These natural hair styling products are much gentler on your hair, as well as the planet. Moo & Yoo (Scotland) offers more natural hairspray: including Sea Salt Spray and Volumising Spray. These do have some scent so are not the most natural, but at present, about as good as you can get. Recycle plastic bottles with household waste.
To start, treat hair gently when wet and use a biodegradable bamboo comb with gentle teeth. Then either leave hair to dry naturally, or style/brush with a plastic-free bamboo hairbrush (this has round ball bamboo tips that are comfortable against your scalp, and the brush is also easy to clean).
Let your hair dry naturally if possible. This may not be possible depending on your hairstyle. But if the weather’s warm and your hair falls into place, then letting it dry naturally is best. Microfiber towels that soak up water sound good, but when washed, they deposit microplastics in the machine, and these go into the sea. So stick to a normal cotton towel.
You could use VOLO GO that instead of ‘toasting your hair’ with convection heat, dries hair akin to like drying hair in the sun. Grundig QuietDry Hair Dryer is a quality hair dryer with a 2-year guarantee, and includes styling nozzles and a diffuser. It has a cool shot function and is very quiet, so won’t disturb anyone who is sleeping.
Hairspray makes hair brittle, and the particles can go into your mouth and the surrounding air, due to the mist being so fine. Constant use can lead to your hair thinning or falling out, along with eczema and similar skin conditions. To be truthful, you’re going to find it hard to find a totally natural hairspray commercially. The beauty alchemist over at Hello Glow has a recipe for DIY Coconut Oil Hair Spray using rosemary oil (not for high blood pressure) which can stimulate hair growth.
- No Gunk Styling Clay is made with Moroccan Lava clay ( the styling wax is not vegan-friendly).
- Rugged Nature Natural Hair Clay (made in Birmingham) is made with kaolin and shea butter, with cedarwood, lemongrass or sandalwood). Rugged Nature Vegan Hair Wax is for all hair types, with shea butter (not for latex allergies) and oils of sandalwood and cinnamon (avoid for pregnancy/breastfeeding, if used on women).
Biodegradable Hair Scrunchies & Ties
Most hair bands are made from nylon or polyester. Easy to lose off wrists (or off children’s heads when doing handstands and cartwheels), these fall down storm drains and go into the sea, where they never biodegrade. If you tie your hair back (don’t make the ponytails too tight, or you could give yourself traction alopecia), then choose biodegradable ones made from cotton, linen or hemp. Also don’t use elastic bands as these when dropped get trapped around hedgehogs or ducks think the red ones are worms, and eat them or feed them to their chicks (why many people ask the Post Office to switch to paper belly bands, to avoid the millions dropped by postal workers).
Wild & Stone Plastic-Free Hair Ties are made from a combination of cotton and natural rubber. Use for older children, to avoid choking hazard.
This set of two zero waste hair scrunchies are made with sustainable linen (from the flax plant), hemp or organic cotton fabric. Gentle on hair, they won’t pull or tangle, and are ideal to wear for the office or school run, and will take you through to a night out. The fabrics are from offcuts of other products, and the elastic is made from natural rubber or organic cotton. Choose from many colours, in sizes skinny to chunky.
Biodegradable hair scrunchies are far better for the planet. Hair scrunchies made from nylon never biodegrade. As many often fall off wrists (or off ponytails when children are doing handstands), these can fall into storm drains and go into the sea, where they harm marine creatures.
Tabitha Eve Plastic-Free Scrunchie is made from organic cotton and plant-based natural elastic. Totally biodegradable, choose from natural cotton velour or natural soft cotton.
Kohr Organic Bamboo Silk Scrunchie are made from a plant-based alternative to silk. Handmade in the UK with biodegradable elastic, they are sold in a mini pack of three or a single medium or giant scrunchie.
Plastic-Free Head Bands
This Cotton Waffle Headband is ideal to keep hair out of your face while cleansing your face, or removing/applying makeup. It has a Velcro fastening to the front, and is easy to use and washable. Each headband is made from offcuts from waffle dressing gowns. Choose from green or pink.
