Your guide to eco-friendly haircare

When it comes to hair, shampoo bars are not the only option, there are so many eco-friendly ways to care for your hair and whilst packaging is important, cutting down on plastic is not the only way to reduce your carbon footprint. Check out the best ways to keep your hair and planet healthy below.

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Refillable options

If you don’t like the idea of shampoo bars, refillable hair care could be for you. Many assume that going zero-waste means compromising your beauty routine, but with Hairstory you can get professional hair care whilst not compromising your eco morals. Meanwhile, Faith in Nature is a cheaper but quality brand available in many zero waste shops. Refillable shampoo is great for that luxury feel in your home as you can match your bottles to your decor and even label them if you’re feeling extra fancy.

Shampoo bars

However, Shampoo bars are arguably the easiest and most readily available eco alternative. On the high street, check out Ethique for bars from as little as £2.50 or Lush for their own brand bars. But if you want to support local businesses, many Etsy shops sell handmade shampoo and conditioner bars whilst most zero-waste businesses will have Faith in Nature in stock for hair care tried and tested since 1974.

High street shampoos

On a student budget it can be hard to afford some more eco-friendly alternatives but as big brands try to become more environmentally conscious, you can still be eco-friendly on a budget. For example, Garnier have pledged to make their factories carbon neutral by 2025 and to make sure all plant or renewable ingredients are sustainably sourced by this year.

Make your own

Often, the most sustainable thing to do is use what you have, so why not have a rummage in your cupboards and see what you have to up your hair care game? For example, rosemary water is great for hair growth, as is rice water. Apple cider vinegar is also a well known hair cleanser which you can also use for baking and cooking so you’ll always be able to use up your supply.

Accessories and tools

It’s important to remember that a lot of your tools and accessories can also be bad for the environment. Rubber hair bands for instance not only put too much tension on your hair but cannot be broken down or recycled. Try a more eco alternative such as these plastic free bobbles. You could also try a bamboo brush which will break down once you are done with it unlike your previous plastic tangle-teezer.

However you start your eco hair care journey, remember that every little helps and not every eco-friendly product will suit you. You can swap and share with friends, try samples or repurpose products until you find the right product for you. For example, if you don’t like your shampoo bar, save it to use as shower soap.

Edited by Amy Mullen-Brown