The clean hair care trend's claim is that it delivers on its promise of being environment friendly. What started out as a movement driven by the beauty industry's effects on the environment, has evolved into a full-blown hair care routine for many. By making the switch to clean practices, not only are users reaping the benefits of conscious buying of sustainable products, but they are also using restorative ingredients for long term goals. Free of harmful additives, these products are more beneficial to the hair.
Recent surveys say that women have already started to make the switch to a clean hair care routine. One of our personal faves has long been the Love Beauty & Planet hair care range that has changed the game as far as clean hair care is concerned along with being budget-friendly and perfectly compatible with Indian hair types. If you are a little bit late to the party and are now planning to clean up your hair routine, here are some basics to know first…
- What are the ‘unclean’ ingredients?
- Spot check new products
- Assess the packaging
- Give your hair time to settle into the routine
- Look for clean styling products as well
What are the ‘unclean’ ingredients?
The best way to assess if a product is clean or not is to check its ingredient list. Clean products are made with naturally sourced ingredients, they can be organic or vegan, however that is not a hard and fast rule. Plus, more than the presence of non-toxic and safe ingredients, it is the lack of certain additives that makes a product ‘clean’. Some of the popular ingredients that are an absolute no-no in clean hair care products are phthalates, artificial fragrances, toluene, artificial dyes, Propylene glycol, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA).
Spot check new products
The shift to a completely clean hair care routine can have major effects on how your mane feels and looks in the initial stages. A good trick is to spot check the products on your hair ends to see how your tresses react. This is similar to a patch test that is done on the skin before adopting a new product in the routine. A spot check can help rule out some items from your prospective list of products since different hair types respond differently to natural ingredients. Once you are satisfied with the kind of result a new product is giving, you can go ahead and use it on your whole hair.
Assess the packaging
Clean beauty’s philosophy of zero waste packaging is yet another way to make sure that your daily habits are actually sustainable and easy on the environment. Clean product products are often packed in recyclable and recycled materials, they do not release harmful compounds when discarded, and are easy to break down naturally when disposed.
Give your hair time to settle into the routine
It takes your scalp at least 5-6 washes to adjust to the switch. This leads to your hair feeling oilier, heavier or even less clean for the first couple of weeks. To counter this, make sure to properly follow the instructions on the label and use the rinse and repeat method. Spend a little extra time to properly rinse out your hair as that might be contributing to the heaviness as well. Once your scalp is adjusted to the routine, you will notice more nourished roots and moisture at the ends without even trying!
Look for clean styling products as well
It is not just your hair cleansers and masks that should be clean after the switch, look for clean alternatives for styling products as well. Your hair gels, heat protection sprays and serums should also follow the ‘clean’ mandate to make a real difference in the kind of results produced.
Written by Sumona Bose on May 25, 2021
Sumona Bose is a writer, skincare junkie and a self-professed makeup connoisseur. Equipped with a Master's degree in Fashion Management and over 3 years of experience writing in the beauty and fashion space, her passion for learning new things has no bounds. Working closely with dermatologists, beauty excerpts, makeup artists and hairstylists, she brings you the best of all things beauty. From trending skincare ingredients to makeup looks that help you slay, she manages to bring something new (and vital!) to our readers every single time. Her hobbies include home workouts, watching foreign films and binge-watching makeover shows!