Clean Beauty Swap II : Switching to Safer Haircare Options

Last week I shared all the clean skincare swaps I made in this post here. And as promised, I am back with all the clean haircare swaps I have made in my routine. The haircare swap has been fairly easier than the skincare swap since I have a fairly minimalist routine and don’t use many products or heat style them. Yet, this post will guide you in replacing your basic hair care products with safer alternatives.

1. Shampoo

Most drugstore and high-end shampoos are sulfate-based. Although they are quite efficient at removing all buildup, they can easily dry out your hair and scalp and lead to skin irritation. and not just sulfates, there are many other ingredients involved which can be harmful to your hair.

So I switched to the Bon Organics Aloe Vera shampoo from the Tresemme Climate Control Shampoo. It is safe to say my hair can survive longer without washing now (up to 4 days instead of 2 earlier) as the sulfates are no longer stripping off natural oils from my scalp.

2. Conditioner

This haircare swap is not 100% clean as the Matrix Biolage Hair mask has artificial fragrance which could be derived from harmful chemicals. Yet it has been a huge step towards eliminating silicones in my haircare routine. I have used Dove, L’oreal, Sunsilk and most recently the Tresemme Climate Control Conditioner which had silicones, parabens and PEGs amongst other chemicals (read how they affect your health in this post).

My once flat limp hair look voluminous now without the silicones weighing them down. I am eyeing the Soultree Hibiscus Moisturiser next to go completely clean.

3. Serum

After the conditioner, this is a major source of silicone. Every hair serum on the market promising shiny, smoother hair is basically silicone in a bottle. Even the ones that claim to be enriched natural oils.  So instead use non-greasy oils like argan, grapeseed, jojoba or almond oil. I use 2-3 drops of almond oil on damp hair in place of the Matrix Biolage Smoothing Serum and it helps tame frizz and flyaways. It doesn’t make hair limp or look greasy if used in right quantity.

Also Read: 6 Must-Have Monsoon Beauty Essentials

4. Oils

How can an oil be harmful Rutu? You may be wondering. Well, it can be when you buy it without looking at the ingredient list. The Popular Bajaj Almond Drops hair oil is actually 77% mineral oil and has added perfume and colours. And there are many other companies selling you mineral oils, silicones and other harmful chemicals in name of nourishing natural oils.

Other such examples are the Dove Elixir Range, OGX Moroccan Argan Oil and even the Parachute Ayurvedic Hot Oil. So instead, use cold-pressed oils from trusted brands like Blend It Raw Apothecary, Soulflower, The Balance Mantra etc.

5. Dry shampoo

I have never owned any drugstore dry shampoo due to the alcohol content in them but have used one from Bblunt once (borrowed from a cousin). But now I use the Bon Organics Dry shampoo whenever I don’t have time to wash my hair and my roots look greasy. The results are similar to the BBlunt dry shampoo and it is priced similarly too. A great option if you want to switch to a product with clean ingredient list.

6. Styling Products

I don’t heat style my hair and hence don’t use any hairsprays or styling gels as such. But if you are looking for a natural option for hair styling, you can try a DIY sea salt spray( an easy recipe here) for adding volume and texturising while beeswax will help in holding and defining your curls.

Eliminating sulfates and silicones from your haircare can improve the overall health of your hair. So think about switching to safer hair care products in your routine. Have you made the clean haircare swap yet? I would love to know how you did in it comments below.

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Also Read: Clean Beauty Swap- Safe Skincare Alternatives