From vegan cheese to meat and dairy alternatives, supermarkets have never been as packed with free from products, but veganism is more than just a food trend, it’s a completely different way of life.
From vegan toothpaste to shampoos, there’s been a huge push for vegan hair and beauty products but do you really know your cruelty free from your vegan?
Read on to find out exactly what vegan haircare is and why you should consider switching.
What does vegan hair care mean?
To put it simply, vegan hair products contain absolutely no animal-derived ingredients. They are also usually cruelty-free, meaning that the product has not been tested on animals at any point during creation and distribution to the consumer.
Whilst most haircare brands have started to use a much more natural approach, many are still sneaking animal ingredients in formulas more than you realise.
Popular animal based derivatives to look out for include biotin, keratin, collagen and glycerin which are marketed for being nourishing and strengthening to the hair but at the expense of being damaging to the environment.
What are the benefits of vegan hair care?
Thankfully, the introduction of vegan hair products have the double benefit of providing amazing results without the environmental guilt that non-vegan products offer.
1. Contains no man made chemicals
Non-vegan shampoos are full of synthetic chemicals and ingredients, which are not environmentally friendly and can be damaging to the skin, hair, eyes and lungs.
A common culprit is sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulphate (SLES) both commonly used ingredients that cause shampoos to foam. The presence of these ingredients can dry out the hair follicles and produce more oil which can cause hair loss and scalp problems.
2. Reduces your carbon footprint
Many vegan products are made in a biodegradable and environmentally friendly way than their synthetic alternatives such as .
They also tend to come in recycled packaging which means that not only do you get healthier hair, you also get the satisfaction of knowing you’re reducing your carbon footprint and helping to save the planet.
3. Vegan products contain more nourishing and natural ingredients
Typically, vegan hair products are less harsh and better suited to promoting healthier and longer hair as they are filled with natural, nourishing, plant-based ingredients such as coconut oil, soy protein and jojoba oil. These ingredients can cause shinier, healthier and better-managed hair in a way which can promote and stimulate the hair follicles, making it easier for you to experience new growth.
How to check your hair product is vegan
To identify vegan hair products, look out for these two key things on the packaging:
- Not tested on animals: Vegan hair products are not tested on animals. In other words, these products are animal cruelty-free.
- Free of animal by-products: The products should be free from animal-derived ingredients to be considered vegan.