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shampoo_bad_2.jpeg

<h4>Hairstory was founded in 2015 as a result of a years-long search for a better way to wash hair. Director of product development Jackie Bauer spent years testing cleansing formulas to soothe painful psoriasis and discovered that shampoo was part of the problem.&nbsp;</h4>

<p>Jackie made it her goal to develop a product that effectively cleans while easing – and even preventing – flare ups. While Jackie’s story is one for the books, what readers should note here is that the hairdressing community suspected for decades that there had to be a better way to wash hair than with shampoo.</p>

<p>Do you know what is in your shampoo bottle? This article might convince you that shampoo is bad for your hair. We’ll briefly touch upon the social history of washing hair and how it shaped our modern relationship with shampoo; take a closer look at the ingredients found in shampoo and their effect on the scalp; and finally, bust some shampoo myths that keep us seeking a sudsy scalp whenever we shower. </p>
<h5>THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF SHAMPOO </h5>
<p>Modern shampoo as we know it did not come about until about 100 years ago. Soon after, conditioners were developed to soften hair in ways that early shampoo couldn't manage to do. Learn more about the (chemical) history of shampoo<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2017/03/24/the-history-of-shampoo/"> here</a>. </p>
<p>Although shampoo was different at the turn of the 19th century, it was still perceived as drying and damaging. <a href="https://www.colorwowhair.com/us/blog/sodium-lauryl-sulfate-sls-free-what-is-sulfate">Early options were mainly soaps made from lye and lard, both of which have high alkalinity (pH) levels.</a> A high pH is great for washing dishes and clothing, but too harsh for the body, and <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/shampoo-vs-soap/">shampoo vs soap</a> washing is extremely drying and taxing on the hair. </p>
<p>Using soaps that led to dry, flaky scalps and fluffy hair with the “natural life” taken from it was even less desirable to some than natural oiliness. Early <a href="http://www.sewhistorically.com/victorian-and-edwardian-hair-care-how-often-to-wash-the-hair/">advice columns</a> recommended washing NO MORE than once a week, and leaving hair unwashed for as long as 6 weeks. Lived-in hair was also welcomed to keep often complex hairstyles in place.</p>
<p>Sodium lauryl sulfate was developed in the 1930s. <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/what-is-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/">What is sodium lauryl sulfate</a> exactly? Often referred to as SLS, it is the first man-made detergent. It was originally developed to wash laundry but became popular as companies added it to all types of cleansing products because it was inexpensive, easy to manufacture, less harmful to hair and skin than lye and lard, and, most importantly, it lathered like crazy, which became associated with thorough cleanliness.</p>
<p>It’s important to remember that as times have changed, so has the degree to which we find oily hair acceptable. SLS made it easier for businesses to produce and sell more products and encourage consumers to use them more often. </p>
<p>Imagine this all in the context of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_advertising#1930s_and_World_War_II">American history</a>. In the 1930s, the US government introduced the New Deal to encourage economic spending to get Americans out of the Great Depression. During WWII (1941-1945) women entered the workforce and began supporting their families while men were overseas. With the purchasing power in their hands, they began investing more heavily in personal care and beauty products. After the war ended, the ‘American Way of Life,’ was celebrated and exercising democratic freedom by spending money at home was a way to enact revenge. America prospered, ushering in the golden age of advertising which helped the beauty industry as a whole flourish.</p>

<h5>WHY YOU SHOULD NEVER USE SHAMPOO </h5>
<p>Today, many shampoos are still made with sodium lauryl sulfate and its close cousin sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) – and such detergents are very likely the root cause of your hair problems. </p>
<p>Detergents are amphiphilic, meaning they form super strong chemical bonds with both oil and water. When we wash our hair using detergents, they not only grab onto grease and dirt, but also our scalp’s natural protective barrier. Made from sebum, this barrier keeps our scalp hydrated and protected from allergens, the sun, and dryness. Detergents then grab onto water, which pulls dirt and both good and bad oils out of our hair and down the drain as we rinse. Do you color treat your hair? Detergents also grab onto color pigments and remove them! </p>
<p>Why we may FEEL clean after shampooing, we’ve actually overcleaned and put our scalps in danger. In fact, feeling “squeaky clean” means that you have successfully washed away that natural protective barrier. That squeaking you hear is the friction of hair between your fingers, and if your natural barrier remained intact, your fingers would glide instead.</p>
<p>In stripping the scalp, shampoo leaves it dry and irritated. Sometimes the scalp is left so dry that it flakes. Dry hair is also more prone to tangling, which is why washing with shampoo requires a moisturizing component to make hair smooth again. We know this as conditioner. You may have already realized that the natural oil barrier does exactly what conditioner does, yet we wash it all away and then replace it with a bottled substitute. </p>
<p>Shampoo damages our hair with every wash. The worst part? Because shampoo strips hair of the natural oil layer, our bodies recognize this as an attack and work overtime to replenish protection. Translation: Oily hair. Shampooers recognize this as dirty and jump back in the shower to wash it away, and the vicious cycle continues.</p>
<p>Shampoo is harmful in many ways: <br>
• It dries out and irritates your scalp. <br>
• It strips your hair of color <br>
• It causes tangles (which require conditioner) <br>
• It promotes sebum over-production</p>
<h5>COMMON MYTHS ABOUT SHAMPOO THAT KEEP YOU COMING BACK FOR MORE</h5>
<p>There are smany myths created by shampoo salesmanship to keep us coming back. We’ve tackled this rhetoric to help us see through the suds in our eyes: </p>
<p><strong>Is it OK to just shampoo your hair (without conditioner)? </strong><br>
As we explained earlier, it’s never okay to shampoo your hair because it is drying and damaging. It’s even more harmful to shampoo hair without following up with conditioner because hair becomes vulnerable and at risk of breakage and damage. </p>
<p><strong>Lather, rinse, repeat</strong><br>
This bit of marketing magic is a genius way to get us to do one thing: use more shampoo. Don’t believe us? <a href="https://www.valens-research.com/dynamic-marketing-communique/lather-rinse-repeat-create-powerful-copy-thats-sure-to-attract-tons-of-people-tuesdays-write-with-the-pen-of-the-masters/">Look it up</a>. </p>
<p><strong>‘Dirty’ hair makes for better styling. </strong><br>
This is true, which is why we often add texture products to make it less glassy, slippery, and unmanageable when freshly washed with shampoo. This is why so many people are seeking to wash less frequently: less clean hair is simply more cooperative.</p>
<p><strong>Squeaky clean </strong><br>
You never want to hear squeaks coming from your head! This means that your hair and scalp has been stripped of its natural protective barrier of sebum. Without it you risk dryness and skin irritation. </p>

<h4>SHAMPOO ALTERNATIVES: THE MODERN WAY TO SAY NO TO SHAMPOO</h4>
<p>Your hairdresser may be have urged you to wash as little as possible, and that’s because so few detergent-free options that actually clean hair and made it look good were available – until now. Sure, there are so-called gentler detergents, but buyer beware of wolves in sudsy sheep’s clothing. </p>
<p></p><h5>Sulfate-free shampoo</h5>
<p>
Some shampoo makers want you to believe they are doing right by your scalp, and just because shampoos are sulfate-free doesn’t mean they are detergent-free. To learn more about the types of d<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/everything-you-need-to-know-about-detergent/">etergent</a>s and <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/types-of-sulfates-in-shampoo/">sulfates</a>, <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2019/01/15/get-sulfates-out-your-life-and-your-hair/">click here</a>. </p>
<h5>The bad: Shampoo bars</h5>
<p>
At best, they are a rebranded bar of soap that contains SLS. At worst, they are made with sodium hydroxide which is the same highly corrosive material found in Drano. You’ve seen what Drano does to hair that clogs your shower drain in a few hours, imagine what small quantities are doing to your scalp over time. Pass! </p>
<h5>The good: New Wash</h5>
<p><strong></strong>New Wash is completely <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/new-wash/">detergent-free</a>. It cleanses with a proprietary blend of essential oils that keep your protective barrier intact, while removing dirt and oils from the scalp. New Wash is does not strip away good oils, meaning hair stays moisturized without using an additional conditioner. </p>
<h5>The good: Dry shampoo</h5>
<p><strong></strong>Nowadays there are other ways to manage oiliness. Dry shampoo is a great alternative to a full wash, but it’s important to recognize that it can contain harmful chemicals like talc, which are known to cause cancer. Plus aerosol cans are not good for the environment. We recommend trying our aerosol and talc-free formula, <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/styling/powder/">Powder</a>. </p>
<h5>CONCLUSION: IS SHAMPOO BAD FOR YOUR HAIR?</h5>
<p>Since the advent of modern hair washing we have known that shampoo is not ideal. It strips hair of its vital oils while cleaning, leaving scalps irritated, flaky and strands dry and prone to breakage. An oily scalp is the main reason why people wash their hair and consider it ‘dirty.’ But the product you think is ‘cleaning’ your hair is actually stripping it. Consider New Wash the end-goal of all hair care, as we have developed<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/new-wash/">three formulas</a> that offer what hair washers have been seeking for centuries. </p>

Is Shampoo Bad For Your Hair?

