Last Updated on January 12, 2021 by Nina Ahmedow
Hair care can be a difficult topic when you’re vegan because a lot of the products out there are not vegan and cruelty-free. Read on for details on my vegan and cruelty-free hair care routine.
Luckily, since I try to live a more minimalist lifestyle I keep the number of products I use very low. Though I do like trying out new products every once in a while.
I must have been around twelve years old when I started using semi-permanent hair colors. I loved all shades of red and reddish-brown, and I’m not exaggerating when I say I must have tried at least 30 different shades. As I reached my 20s, I toned it down a bit and preferred colors that were closer to my natural brown hair. Soon followed my natural phase where I only used henna and indigo on my hair.
This was a period where I stuck to the “curly girl method.” If you have wavy or curly hair, you should definitely look into it. It gave me the most beautifully defined curls I could have asked for. This was the period in my life where I liked my hair the most.
It is quite a time-consuming procedure though. When I moved to Greece it was just not feasible to work with henna and indigo in my small shower. My use of mainstream products increased again which damaged my hair quite a bit. But eventually, I found a vegan and cruelty-free hair care routine that is easy to follow here in Greece.
Before washing my hair, I add some virgin coconut oil to my hair for at least half an hour, preferably overnight. Coconut oil is my absolute favorite oil for hair. Over the years, I have experimented with different oils, such as castor oil, olive oil, or almond oil. I’ve also tried oil blends, but coconut oil has just the right consistency and brings amazing results. I believe oils are an absolute must for good vegan and cruelty-free hair care.
Then I wash my hair once or twice depending on how greasy it is from the coconut oil. Currently, I am using the tea tree and mint shampoo from Avalon Organics which is for sensitive and dry scalps. My scalp tends to get irritated here, which I think has to do with the showerhead and the flow of water because I didn’t have any issues in Hamburg. Check out my favorite cruelty-free and vegan shampoos for more suggestions.
Then I use a conditioner (right now I use one from Briogeo). Once I apply the conditioner through my hair I take a wide-toothed wooden comb to detangle my hair. As my hair is naturally wavy to curly this is the best way to comb my hair. Otherwise, I end up in pain. I always follow up with a hair mask and another round of detangling.
When rinsing out my hair I focus on the scalp and roots to make sure everything is clean.
When I get out of the shower I wrap my hair in a special towel. It dries much faster that way. Then I apply a leave-in conditioner, a tiny amount of oil, and a serum to the ends of my hair and then blow dry it using a diffuser. I only blow dry it to the point where it’s comfortable to wear in a bun. Keep in mind that heat is very damaging to the hair. In the summer, I simply let my hair air-dry overnight.
I try to stay away from styling products as they are even more damaging to the hair. The only thing I apply is styling mousse on my bangs before blow-drying them straight.
As you can see, I try to keep it fairly natural which means less harm to the environment and less damage to the hair. If you like this approach check out my sustainable travel hair care tips and my sustainable beach tips.
What does your vegan and cruelty-free hair care routine look like?
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