Why does literally everything come in plastic? You'd think at this point, companies would realise that going plastic free is not only awful for our environment, but it is also good marketing for them! Walking into Superdrug to buy some new hair products is like swimming in the ocean because guess what, it's full of plastic! (Did ya see what I did there?)
Now, I'm not making myself out to be some sort of saint, but I do try and minimise my plastic usage where possible. In the bathroom is one of these places. These are a few of the products that I use that help reduce my environmental impact that tiny bit more.
Shampoo bars.
This seems obvious to me at this point, but ditch your Goddamn bottles of shampoo. There are so many variations of bars that you really can't have many complaints. Lush alone has FIFTEEN different solid shampoos suited to every single hair type. Personally, I switch between Seanik and Brazilliant. (Brazilliant has been discontinued sadly, so I'm just stretching this bar out for as long as I can.)
I have wavy/curly hair that tends to have dry, split ends. I use Brazilliant when I need a little moisture boost, then switch to Seanik when my waves need a bit of definition and bounce in their lives. I'm very lucky to have worked at Lush in the past, so have a LOT of knowledge on their stuff. (Holla at me if you need a hand) Using plastic bottles now just feels pointless when there are so many alternatives that work just as well if not better.
The bars lather up just like a normal shampoo does and last a hell of a while longer. One bar can last up to 80 washes, plus it is so much more convenient when travelling to not have to lug bottles around with you.
If anyone finds some that are as good as Lush's bars then please let me know!
Conditioner.
As I said before, my hair is wavy/curly and I have tried solid conditioners. I wanted to love them and call them the new holy grail but my hair disagreed. It never felt as soft or manageable whenever I used them and I was left using bottled products.
Until a lovely little refill store called Un_Wrap opened in Falmouth and I found out they sold liquid conditioner! So I went armed with the last conditioner bottle I had used and filled that puppy up to the brim. The brand they have is called Suma and my hair so far has been loving it. I'm nearly out of my first bottle so need to go and refill again. One of the best things about buying this conditioner is that for a full, 400ml bottle I was only charged £1.80. Pretty decent when you have no money.
If like me, solid conditioners are not an option, then research your nearest refill store as the next best option. By refilling a bottle you already have, you are saving many more from going into landfill!
Hair Masks and Styling.
Is it cheating if I just say use Coconut oil as a hair mask? It does the job and nourishes your hair - just make sure you wash it out properly as it can be quite heavy. You could google how to make a nice fancy hair mask but I'm feeling quite lazy at the moment and don't have the time to do all that. So I'll just whack some Coconut oil in my hair dry, do all my jobs and then go have a shower to get it all out. Tadaaa! Super soft locks.
My one styling must have is Salt Spray. It gives you texture, hold, volume and makes my waves oh so defined. But why are you paying for a plastic bottle full of salty water that you could literally just make at home?
Using my old Salt Spray bottle, I added:
Hot water
1 Tbsp Sea Salt
1 Tbsp of Coconut oil
Few drops of Essential Oil (so it smells nice)
Then I shook it together to make sure that it had dissolved into the salt water and there you go! D.I.Y. Salt Spray.
Remember that whatever you can do to live a little more consciously will help. Don't beat yourself up for what you can and can't do, just do your best.
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