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">These days, with shampoo bars that look just like bars of soap and foaming soaps that remind you of shampoo, it’s easy to wonder whether or not soap and shampoo are really that different. Both come in liquid or bar form. Both can be scented or unscented, colored or clear.&nbsp;</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">And both are designed to wash skin and hair – shampoo cleans your scalp and hair while soap cleans your hands/body and all of the tiny (or not so tiny) hairs that cover your skin. So, are they really all that different? You’re probably wondering what the difference is between shampoo and soap?</p>
<p>The short answer is yes, they’re definitely is a difference between shampoo and soap. While most soaps and shampoos use sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) to remove dirt and oil, just because they clean the same way doesn’t mean they are the same. Soaps and shampoos have different goals, therefore their formulas are, in fact, different. See our blog to learn more about <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/what-is-sodium-lauryl-sulfate/" target="_blank">what is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate</a> and different <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/types-of-sulfates-in-shampoo/" target="_blank">types of sulfates</a> and their effect on your hair health. </p><h4>SHAMPOO VS. SOAP: THE “SECRET” INGREDIENT SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE</h4>
<p>Without getting too complicated, what you likely consider “soap” isn’t technically soap. Real soap is usually a very simple combination of animal or vegetable fat mixed with an alkaline solution (a combination of water-soluble salt and water). You can find alkaline solutions in nature, such as lye. In other words, real soap can be made without any artificial ingredients.</p>
<p>However, most soaps that we use today <a href="https://www.scienceabc.com/eyeopeners/whats-the-difference-between-various-types-of-soaps-shampoo-and-detergents.html">aren’t made naturally</a>. They’re typically made with a <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/surfactant">surfactant</a> (a detergent that increases water’s ability to spread and thoroughly wet something), like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and a combination of other chemicals that make the product look good and smell nice. Technically what you’re using is a detergent, not a soap. If you’re still wondering, “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/everything-you-need-to-know-about-detergent/" target="_blank">What is detergent?</a>”, read our blog to learn more. </p>
<p>Similar to these soap-like detergents, most shampoos use SLS to clean your hair. It’s what makes your shampoo lather or foam up when you rub it into your wet hair. It’s often the first or second ingredient in your shampoo. </p>
<p>SLS works the same way in soap and shampoo. One end of the molecule grabs on to the oil or dirt and the other end attaches itself to the water. As it’s rinsed away, the SLS takes the oil and dirt with it, “cleaning” your skin or hair.</p><h4>HOW SHAMPOO IS DIFFERENT FROM SOAP</h4>
<p>It may seem strange today, but until the mid 1930s, people actually used bar soap to clean their hair. But when liquid coconut oils became available, that all changed. The oil helped liquify soap, and eventually a liquid soap that could lather (a.k.a. shampoo) was created. </p>
<p>These days, bar soaps are not recommended for washing your hair. If you were to use bar soap instead of shampoo, it would leave a soap scum behind. And if you have hard water, it’d be very hard to rinse it off of your hair and your scalp. </p>
<p>As far as shower gel goes, it’s also not recommended for your hair. This is because of the percentage of surfactants in each – something you wouldn’t easily know by reading the bottle. In general, shampoo has a lower percentage of surfactants compared to shower gel. This allows it to easily rinse out of your hair. It also means that less oils are being pulled out of hair, which is important, as you’ll learn about below. </p>
<p>When it comes to hand washes, they also have a higher percentage of surfactants. And face wash, which is typically too expensive to use as a shampoo, usually has an additional series of ingredients designed to clean the face and help prevent acne. </p>

<h4>WHY IS THERE SUCH A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOAP AND SHAMPOO?</h4>
<p>According to University of British Columbia chemistry professor Stephen McNeil, if your shampoo’s only job was to get rid of oil, then it would be the same as your hand soap. In an interview that McNeil gave to <a href="https://www.npr.org/2007/11/17/16393455/are-all-soaps-created-equal">NPR</a>, he explained that the detergent, or SLS, alone is too harsh for your hair. </p>
<p>You see, your hair and scalp produce a thin coating of oil to protect it. This oil also keeps your hair shiny and smooth. But, a detergent can’t tell the difference between the oil that’s building up in your hair and the natural oil needed for protection and shine. So, it gets rid of everything.</p><h5>If you washed your hair with just soap, it would definitely remove all of the oil and dirt, but it would also leave your hair dull, dry, brittle, frizzy and hard to style.</h5>
<p>Thus, commercial shampoos that use SLS to clean your hair must then repair the damage they’ve done. They do this by adding some sort of conditioner to their formula to give your hair some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3002407/">gloss, make it more manageable and reduce the frizz</a>. While they could use vegetable or mineral oils to condition your hair, they can also use man-made chemicals. And unfortunately, for most people, the conditioning in shampoo isn’t enough to combat the harm of the SLS, so they also use a separate conditioner after. </p><h4>WHAT ABOUT SHAMPOO BARS?</h4>

<p>We know what you’re thinking, “they look like a bar of soap, so are they really that different from actual soap?” Or you’re thinking, “shampoo bars are so much better for the environment, they can’t be bad, right?” Well, let’s explain.</p>
<p>Many commercial shampoo bars still contain SLS, but brands often claim that even though the concentration is higher (similar to a bar of soap), it’s not as bad as a liquid shampoo because of how it’s used. They explain that since you’re only getting the “foam” off the top of a shampoo bar, you’re using much less shampoo than you would with a liquid. Therefore, there’s not as much SLS to strip away the oils. </p>
<p>However, there are also SLS-free shampoo bars that use products like coconut oil. This, of course, makes them very different than a bar of commercial soap. </p>

<h4>IF THERE ARE NATURAL SOAPS, ARE THERE NATURAL SHAMPOOS THAT DON’T CONTAIN SLS?  </h4>
<p>Yes, you can make your own natural shampoo or buy SLS-free shampoos, like our <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/new-wash/">New Wash</a>.</p>
<p>There are tons of recipes online for making your own shampoo. These recipes are, of course, SLS-free. Some of the more common ingredients used are:</p><ul><li>Castile liquid soap</li><li>Apple cider vinegar</li><li>Coconut milk</li><li>Eggs</li><li>Avocado</li><li>Scented herbs </li><li>Essential oils </li></ul>
<p>Or, you can purchase SLS-free products, like our <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/new-wash/">New Wash</a>. Even though our cleansing wash doesn’t contain SLS, your hair will still get clean. SLS-free products use milder cleansing agents that will help keep the moisture in your hair and on your scalp. Still wondering, “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/04/02/is-shampoo-bad-for-your-hair/" target="_blank">Is shampoo bad for your hair?</a>”. Check out our blog to learn more about this topic. </p>
<p>Even better, an SLS-free wash can actually repair your hair, but it may take some time depending on the damage. Some people will feel a huge difference immediately, but for others, it may take time. If your hair is very damaged or your scalp is very irritated, it could take longer for you to notice a change. Alternatively, if you have overactive oil glands, they may need some time to change the amount of oil they produce. Once everything is nicely balanced, your scalp and hair will be healthy and hydrated. You won’t even need conditioner.</p>

