Vegan hair care doesn’t get as much attention on blogs and in magazines as other areas of veganism, but it needs to be talked about more.
Here’s why
What is vegan hair care?
Vegan hair care is hair care free from animal products. It’s not a style but is more of a lifestyle choice.
Vegan hair care is different from regular hair care.
What makes vegan hair care different is that it doesn’t contain any animal products or animal byproducts.
These byproducts include bee’s wax, honey, silk, collagen, and other items.
Some people choose to use vegan hair care because they don’t want to use these items on their scalp or hair.
Other people prefer vegan products because of the way they are made.
How to figure out which vegan shampoos and conditioners are right for you
Veganism is big business these days and more people are looking for healthy alternatives to their everyday products.
If you’re a vegan, it can be hard to choose the right shampoo and conditioner.
Here’s how to find out which shampoos and conditioners are right for you:
Do your research
There are a lot of animal-derived ingredients in shampoos and conditioners.
Try to avoid them wherever possible by doing your homework first.
Don’t just read the labels — check out the websites of the companies that make the product or speak with their customer services departments.
Check if there’s a vegan symbol on the packaging too. Some companies will only go so far as to put symbols on their products, but won’t list all ingredients on their websites.
Shop around for cruelty-free products
If you’re an animal lover, you don’t want to be supporting companies that test their products on animals or use animal byproducts in any way.
You’ll need to do some research on different brands and try out several different types of shampoo until you find one that works for you.
Look for cruelty-free symbols and check the websites of different brands to see if they have special sections detailing all of their products’ ingredients.
Treat it like a trial
Shampoos and conditioners can vary based on hair type and what you’re looking for in your product, so you want to try a few different brands to find the one that works best for your hair.
Since cruelty-free products can be harder to find, it might take some time before you find the right brand.
Check online reviews and compare brands to see which ones have worked well for other people with similar hair types to yours.
Check the label
Some shampoos and conditioners make claims about being cruelty-free, but many do not.
When in doubt, check the ingredients list on the bottle or tube or the brand’s website to see if they disclose whether they test on animals or not.
If they aren’t forthright with their customers, it could be cause for concern as far as their ethics are concerned in other areas too.
Vegan hair care routine
I’m really excited to share my five-step vegan hair care routine with you.
It took me a while to figure it all out since I stopped using shampoo, but now I love it!
My hair is so much healthier and stronger now.
1. Shampoo
I use Giovanni’s 3-minute avocado deep conditioning mask.
2. Conditioner
I use Shea Moisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Strengthen, Grow & Restore Leave-In Conditioner
3. Detangle
My hair detangles really well with Naked Ape banana leave-in conditioner
4. Moisturize & seal
I apply a small amount of aloe vera juice right after washing my hair and use Carol’s Daughter Monoi Repairing Hair Mask on top of it.
I let that sit for 30 minutes while doing other things like makeup etc.
5. Blow dry & style
I don’t blow dry my hair, I let it air dry because it’s more natural and healthier for the hair.
If you choose to blow dry, please use a heat protectant first!
If you have any questions about what heat protectants are best for your hair type feel free to ask me!
How to develop a vegan hair care regimen
Vegan hair care products are not only for vegans. Everyone can benefit from using vegan hair products.
Vegan hair care is better for the environment and animal friendly.
Developing a vegan hair care regimen can be difficult.
It can be hard to find products that are cruelty-free and not tested on animals, especially if you have sensitive skin.
Trying new products can also be scary because it’s hard to know if something will work for your hair or not.
Here are 6 steps to developing a vegan hair care regimen that works for you:
Step 1: Know the basics of vegan hair care products
The first step in developing a regimen of pure vegan hair care products is learning some basics about them.
How do they differ from traditional hair products? What ingredients can you expect to find?
These are important questions to answer if you want to make an informed decision about switching over completely.
Step 2: Consider your current product usage
Before starting a new vegan hair care regimen, consider how many non-vegan products you’ve been using in your hair before this point.
If you are just beginning the switch to vegan haircare, chances are you are already familiar with the standard non-vegan hair care product lines that most salons and stores carry.
If you have been using these products your entire life and have never questioned their origins or ingredients, then it is likely going to be more difficult for you to replace them with vegan options.
Step 3: Begin using vegan hair care products
Start by switching out one product at a time.
For example, if you use Pantene Pro-V Daily Moisture Renewal Shampoo and Conditioner, switch to Giovanni Hair Care Shampoo and Conditioner first.
After you have swapped out all of your hair care products, you may notice that your hair has become much more manageable, softer, and easier to style.
If this happens, you have successfully created your vegan hair care regimen!
Step 4: Consider your hair type
There are different types of vegan hair care products for people who have different types of hair.
Before settling on a particular product, consider your hair type. Do you have dry, oily, curly or straight hair?
This will help you find the right products to use.
Depending on your hair type, one type of vegan shampoo might work better for you than another.
For example, if you have straight hair and want to keep it that way, using a sulfate-free shampoo that is designed specifically to prevent fizziness can be helpful.
If you have curly hair and are looking for something to help maintain curls, a vegan conditioner with humidity protection can help.
Final Thoughts
In general, it seems as though there is an abundance of options out there to choose from.
The information shared above should be a start in terms of sorting through the noise and finding what you’re looking for.
Vegan hair care might seem like a niche market, but if you’re into it, the payoff can definitely be worth it.
