When we think of appearance, most often we focus on the face and the body, as well as the improvements we can make with the help of some makeup and clothes. Even though hair may not be the first thing most of us think about, it’s just as important for our looks considering how it can impact our overall appearance.

Hair care routines have kept pace with the rest of the routines, so the health craze that’s taken over the world of cosmetics has certainly also affected hair-related products. If you have decided to make the switch to organic and sustainable with anything else, be it the skincare, the clothes, or the foods, but still haven’t given up your conventional shampoos, conditioners, or dyes, you’re not doing yourself or the planet any favour.

Why Should You Use Natural Hair Products?

One simple answer would be that they’re better for your locks, your overall health, and the environment since their formulation contains ingredients derived from nature. A certified natural hair shampoo or any other product is made from organic essential oils and plant extracts like coconut oil, shea butter, and rosemary extract.

As such, these care products are free from nasties in the likes of parabens, phthalates, formaldehyde, triclosan, dimethicone, toluene, resorcinol, selenium sulphide, or artificial colour and fragrance commonly used in a range of conventional brands’ products. You may not be aware but ingredients like these can disrupt your hormone balance, and consequently lead to skin and autoimmune issues, as much as increase the risk of cancer.

In addition to being made from carefully chosen ingredients, the natural hair shampoo and additional products can make your hair healthier and happier than it’s ever been. For example, did you have a clue that coconut oil can help repair damaged tresses and tame frizz? Were you aware shea butter is ideal for maintaining moisture while creating a soft, smooth, and shiny feeling? And, did you know rosemary oil can stimulate the scalp and help your mane grow faster and stronger?

It may take some time to get the wanted results, like a few months, but it’s worth the swap in the end when you consider the benefits for your overall health. Besides getting a beautiful lush mane, moisturised and with the oils preserved, making this switch will also benefit your life as a whole which may not be that apparent at first. Wondering how? Well, buying natural means going cruelty-free, so your hair won’t be the only one to thank you.

Along with doing your part in putting an end to the cruel animal testing, you’d also be doing Mother Nature a favour too since some products can double as other beauty care essentials. For instance, the right choice of shampoo bar can double as a body soap, and a conditioner can be repurposed as a hand cream or body lotion, so you’d be cutting down on your personal waste as a result.

The creation of personal care products like natural shampoo and conditioner or even natural body wash is also sustainable given that companies carefully choose their ingredients based on the ethical practices used to plant, grow, process, and handle them. Some even go as far as contributing to the local communities to help support the local economy.

How to Shop for Natural Hair Products?

Same as conventional products, organic shampoos and conditioners can vary in their composition because they’re created for different needs and results. That’s why it’s important to know what it is you’re looking for prior to buying.

True, knowing your hair type and paying attention to damage are both essential but certainly not the only things that matter when picking out the right products. Things like texture, porosity and elasticity are just as crucial since knowing the issue you have can help out with treating it properly and getting the desired results. Both high porosity and low porosity can be a problem, leading to low elasticity and breakage.

If you aren’t sure, you can do a test at home by using a glass of water and dropping some strands in it to see whether they float. If they do float, then you’ve got low porosity, different from when the strands sink indicating high porosity. When they stay in the middle, then you’ve got the right balance.

Some say it’s best to see how your hair does when in the shower – if it gets wet easily and quickly, then it’s high in porosity, as opposed to taking a longer time to absorb the moisture which would mean low porosity. If it’s neither, then it’s great news for you with normal porosity. Choose the product based on the results you get, and ensure it’s natural with trusted ingredients and formula. Healthy hair, don’t care!