<h4>CAN I EVER USE SOAP INSTEAD OF SHAMPOO OR VICE VERSA?</h4>
<p>In general, unless you’re using “real soap” made from animal or vegetable fat mixed with an alkaline solution, using soap on your hair will pull out even more oils than an SLS-filled shampoo, and it won’t provide any conditioning. But, in a pinch, you could use shampoo on your body. However, you may need to scrub a bit harder or longer to remove all of the oils and dirt. </p>
<p>While most commercial shampoos and soaps are really various combinations of detergents designed to lift all oil and dirt from whatever they touch, they still have several different properties that make shampoo better for your hair. But the best way to treat your hair is to avoid all products with SLS, whether it’s a soap or a shampoo, and wash your hair with a formula that doesn’t strip those protective oils while conditioning your hair in the process, such as our <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/new-wash/">detergent free shampoo</a>. This creamy cleanser contains essential oils and naturally derived ingredients that clean without stripping your scalp of its protective barrier.<br><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sources:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Surfactant". Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Feb. 2020, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/surfactant" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Come clean: What's the difference between shampoo and shower gel? New Scientist. <a href="https://www.newscientist.com/lastword/mg24532661-200-come-clean-whats-the-difference-between-shampoo-and-shower-gel/" target="_blank">URL</a>.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Are All Soaps Created Equal?. NPR. <a href="https://www.npr.org/2007/11/17/16393455/are-all-soaps-created-equal?t=1617396106613" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Carolei, Luciano, and Ivano G R Gutz. “Simultaneous determination of three surfactants and water in shampoo and liquid soap by ATR-FTIR.” <em>Talanta</em> vol. 66,1 (2005): 118-24. doi:10.1016/j.talanta.2004.10.005</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">How Is Shampoo Different Than Soap?. Wonderopolis. <a href="https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/how-is-shampoo-different-than-soap#:~:text=Most%20shampoos%20have%20a%20pH,natural%20pH%20level%20of%20hair.&text=Soap%20or%20liquid%20body%20wash,than%20your%20hair%20usually%20does" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Saponification: The preparation of Soap. Milczanowski.. <a href="http://web.fscj.edu/Milczanowski/eleven/Soap.pdf" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Curiosities: What’s the difference between dishwasher detergent, laundry detergent and dish soap? Why aren’t they interchangeable?. University of Wisconsin-Madison. Source. <a href="https://news.wisc.edu/curiosities-whats-the-difference-between-dishwasher-detergent-laundry-detergent-and-dish-soap-why-arent-they-interchangeable/" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Soap: Clean for the Environment or Just Us?. Yale National Initiative. <a href="https://teachers.yale.edu/curriculum/viewer/initiative_11.05.01_u" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Draelos, Zoe D. “Essentials of Hair Care often Neglected: Hair Cleansing.” <em>International journal of trichology</em> vol. 2,1 (2010): 24-9. doi:10.4103/0974-7753.66909</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">All About SLS. Lush. <a href="https://www.lushusa.com/stories/article_dont-stress-sls.html" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">5 Homemade Shampoo Recipes That *Actually* Clean Your Hair. Cosmopolitan. <a href="https://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/a28510392/homemade-diy-shampoo/" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I Tried Washing My Hair With 4 Different Homemade Shampoos—Here's What Happened. Prevention. <a href="https://www.prevention.com/beauty/a20500468/homemade-shampoo-recipes/" target="_blank">URL</a>. </p>

Shampoo vs Soap

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">Ever wondered what does sustainable packaging mean? Climate-neutral, net-zero, carbon zero, climate positive, carbon-negative – a new vocabulary is required to decipher the claims – and the promises – that companies are making to assuage an increasingly environmentally-aware public.</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"> “We’re so far off from a federal standard for climate claims. There are no rules,” says Isabella Todaro at <a href="https://www.climateneutral.org/" target="_blank">Climate Neutral</a>, a non-profit working with brands to reduce their environmental impact on the planet. The only regulation that brands are subject to when it comes to making environmental claims are not legally enforced and about a decade old.</p>
<p>Before we dive into sustainable packaging, let’s remember together that the best thing you can do environmentally to promote sustainability is to not create waste in the first place. The next best solution is to invest in products like our <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/new-wash-refill-club/" target="_blank">environmentally friendly shampoo</a> alternative. </p><h4>WHAT MAKES PACKAGING SUSTAINABLE?</h4>
<p>Eco friendly packaging, compostable packaging, reusable packaging, green packaging. What does all this mean? In an ideal world, a packaging material may be called sustainable if it has been scrutinized from cradle to grave, or from manufacture to disposal in what is called life-cycle analysis. That means that the extraction or the production of sustainable packaging material must involve using minimal energy and water, and result in emitting minimal pollution and greenhouse gasses during its processing to reduce ecological footprint. Bonus points if the material is made of post-consumer waste (PCW) such as recycled paper packaging  or plastic bottles. Once a product has been used, its packaging should be recyclable, reusable, or biodegradable, and avoid ending up in landfills or as litter.</p><h4>IS RECYCLING THE ANSWER?</h4>
<p>Yes and no. Recycling is a part of the answer to addressing our waste problem; it depends on what the material is. Plastic is problematic, as most of it can’t be recycled, or is too challenging to do so practically and profitably. If plastic is white, clear, and not in a film form, it is much more likely to be processed by recyclers. If it is, it may only delay its lifespan – ending in landfill – as plastic packaging is only allowed to be recycled once before losing its integrity. </p>
<p>Keep these alarming plastic facts in mind:</p><ul><li>Half of the world’s disposable plastic has been produced in the last 15 years. 91% of it is NOT recycled, nor is it practical to do so.</li><li>An approximated 359 million tons of plastic is produced in the world each year, with 150 million tons of it rotting in landfills or in the environment.</li><li>By weight, there may be more plastic in the ocean than fish by 2050. </li></ul>
<p>However, there are some promising developments in the processing of plastic waste:</p><ul><li>PHA, (polyhydroxyalkanoate) is a bioplastic produced by bacteria that can break down in conventional landfills and takes a few years to disintegrate in ocean water, a small number compared to the 450 years that it takes standard plastic product packaging.</li><li>Researchers have created a new “super-enzyme” that could break down plastic much more quickly than current recycling methods, create the raw material to make new ones, and will make it easier to repurpose it.</li></ul>
<p>Paper is much more recyclable – as long as it is just paper. Paper-based bottles and containers that house liquid products tend to be made with several layers of other materials including plastic or foil and are neither recyclable materials nor biodegradable. Paper-like, fibrous containers like those you get from some fast-casual restaurants are made from bagasse, a byproduct of sugar cane mills, and may be compostable at home, but must be thrown into a dedicated composting bin; if they end up in the recycling bin, material contaminated with its contents gets rejected by recyclers.</p>
<p> The most recyclable materials and environmentally friendly packaging that can be made into durable goods over and over again are aluminum and glass.</p>

<h4>CAN BIOPLASTICS SAVE THE DAY? </h4>
<p>Bioplastics – made with plant material instead of petroleum – are often touted as an answer because they are biodegradable, and pose no waste issue. But, most bioplastics still require a certain amount of petrochemicals in their production, and when they become waste, they simply break down into smaller parts unless processed in specifically designed digesters.<br><br>Corn-, beet-, cassava-, and sugar-based plastics don’t come from petroleum and are compostable – but not in your backyard pile and only in commercial facilities with high heat and controlled moisture. They can also get mixed in with recyclable items and can create contamination within the recycling stream.</p>

<h4>THE CLIMATE IMPACT</h4>
<p>The <a href="https://ghgprotocol.org/">Greenhouse Gas Protocol</a> (GGP) is the most commonly used formula for assessing climate impact and carbon footprint. Three metrics measure a corporation’s footprint: Two measure the energy used by a business, and one applies to the entire supply chain, but companies without progress in all 3 areas are still permitted to advertise “neutral” or “net-zero” emissions.</p>
<p>However, the growing demand for transparency led Climate Neutral to propose a more rigorous system to add “Climate Neutral Certified” to product labels. They hope to “build a critical mass of companies who are doing this so that it becomes the cost of doing business.”</p>
<p>To claim the Climate Neutral label, brands must offset greenhouse gas emissions in direct production and throughout their entire supply chains. They must create a strategy to reduce future greenhouse gas emissions to avoid greenwashing or making unsubstantiated claims that are not based on science, or projections rather than actual gains. Climate Neutral has also specified what qualifies as a legitimate carbon credit, including tree planting, renewable energy, water filtration, agriculture, and anti-deforestation projects. Certification involves independent verifiers like Verified Carbon Standard‍, Climate Action Reserve, Gold Standard, and Clean Development Mechanism.</p>
<p>Brands are under immense pressure to get greener and use more sustainable beauty packaging  materials, but it will take time to get on the same page when it comes to labeling and certification. The clock is running out for brands that say they care without putting words into action. </p>
<p>Ever wondered, “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/03/02/what-is-clean-beauty/" target="_blank">What is clean beauty?</a>” or “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/03/02/what-is-greenwashing/" target="_blank">What is Greenwashing?</a>”. Check out our blog to learn more about these topics and how you can begin your journey to living a more sustainable lifestyle. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sources:</strong><br><br>“Climate Neutral Certified.” <em>Climate Neutral</em>, <a href="http://www.climateneutral.org/" target="_blank">URL</a><br><br>“Campaign for Safe Cosmetics-Working for Safer Cosmetics.” <em>Safe Cosmetics</em>, <a href="http://www.safecosmetics.org/" target="_blank">URL</a><br><br>Kwai, Isabella. “'Super-Enzyme' Speeds Up Breakdown of Plastic, Researchers Say.” <em>The New York Times</em>, The New York Times, 29 Sept. 2020, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/29/world/europe/plastic-recycling-super-enzyme.html?searchResultPosition=16" target="_blank">URL</a><br><br>“Why 'Biodegradable' Isn't What You Think.” <em>The New York Times</em>, The New York Times, 1 Oct. 2020, <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/10/01/climate/biodegradable-containers.html?searchResultPosition=13" target="_blank">URL</a><br> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Kazior, John. “Achieving Carbon Neutrality Takes More Than a Great Label and Good Intentions.” <em>Eye on Design</em>, 10 Feb. 2021, <a href="http://eyeondesign.aiga.org/achieving-carbon-neutrality-takes-more-than-a-great-label-and-good-intentions/" target="_blank">URL</a></p><br>

