Are you looking for ways to ditch the plastic when it comes to your hair care? You can go plastic free with your hair routine.

Here at Shop Naturally we try to cater to all preferences when it comes to hair care (and all products for that matter). While the ultimate solution would be completely 100% plastic free, we do understand that this sometimes is not possible for many reasons.  Below we will give some of our tips on plastic free hair care, and some honorable mentions for 'almost plastic free' hair care, and then you will be able to pick and choose what suits you and your lifestyle.

Note some natural hair care products may take some time to get used to, or you may try them and they just don't seem to work for your hair. So our biggest piece of advice here is to be patient and keep trying - you will eventually work out what is best for you.

Plastic free Shampoo and Conditioner - Beauty and the Bees

Handmade in Tasmania, Australia this range of shampoo bars, soaps and conditioners are made in small batches and with with zero plastic packaging. The range features the nourishing and healing properties of leatherwood honey and beeswax combined with various essential oils from plants, nut oils, and other natural products to create a range of 14 different shampoo bars and 2 conditioner bars. Also in the range are various body soaps, and 2 hair rinse products, as well as men's beard and skin care products.

The 14 different shampoo bars (packaged in cardboard box) are

  • Tasmanian Apple Cider Hair Tonic Shampoo Bar
  • Udderly Luscious Yoghurt Bar - Lemon
  • Udderly Luscious Yoghurt Bar - Unscented
  • Australian Hemp Seed Oil & Leatherwood Honey Shampoo Bar
  • Eggcellent Egg and Lemon Shampoo Bar
  • Grass Roots Shampoo Bar
  • Henna Senna Conditioning Shampoo Bar
  • Lemon and Chamomile Shampoo Bar
  • Moroccan Mud Shampoo Bar
  • Rosemary and Mint Shampoo Bar
  • Tasmanian Beer Shampoo Bar
  • Tasmanian Goat's Milk Shampoo Bar
  • Tasmania Wild Leaves Shampoo Bar
  • Voodoo Bamboo Charcoal Shampoo Bar

The two hair conditioner bars (packaged in a tin) are :

  • Tasmanian Real Beer Conditioner Bar
  • Honey Silk Hair Conditioner Bar

* Note, Beauty and The Bees do have one conditioning rinse which is liquid so packaged in a glass bottle with a plastic screw top lid. We are in the process of preparing an article outlining all of the different Beauty and the Bees shampoo and conditioner options and details on what type of hair each is best used for. We'll put the link in here once we're done.

Bass Brushes - biodegradable bamboo hair brushes and combs

All of our bamboo hair brushes and combs from Bass Brushes are made from sustainably sourced, biodegradable bamboo with no plastic packaging.  Although we don't recommend you store them in the shower permanently these combs can be used on wet or dry hair. Whether you are using them for detangling in the shower while you have conditioner in your hair, to comb wet hair after your shower, or on dry hair they will leave your hair looking smooth and sleek.

The brushes from Bass Brushes can also be used on wet or dry hair and the handle and the bristles are made from heat resistant biodegradable bamboo so they can be used while blow drying your hair if needed. The pad holding the bristles in place is made from rubber.

DIY liquid soap / shampoo with soap nuts

Soap nuts as a laundry detergent alternative are regularly spoken about but did you know you can actually use them to make liquid soap to use as a shampoo.

Place approx 8 soap nuts in a glass jug or jar, add 2 cups of boiling water and then allow to sit overnight. Remove the soap nuts from the liquid (keep the nuts as they can be reused several times) and store in a sealed jar in the fridge until ready to use. Use approx 1/4 cup of this liquid in place of shampoo. Note - it doesn’t foam like shampoo.

Honorable mentions - almost plastic free or bulk buys

Dr Bronners Castile Soap. Multi purpose products that you can buy in bulk are always better for the environment that having 20 different products cluttering up your bathroom. Dr Bronner's Castile Soap is a great multi purpose product that is widely famed for having 18 different uses. In your bathroom alone it can be used as a shampoo, a body wash, shaving soap, face wash, and you can even clean your teeth with it if you are desperate (but note - it does of course taste like soap!)  Available in 475ml, 946ml and 3.8 litres this is a great bulk buy and multi purpose product that will help reduce your plastic use and clutter in your bathroom.

Argan oil as a natural hair treatment and de frizzer. This product is packaged in a glass bottle but has a plastic dispenser on top so doesn't qualify as being completely plastic free.  It is however a great multi purpose product that you only use a small amount of each use, so will last some time.  Argan oil can be used on the hair to give an extra treatment on towel dried / damp hair, or on dry hair to smooth any frizzies and enhance your style.  It can also be used as a face moisturiser treatment.