Plastic-free hair care might sound daunting, but with a few easy switches, it's easier than you might think. Have you ever stared at the technicolour wall of shampoo bottles in the supermarket, and felt completely stumped? Should I buy the shampoo that unbottles my wildest fantasies, or the one makes my hair shine with all its strength, or the one that lets me have more "air in my hair"?
The truth is all shampoos do basically the same thing - strip oil and dirt from your hair. They all use the same 2 active ingredients - a surfactant and a co-surfactant. They create boatloads of foam, but are terrible for your hair.
Shampoos are also packaged in plastic bottles and transported for thousands of miles - which makes no sense when they are essentially 70-80% water. So, how can you buy shampoo without plastic? Switching to a solid shampoo bar will really get your waste down. There are a few brands on the market, so you're sure to find one that's perfect for your hair.
ABOVE: JUST ADD WATER - SHAMPOO BARS MAKE MORE SENSE THAN TRANSPORTING LIQUID ACROSS THE GLOBE
If you're using your shampoo bar in hard water, make sure to buy one with a pH-balanced formula, to avoid that dreaded brassy hair from the build-up of minerals.
Once you switch to a shampoo bar, your hair won’t be stripped of its natural oils - so you might find extra moistening and conditioning unnecessary. If you need a little extra treatment, try a healthy DIY solution:
If you still need extra moisturising, it's possible to find conditioner in solid bar form. Traditional conditioners coat your hair in silicone, which makes it feel silky, but is actually bad for your hair. Use a conditioner bar that nourishes hair with natural plant oils.
ABOVE: USE A CONDITIONER BAR MADE WITH NATURAL PLANT OILS
The next step to plastic-free hair care is your plastic and metal hair tie. They snap easily, and if you're anything like us, you're constantly losing them. It might not seem like a huge deal, but plastic hair ties can be harmful to wildlife who mistake them for food. Switch to plastic-free eco-friendly hair ties. Not only are these cotton ties better for the planet, they're designed to leave no dents or deformations. Win win!
ABOVE: PLASTIC HAIR BOBBLES ARE HARMFUL TO WILDLIFE. SWITCH TO PLASTIC-FREE HAIR TIES
As your final step to plastic-free hair care, ditch the tacky plastic brush and try a built-to-last version, made from natural materials. Plastic hairbrushes add to static electricity and can make your hair frizzy. Wooden bristles will distribute your natural hair oils for silkier hair.
ABOVE: TIRED OF THOSE PLASTIC BRISTLES SNAPPING OFF? TRY A NATURAL BAMBOO HAIRBRUSH INSTEAD
Have you made plastic-free switches in your hair care routine? Which is your favourite? Share in the comments below!