What Is Sustainable Packaging

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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Does this sound familiar?&nbsp;</h4>
<p style="text-align: center;">You and your fellow hairdressers helped build professional product brands into the consumer successes they became. You read the brochures, attended the demos, watched the videos. You placed orders faithfully and kept up with the flood of new products at the salon&nbsp;<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2019/04/11/rethinking-the-salon-front-desk/">front desk</a>. You embraced the sell, sell, sell attitude – until it became a slog.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Are you pushing back? Are you planting a firm stake in “artist” territory? Are you defecting from the relentless salesmanship? We don’t blame you; it’s impossible for anybody in the average hair salon to: a) know everything there is to know about every hair product you’re tasked to sell, and b) believe in every hair care product on the shelf.</p>
<p>So consider a shift in your relationship with products and how you’re selling hair products.</p>
<h5>WE’RE ALL IN SALES</h5>
<p>One in 9 Americans has a sales-related job convincing people to buy things. But the other 8 also spend a lot of their time persuading others to make some sort of transaction. Most of us have a hustle of one kind or another: Share my post; buy my book; click on my link; follow me on Instagram; visit my shop; crowdfund my life.</p>
<p>“Like it or not, we’re all in sales now,” says Dan Pink, the bestselling author of To Sell is Human. “And most of us don’t like it. We think of sales as sleazy, cheesy, and slimy. But that view is outdated. An effective seller isn’t a huckster out for profit. The true salesman is an idealist and an artist.” Read that line again:</p>
<p></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>“An effective seller isn’t a huckster out for profit.</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>The true salesman is an idealist and an artist.”</strong></p>
<p></p>
<p>Mr. Pink’s new ABCs of selling: Attunement, buoyancy, and clarity.</p>
<ul>
<li>Attunement means seeing things from your customer’s perspective. Effectively attuning yourself with others means deferring to their perspective, group, situation, or context.<br>
</li>
<li>Buoyancy means not sweating the inevitable rejection. Get over it quickly and move on.<br>
</li>
<li>Clarity means convincing someone to purchase by identifying a problem in need of a solution and explaining how you can help.<br>
</li>
</ul>
<p><br></p>

<h5>BE A PROBLEM SOLVER</h5>
<p>Hair stylist, Wes Sharpton, shares his sales philosophy in the salon retail space: “We spent years learning how to will hair to take shape and to transform it. We have an intuitive feel for it, which anyone can see the moment we put fingers to strands. But our clients spent years learning about other things, and hair probably isn’t one of them. Products give us both a means to the same end, and they’re a way for clients to take home some of our magic.”</p>

<p>This is where attunement and clarity come into play. “This game is all about trust,” says Wes. “The best way to connect with products is to connect with people.” Most want bigger, smaller, curlier, straighter hair. What does your client want? What do they do for a living? What do they like? What do they want to achieve hair-wise? What are they willing to do to get there? How can a certain beauty product help? When the facts are on your side, questions are more persuasive than statements. Whether they are looking for frizz control, hair growth, scalp care, you name it, you will have the knowledge and expertise to point them to the right salon products for their needs.</p>
<h5>It’s a myth that some people are “natural salespeople.” Actually, ambiverts (neither extroverts or introverts) are the best at sales.</h5>
<p>Extroverts may talk too much and listen too little; introverts can be too shy to initiate and close. Today, the best salespeople must be skilled at both asking pertinent questions and offering useful information.</p>
<p>Wes is a natural problem-solver and loves having conversations during a consultation that “give me clues to a puzzle I get to figure out.” That extends to hair care products: “I wrap it in something that is about them, and leave them informed.”</p>

<h5>THE PASSION POSITION</h5>
<p>It’s natural – and necessary – to want to believe in what you sell. Find your passion and use it to connect. What is important to you as a hairstylist? How do you prefer to work? What is your aesthetic lane? Are you a glamour god/dess? An environmental activist? Cut through any hypocrisy or cognitive dissonance we’re all faced with these days and concentrate on what salon products align with your values. Authenticity, honesty, and transparency are the most valuable currency in today’s marketplace.<br></p>

<p>For example, when you are washing a client’s hair at the bowl, explaining why you use <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/catalogue/new-wash_1/">New Wash</a> and why shampoo is so risky shows that you’re looking out for them. When you explain that the aroma they’re enjoying is the product of essential oils and nothing synthetic, their allergy antenna goes down. When you work your massage magic and you feel them release the weight of their head a notch, you know that they are giving you their trust. As a <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/carryus/">Hairstory stockist</a>, your belief in the product will be conveyed and received by your clients as the optimum solution for hair care needs.</p>
<p>When you personally put yourself behind your hair product, it becomes less about selling and mostly about trusting. Mr. Pink sums it up nicely: “Among the things that distinguish our species from others is our combination of idealism and artistry – our desire both to improve the world and to provide that world with something it needs. Moving others doesn’t require that we neglect these nobler aspects of our nature. Today it demands that we embrace them. It begins and ends by remembering that to sell is human.”</p>

Selling Hair Products With Soul (without selling your soul)

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<h4>In celebration of International Women’s Day we bring you some amazing female stylists and the work they do with hair and within their communities. Meet Huich In, owner of Nuna Hair Studio in Brooklyn, NY and Erum Sheikh, a global freelance stylist in Canada and Spain. These two stylists are shaking up the hair scene and empowering their clients in big ways and small.</h4>

<h5>What is your favorite thing about owning a salon?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>My favorite thing about owning a salon is being able to work exactly how I like, especially being able to control my booking. I also love creating the energy of Nuna; the best compliment I hear from clients and other stylists is that they love the energy of the space. My hope is that it’s comfortable, peaceful, and welcoming.</p><h5>Who is a woman who helped you get where you are?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>
There are so many women who have helped me get to where I am. I’ve had the privilege to know some brilliant female hairdressers who have taught me and encouraged me to find my voice as a stylist. But the one woman who’s helped me the most is my mom. She was the one who helped me open my studio; I wouldn’t have been able to do it in NYC without her, and just enough financial support and a loving push made a dream a reality.</p><h5>Who is a woman you admire?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>There are so many women I admire. Right now I’m geeking over Jenny Cho and Lacy Redway.  I love their work so much; they are artists through and through.</p><h5>What are some of the challenges that come with owning a salon?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>
In my opinion, the most challenging part of owning a salon is navigating everyone’s working styles.  We all have different levels of clean and mess, haha. I’m learning so much about communication and patience.&nbsp;</p><h5> 

How do you support and empower other women?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>Sharing is caring! I share knowledge, education, and resources with other women freely when it is solicited. There’s a special type of joy when women support each other and when we succeed.&nbsp;</p><h5> 

Do you have to be a woman to get your haircut at your salon?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>No, ALL genders and non-binary folks are welcome at Nuna’s.&nbsp;</p><h5> 

Can you explain your inclusive and accessible business model? How did you decide to offer a sliding scale for pricing?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>I recently changed my booking options to be more inclusive. I now offer genderless booking, and my haircuts are no longer men’s or women’s. I offer full or barber haircuts. I also have a pronoun box for clients when they fill in their information.&nbsp;</p>
<p> 

I decided to offer a sliding scale because I wanted my business to be accessible to all people at all income levels. I trust that people will not take advantage of this offering, and if they do, then that is on them; I always have a choice to not take on a client if I feel that it’s not mutually beneficial.<br></p>

