Plastic! We know it’s terrible and we know that we all use way too much of the stuff. But it’s also just so cheap, easy and convenient. What is one to do!?
While we here are Vegan Home & Travel acknowledge that we still have a lot of work to do in this area, we’ve also made some simple switches in the right direction, and we’d like to introduce you to 5 products that we think are really great! Not only are they all non-plastic, they also happen to be 100% vegan and non-animal-tested!
Plaine Products
source: Plaine Products, LLC
Plaine have a variety of products for haircare, skincare, travel-soze toiletries and gift sets. Their products are made of Citrus lavender or Rosemary, mint and vanilla, and are shipped in aluminium bottles which makes them light and less breakable than glass. The scents are amazing and the products are really effective. Their site is full of 5-star reviews from satisfied customers,
When you start getting low on your product, you just simply order more and return your empty bottles using the box your new products come in. Add the prepaid postage and pop it in the mail! Your old bottle will be reused. Super easy and convenient!
Pros:
- An excellent, highly-rated product
- Extremely easy to refill
- Carbon neutral
- Subscription service means you’ll never run out!
Cons:
- Could cost more than what many people want to pay for shampoo
- Only one formulation
Plaine also now ship to Canada. You can learn more about their circular economy right here.
Ethique Shampoo Bars
This little New Zealand company went global in a short period of time and is generally considered one of the best shampoo bars on the market. Their customer reviews certainly show a large and loyal following. While most people give up on a bar shampoos because residue tends to be left on the hair, most Ethique users state that they don’t experience this when using their shampoo bar.
Pros:
- Very widely available. You can find them on Amazon, various chains and shops. Check for stockists here.
- A range of scents and different formulations for different hair types
- Palm oil free
- Very economical. Most users say that a bar lasts three times as long as a liquid bottle.
- Carbon neutral and they buy many of their ingredients directly from growers.
Cons:
- a different hair washing experience which might feel strange at first
Dr. Bronner’s Castile Bar Soaps
Dr. Bronners has been around forever and is generally known as an almost magical soap that has 18 different uses (including, of course, hair washing) and the distinctive tiny print on their products. Their guide to washing your hair with their soaps says that it can take some time for your hair to get used to the product, and they also recommend that you rinse your hair afterwards with their organic conditioning rinse (which is unfortunately not zero waste). Some users have experienced success using apple cider vinegar instead. This should help any tangles or matting that you might experience. We love the peppermint variant for a nice tingly scalp!
Pros:
- A well established company with great ethics
- Widely available everywhere
- 17 different ways to use 1 product! Dr Bronner’s has a great guide for troubleshooting tips.
Cons:
- Not specifically designed for hair washing
- Requires a rinse
- No special formulations for different hair types
- It’s a different hair washing experience which might feel strange at first
Eco Roots
source: Eco Roots
Based in Colorado, Eco Roots has been helping their customers reduce their plastic use for years now. Not dissimilar to other shampoo bars, it can take some persistence to get through the adjustment period for your hair, but once there, you can say goodbye to expensive heavy plastic bottles. Each bar lasts for up to 50 washes! We really like the white unscented shampoo (one of us is sensitive to scents). Pair it with a soap saver bag so that your shampoo bar doesn’t get a soggy bottom.
Pros:
- Eco Roots has lots of zero waste products to choose from
- Only 4 ingredients
- Good for all hair types
Cons:
- Like all shampoos bars, it can take a while to get used to it
- It’s a different hair washing experience which might feel strange at first
Chagrin Valley Soap and Salve Dry Shampoos
f you have a favorite shampoo that you cannot live without, or you just can’t bare to go through the transition phase that come with changing to a shampoo bar, then consider changing to a dry shampoo to increase the time between washes.
Fewer washes means less shampoo used which means less plastic, especially if you choose a dry shampoo that is plastic-free! That’s where Chagrin Valley comes in. This small family run company has been making handmade products for nearly 20 years and this dry shampoo is easy-as-pie to use. Simply sprinkle it into the roots of your hair, brush it through, wait 5 minutes (or overnight) for the oils to be absorbed, and voilà!
Pros:
- Certified organic and non-GMO
- Lasts for 90 months after opening
- All natural ingredients
- Lots of lovely different scents
- Has products for light and dark hair
Cons:
- Expensive for something that you could make yourself
If you like it, PIN IT!
Let’s Discuss!
Now, we’d love to hear from you! Do you have any questions? Ideas? Do you agree with our list? Any recommendations? Let us know and we might include in a future article update!
Let’s have a discussion in the comments below. We’d love to hear from you!
