The Benefits of Vegan Haircare

Thinking about starting a vegan hair care routine but want to understand more about the benefits and how to get started? Here’s everything you need to know about vegan hair care and which vegan hair products to add into your routine.

What is vegan hair care anyway?

Let’s start at the beginning and talk about what vegan hair care is. It’s haircare products that have been formulated without any animal-derived ingredients or by-products. Instead, they use plant-based, cruelty-free ingredients to cleanse, nourish and style your hair. This means no ingredients like keratin, honey, beeswax and animal-derived proteins and oils.

Harnessing the power of botanical extracts, we use the highest quality natural extracts and plant-based proteins in all of our vegan hair care products. This supports taking care of your hair without compromising on luxury or ethics.

Vegan ingredients we love

Here are the vegan ingredients that we love that work just as well as their non-vegan counterparts, without the irritation, dryness or environmental impact:

●Plant-based oils like coconut oil, argan oil, jojoba oil, and olive oil.

●Hair-friendly plant extracts, including aloe vera, peppermint, sunflower seed, chamomile extract, and geranium.

●Vegetable glycerin is a humectant derived from plants that’s great for moisturising.

●Essential oils like lavender, peppermint and nut oils, among others.

●Plant-based proteins, including soy protein, gluten free oat protein and rice protein are used for strengthening and conditioning hair.

Non-vegan ingredients to look out for

Need a quick checklist of the hair care ingredients to look for on the label that mean your products aren’t vegan? We’ve got you.

●Keratin is traditionally sourced from animal hooves, horns and feathers - it's a common protein used in many hair products.

●Collagen is often derived from animal tissues and used for its conditioning properties.

●Honey is a natural humectant but not vegan as it's produced by bees.

●Beeswax is used in styling products for hold and texture but comes from bees.

●Lanolin is derived from sheep's wool, it's often used for its moisturising properties in hair and skincare.

It's important to note that sometimes these ingredients can have synthetic or plant-based alternatives in vegan hair care formulations. Checking labels and looking for specific vegan certifications can help in identifying products that align with a vegan lifestyle.

Are cruelty-free and vegan the same thing?

While cruelty-free and vegan are related concepts, they don't mean exactly the same thing when it comes to your haircare. We’re pleased to say that all of our haircare products are proudly vegan and cruelty-free. We only use ingredients that are certified as both by PETA. You don’t have to pick one or the other, or compromise on the results you get for your hair.

Cruelty-free means that a product or its ingredients haven’t been tested on animals. It focuses on the testing side of things and means that no animals were involved in any phase of product development. A cruelty-free product can still contain animal-derived ingredients, meaning it doesn't necessarily guarantee that the product is vegan. If avoiding animal products, or moving towards a vegan lifestyle is your priority, don’t just assume that cruelty-free means vegan.

Therefore, a product can be both vegan and cruelty-free, meaning it doesn't contain any animal-derived ingredients and was not tested on animals. That’s the case with all of our haircare products and formulations. We don’t test on animals or use any animal-derived ingredients. Just hair care that’s good for you, your hair and the world around you.

6 benefits of vegan hair care

Wondering why you should go vegan when it comes to your hair care routine? Here are six amazing reasons why it makes sense to go for vegan hair care products as part of your daily routines:

1. Natural, plant-powered ingredients

Instead of synthetic ingredients that strip or dry out your hair and scalp, vegan hair care aims to use a nourishing blend of plant-based ingredients that are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. This means your hair’s balanced, hydrated and nourished naturally.

2. Cruelty-free formulations

By going for vegan hair care products, you're making an ethical choice against animal testing and exploiting living things for the sake of your beauty routine. Vegan, cruelty-free formulations ensure that no animals are harmed or subjected to testing - it’s ethical and makes the world a better place. Our products only use PETA certified vegan & cruelty-free sustainable ingredients, so you can look good without feeling bad.

3. Gentle and sensitive

Our vegan hair care products - from our vegan shampoo & conditioner through to our treatments and daily styling products - are free from harsh chemicals, parabens and sulphates, making them gentle on sensitive scalps. They help maintain the natural pH balance of your hair while reducing the risk of irritation or allergic reactions that can come with ingredients commonly found in other hair care products.

4. Environmental sustainability

Choosing vegan hair care supports sustainability by reducing the environmental impact that can come with using animal products or synthetic ingredients. We source our ingredients ethically and we use Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) plastics to create 100% recyclable bottles and jars. We keep bees at FFØR HQ to help support the biodiversity of the planet and nature’s resources.

5. Great for your hair

There’s a misconception that although vegan hair care is great from an ethical point of view, it doesn’t work as well as the alternatives. This isn’t the case. In fact, steering clear of synthetic ingredients can actually be better for your hair and scalp. We’re dedicated to using the best, most effective ingredients while still supporting the world around us. It’s about helping to rebalance your routine for naturally beautiful hair.

6. Makes a difference to the world around you

By choosing vegan hair care, you’re contributing to a better world around you. By supporting vegan brands, you’re making a move towards a future where people build their routines in a more conscious, intentional and sustainable way. We want to drive positive, compassionate change and we want you to be part of it.

Start your vegan hair care routine now

There’s no better time to start your vegan hair care routine than now. Whilst every January marks the start of Veganuary, a global movement to raise awareness about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle for you and the world, it’s a positive choice you can make anytime.

Making changes to your hair care routine is one of the easiest and most manageable ways to start your vegan journey. Once you see the benefits, it’s a lifestyle change that just feels better and better.

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