<h5>What is your favorite thing about working as an independent hairdresser?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>The flexibility to create my own path.&nbsp;</p><h5>
Who is a woman who helped you get where you are?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>
This is a hard one to answer because there have been many amazing ones who have supported me along the way. I would say in the last few years Lisa Rothml from Storm Salon located in Vancouver, BC. She is one of the owners and has really supported and encouraged me to go after all my wild directions on this hair journey in the last few years of my career – never holding me back even if it meant I would be at the salon less.&nbsp;</p><h5>
Who is a woman you admire?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>Dorothy Blackburn. She was my very first mentor at the boutique hair salon Metamorphosis in Ottawa, Canada. She had a profound impact on my career by showing me a side of the industry I never knew about at the age of 17. She inspired me with photo shoots she would create and her dedication to philanthropy. She made me realize how much of a positive impact hairdressers could have on their communities, and I have always aspired to be like her.&nbsp;</p><h5>
What are some of the challenges that come with working as an independent hairdresser?</h5>
<p>
Having to manage all your tasks – there never seems to be enough time to get everything done in the day!&nbsp;</p><h5>
How do you support and empower other women?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>Throughout my time behind the chair I have also helped to bring awareness to programs and organizations that help empower women and children through multi-city, in-salon cutting events. These days I am working to help bring more awareness to a local Vancouver non-profit organization BC Society of Transition Houses. They are a member-based, provincial, umbrella organization that enhances the continuum of services and strategies to respond to, prevent, and end violence against women, children, and youth. Their Bursary Funds program helps women with experiences of violence to access a bursary for education and employment opportunities that enhance their job-related skills and credentials so they can lead safe, meaningful and productive lives. To learn more, visit www.bcsth.ca & https://&lt;wbr/&gt;bit.ly/3rHKdap&nbsp;</p><h5>
Can you explain the word “womxn” as seen in your IG Bio and what it means to you?&nbsp;</h5>
<p>For me, depending on the context, I prefer to use womxn, I find it empowering to take a word from a masculine dominated language, and make it my own. I am flipping the script and that in itself is empowering to me. At the end of the day it is important for one to know what they prefer, to make their own personal choice, and be open to hearing all voices.</p>

Celebrating International Women’s Day

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">What is greenwashing and what does greenwashing mean? It’s always smart to raise a skeptical eyebrow when you hear a company making environmental claims to “save the Earth.” Jumping on an eco-friendly bandwagon may be smart marketing, but beware of greenwashing, a practice designed to influence consumer perception by making you believe that a company or brand is doing more to protect the environment than it really is – whether by outright lies or a simple lack of scientific proof.</h3>
<p>What is greenwashing and what does greenwashing mean? It’s always smart to raise a skeptical eyebrow when you hear a company making environmental claims to “save the Earth.” Jumping on an eco-friendly bandwagon may be smart marketing, but beware of greenwashing, a practice designed to influence consumer perception by making you believe that a company or brand is doing more to protect the environment than it really is – whether by outright lies or a simple lack of scientific proof.</p><h4>EXAMPLES OF GREENWASHING</h4>
<p><br>Truth in Advertising, a site dedicated to “empowering consumers to protect themselves and one another against false advertising and deceptive green marketing,” is calling out companies for misleading us about their so-called cleaner, sustainable products and their environmental impact:</p>

<ul><li>Tide Purclean laundry detergent claims to be “a powerful, plant-based clean you can feel good about.” The truth: 25% of its ingredients are not plant-based, and some are derived from petroleum, a fossil fuel that contributes to greenhouse gas emissions.</li><li>Nestle is under legal fire for its corporate greenwashing and misleading claims that it uses “sustainably sourced cocoa beans.” Its key ingredient in chocolate products allegedly contributes to deforestation in West Africa on farms that use child and slave labor.</li><li>Kauai Coffee makes the green claim that its disposable pods are “100% compostable” and “designed to go back to the land – not the landfill.” The catch is that the capsules packaging have only been certified to decompose at “industrial facilities” and not in your backyard compost pile.<br></li></ul>
<p>To be fair, sustainable practices and the eco-friendly gauntlet is new territory for many manufacturers, and few marketing departments are staffed by devious liars. The intentions for sustainable products may be pure, but with so many independent certification organizations trying to fill a federal gap in regulations that might guide us toward a more sustainable future greener regulations, it’s complicated. </p>
<p>And even those certifiers are not exempt from scrutiny; The Rainforest Alliance provides a seal of approval for environmental and social responsibility. However, a clean water group claims that certified farms are cheating by allowing aerial fumigation over schools and homes and open-source rivers with no chemical protection and are suing.</p>
<p>The term greenwashing first appeared in an essay by environmentalist Jay Westerveld in 1986 essay when hotels asked guests to reuse towels as part of a larger so-called environmental strategy to reduce carbon footprint that appeared to be only a cost-cutting strategy, encouraging guests to be environmentally aware when the hotels at large were exhibiting environmentally recklessness.</p><h4>HOW TO SPOT GREENWASHING</h4>
<p>Greenwashing is difficult to spot – and it’s unlikely to stop without a governing body to verify a product's sustainability claims and environmental issues before it is launched to consumers.</p><h5>Many of the terms used on labels have lost all real meaning in the marketplace, and without consensus on a definition, these buzzwords become easy to use with impunity.</h5>
<p>“Any company that says it isn't greenwashing is probably kidding themselves,” writes Emma Loewe, Senior Sustainability Editor at Mind Body Green. This is especially common in the fashion industry making unsubstantiated claims about their sustainable brand, when in reality, their products and supply chain are directly contributing to carbon emissions and climate change.  “I consider it a sign of sincerity – not weakness – when a company discloses what challenges they face in the journey to meet their sustainability goals. After all, if a company only sets goals it knows it can meet, chances are the goals aren't ambitious enough.”</p>
<p>In that spirit, here is what Eli Halliwell, CEO of Hairstory includes in a message to all employees:</p>

<p>“We founded Hairstory on the principles of sustainability. To us, sustainability means much more than good environmental stewardship; it means balance, self-perpetuation, creating something of enduring value. It also means we need to manage the business within the constraints of our current reality…<br><br>We apply the principles of sustainability to our products, to our business conduct, to our environmental footprint. By generating economic activity, we acknowledge that we impact our world – we consume resources, we generate waste. Our goal is to minimize this impact where and whenever possible, recognizing we are bound by the constraints of economics, technology, regulation, and funding. </p>
<p>Our products such as <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/new-wash/new-wash-original/">New Wash</a> are biodegradable and committed to this goal of sustainability. We joined 1% for the Planet to donate a meaningful share of our sales to water-focused sustainability non-profits.</p>

<p>We live in a world of hyperbole, of greenwashing, of over-promising and under-delivering, and we choose instead the path of honesty, transparency, and evolution. Sustainability is a journey, not a destination. We are not perfect and never will be, but we must always strive to improve.”</p>
<p>Ever wondered, “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/03/02/what-is-clean-beauty/" target="_blank">What is clean beauty?</a>” or “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/03/02/what-is-sustainable-packaging/" target="_blank">What is sustainable packaging?</a>”. Check out our blog to learn more about these topics and how you can begin your journey to living a more sustainable lifestyle. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sources:</strong><br><br>Emma Loewe mbg Senior Sustainability Editor Emma Loewe is the Senior Sustainability Editor at mindbodygreen and the co-author of The Spirit Almanac: A Modern Guide To Ancient Self Care. “Greenwashing Is Harming The Environmental Movement: Here's How To Spot It.” <em>Mindbodygreen</em>, 15 Sept. 2020, <a href="http://www.mindbodygreen.com/articles/greenwashing-definition." target="_blank">URL</a><br><br>“Earth Day 2020: Companies Accused of Greenwashing.” <em>Truth In Advertising</em>, 18 Feb. 2021, <a href="http://www.truthinadvertising.org/six-companies-accused-greenwashing/" target="_blank">URL</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">“Campaign for Safe Cosmetics-Working for Safer Cosmetics.” <em>Safe Cosmetics</em>, <a href="http://www.safecosmetics.org/" target="_blank">URL</a></p>

What is Greenwashing?

