Celebrating vegan hair care
“Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”
- Vegan Society
It’s official — the vegan hair care category continues to rise (and shine!) in the hairdressing industry and to celebrate, we want to recognise why choosing Vegan hair care is great for your clients, salon and the planet! We’ve also hand-picked some amazing salons that are thriving in this space to share with us why their salon chose to go vegan friendly and which brands they use for their clients.
More than a lifestyle choice
Known for more than just a radical lifestyle choice now, Veganism and using vegan hair products in salons has become mainstream, with some salons selling the concept as their unique selling proposition (USP) to clients. This popularity is for a great reason too! Vegan hair products are not only good for the planet, but their natural formulas are also packed with good-for-hair ingredients and nourishing properties that keep customers coming back for more.
Why should salon owners range vegan hair colour and vegan hair care products?
Consumers are becoming more conscious and aware of the ingredients in products and how these ingredients are manufactured. It’s important as a salon owner or business to understand how you can offer your vegan clients an alternative choice - not only is it good business, but great for the environment.
Using vegan products doesn't mean you have to compromise on quality. There are so many natural ingredients now that mimic what were once only animal ingredients in hair colour and care products.
So, what makes a product Vegan?
Vegan hair care products are free from animal-derived ingredients or by-products, such as beeswax and lanolin. Instead, these products use plant-based ingredients and natural alternatives to achieve the same results.
Common vegan ingredients include coconut oil, shea butter, and aloe vera, which are known for their hydrating and nourishing properties. Other vegan replacements include wheat protein and soy protein, which can strengthen hair and promote growth.
What are the benefits of using Vegan hair care?
The benefits of using vegan hair care products go beyond ethical and environmental concerns. They’re often gentler on the scalp and less likely to cause allergic reactions, making them ideal for those with sensitive skin.
They can also help to reduce breakage and promote healthy hair growth. Vegan products are often formulated with natural ingredients that are free from chemicals like sulphates, and parabens, making them a healthier, more natural option.
How do you know if a product or brand is Vegan?
Most vegan hair care products or brands will proudly and visibly state this claim on their website or product packaging with a logo or certification. If there aren't any signs of this, check the products list of ingredients on the back of the package.
Here are a few ingredients to look out for that are vegan-friendly:
- Animal-derived ingredients such as beeswax, honey, lanolin, keratin, and silk amino acids.
- Items with plant-based only formulas with ingredients like coconut oil, olive oil and plant extracts like chamomile and lavender.
- The brand itself — most brands will promote that they are vegan-friendly in their communications about their products and on their websites.
What do Vegan products use instead of Keratin?
Derived from animals (mostly from hair and nails), Keratin is not vegan-friendly, sorry Keratin lovers! Never fear, there’s always an alternative…
Keratin can be replaced in hair care products with these ingredients:
- For strength: Soy Protein can help strengthen hair - not just great for your morning flat whites!
- Nourishment + Hydration: Plant oils like coconut oil, argan oil and jojoba oil are great plant-based Keratin substitutes.
- To prevent hair breakage: Not just good for you, peas (specifically their protein) help strengthen hair and prevent breakage.
- Improve texture + shine: Wheat proteins can be used as a way to strengthen and improve hair’s overall texture.
Which brands are vegan at haircare group?
HUE-VERSE
Evo are empowering colourists with a complete colour portfolio that offers long-lasting results, superior condition, out-of-this world shine, unique viscosity and simplicity. Hue-verse is an honest colour range formulated without compromising on performance. Ingredients such as ammonia, PPD and resorcinol have been left out, whilst organic oils and allergen-free fragrance have been included, making Hue-verse vegan and cruelty free.
EVO
Evo are a full concept professional haircare brand that creates the best performance products while respecting people and the planet. Evo’s range is predominantly vegan however cannot claim to be 100% vegan due to some products in their range containing animal by-products such as honey extract, lanolin or beeswax. Crop strutters construction cream, cassius styling clay, box o’ bollox texture paste and shebang-a-bang contain animal bi-products.
All of Evo’s products are accredited peta cruelty free and are free from sulphates, parabens, dea, tea, propylene glycol and gluten, with responsibly sourced ingredients.
