When you stay in a hotel, you'll find more than just soap and toothpaste in the bathroom. Shampoo is another common amenity, perfect for washing away the day's sweat and sun.
But did you know there's quite a variety in the types and packaging of hotel shampoos? Let's take a look at what you might find during your next stay.
Let’s start with the types of shampoo. The shampoo you find in hotels might not be the same as what you’re used to at home. Instead of just being for your hair, some hotel shampoos can double as body wash and conditioner.
Based on my experience, here are three types of shampoos commonly found in hotels:
This is your basic shampoo that comes in its own bottle or packet. It’s made just to clean your hair and is typically good for all hair types.
Hotels usually stick to these general formulas to suit most guests, so it’s uncommon to find shampoos targeting specific hair issues like dandruff or hair loss.
Instead of using separate bottles of shampoo and conditioner, many hotels now provide a combined product. This 2-in-1 shampoo already includes conditioner, which helps to soften and moisturize your hair.
This combo is convenient for guests since they don’t have to pack their own conditioner. Plus, it’s cost-effective for the hotel, making it a win-win situation.
To cut costs even further, many hotels—especially budget ones, like 2-star hotels and below—offer multipurpose products that work as both shampoo and body wash.
While this all-in-one option is practical, it may not be ideal for guests with specific hair or skincare preferences.
Hotel shampoos aren’t just about the type and function; their packaging also varies. You’ll usually find three types of packaging in hotel bathrooms:
Budget hotels or smaller inns often offer shampoo in disposable sachets. These small, easy-to-open packets are convenient, especially for guests staying just a night or two.
If you’re staying longer, the hotel typically provides a fresh sachet daily. Their compact size makes them easy to pack in your luggage and take home.
This is the most common packaging in hotels. These bottles usually hold 30-50ml of shampoo, which is enough for several uses. They often come in attractive designs featuring the hotel’s or brand’s logo.
If you finish the bottle, the hotel will usually replace it with a new one. Like sachets, guests are generally welcome to take these bottles home. Their unique shape can even make them a nice little souvenir for friends or family.
Many hotels today are promoting environmental awareness, and one way they do this is by reducing plastic waste from shampoo packaging. As a result, many hotels are now switching to using dispensers or large tubes for their shampoo.
These dispensers are usually mounted on the bathroom wall and are regularly refilled by hotel staff. Besides being eco-friendly, dispensers also ensure that guests always have enough shampoo during their stay.
We personally like these dispensers or large tubes because they save us the trouble of asking for more shampoo when the old one runs out.
However, these large dispensers and tubes cannot be taken home by guests. While it is possible to transfer some of the contents into another container to take home, it’s not really an ethical thing to do.
Those are the different types of shampoo packaging used in hotels. Note that not all hotels provide shampoo as an amenity, especially budget hotels. Therefore, it’s a good idea to ask the hotel beforehand to make sure it’s available.