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">We have created a list of tax deductions so that all of our <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/carryus/" target="_blank">Hairstory stockists</a> are set for when tax season rolls around. As a business owner, self-employed hair stylists enjoy more “creativity” when tax season arrives.&nbsp;</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;">While a full time employee is limited in the deductions they can claim to reduce their tax bill, the independent or freelance hairdresser can claim many more expenses that are a part of doing business as tax deductions. Here is the most common hair salon expenses list that you should be keeping track of to toe your bottom line. </p>
<p></p><h5>HAIR STYLIST TAX DEDUCTION CHECKLIST </h5><h5>1. Mileage</h5>
<p>If you’re regularly traveling between the salon and other locations to do business, whether running errands or attending classes, keep a mileage log. Use of your personal vehicle and the fuel it consumes are partially deductible – except while commuting between home and your primary workplace. You may choose to take the standard mileage deduction, but this means that you cannot deduct expenses like gas, oil changes, car repairs, and car insurance. It may be worth the extra record-keeping so you can make the best choice. Keep track of parking fees and tolls too; they’re also a deductible expense.</p>

<h5>2. Home Workspace</h5>
<p>This is one of the most abused deduction allowances, and the IRS is reportedly a sticker on this one, so writing off a part of your home for business use is only advisable for those with a dedicated space used only and often for business. </p>
<p>There are two ways to calculate this home office deduction:</p><ul><li><strong>The simpler option:  </strong>Multiply the square footage of your home workspace (up to 300 square feet) by $5. </li><li><strong>The expense option:  </strong>List everything you spend on your home office. Supplies and repairs can be deducted in full. Divide the cost of your mortgage, insurance, and utilities by the percentage of your home that you use – exclusively – for your small business.  </li></ul><h5>3. Professional Development</h5>
<p>You may deduct tuition for any technical, creative, or business classes, seminars, or conventions you attend. The cost of subscribing to industry publications is also deductible. </p>

<h5>4. Supplies and Tools</h5>
<p>Cutting tools, combs, brushes, liquid products, blow dryers, aprons, capes, furnishings – anything you bought last tax year that is essential to conduct your business may be deducted. You may want to consider deducting high-ticket items such as chairs and mirrors using the depreciation method, which allows the tax deduction to be spread out over years.</p><h5>5. Communication Charges</h5>
<p>If you have a phone that you use exclusively for business, you can deduct all of its related expenses including the cost of purchase and your monthly fees. If your phone is also used for personal reasons, deduct only the portion of the time you used it for work-related calls/texts.</p><h5>6. Business Stationery</h5>
<p>The costs involved in designing and printing your business or appointment cards, as well as letterhead, envelopes, brochures, and notepads are deductible marketing expenses, including any photocopying or office-center expenses.  </p><h5>7. Advertising & Promotion</h5>
<p>Online or print ads, signs, videos, and the cost of creating, hosting, or maintaining your website are all deductible. The same goes for any promotional freebies you produce such as combs, pens, or brushes.</p><h5>8. Licenses</h5>
<p>Fees that you pay to obtain or renew your required professional licenses are fully tax-deductible.</p><h5>9. Insurance</h5>
<p>If you maintain an insurance policy as protection from business claims, you can deduct your premiums. </p><h5>As long your health insurance is not covered by a spouse’s or employer’s policy, your monthly premiums are fully deductible.</h5>
<p><strong>Note:</strong> Claim your health insurance premiums as a personal deduction on Form 1040, and not as a business expense. If you are the beneficiary of a life insurance policy, the premiums are not deductible even if it was bought to secure a business loan. </p>
<p>Download the full Hairdresser's Tax Deduction Worksheet <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Iw_KjYSfF65DiLAANesxttmHSDnLeAjJ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>.</p>
<p>So carve out some time, get out those receipts, and get tapping at that calculator. Take on your <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2019/01/17/get-ready-tax-tips-hairdressers/">hairdresser taxes 2020</a> by storm. Think back to years past: didn’t putting off this essential task feel worse than actually sitting down to do it? Get started and greet springtime with one less thing to worry about.</p><figure><br></figure>

<h4>WHICH EXPENSES ARE NOT DEDUCTIBLE?</h4>
<p>Some common salon owner expenses are unfortunately non-deductible, including:</p><ul><li>Your haircuts, color, and skincare are not deductible, even though you may deem them essential for a professional appearance. Likewise, unless you are required to wear and maintain a uniform, the cost of clothing that can also be worn outside of work and its dry cleaning are not deductible.</li><li>Legal violations such as parking or traffic citations and court fees</li><li>Mileage traveled by commuting between home and a permanent workspace</li></ul>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * * </p><br>

Top 2020 Tax Deductions for Hairdressers

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<h4 style="text-align: center;">Clean, green, natural, organic, non-toxic, sustainable… what does it all mean? How do we separate the facts from the folklore, the truth from the spin? First off, congratulations for coming here to discover more about the nature of – and the natural impact of beauty products. It is up to consumers to know exactly what it is we’re using and make it clear that we‘re not buying seductive promises disguised in shaky science. We don’t blame you for wandering around the clean beauty space confused; it’s confusing, and sometimes intentionally vague.</h4>
<p>What does clean beauty mean? Sometimes these terms don’t mean much at all in terms of actual regulation, or because of the lack of it in the United States. Here is what we’re up against: An organic ingredient is natural, but natural isn’t necessarily organic. Organic isn’t synthetic, but natural can be. Chemicals can be natural, and organic, except when they’re synthetic. Products can be labeled as organic even if they’re organic-ish. [Head scratch here.] Let’s try and untangle it for you. </p><h4>WHAT DOES CLEAN MEAN?</h4>
<p>Clean is the biggest umbrella in this discussion, and in most cases, is more of an aspiration than a reality. Champions of the clean beauty movement envision a clean conscience as well as clean products: the possibility of personal care and adornment without employing any substance that is harmful in any way to the planet and anyone or anything living on it, animal, mineral, or vegetable. A clean beauty product is ideally made with ingredients that are grown, sourced, refined, or synthesized with minimal impact on ecosystems and contain no harmful chemicals or toxic ingredients. While these are laudable, and some are ultimately achievable goals, the beauty industry contains the word industry, and its very existence makes some of them practically impossible. </p>
<p>The focus on clean beauty mirrors the clean food lifestyle that embraces unrefined and minimally processed ingredients. With the growing awareness of more stringent regulations for cosmetics outside the US – The EU has banned approximately 1,300 chemicals in cosmetics while the United States bans or restricts only 11, according to a health advocacy organization called the Environmental Working Group – consumers are demanding greater transparency with ingredient lists and a deeper commitment to product safety.</p><h4>WHAT DOES GREEN MEAN?</h4>
<p>Green and clean go hand in glove. Green beauty addresses concerns that are mainly about protecting nature from industry and waste – and spotlights a herd of elephants in the room: disposable packaging. Green beauty activists are mostly focused on promoting the extraction or production of materials using organic practices and respecting natural ecosystems. </p><br>

<h4>WHAT DOES “ORGANIC” MEAN?</h4>
<p>The organic classification should be a simple one, but like the rest of this slippery subject, the lines are blurry. According to <a href="https://www.safecosmetics.org/">Campaign for Safe Cosmetics</a>, organic products are one of the least regulated aspects of the industry. In the produce section in the food market, it’s pretty simple, but the beauty aisle has products that combine lots of different ingredients – some natural, some not, some organic, some not – and it’s not so simple. </p>
<p>Certified “organic” has a similar definition across the USA, the UK, and Australia: ingredients that are grown without manufactured pesticides; chemicals; artificial fertilizers; genetically modified organisms; ionizing radiation; sewage sludge; growth regulators, and routine antibiotics use. Once formulated, organic beauty products may not contain artificial or synthetic colors, preservatives, or harmful chemicals, including parabens and sulfates.</p>

