NOT VEGAN? STILL WHY SHOULD YOU USE A VEGAN SHAMPOO
The global wave of Veganism is at its all time high, with over 79 million people worldwide now enjoying a plant-based lifestyle, it is apparent that the benefits of such a lifestyle are enormous. Is it, however, restricted to food? The entire globe shouts no!
Vegan alternatives are available for a wide range of products, including the shampoo you use every day. But why should someone convert from regular commercial shampoo to vegan shampoo?
We have listed down 8 amazing reasons for you to choose vegan shampoo, (Yes! even if you are not a vegan)
But first let’s understand what vegan shampoo actually is.
WHAT ARE VEGAN SHAMPOOS?
To say in a line, Vegan shampoos are free of all animal ingredients and animal derivatives, and formulated are formulated without animal testing.
Vegan shampoos employ plant derived ingredients. These ingredients usually are enriched with nourishing properties and promote healthy hair development.
Vegan shampoo and conditioners also ensure that no animals were harmed during the production of products used in your beauty and hair care regime. Thus, they not only preserve and protect your hair but also take care of the environment around us.
Let’s now take a glimpse at the various benefits of Vegan shampoo.
THE BENEFITS OF VEGAN SHAMPOO FOR YOUR HAIR/ WHAT VEGAN SHAMPOO CAN DO FOR YOUR HAIR
No animal derivatives - Being vegan, these shampoos entails avoiding items containing animal byproducts, such as beeswax, lanolin, gelatin, and keratin, are therefore substituted with plant-based components, which are frequently a superior alternative when it comes to treating and preserving natural hair. They also skip out on animal products such as milk, honey, eggs which otherwise are very frequently used for regular shampoos and often become the marketing item for regular shampoos. Rather they are packed with nutritious components like coconut oil and tamarind, which strengthen your hair follicles. Natural oils such as chamomile, repair hair damage and nourish your scalp they also reduce issues like dry scalp and dandruff. Plant based elements in vegan shampoos, such as oats and coconut oil, promote healthy hair development and help to avoid problems like excessive hair loss. Glycerin used in vegan shampoo is plant based and helps ease dandruff, moisturize the scalp and hair, and help prevent hair from breaking.
Cruelty free - Vegan shampoos are devoid of animal substances and are not tested on animals, so you are not only being kind to your hair but also to the animals surrounding us.
Allergies - Vegan shampoos are composed of only plant based ingredients which makes the chances of developing allergies related to animal by-products lesser. If a person already has an allergy to eggs, using vegan shampoo reduces the likelihood of them getting an allergic reaction.
While there are several advantages to using vegan shampoo, this does not imply that all vegan shampoos are free of harsh chemicals. Even shampoos created without the use of animals may contain unpleasant ingredients. So, choosing a more natural, clean vegan shampoo will be beneficial. They can be more milder, gentler and soothing for your scalp and hair development.
But, how does one determine if their favorite shampoo is vegan or not? Let’s take a look!
HOW DO I KNOW IF MY SHAMPOO IS VEGAN OR NOT?
There are several ways you can find out if your daily shampoo is vegan or not!
Ingredients to look for - Check the shampoo's package label for the following ingredients to determine whether or not the shampoo is vegan. Animal-derived items such as milk, honey, eggs, and so on are frequently used in shampoo; they are extremely obvious components that can be readily verified to determine if they are included or not. There are certain animal-derived compounds that aren't as obvious as the preceding ones, such as Shellac (secreted by female lac bugs), Glycerin, which may hydrate hair, is derived from both plants and animals (like cows and sheep). Lanolin is a hair moisturizer ( a wax secreted by the sebaceous glands of sheep)
Stearic acid (typically from pigs’ stomachs), casein (usually obtained from cow’s milk), squalene (a compound that comes from shark liver oil), keratin (from feathers, horns, or wool), Biotin (found in all living cells, and in large quantities in milk and yeast) etc.
Look out for these ingredients before purchasing or using a bottle of shampoo.
Trusted Authority Badges - A lot of groups have developed special badges and stickers to assist you in determining if you are actually purchasing a cruelty-free shampoo or other product.
The Leaping Bunny Program, which certifies personal care and home product firms that assure no animal experimentation is done at any stage of the production process, is the gold standard of vegan and cruelty-free product labeling.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is another excellent site, listing every registered firm that is either cruelty-free or vegan and cruelty-free. It also includes related emblems to assist you in identifying the best cruelty-free items.
The Certified Vegan Logo is a recognised trademark for goods that do not include any animal products or byproducts and that have not undergone animal testing. Consumers looking for vegan products may quickly identify the approved badge, which also makes it easier for vegans to purchase without continually checking ingredient labels.
Safe Cosmetics Australia certifies businesses based on the application of scientific principles to health and beauty products; they take into account several criterias such as allergy certified, Australian certified toxic free, MediCert amongst others;their certification also takes into account vegan and cruelty-free standards.
