Plastic-Free July: Zero Waste Hair Care Swaps

We’re now into our third week of Plastic-Free July and choosing to refuse plastic. This week we’re focusing on all things hair care.

We’ve avoided the hair care aisles in supermarkets and pharmacies for over two years now, with a shampoo bar being one of our first swaps. So we’re here to help you make that change, too.

By going plastic free in your hair care regime, you’ll notice how fast you make an impact to your plastic footprint -- and you won’t compromise having beautiful hair.

We explain all about different eco-friendly hair care swaps and why they’re better for your hair and the environment.

1. Shampoo 

When I first starting thinking about an eco-friendly shampoo option, I honestly hadn’t even thought about what chemicals are contained in the the shampoo I was using at the time.

So many leading shampoos are full of SLS, fragrances, cocamidoproyl betaine, triclosan and polysorbates. While these might help the shampoo to last longer, lather more and create shine, they can impact your health and lead your hair to rely on these chemicals.

Switching to a shampoo bar has an initial transitioning period. This is when your hair is getting rid of all those nasty chemicals and beginning to rely on its natural oils. Once you're out the other side, your hair will be happy and healthy.

And don't worry, shampoo bars do lather up a lot, and they do it with natural ingredients!

Take a look at our collection of shampoo bars.

2. Conditioner

To produce the shine they are known for, many high-street conditioners use silicones. You can spot them by looking for ingredients ending in “–cone”. Silicones are an unnatural ingredient, a sealant against water and air. They are plastic-like and overuse of them can lead to dry hair.

Not only that, but the plastic bottles used in conditioner products are difficult to recycle as they are often made with coloured plastic.

Personally, I only use a vinegar rinse on my hair after my shampoo bar, but there are now so many options for eco hair conditioners, packaged in cardboard, aluminium or glass.

Switch to an eco-friendly conditioner.

3. Hair ties

Most hair ties and scrunchies are made with elastic. Elastic is a material made from polyester and rubber. As we know, polyester is a type of plastic and plastic takes hundreds of years to biodegrade. That means every hair tie you’ve ever owned is probably still on the planet somewhere. Scary times.

I only need to think of all the multipacks of hair ties I used to buy. They be scattered around the house and get thrown away without a second thought. Hair ties are prone to snapping and then what? They don’t just disappear.

A new hair tie is on the market and it will revolutionise how you think of tying up your hair. Biodegradable hair ties are made from natural rubber and organic cotton. These ones will disappear.

Here are some biodegradable hair ties we stock.

4. Hairbrushes

Hairbrushes are one of those items you have in your house that you don’t even think about being made from plastic. The handle is usually made from hard plastic with bristles often made from nylon – another form of plastic.

While hairbrushes last much longer than other hair accessories, at the end of their life they won’t be recycled. Most hairbrushes are made with black plastic, which is notoriously difficult to recycle. These guys will be sitting in landfill for a long long time. 

Once your hairbrush has come to the end of its life, I recommend looking into wooden brushes made with wood from sustainable forests. Plastic-free hairbrushes are made with a natural rubber bed for the pins, so they’re completely biodegradable.

Check out our selection of natural hairbrushes for short to long hair. 

Conclusion 

If you're beginning an eco-friendly hair care regime, you’ll notice the impact immediately. For a start, there’ll be no plastic bottles littering your shower rack.

By switching to a shampoo bar, you’ll find one bar will last just as long as a plastic shampoo bottle and you'll see the long-term benefits in the health of your hair.

With the zero waste market booming, there are a whole host of eco alternatives for specific hair types and they come in different types of packaging. Whether you’ve got dry, oily, damaged, sensitive scalp or normal hair, there is a plastic-free option for you.

Shop by your hair type and see the full range of plastic-free hair care swaps.

Which zero waste shampoo do you use? Let us know in the comments.

Good luck with the rest of Plastic-Free July!