When it comes to green living, it’s important to expand this to cover as many aspects of your life as possible – and that includes your hair care routine! Finding products that are kind to the planet *and* do the job when it comes to protecting and nourishing your hair doesn’t have to be difficult.
Choosing sustainable hair care options doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality of the products you use – it’s just about being a bit more careful and conscious in your choices. It’s also important to ensure the brands you choose really are eco-friendly; transparency is key when you’re doing your shopping. Below you’ll find some of the best eco-friendly hair products on the market right now!
Shampoo Bars
If you’re looking for a planet-friendly way to wash your hair, a shampoo bar is a great option – with no need for single-use plastic, these solid bars of shampoo are compact and long-lasting. They require much less water to make than liquid shampoo, so are much better for the environment. Shampoo bars also typically contain fewer chemicals too: no sulphates, silicones or parabens, making them so much better for your hair.
They work similarly to solid soap, simply lather it up in your hands and rub the suds into your hair before rinsing away! Boots offer a range of shampoo bars, as do health and wellness shops like Holland and Barrett.
Bamboo Hair Brushes
Keeping your hair knot-free, smooth, and tidy requires a hair brush. Most traditional hair brushes are made from plastic, which of course isn’t great for the environment. Despite not being single-use plastic, they’re difficult to recycle and therefore end up in landfill; plastic production is also harmful in itself, causing air pollution.
But there is a solution, and it comes in the form of bamboo hair brushes. These are one of the best eco-friendly hair care products available; gentle on your hair and scalp, and made from bamboo – a strong and durable material created from a rapidly regenerating wonder plant. Bamboo can sequester carbon, so it’s an environmental masterpiece.
You can buy bamboo hair brushes from Marks and Spencer, The Body Shop, and various other beauty stores.
Olive Oil
It may sound strange, but olive oil is great for your hair. Rather than buying a fancy, expensive and not-environmentally friendly hair treatment (such as a leave-in conditioner or hair serum), this is a natural resource which can be bought for a bargain price when you do your weekly food shop. Olive oil production helps to capture carbon from the environment, and virgin olive oils don’t require chemicals. Applied to wet hair, it can help with strength and extra moisture; containing squalene and oleic acid, it’s really nourishing. Avoid the roots and you’ll be good to go!
Apple Cider Vinegar
Say goodbye to lackluster locks with the power of apple cider vinegar! Not only is it an eco-friendly option, but it’s also a wallet-friendly solution for achieving healthy, shiny hair. Incorporating an apple cider vinegar rinse into your hair care routine can restore pH balance, reduce frizz, and even enhance color vibrancy. Not to mention, it effectively removes buildup and promotes a healthy scalp. Just mix 1 part ACV with 3 parts water, rinse your hair after shampooing, leave it on for a few minutes, and rinse it out. Get ready to have hair that shines like a star!
Refill packs
If you’re not ready to part with your traditional hair care products, you can still be a bit more eco-friendly in your shopping habits. Many hair companies are starting to offer their products in refill packs, which is a fantastic way of reducing the amount of single-use plastic in your bathroom. You can keep the same bottle for years at a time, filling it up whenever you run out. This can be done by taking it to zero waste shops where you pay by weight or purchasing pre-packaged refill packs of product from the supermarket or drugstore.
There are plenty of eco-friendly hair care options available; it’s all about doing your research, trying new products, and finding something that works for you and your hair!
Petra Nakashian (previously Kravos) is a dedicated natural health and beauty blogger, driven by the loss of her parents to cancer, which led her to meticulously research beauty product ingredients. With over 10 years of experience, her in-depth knowledge has made her a trusted expert in the field. Founder of Be Healthy Now and Green Beauty Talk, Petra recently expanded her expertise with Beauty Insights Hub, exploring a wider range of beauty treatments. Committed to transparency and honesty, her work is a vital resource for navigating the complex world of beauty.
