Why I'm Changing the Way You Shop for Your Shampoo Bar
April 2026
If you've been with Janni Bars for a while, you'll know the range by names like Athena, Freya and Apollo. Irish gods, Irish mythology, Irish roots. When I started this brand, naming the bars after gods felt right — there was something powerful about it, something that connected the products to the land and the story behind them.
And that story starts in a stable.
Janni Bars didn't begin as a haircare brand. It began with horses. I was making shampoo bars for equine care — trying to find something that was gentle, effective and plastic-free for animals who deserved better than the chemical-laden options available. What I discovered was that the formulas I was developing were extraordinary. And if they worked that well on horses, what would they do for people?
That curiosity became a business. And that business became Ireland's largest range of handmade shampoo bars — nine different formulas, crafted by hand in Longford, each one designed for a different hair type and scalp concern. Because I've always believed that going plastic-free shouldn't mean settling for less. One bar does not fit all. And everyone — regardless of whether their hair is oily, dry, curly, sensitive, damaged or colour-treated — deserves a shampoo that actually works for them.
The Irish god names were part of that story. And they're not disappearing — you'll still see them on the boxes, because they're part of where Janni Bars came from and I'm proud of that heritage.
But something has been bothering me for a while.
The Problem With Beautiful Names
I'd watch people pick up a bar, read the name, and still not know if it was the right one for them. They'd flip it over, read the back, cross-reference with the website. And in a busy shop or pharmacy with two minutes to make a decision, that's two minutes too many.
A name like Athena is beautiful. But it doesn't tell you that it's for dry, damaged hair that needs rebuilding. It doesn't tell you that the hero ingredients are Raspberry Seed oil and Pink Grapefruit. It doesn't tell you that this is your bar if your hair has been through the wars — heat damage, colour, over-processing — and needs serious restoration.
That's what I wanted to fix.
What's Changing
Over the past several months I've been completely redesigning the Janni Bars packaging — new look, new colours, new language. It's been a bigger undertaking than I ever imagined, and I won't pretend there weren't days where I wondered what I was doing. But I kept coming back to the same thing: you deserve to be able to walk into a store, see a shelf of Janni Bars, and know immediately which one is yours.
So now every bar leads with what it actually does for your hair.
Balancing. Energising. Calming. Restoring. Reviving. Refreshing. Clarifying. Softening. Toning.
Nine ranges. Nine hair types. And now you can see which one is yours from across the room.
Meet the New Names — And Your Bar
The formulas haven't changed. The ingredients haven't changed. The results haven't changed — you've been leaving five star reviews about those for years and I intend to keep earning every one of them. What's changing is how easy it is to find yours.
Restoring (formerly Athena) — For dry, damaged and over-processed hair. If your hair has been coloured, heat-styled within an inch of its life, or just feels brittle and dull, this is your bar. Hero ingredients: Raspberry Seed oil, Pink Clay and Pink Grapefruit. It rebuilds strength and brings back shine.
Softening (formerly Freya) — For frizz-prone, fine or hard-to-manage hair. If you spend your mornings fighting your hair into submission, this is the one. Hero ingredients: Lavender and Cashmere. It smooths, softens and makes your hair do what you actually want it to do.
Calming (formerly Apollo) — For sensitive scalps and fragrance-free routines. If your scalp is reactive, easily irritated, or you simply prefer to avoid fragrance, this was made for you. Hero ingredients: Goat Milk, Honey and Shea Butter. Pure, soothing and non-irritating.
Energising (formerly Lir) — For fine, flat hair that needs a wake-up call. If your hair is limp by lunchtime and lacks body, this is your bar. Hero ingredients: Seaweed and Peppermint. It volumises, strengthens and gives your scalp the refresh it's been asking for.
Balancing (formerly Dagda) — For oily roots and combination scalps. If your roots are greasy by day two but your ends are dry, your scalp is out of balance and this bar will sort it. Hero ingredients: Green Clay, Nettle and Rosemary. It regulates without stripping.
Clarifying (formerly Cú Chulainn) — For buildup, hard water and sluggish scalps. If your hair feels heavy, dull or product-coated, your scalp needs a proper reset. Hero ingredients: Charcoal and Coffee Grounds. A deep, detoxifying cleanse that leaves your scalp feeling completely clear.
Toning (formerly Áine) — For blonde, highlighted and grey hair. If brassiness is your enemy, this bar is your weapon. Hero ingredients: Purple Violet Pigment and Keratin. It neutralises warm tones and keeps colour looking fresh and bright.
Reviving (formerly Cherry Blossom) — For dull, tired hair that has lost its life. If your hair looks flat and feels lifeless, this bar brings it back. Hero ingredients: Cherry Blossom, Biotin and Sweet Almond. It restores movement, elasticity and that healthy-hair feeling.
Refreshing (formerly Coconut) — For everyday softness and shine. If you just want a brilliant all-rounder that leaves your hair clean, soft and smelling beautiful, this is it. Hero ingredients: Coconut Oil and Shea Butter. Simple, effective and endlessly satisfying.
What Comes Next
New packaging is coming very soon — and I cannot wait to show you. Nine ranges, each in its own colour, each with a wave of colour that tells you at a glance whether you're holding the shampoo, the conditioner or the body cleanse bar. It's the most considered thing I've ever made and I'm genuinely proud of it.
In the meantime, if you know your bar already, nothing is changing for you. Same formula, same results, new face.
And if you've been meaning to try one but weren't sure which was yours — now you know exactly where to start.
Janni Made by hand in Longford, Ireland