Greener Hair Care: How to Make Your Hair Routine Eco-Friendly

November 19, 2025•Sustainable

Hair care can be surprisingly resource-intensive. Beyond bottles of shampoo and conditioner, consider the water and energy your routine uses. In fact, studies show that about 93% of a typical shampoo/ conditioner’s carbon footprint comes from heating the water during use. Likewise, many hair formulas contain palm oil (up to 70% of beauty products do), contributing to deforestation and carbon emissions. The good news: with a few eco-conscious switches, you can green your haircare routine dramatically. Here’s how: Choose Sustainable Hair Products: Look for shampoo and conditioner bars or refillable liquid formulas. Solid bars (from brands like Ethique, Lush, or Plaine Products) work like shampoo/ conditioner but use no plastic. Lush reports that its shampoo bars have saved nearly 6 million plastic bottles worldwide, and cutting out water from formulas saves massive amounts of H₂O (450,000+ liters a year for Lush bars). If you prefer liquid shampoo, seek brands that offer refill pouches or stations (for example, Target’s mini “replentish” line, or eco-friendly salons with refill tables). For conditioner, bars and pouches are available too. Also, look for palm oil-free products.

Many conscious brands have removed palm oil due to its impact on forests. The Ethical Consumer urges avoiding palm oil in shampoo/conditioner, or choosing certified sustainable palm (RSPO) or palm alternatives. Wash Less and Smarter: Washing hair less often saves a fortune of water and energy. A clever trick is dry shampoo: using it once a week instead of washing can reduce your carbon footprint a lot.

Research finds that skipping a wash in favor of dry shampoo saves roughly 62 liters of hot water and 1.04 kg CO₂ per shampoo. Similarly, switching from a rinse-out conditioner to a leave-in conditioner eliminates a rinse cycle. A leave-in can save ~16 liters water and 0.25 kg CO₂ each time you’d have rinsed regular conditioner. Also, try washing in lukewarm or cool water; heating water is energy-intensive. According to sustainable hair experts, turning down the thermostat and shortening your shower by just a minute can significantly lower your emissions. Over time, these habits cut both utility bills and your haircare carbon footprint.

Use Eco-friendly Styling

Minimize heat styling where possible. Air-drying or towel-drying your hair uses no extra power. When you do use tools, invest in energy-efficient devices (like a low-flow showerhead can also help hair washing by mixing air into water, reducing water use by ~50%).

Use a microfiber or organic cotton towel (it absorbs water quickly, shortening blow-dry time) and turn on the dryer only to 80% hair dryness before letting air finish the job. If you color or treat your hair, seek ammonia-free dyes or natural options like henna, which are gentler on the environment.

For accessories, swap plastic combs and brushes for bamboo or recycled-material versions, and use natural-fiber scrunchies instead of elastic bands.

Support Ethical Ingredients

Beyond palm oil, many hair product ingredients have sustainability issues. Choose organic or certified sources: coconut oil, for example, can be Fair Trade or organic to ensure farmers get paid fairly. Shea butter (common in hair butters) should be ethically sourced from women’s co-ops (brands like Alaffia or SheaMoisture do this). Look for certifications like Fair Trade or Rainforest Alliance on ingredients (these indicate fair wages and sustainable agriculture).

Even consider shampoo bars made with upcycled ingredients (coffee grounds, fruit peels, etc.)—they give waste a second life. In short, read labels: if palm, look for RSPO or no palm. If oils/nuts, prefer organic/fair trade. By buying responsibly, you help break the link between your haircare and deforestation or exploitation. Make Eco-friendly Choices at the Salon: When you go to hair salons, you can act sustainably too.

Book appointments at green-certified salons (for example, check EcoHairandBeauty’s directory). Bring your own travel-sized products in reusable containers for your cut or color. Skip plastic capes (some salons have washable ones) and ask stylists to boil metal tools instead of using disposable liners. And if they normally use bleach or chemicals, inquire about eco-friendly alternatives (some color lines are ammonia-free or use natural botanicals).

Extend Product Life

Use less product each time. A little shampoo goes a long way, so lather well and rinse thoroughly. Similarly, diluting shampoo with water or mixing small amounts of bar shampoo in a jar of water for your next use can stretch out bottles. Comb or brush before washing to reduce tangles (so you won’t use extra conditioner). Also, store products properly (cool, dark spot) to prevent bacterial contamination, making them last longer. When a bottle is nearly empty, cut it open (carefully) or use a spatula to scoop out the last bit – every drop saved means less need to buy sooner.

Recycle and Repurpose: Finally, manage waste wisely. Glass bottles and aluminum cans from hair products can be recycled indefinitely; make sure to rinse and sort them properly. If you have a cream or pomade jar, clean it and reuse it for DIY blends or travel size. Compost any natural hair clippings (yes – human hair is rich in nitrogen and beneficial to gardens, or used in community composts to recover heavy metals). Even hair can be used to make absorbent mats for oil spills or stuffed into sachets to prevent erosion. Every piece of haircare waste you divert from trash helps.

By integrating these greener haircare practices, your routine becomes a climate ally. For example, simply washing hair fewer times and using dry shampoo can reduce your annual personal emissions by hundreds of kilograms of CO₂. Choosing sustainable products helps slow deforestation. And small acts – like turning down the water heat or using cold rinse – empower you to cut your energy use significantly. In the end, an eco-friendly hair routine not only nurtures your locks but also protects water resources, forests and air quality. Every brush stroke and rinse can be a greener choice. Takeaway: be mindful—less plastic, less palm, less waste, and more enjoyment from healthier hair and a healthier planet.

Greener Hair Care: How to Make Your Hair Routine Eco-Friendly

Use Eco-friendly Styling

Support Ethical Ingredients

Extend Product Life

Related reading