant into different bottles too!
@capirani (2840)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I think I understand what you mean about that kind of lid....it is more like an indentation into the side of the cap? I don't use my fingernails to open any of the lids though. I use the full part of my thumb to open these lids. So far I haven't had any problem doing it.
Now, pop can pull tabs...that's another story and definitely hard on fingernails no matter how short or long you keep them.
@capirani (2840)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I only buy shampoo and conditioner that works with my hair. That means it has to be easily rinsable. Many shampoos and conditioners leave a gummy feeling in my hair. I used to try lots of different brands and over the years that has narrowed down to only about 2 brands I will use. I only use the second choice when I cannot find the first choice which is getting harder and harder to find. I don't care how the lid opens. If it gives me problems I would find some other kind of container to put it in probably, like you did. As for breaking my nails on the lid, my nails are kept short to begin with because they break easy and also I feel uncomfortable with longer nails.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I know what you mean about non-rinsing conditioners. There's a few that are like trying to rinse cooking oil out of your hair. In the winter, when the air is dryer from having heat on, I frequently use a baby shampoo & conditioner. They are mild and rinse easily.
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
24 Nov 08
Yes, some have a weird design where I wonder what they were thinking. Some you can't store upside down to have the rest run to the bottom for two or three more washes. It's crazy. I have been avoiding certain brands for that reason, too. I like your idea and have to think about getting me some of those. Thanks!
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
24 Nov 08
If you happen to have a chrome shower caddy, the pull top dish soap bottles fit perfectly in the upside down position. I too hate having to wait for the last shampoos-worth of soap to get to the top of the bottle. I truely think that most shampoo bottles are designed by bald people.
1 person likes this
@capirani (2840)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Adding a little water to the bottle helps thin the shampoo to make it easier to use once it gets below half full. It doesn't diminish the quality of the shampoo at all and actually can make it last longer which saves money.
@GardenGerty (160665)
• United States
25 Nov 08
The kinds of shampoo I usually buy are easy to open, but I would be the type to just change out the lid of the offending bottle. I save lids just for that purpose. You are right, though, most bottles of dishsoap are more steady in their design. I think you are doing a marvelous job of recycling.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Thankyou! I'm a real packrat when it somes to saving and re-using packages that different products come in. It saves a lot of money in the long run. For the letters I wrote, I expected to get coupons too. Oh well, I'll keep writing. Maybe I'll reference this discussion! Happy MyLotting!
1 person likes this
@rebekkahm (149)
• Canada
25 Nov 08
Wow! That's a good idea. I can't stand trying to open bottles with wet nails. I usually use the edge of the shelves I have in my shower. If the bottle has a bit of a lip, you can catch it on the edge and pull it open that way. I never thought of reusing my dishsoap bottles for shampoo. It makes sense though, they are more squat and stable than regular shampoo bottles. I'll have to buy a funnel and try this.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I've never used a funnel. It's easy to do. Simply unscrew the top on the empty dish soap bottle, and (with dry hands) open the offending shampoo bottle and dispense one into the other. If the shampoo bottle is getting close to empty, you might have to store it upside down to get the soap to the opening. It's really easy to do.
Since I normally hand wash dishes, I have lots of bottles to recycle. Another favorite to use them for is pancake syrup. When those flip tops get sticky, they are hard to open too. You should see the look of companys face when I serve them pancakes for breakfast with Dawn on them...lol.
@teka44 (3420)
• Brazil
24 Nov 08
Hi catdla. I think the same way as you. Avoid some brand of shampoo and conditioner because they are difficult to open and when you get it done they slide from your hands and drop in the floor. When this happen with me I never more buy the same brand.
Have a nice day.
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
25 Nov 08
I used to avoid buying them again too. Now that I've discovered the way around it, I like having the choice returned to me. Especially since the worst ones to open are the ones that seem to go on sale the most, at least where I live. Thanks so much for responding & happy MyLotting!
1 person likes this
@metschica25 (5399)
• United States
25 Nov 08
Hey hey !
I have broken my nails and cut myself on many things that i tried to open .It really does get annoying ! There was one time for the life of me i could not get my fruitis shampoo bottle open . it like had a small ball on the opening . I also still take forever to open a cd and when i use lotion i find i cant open lids . i wanted to paint my nails after my shower and just put lotion on and for the life of me couldnt get it open 
Sometimes when i showet too i am always dropping things on my foot !
Sometimes when i showet too i am always dropping things on my foot ! 1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50973)
• Holiday, Florida
8 Sep 09
never thought of that. thanks for the idea. i really dont worry any more about broken nails because since i quit going to vegas or any where that i have to look great i just keep them cut short. also, the last few years they've gotten so prone to splitting its better.
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
25 Nov 08
That would be cool if companies paid for ideas that would improve the sales of their products! I've written lots of companies with various ideas. Usually I get coupons (not from the shampoo companies however 
). I'd be happy if they just changed the design of their bottles. Of course, then I'd have to come up with new ideas for my dish soap bottles.
). I'd be happy if they just changed the design of their bottles. Of course, then I'd have to come up with new ideas for my dish soap bottles. 1 person likes this
@hildas (3031)
•
25 Nov 08
I find opening shampoo and conditioner bottles on a lot of products to be a nightmare, especially in the shower. They are so tight and awkward to open and it is really annoying. It does cause broken nails and when these bottles are wet it causes me to drop them also. I think the manufactors of some brands need to re-designed then with easy to open tops.
Thanks for tips on the dish soap bottles. That is an excellent idea and I am going to save mine now and fill them with shampoo and conditioner. I think the Children will find this easier also.@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
25 Nov 08
You're quite welcome. It really works well. I would imagine they would be easier for people with arthritis to open too. I buy the smallest size dishsoap bottles. Some have wonderful hourglass shapes to make them so easy to hold with wet hands. Thanks for responding & happy MyLotting!