<p>When it comes to food, the United States Department of Agriculture requires that in order to boast a “100 percent organic” label, a product must be made with at least 95 percent certified organic ingredients; its processing methods must be organic, and its label must name the agent that certified it. A product that claims to be “made with organic ingredients” must contain at least 70 percent certified organic ingredients. The remaining agricultural ingredients may be conventionally produced but must exclude certain methods.</p>
<p>But when the organic designation is applied to cosmetics – when many raw materials can’t be found on a farm, the USDA steps aside, and the Federal Drug Administration steps in. The agency, however, does not define or regulate “organic” in cosmetics or personal care products; other nations are more sophisticated in this regard to ingredient transparency. It falls on the manufacturers to hold themselves to the highest standards because they believe it’s the right thing to do, not because they’re required to.</p>
<p>However, if a non-food product is made of enough agricultural ingredients and it can meet the USDA standards, organic certification may apply.</p><h5>Products made with under 70 percent organic ingredients may not claim organic on the principal packaging areas but may list specific organic ingredients elsewhere.</h5>
<p>Note that some ingredients cannot be classified as organic, such as water, salt, or clay – and water alone may make up at least 70% of many personal care products in your beauty routine.  </p><h4>WHAT DOES “NATURAL” MEAN?</h4>
<p>Natural is where the gray areas get very gray indeed. The term “natural” isn’t actually regulated at all, and it describes such a vast array of substances – including petroleum, arsenic, and mercury – that it’s a pretty useless filter for making healthy choices. To boot, a product that contains “as little as 1 percent naturally-sourced, plant-based, or mineral ingredients, and up to 30 percent synthetic” ingredients can be labeled a natural product.</p>
<p>An organization called the <a href="https://www.npanational.org/">Natural Products Association</a> is aiming to change things by independently certifying personal and home care products in the US. To certify a product, it must: include at least 95 percent ingredients from natural sources excluding water; avoid health-adverse ingredients; shun animal testing; create partially biodegradable or recycled packaging; list every ingredient on the label, and use 100 percent natural fragrance and colorants.</p><h4>WHAT DOES NON-SYNTHETIC MEAN? </h4>
<p>This is perhaps the trickiest designation of all. A product labeled as “synthetic-free” should contain no man-made ingredients and only ingredients or compounds that are naturally-occurring. </p>
<p>Senior Chemist Michael Slayton, whose talent has been essential in the formulation of Hairstory products, finds this argument frustrating. “It is misleading to refer to a ‘synthetic-free’ product as involving no man-made ingredients. Some ingredients invariably go through a ‘man-made’ process.”</p><h4>IS A SYNTHETIC MATERIAL INFERIOR TO ONE FOUND IN NATURE? </h4>
<p>“I do not believe a ‘naturally occurring’ ingredient is better for you than an equivalent material made in a lab,” says Mr. Slayton. “There is greater consistency in synthetic materials as opposed to those from nature, and this is important for quality during manufacturing. Variation can cause problems.”</p>
<p>Also, there is often a bias against ingredients with names that aren’t recognizable, yet are actually quite ordinary: sodium cocoate is processed coconut oil; sodium chloride is merely salt; citric acid is found in lemons and other citrus fruits. Remember that ingredients are listed from highest percentage to lowest, so purists generally make it a habit to choose products where synthetic ingredients may lurk at the bottom of the list.</p>
<p>However, there is one area where the natural vs synthetic battle may matter: fragrance. If you have an allergic reaction to a product, chances are that one of the fragrance ingredients is to blame. The problem is that product manufacturers in the US are not required to list fragrance ingredients beyond the one phrase “parfum/fragrance.” Most fragrances are at least partially synthetic because it is less costly; essential oils can cost astronomical amounts of money per ounce. Even so, all Hairstory products are made with 100% natural components consisting of essential botanical oils and extracts.</p>

<h4>WHAT DOES NON-TOXIC MEAN?</h4>
<p>A company claiming that its product is non-toxic has presumably avoided ingredients that are known to cause neurological or hormone disruption, cancer, or even death. And even though studies that prove ill-effects have been conducted, phthalates are still used for consistency and pourability; formaldehyde or formaldehyde-forming ingredients are present in nail polish, hairpiece adhesives, and chemical straighteners. Petroleum makes its way into moisturizers and lip balms; lead acetate is common in hair dye and lipstick; coal tar is featured in hair dye and anti-dandruff shampoo.</p>

<p>Some toxins are dangerous when airborne, and others are harmful when applied to the skin, which is porous; some ingredients may be absorbed into the bloodstream and lymphatic system. “It depends on the size and type of material, the area of the body to which it is applied, and how it combines with the other components of the product,” says Mr. Slayton. While the FDA maintains that the chemicals typically used in beauty products are safe in small quantities, potential long-term effects of exposure over time are not always well understood.</p>
<p>The Food and Drug Administration is clear about where their responsibility begins and ends: “Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act), cosmetic products and ingredients, other than color additives, do not need FDA approval before they go on the market. In other words, due diligence falls on the consumer. So to help you out, Here is a shortlist of ingredients you should try and avoid in your hair products if you are concerned about potential toxins: </p><h4>Urea</h4>
<p>Urea is a product of ammonia and carbon dioxide, slows a product’s moisture loss during use, extends shelf-life, and helps maintain product pH. It helps active ingredients penetrate layers of skin, and helps make it softer. Urea is known to release formaldehyde, a human carcinogen. These are some of its forms you might see on ingredient lists:</p><ul><li>Imidazolidinyl urea</li><li>Diazolidinyl urea</li><li>Sodium hydroxymethyl glycinate</li><li>DMDM hydantoin</li></ul><h4>Parabens</h4>
<p>Parabens are used chiefly as preservatives and can mimic the hormone estrogen in human cells, an activity associated with breast cancer tumors.</p><h4>Phthalates</h4>
<p>Often hidden amongst fragrance ingredients, phthalates can damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system, particularly the developing testes.</p><h4>Sulfates</h4>
<p>Sulfates are detergents made of mineral salts and used as cleaning agents in all kinds of cleansers from shampoo to heavy machinery degreasers. They can strip protective oils from your scalp and hair, damage hair cuticles, and cause scalp irritation or skin irritation, which can lead to hair loss. Keep an eye out  for these variations:</p><ul><li>Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)</li><li>Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)</li><li>Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate</li><li>Sodium Lauroyl Isethionate</li><li>Sodium Lauroyl Taurate</li><li>Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate</li><li>Sodium Lauroyl Methyl Isethionate</li><li>Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate</li><li>Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate</li></ul>
<p><br>We created Hairstory products to be ahead of the curve by anticipating global regulations that are far more cautious than those in the US. Our products are not as yet available globally, but our formulations and foresight make it legally possible to be. Hairstory products such as our <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/new-wash-refill-club/">environmentally friendly shampoo</a> or <a href="https://hairstory.com/shop/new-wash/">sulfate free shampoo</a> are as clean as possible with the best quality organic, natural, and synthetic ingredients available – and safe for all.</p>
<p>Ever wondered, “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/03/02/what-is-sustainable-packaging/" target="_blank">What is sustainable packaging?</a>” or “<a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/03/02/what-is-greenwashing/" target="_blank">What is Greenwashing?</a>”. Check out our blog to learn more about these topics and how you can begin your journey to living a more sustainable lifestyle. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;">* * *<br><strong>Sources:</strong><br>ElBoghdady, Dina. “‘Clean’ Beauty Has Taken over the Cosmetics Industry, but That’s about All Anyone Agrees On.” <em>The Washington Post</em>, WP Company, 11 Mar. 2020, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/clean-beauty-has-taken-over-the-cosmetics-industry-but-thats-about-all-anyone-agrees-on/2020/03/09/2ecfe10e-59b3-11ea-ab68-101ecfec2532_story.html" target="_blank">URL</a><br><br><em>Natural Products Association</em>, 22 Feb. 2021,<a href="http://www.npanational.org/" target="_blank">URL</a><br><br>Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “‘Organic’ Cosmetics.” <em>U.S. Food and Drug Administration</em>, FDA, <a href="http://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/organic-cosmetics" target="_blank">URL</a></p><br>

