If you’re trying to find some effective yet zero-waste curly hair products, then — curly-haired gals and guys — this article is for you!
We know that having curly hair is both a curse and a blessing — and we also know the struggle of finding some decent hair products that are both zero waste and eco-friendly.
Well, today we have done the heavy lifting for you and gathered some of the best, sustainable and natural products we could find. We have products for those of you who are looking for 100% vegan haircare, natural ingredients, and zero waste alternatives.
So let’s get to it!
The Best Shampoo Bars for Curly Hair
Eco Warrior Shampoo Bars
These cruelty-free, natural shampoo bars by Eco Warrior are simply amazing!
The formula is designed to nourish your curls with beneficial ingredients like Pink Clay and pure Orange and Ginger essential oils to promote healthy hair growth.
We also love the fact that no synthetic and unnecessary chemicals are added to Eco Warrior shampoo bars, as well as no alcohol, SLS, sulfates, silicones, or preservatives. All of which are very drying to curly hair.
On top of that, Eco Warrior promises that all of its hair products are 100% plastic-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. Plus, you can choose from a wide range of wonderful scents including a coconut oil blend, and they sell shaving bars and No products found., too!
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Faith in Nature Shampoo Bars
Faith in Nature is probably one of my personal favorites when it comes to shampoo brands – for a simple reason, their shampoos, conditioners, and shampoo bars are simple yet so, so good!
All of their beauty products are 100% natural, free from SLS and parabens, and of course, cruelty-free.
I also like how their shampoo bars are naturally fragranced, so everything you’re smelling is created using essential oil blends, all of which nourish your curls and scalp.
Additionally, Faith in Nature has only used 100% recycled and recyclable plastic since 1999, and claims to have saved 340 tonnes of plastic waste from ending up in the landfill – how amazing is that?
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Pine Tar Shampoo Bars
If you suffer from eczema, dry or flaky scalp, especially in the colder winter months – then you’ll love these Pine Tar shampoo bars.
Made only out of natural ingredients such as coconut oil, cocoa butter, Jojoba oil, and pine tar, not only will this blend help to tame and nourish your curly hair, but also make your scalp feel refreshed, too!
Other customers rave about the natural pine scent, which is thanks to the natural extra heavy pine tar sourced from a Swedish pine.
To top it off, all of these soap bars are lovingly handmade by ZirYabsBodyBrew.
The Best Plastic Free Conditioner For Curly Hair
Nourishing Hair Conditioner Bar by Kira and Cody
This hair conditioner bar will help to leave your curls feeling juicy and bouncy using only the simplest ingredients.
Each bar is formulated out of shea butter, cetyl alcohol, argan oil, and coconut oil – all of which are very moisturizing for your hair. Additionally, these ingredients are kind to the skin as well, so both your hair and body can get a treat out of this bar!
You can rest assured that these bars are free from sulfates, parabens, and phthalates, as well as 100% vegan and cruelty-free. Plus, the sellers make sure to use as little packaging as possible during shipping.
Aunt Jackies In Control Anti-Proof Moisturizing and Softening Conditioner
Aunt Jackies conditioner not only sounds comforting, but it’s very effective too! Particularly for very tight curls.
The product comes in a recyclable plastic jar and is enriched with extra virgin olive oil, shea butter, and keratin all designed to smoothen and nourish your curls, to give them that extra shine and bounce.
Plus, you’ll find no mineral oils, sulfates, or parabens in this formula and it’s eco-friendly – yay!
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Cocoa Butter Conditioner Bar by Letitia Bryant
The cocoa butter conditioner bar is designed specifically for dry brittle hair and is especially helpful for split ends!
Organic cocoa butter already has so many beneficial properties that not only nourish and moisturize our hair but help to relieve dry and itchy scalp as well.
The conditioner var also contains castor oil which has antifungal and antibacterial properties, and you’ll also find BTM, which is a type of plan-based emulsifier that is gentle on your skin and hair.
Of course, everything about this conditioner bar is cruelty-free, sustainable, and natural!
Some Awesome Hair Products for Curly Hair
Flaxseed Medium Hold Hair Gel by A Simple Planet
Have you heard how amazing flaxseed gel is for curly hair?
This natural product moisturizes your hair while helping to create soft-to-the-touch curls that simply shine and glow!
A Simple Planet uses only the most natural ingredients when creating their hair care products, and this is exactly what you’ll get with this zero-waste curly hair gel. The only components you’ll find in this are water, flaxseed, aloe vera, gluconolactone, sodium benzoate, and some essential oils.
