Figuring out your curly hair routine can sometimes feel costly and wasteful, and if you’re anything like me, you hate having to throw away endless plastic bottles. Or perhaps, you definitely want to make sure that any products you use on your curls are cruelty-free and vegan, and the well-known big brands just aren’t cutting it for you.
Luckily, lots of smaller hair brands nowadays are doing their bit for the world by developing their products with the planet in mind.
All the brands below are sulphate-free, silicone-free, vegan and cruelty-free. Most are plastic-free, whereas others are finding other innovative solutions to packaging to reduce their environmental impact. Some are not curly hair-specific brands, but at the very least, sell a shampoo and conditioner.
Have a look through this list, and maybe you’ll find some new favourites!
This post contains some affiliate discount codes/links.
Bambonn Haircare
Bambonn Haircare is a one-woman business run by Emily, who hand-makes her sleep protection and hair towels from bamboo jersey. Her hair wrap is my chosen method of sleep protection – it helps hold my curls in place overnight without them sliding around like they do in a bonnet.
Because she makes all of her products by hand, she only restocks once a week, on Friday at 8pm UK time. It’s worth being ready on her website for the restock, because they sell fast! She also puts a few on Etsy.
Bean and Bee
Bean & Bee is a British zero-waste company founded by a biophysicist whose curly hair products come in either bar form or in aluminium bottles. They are also palm oil-free and fragrance-free!
Bouclème
Bouclème is a Black-owned British haircare brand that caters to all curl types. Their recyclable bottles contain between 30% and 90% recycled plastic or bioplastic from sugar cane, and for every standard size bottle you buy, they plant one tree. What’s more, you can refill your bottles using their biodegradable refill pouches.
Get 15% off the Bouclème website with code COAST15
Ecoslay
US-based brand Ecoslay strives to keep their ingredients as natural as possible – so much so that they recommend that you keep their products refrigerated so that they keep for longer. Their products come in plastic-lined pouches, which they encourage you to decant into a jar at home so you can send the empty pouches back to them for recycling.
Ethique
Ethique is a New Zealand-based, fully plastic-free brand. They sell shampoo and conditioner bars, along with deodorants and other skincare products, all packaged in recyclable cardboard and certified to be palm oil-free. They also plant one tree for every online order.
Faith in Nature
Faith in Nature makes shampoo and conditioner bars, body wash, laundry detergent, and even dog shampoo! Their 500ml bottles are made of aluminium, and they are working to make more of their packaging aluminium (although their plastic bottles are recyclable too). Faith in Nature is also available at several zero-waste shops around the UK, so you can grab a pot from home and fill it with their product. Its factory and warehouse are powered by 100% renewable and community-owned solar energy, and they plant a tree with every order.
Get 15% off Faith in Nature’s website with code COAST15
Kitsch
Kitsch is a US-based company that offers a variety of shampoo and conditioner bars, including their very popular rice water range. They are Leaping Bunny certified and 4ocean certified, meaning that for every shampoo or conditioner bar sold, 4ocean pulls the equivalent of one shampoo bottle’s worth of plastic from the ocean or coastline.
Get 10% off the Kitsch website with code CURLSBYTHECOAST
Naturally Drenched
Naturally Drenched is a Florida-based brand founded by Salon owner Jamila Powell. Its vegan and eco-conscious products come in aluminium or other recyclable packaging.
Shedid & Parrish
Shedid & Parrish is an award-winning British range that is used by celebrity stylists and salons. The range can be mixed and matched for fine or coarse curly hair, and their packaging is made of aluminium with direct-to-bottle printing. When you purchase a replacement bottle, you can order it without the plastic pump so you can use the pump you already have. Their products are also scent-free!
Get 10% off Shedid & Parrish with code COAST10
Tappermade
Tappermade is a one-woman business in Devon, UK, run by Sophia Tapper, who makes hair and skin products inspired by the sea. Her hair range includes a shampoo bar that lathers really well, along with a conditioner and leave-in packaged in aluminium bottles.
Tootilab
Tootilab is a relatively new brand founded by Gaia and Julio, who have carefully researched, developed, and dermatologically tested their products to make sure that they work for as many curl types as possible. Their recyclable packaging is well-thought out too, with the bottles made of 100% recycled Prevented Ocean plastic, and the labels made from bio-based materials like exhaust cooking oils. Their bottles are also larger than average – meaning that you need to replace them less often.
Get 15% off the Tootilab website with code CURLSBYTHECOAST
We are Paradoxx
WE ARE PARADOXX is an Irish haircare brand who puts the environment at the forefront of their products. Their products come in aluminium packaging, and they use locally-sourced ingredients where possible.
If you know of any more, please share them in the comments!
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