Once you’ve made the necessary changes to your skincare routine to make it as sustainable as possible, the next agenda should be tweaking your haircare regime. It is of course up to us and only us to take stock of our habits and cut down on waste generation as much as possible.
If you’re looking for tips on how to switch up your haircare routine and give it a green makeover, keep scrolling.
Wash less, tweak more
If you tend to wash your hair every day because it gets greasy or just love the feeling of day one hair, shampooing your mane frequently is something you will need to rethink as it leads to water wastage. An easy way to do this? Retrain your scalp to produce less oil. Begin by cutting down on wash days, one per week. If you wash your hair five-six times a week, try cleansing it four times only and then reducing this number the following week.
We know that first and second-day hair is easy to style and the challenge lies in wielding third day hair, without it looking greasy. The solution to this is simple: don’t fight it. Instead, try baby braids, retro ponytails and slicked buns.
Buy more ethical products
We see extra plastic in packaging all the time, even when it isn’t necessary. How about switching to zero or minimal plastic options? Try out a shampoo bar and conditioner instead of your regular formulas. These solid products last for up to 50 washes at least, depending on how well you dry the bar out post-use.
If shampoo bars don’t work for you, make sure you’re at least looking at something that is compostable, easily recyclable, refillable or reusable. Go for products that come housed in aluminium, bamboo or glass bottles.
Create your own formulas
Going back to your roots and trying out your grandma’s haircare recipes could be just what your scalp and hair need. Don’t discount age-old remedies. In fact, many beauty brands today are going back to these methods while formulating their new products. For example, try making your own herb-infused hair oil at home to nourish your scalp or a reetha shampoo to cleanse it.
Use what you have before you buy a replacement
The number one rule of sustainability? Use what you have before you go about making replacements in your routine. Embracing sustainable habits doesn’t mean you have to get rid of everything you own and start all over again. If a product isn’t working for you, you can pass it on to a friend or relative instead of dumping it in the bin.
Take cool showers
Taking cooler showers can help you save money, energy and water as well as leave you with a healthier mane. It is commonly known that rinsing your hair with cold water helps the cuticles to lie flat, reducing frizz. Plus, the fact that you’re showering with cold water will reduce the amount you use because…brrrr!
Opt for heatless hairstyles Along with using hot water to wash your hair, heat tools also gulp up energy. For example, using a standard hair dryer for 15 minutes in a day leads to the consumption of about 0.4 kilowatts of electricity. This costs about ₹ 93 every time you decide to blowdry your hair at home. Using hot tools on hair can cause heat damage which leads to split ends and dryness in the long run. There are tonnes of heatless hairstyles doing the rounds on social media. Think a messy top knot, chignon and slicked back, wet hair.