Plus, the product comes in a zero-waste and sustainable aluminum bottle, and you can also purchase a refill pouch when done!
Protein Elixir by A Simple Planet
Another product by A Simple Planet that’s great for curly or frizzy hair is this Protein Elixir.
It’s designed to help repair dry or damaged hair, and it does so by using different size protein molecules which help to build hair structure, making your overall all mane smoother and stronger!
Curly Hair Butter by BarakahBotanicals
Another product that we think your curls will appreciate is this curly hair butter by BarakahBotanicals.
Think of this as a vitamin boost for your curly locks that will give them extra life and beautiful shine. This butter is made especially with curly or coily hair in mind, as it will help to strengthen and soften it without weighing the hair down.
You can use this product as a leave-in conditioner or even as a deep conditioning treatment for some extra nourishment.
There you have it!
These are just some of our favorite curly hair products, all of which are designed to help you achieve the type of curls you want.
At the end of the day, when it comes to taking care of your locks, the key is to avoid hair products that contain harsh sulfates or artificial fragrances, all of which can further damage and dry out your curls.
Also, try to cut back on heat styling tools if you can!
Another simple thing you can do to prevent frizz is to sleep on a silk pillowcase since it’s less drying for our skin and hair while also helping to tame frizz.
What are some of your favorite curly hair products? Let us know in the comments below.
Zero-Waste Hair Care FAQs
Why does zero-waste hair care matter?
Haircare accounts for 5% of the total water footprint of a person in Canada and 1/4 to ½ of an American’s shampoo can is composed of non-biodegradable plastic. This means that every year, millions of tonnes of plastic goes into our oceans or landfills from hair products alone. In addition, ingredients that go into commercial shampoos and conditioners have been linked to a variety of health problems including contact dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, and non-allergic rhinitis. This is not just true for commercial shampoos, but also conventional conditioners.
What does it mean to have zero-waste hair care?
Zero-waste means that there are no disposable components left after use, which eliminates packaging waste in landfills or oceans. It also reduces the risk many chemicals can pose on human health and the environment.
What are some of the challenges to switching to zero-waste hair care?
The greatest challenge I had while switching to zero-waste hair was finding products that were effective, but also natural and vegan (ingredients must not come from any animal or insect product). I believe that living a plastic-free life is essential to protecting our environment, but it’s also important that the products we use are safe for ourselves and safe for the planet.
How to switch to plastic-free hair care?
I know it can be hard to switch to zero-waste hair care, especially if you’re used to using commercial shampoos and conditioners. It’s a big change from using one plastic bottle every month or two, to not buying anything new for a couple of months.
If you prefer conventional shampoo and conditioner that comes in plastic packaging, I would recommend buying larger bottles in order to reduce the number of times you need to buy it per year. This can also help reduce your environmental footprint since large containers are recycled more.
How to buy shampoo without plastic?
Since I began my zero-waste journey, I have been using shampoo bars instead of plastic bottles. Shampoo bars are not just a great way to cut down on the number of times you need to buy shampoo, but they also work better than commercial shampoos.
In addition, most plastic bottles used for conventional hair care contain phthalates, which are endocrine disruptors that can cause all sorts of health problems.
How to know if shampoo is biodegradable?
Unfortunately, many hair care companies label their products as biodegradable even though they are not. This is especially true for the beauty industry which has no obligation to disclose ingredients listed on labels or any standards to what “biodegradable” means.
The only way you can be sure if your shampoo contains phthalates is by looking at the ingredients. You can get an idea of what is inside by looking for words that end in “eth,” “-zane,” “-cone”, “-conol,” or “-xane.” These are just some common synthetic compounds found in many conventional hair care products.
Also, to check whether your shampoo bar is biodegradable or not you can look for the following certifications:
The label “natural” does not mean that a product is biodegradable. This only means that it contains natural ingredients and there are no synthetic components in it.
Check out our take on Popular Eco-Friendly Hair Brushes to support your zero-waste haircare!
Anna Miller is a content manager at TrashBackwards. She’s passionate about living a zero-waste lifestyle. Anna has been writing about eco-friendly tips for years now, and she’s got some great ideas on how you can go plastic-free! She loves sharing her knowledge about eco-lifestyle with others. Her articles are always witty and insightful! Shoot her a message if you’ve got any questions about how you can start going green.