Research about the brand - Checking the brand's commitment to a cruelty-free, vegan beauty line by looking up the company online or through any other social media presence is another quick and simple approach to determine if the product you are using is vegan or not.
The next big question that arises is, who is vegan shampoo for? Let’s take a look!
WHO SHOULD USE VEGAN SHAMPOO?
The answer to this is, anybody can be the consumer of vegan shampoo. If you believe in taking care of the animals surrounding us and also you own hair, vegan shampoo is for you. But, it is essential to remember you don’t need to lead a complete vegan lifestyle, to be able to use vegan shampoo. The shampoos in the vegan category are extremely beneficial for your hair health, therefore it can be used by anyone.
Pregnant and nursing moms can get amazing results with vegan shampoos, since they use natural plant based ingredients and won’t irritate the skin or hair, which can be caused by animal by-products. The shampoos are not just limited to adults, they can also be used by children as well!
Yes, finding out if your favorite shampoo is vegan or not is that easy, now let's take a look at some of the common plant-based vegan ingredients that can enrich and nourish your hair.
Some Natural ingredients that benefit your hair with utmost care
Let’s take a look at some of the vegan ingredients often used in vegan shampoos that your hair will love.
Tamarind
-
Tamarind is high in proteins and hence has the potential to heal environmental damage, resulting in naturally stronger hair. It coats fragile hair, restoring moisture and making it shinier. It is suitable for all hair types, including curly, straight, wavy, and frizzy.
-
Tamarind is a natural ingredient to boost hair’s strength. It is packed with proteins and nutrients that are essential in repairing and strengthening hair. Amino acids penetrate the hair follicles and ensure the growth of healthy hair. By moisturizing and nourishing hair, it prevents breakage and split ends.
Chamomile
-
Dandruff is caused by a dry, itchy scalp, an abundance of oil (sebum), or clogged pores. Chamomile calms the scalp and relieves itching and inflammation. Its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic capabilities destroy microorganisms, lowering the likelihood of a scalp infection. It nourishes and hydrates the scalp, reducing the production of excess sebum and keeping your scalp clean and healthy.
-
Chamomile oil, which is high in vitamins and antioxidants, restores and strengthens hair follicles from inside. Hair follicles are in charge of hair growth and texture. As a result, healthy follicles equal healthy hair. It promotes the synthesis of collagen, which repairs damaged skin cells and promotes regeneration. The oil strengthens your hair, reducing the likelihood of breakage, thinning, split ends, and hair loss.
-
Sweet almond oil helps nourish damaged hair and restore its luster because of its high fatty acid content. Because this oil is so rich and nutritious, it coats and moisturizes the dry strands from within. This reduces frizz and knotting while leaving your hair smooth and silky.
-
Sweet almond oil gives your hair a protective coating and improves its barrier, making it stronger and less prone to routine damage such as coloring, brushing, and heat tools. By providing deep hydration, the oil conditions your strands and makes them less dry and brittle. With the help of fatty acids and Vitamin E, it fights against environmental damage and makes your hair healthier and thicker.
Saponin and lipids in oats work together to cleanse and hydrate your skin. It absorbs excess oil and forms a protective barrier on the scalp, which reduces transepidermal water loss. Oats cleanses the scalp and maintains it healthy by removing excess oil, grime, residue, and dandruff flakes. This is what keeps dandruff from reappearing.
Oats make the scalp healthier and more conductive to hair development by removing dandruff and excess sebum. oats is an excellent component for promoting hair development since it contains nutrients such as proteins, iron, polyunsaturated fatty acids, beta-glucan, and saponin. It stimulates the hair follicles, promoting hair growth and giving you thick, lustrous locks.
Coconut
-
Coconut oil contains lauric acid, which has nourishing characteristics that are especially prone to penetrating the strands of your hair. Coconut oil penetrates fast into your hair, delivering moisture to reduce frizz and mend breaks.
-
It nourishes the scalp and hydrates your hair by containing beneficial fats and antioxidants. It also promotes hair development while also curing dandruff and hair loss by increasing blood circulation in the scalp.
Key Takeaways:
Vegan shampoos do not contain any animal by-products and are composed of 100% plant derivatives. There are several trusted authorities to look forward to, to ensure if a product is 100% vegan such as “Leaping Bunny Programme” and “PETA”. They follow a well organized procedure to ensure a product is vegan.
However, the label "Vegan" on a bottle of shampoo does not always mean what we think it does. Regardless of what title it has, even shampoos created without the use of animals may contain unpleasant ingredients such as sulfate and paraben. Therefore, choosing a more clean and chemical free vegan shampoo can be more beneficial.
With the changing trend and an increasing shift toward vegan products, it is rapidly gaining popularity. However, while selecting a shampoo, take care to select one that is not just kind on animals but also gentle on your own hair.