LAKMÉ TEKNIA
TEKNIA by Lakmé is a salon exclusive vegan, sustainable and organic hair styling range. Lakmé are cruelty free, they comply with the regulations within Europe parliament and council to meet the requirements of the cruelty free regulation and certification. With 9 lines to choose from, including shampoos, conditioners, oils and treatments, TEKNIA provides effective solutions in caring for all hair types.
In regards to the wider Lakmé range, the Aura, Chroma, Collage and Gloss range do not include any animal derived ingredients, read more about Clean, Vegan & Sustainable Colour by Lakmé.
OLAPLEX
OLAPLEX’s range of in-salon and at home treatments work to restore damaged and compromised hair by repairing it from the inside out. With a patented single ingredient, which repairs the hair to improve hair structure, strength and stability, OLAPLEX is there for your hair and the environment.
OLAPLEX is not only vegan and cruelty free, it’s also free from nuts and gluten, sulphates, SLS/SLES and parabens. This makes OLAPLEX a safe option for almost any client so you can rest easy knowing the product you’re using is healthy for you and your hair!
vegan salon spotlight
EARTH TO BETTY
Since opening in 2017 Earth to Betty Salon has always been vegan-friendly and sustainable. Creative Director Madeline explains their ethos for their vegan salon in Melbourne.
"It's really important for us as a business to only partner with brands that align with our ethos. It ensures that we as a team can create without negatively impacting our environment, our health and the health and wellbeing of animals. Every choice we make as a business has that ethos behind it. Everything down to our vegan staff lunches we often provide, being sustainable salon members & our choice of green energy. I wouldn’t run my business any other way & it's only getting easier as we grow."
Offering refills for their clients’ products, such as refilling their Fab pro bottles as well for a discount to encourage a more eco-friendly option. Earth to Betty uses Evo as their colour brand as they absolutely love that it's Australian & Evo's wonderful commitment to sustainability.
@earth.to.betty
VIOLETS HAIR
Violets Hair - Vegan salon in Adelaide stocks only 100% vegan and cruelty-free products like Olaplex, Evo, Lakmè colour and Aura smoothing treatment. Their dedicated vegan clientele can rest easy knowing that Violets Hair will only ever use vegan products - no more scanning the ingredients list!
Anna-Lisa Doyle, owner of Violets Hair, has been vegan for the past 13 years with her main reason being animal welfare. Anna-Lisa says it’s so comforting to see an increase in clients seeking out cruelty-free hair products in recent years. Violets Hair is a member of Sustainable Salons, over 90% of their salon waste can be recycled and repurposed.
@violetshairvegan
LITTLE BIRDIE
Located in multiple locations across the Sunshine Coast and South East Queensland, vegan salon Little Birdie Hair Co take their environmental responsibility seriously. As the winner of AHIA’s Australia's Best Eco Salon in 2020, 2021 & 2022, sustainability and low-tox living is a huge passion of theirs. With Hue Verse by Evo as their colour brand of choice, they are able to keep our clients' hair healthy, all while achieving their dream locks.
@littlebirdiehairco
STEVIE VINCENT
From the iconic Perth vegan salon that celebrates vegan-friendly colour services, Stevie Vincent Studios are well-known for their sustainable (and brilliant) hair colour results.
“Sustainability is at the heart of what we do at Stevie Vincent Studios. All of the products we use and stock are vegan, and as a member of Sustainable Salons we're committed to making positive change for our environment and local communities. One of the reasons we use Evo Hue-verse is because it's a really clean colour line, and it's sustainable. It's really nice to know that I'm looking after my team with the colour that they use... Making sure that it's not just good for the guests, but that it's a clean colour line that they're working with every day because their health is important too.
We're passionate about being sustainable in our salon and practices, and it gives our guests an opportunity to feel really good about doing something as simple as coming in for their hair appointment." - Stevie Vincent, Salon Owner
@stevievincentstudios.
For us, it’s about industry sustainability
We love the hairdressing industry at the Haircare Group and we want it to be around for as long as possible! We believe that pivoting to a more sustainable model is important for the long-term success of all of our businesses. Whether it be focussing on more plant-based ingredients, reusing packaging or reducing waste, every step forward has a positive impact.
We also respect anyone’s individual choice, no matter the reasons. Whether you're a committed vegan, looking to make more ethical choices with your hair care, or just really like a specific product, we’re here to provide you and your clients with everything you need.
Shop our range of Vegan Hair Products.
