No matter how simple or complex your hair routine is, the zero waste hair care products in this guide will keep your hair clean and healthy — while also being clean and healthy for the planet!
In this guide, you’ll find zero waste versions of:
- Shampoo and Conditioner (bar & bottle options)
- Dry Shampoo
- Bar Holders
- Hair Treatments
- Hair Styling Products
- Hair Accessories
This guide was made in partnership with Green Eco Dream, a zero-waste online store for finding your essentials, plastic-free!
Zero Waste Hair Care Basics: Shampoo & Conditioner
While you once had to sacrifice effectiveness for eco friendliness, the options for zero waste shampoo and conditioner have really expanded in recent years!
You can now find plastic-free shampoo and conditioner that is color-safe, moisturizing, volumizing, and anti-frizz.
Bar or Bottle?
Ah, the great debate! Honestly, this is a very personal choice — the best option is the one that you’ll actually do consistently.
So if you just can’t get used to shampoo and conditioner bars, or they don’t work for your hair — don’t fret it!
There are multiple ways to be low waste, and now there are actually a few different options for doing liquid shampoos & conditioners low waste.
I personally prefer bars since they are lighter weight and more compact (good for travel and small showers) but you may prefer the convenience of liquid shampoo. The key here is to find what works for you!
1. HiBAR
You’ll find quite a few options for plastic-free shampoo bars and conditioner bars from HiBAR, whether your priority is moisture, volume, soothe, or to maintain hair color or going fragrance-free.
I have this brand’s conditioner and find the shape super convenient to use! I also love that it’s made from natural ingredients and is paraben-, phthalate-, and sulfate-free.
2. Corvus Botanicals
Palm-free and made from sustainably sourced organic ingredients, Corvus Botanicals’ have zero waste shampoo and conditioner bars healthy for your hair and the planet. And these bars are super concentrated — you can get over 80 washes with them!
3. Plaine Products
Love the concept of this brand! Essentially, you get your shampoo and/or conditioner in an aluminium bottle, you use up the product, and then send back the bottle to be refilled and reused. I’ve used Plaine Product’s shampoo + conditioner and found it to be really effective and moisturizing for my hair — plus they smelled wonderful!
4. Seed Phytonutrients
Another bottle option is Seed Phytonutrients. You’ll find anti-frizz, color care, and volume options — all made with organic, clean, and vegan ingredients. The exterior of Seed’s packaging is 100% compostable and the interior is recyclable. There’s also a seed packet inside that you can plant afterwards!
Zero Waste Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is one of my hair essentials. I try to go as many days as possible without shampooing but… sometimes I go a day or two too long and need a bit of back-up!
However, a lot of dry shampoo comes in aerosol cans (which are terrible for the environment) and are loaded with harmful chemicals.
5. Lumi Basics
Lumi Basics has dry shampoo in powder form, which is a much safer and environmentally-conscious alternative to most dry shampoos in aerosol cans that can contain butane and propane. (Yikes!!) Their dry shampoo is made with organic ingredients and packaged in a compostable container.
6. Lovett Sundries
Another zero waste dry shampoo option when you’re in a pinch is Lovett Sundries. Their dry shampoo comes in a recyclable glass bottle and consists of just two simple ingredients: arrowroot powder and bentonite clay. It also ships in recycled and recyclable plastic-free packaging.
Zero Waste Hair Treatments
If your hair needs a little extra TLC, and you want to try a leave-in treatment or mask, there’s a zero waste swap for that!
7. Seed Moisture Leave-In Treatment
Similar to Seed’s shampoos and conditioners, this ultra-moisturizing leave-in treatment is made from all-natural vegan ingredients and comes in eco-friendly packaging. The recycled paper exterior is compostable and the 80% recycled interior is recyclable.
8. Seed Scalp & Root Mask
This non-toxic scalp and root mask removes hard water minerals, pollutants, and excess buildup from your hair and scalp. But unlike other natural masks that come in plastic containers or even single-use pouches, this one is packaged in a 100% recyclable aluminum tube.
9. Organic Coconut Oil
If you want to keep it really simple, coconut oil is a versatile, moisturizing and frizz minimizing hair treatment. This one from All Good is organic, unrefined and made in a solar powered facility! And, the coconut oil comes in a recyclable and reusable glass jar.
Zero Waste Hair Styling Products
Pastes, pomades, and other styling products are another aspect of hair care that is often filled with questionable ingredients and comes in plastic packaging. These Jack Henry products, though, will give you the style you’re looking for while you work to create a low-waste and non-toxic lifestyle.
10. Jack Henry Hair Paste
Add definition and texture with this low waste, light hold hair paste made from organic natural ingredients. The hair paste is free of parabens, sulfates, SLS & SLES (ingredients banned in the EU, but not in the U.S.), and artificial fragrances. And the glass jar is recyclable and ships in plastic-free packaging.
11. Jack Henry Hair Clay Pomade
For a bit of a longer hold, check out Jack Henry’s Hair Clay Pomade, which is also made from organic plant-based ingredients and packaged in a glass jar. At the end of its life, you can reuse the glass jar as storage or recycle it.
Zero Waste Hair Accessories
12. Bamboo Hair Brush
Skip the plastic hair brush and choose bamboo instead! This compostable, eco-friendly hair brush is made from bamboo and natural rubber and ships in recycled packaging. I’ve been using a bamboo hair brush for many years and it’s still in fantastic shape, but once its life is done, it is compostable!
13. Kooshoo’s Hair Ties
Most hair ties you’ll find at the store are made from synthetic materials. Thankfully, there is a better alternative! Kooshoo makes their plastic-free hair ties from GOTS- and Fair Trade-certified cotton and Fair Trade-certified natural rubber, so they’re compostable at the end of their life!
14. Kooshoo’s Scrunchies
If you prefer scrunchies, there’s also a synthetic-free version for that! Similar to the hair ties, these scrunchies are made from organic and fair trade cotton + fair trade natural rubber, and they’re backyard compostable!
15. Kooshoo’s Headbands
Love to rock headbands? Kooshoo’s also got an eco-conscious version of that, too! Their headbands are made from GOTS-certified organic cotton and are ethically produced in India in a facility where makers earn living wages.