What Is Clean Beauty

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<h3 style="text-align: center;">It’s been just over a century since the first commercial shampoo was invented by Kasey Hebert in 1914. But since that time, we’ve gone from creating a pH-balanced formula in the 1930s to creating numerous solutions that claim to prevent the damage caused by the advances in shampoo technology.</h3>
<p style="text-align: center;"> But as new inventions lead to more and more shampoos relying on ingredients created in labs, we’re getting further and further away from what’s healthy and natural. In fact, the hair industry – both commercially and individually – <a href="https://theconversation.com/change-the-way-you-wash-your-hair-to-help-save-the-environment-111113">has created a considerable carbon footprint over time</a>.</p>
<p>We know that nourishing your scalp is so important. There are easy ways to take care of your scalp like using a <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/accessories/scalp-brush/">scalp brush</a> to stimulate blood flow and remove product build-up. (Here are a few tips on <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2020/05/06/scalp-exfoliation-why-how-how-often/">how to exfoliate your scalp</a>!) While caring for your scalp is an important part of any hair care routine, are we unknowingly washing our scalps with products that do more harm than good?</p><h4>IS SHAMPOO ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY?</h4>
<p>It seems innocent enough – a product designed to clean your hair. It removes the dirt and oil, leaving your hair shiny and full of life. But is shampoo bad for the environment? Well, if you read the ingredients on the back of a shampoo bottle, you might be surprised. Many shampoos are filled with harmful chemicals you’ve never heard of and aren’t able to pronounce. These chemicals may not only be harmful to you, but they can also harm the environment. Plus, they strip your hair of natural oils, forcing you to purchase a separate, often equally harmful condition to replenish the oils you’ve lost. </p>
<p>In addition to harmful-for-everyone chemicals, many shampoos are sold in plastic bottles that are often only partially or totally unrecyclable. These bottles have already caused a tremendous amount of waste and done extensive damage to our planet. They’re dumped in our landfills and oceans, harming our atmosphere and our wildlife while they take thousands of years to decompose. </p><h4>HOW DOES SHAMPOO POLLUTE THE WATER?</h4>
<p>Unfortunately, shampoos have done lasting damage to our water supply in two major ways: their ingredients and the plastic containers that hold them. </p>
<p>One of the major environmental impacts of shampoo comes from the simple act of rinsing your hair. As the shampoo leaves your hair, the chemicals are sent down your drain and out into the water supply. These chemicals have been found in a variety of environments, including wastewater, surface water, sediment, groundwater, and drinking water. </p>
<p>Luckily, our drinking water is treated so you’re not ingesting those chemicals (another process that can be harmful to the environment), but our lakes, rivers, and oceans are not. <a href="https://www.epa.gov/wqc/contaminants-emerging-concern-including-pharmaceuticals-and-personal-care-products">These chemicals can harm both aquatic life</a> and the animals that drink from these bodies of water. Research has shown that the chemicals in personal care products can change the hormone levels in aquatic organisms, which can cause a variety of health problems, including damaging their ability to reproduce. </p>
<p>Then there are the plastic bottles used to hold your shampoo. Many of them are either only partially recyclable or cannot be recycled, so they end up in our oceans and landfills.<a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/2018/08/5-reasons-ditch-your-shampoo-bottle-shampoo-bar">About nine million tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually,</a> which is about one garbage truck of plastic every minute. These plastics can survive in water for thousands of years if they’re not consumed by marine life. When they are ingested, the chemicals in the plastic can injure or poison the animals. Those that don’t make their way into the bodies of these animals become floating waste, serving as transportation vehicles for invasive species, which can upset and damage very delicate habitats. </p>
<p>Dumping plastic in a landfill is equally dangerous. As they’re buried deeper into the pile and begin to decompose slowly, they can leach dangerous chemicals that eventually make their way into our groundwater and our air.<br></p>

<h4>WHAT INGREDIENTS SHOULD BE AVOIDED IN SHAMPOO?</h4>
<p>Shampoos can contain a wide variety of ingredients that can be harmful to you and the environment. While some of these ingredients seem innocent enough, they’re often misleading. Carefully reading all labels will help you determine whether or not your shampoo is safe. </p>

<ul><li><strong>Fragrance:</strong> Most companies use this word as a catch-all for what could be a long list of <a href="https://www.ewg.org/enviroblog/2007/12/ask-ewg-what-fragrance">potentially harmful chemicals</a>. Legally, thanks to an FDA loophole, companies can name almost any ingredient as “fragrance” if they claim it’s part of their trade-secret formula. Without knowing the specific chemicals involved, these could do damage to you (skin irritation, asthma, cancer, etc.) and the environment. But natural fragrances, such as the ones we use at Hairstory, are comprised of 100% natural, essential oils and are actually good for your hair. Get the lowdown on <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/01/28/natural-vs-synthetic-fragrance/">natural vs. synthetic fragrance</a> here.</li><li><strong>Synthetic colors:</strong> While they may make your shampoo look pretty, synthetic colors are made from petroleum or coal-tar sources, which can be harmful to yourself and the environment.  </li><li><strong>Parabens:</strong>Parabens are used to preserve the shelf life of many shampoos. But recently, scientists have begun to question their safety. In humans, <a href="https://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/news/20151027/parabens-breast-cancer#1">they’ve been connected to increased growth of breast cancer cells</a>. They can kill coral and have been found in surface waters, marine mammals, fish, and sediments. The best decision is to switch to a paraben-free shampoo (like New Wash)!</li><li><strong>1,4 Dioxane:</strong> This clear liquid is often found in paint strippers, dyes, varnishes. But it’s also found in body washes and shampoo! It’s the ingredient that makes your products sudsy. <a href="https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2017/09/is-your-shampoo-poisoning-your-drinking-water/">This synthetic product isn’t easily biodegradable</a>, and it’s considered a “likely human carcinogen” that can harm your liver, kidney, and central nervous system. It’s also considered toxic to aquatic plants and invertebrates. Dioxane has been found in the drinking water in 45 out of 50 states, and you cannot filter it out with a home filter. What’s more, because the FDA doesn’t require companies to list contaminants in their products’ ingredients, it’s difficult to know if it’s in your shampoo. </li><li><strong>Methylisothiazolinone:</strong> <a href="https://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth/22374/coming-soon-store-near-you-ewg-verified-hair-care">A hazardous preservative</a> that can cause allergic reactions and may poison the nervous system.  </li><li><strong>Triclosan (TCS):</strong> Although this was banned from being used in antibacterial soaps in 2016, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012398254400008X">it’s still allowed in shampoo</a> (as well as toothpaste and deodorant). When combined with chlorine in tap water to form chloroform, a possible human carcinogen. It’s also known to cause hormone disruptions, which can lead to cancer and affect fetal development, among other things. TCS can harm algae and can cause reproductive and developmental delays in fish and their eggs.</li></ul><h4>THE TRUTH ABOUT SULFATES IN SHAMPOO</h4>
<p>You may have heard or read about sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and believe that you need to avoid these ingredients. These two chemicals are considered surfactants – it’s what makes your shampoo lather or foam up when you rub it into your hair. They’re also found in toothpaste and foaming cleansers.</p>
<p>The truth is, you should stay away from sulfates. These products’ chemicals can irritate your skin, causing severe skin irritation and possible itchy rashes. They also dry out your hair, causing weakened, broken hair strands and split ends. Read more about why you should <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2019/01/15/get-sulfates-out-your-life-and-your-hair/">get sulfates out of your life and your hair</a>.</p><h4>WHAT SHAMPOO IS BEST FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?</h4>
<p>Selecting a shampoo that is good for the environment involves a careful review of the ingredients list as well as considering the packaging. </p><h5>Look for eco-friendly shampoos that use all-natural ingredients such as essential oils and natural minerals. Every ingredient should be clearly listed with scents and colors from fruit and plant extracts, not a vague term like “fragrance.” </h5>
<p>Avoid shampoos that have any of the ingredients included in the list above. But be aware that even all-natural, plant-based ingredients can cause an allergic reaction, so read all ingredients carefully to avoid any known allergens.</p>
<p>Some ingredients that aren’t considered toxic to humans or animals can still be harmful to the environment. One such ingredient is palm oil, a type of vegetable oil used to help restore the hair’s natural oils. Palm oil grows in tropical rainforests, and because of its low cost, many of these forests have been damaged beyond repair. The devastating loss of these entire ecosystems has contributed to climate change, affected local communities, and caused endangered species, such as orangutans, tigers, elephants, to lose their homes. We recommend avoiding products with palm oil unless you know how the product was sourced.</p>
<p>When it comes to packaging, find shampoos that aren’t sold in plastic bottles. <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/02/25/benefits-of-using-refillable-shampoo-bottles/" target="_blank">Reusable shampoo bottles</a> (ours are <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/accessories/new-wash-bottle/">refillable aluminum canisters</a>, available in 20 oz. and 30 oz. sizes) are an excellent way to minimize your plastic consumption. Purchasing products that both wash and condition your hair, like our sulfate-free shampoo alternative, <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/new-wash/">New Wash</a>, is another way to cut down on packaging waste. </p>

<h4>IS DRY SHAMPOO BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?</h4>
<p>If you’re unfamiliar, dry shampoo is a powder-like product that can be sprinkled (or sprayed) onto your hair to remove oils or sweat and give you a fresh, clean look without needing to wash or rinse – or even shower. But, although the idea of spending extra time catching up on much-need sleep instead of washing and drying your hair in the morning sounds great, some dry shampoos are actually very harmful to the environment. </p>
<p><a href="https://www.wired.com/2015/05/whats-inside-dry-shampoo/">Dry shampoos often contain a harmful combination of talc</a> (which has been linked to cancer), butane and propane (items more commonly used for your gas grill), and fragrance (which, we’ve already learned, can be any combination of harmful chemicals). Plus, it’s usually packaged in an aerosol can. While these cans no longer contain the same environmentally-harmful ingredients as those hairspray cans of previous generations, they’re powered by butane and propane, two highly flammable ingredients. All in all, not a good idea for you or the environment.</p>

<p>But, there is some good news. Not all dry shampoos are the same. If you want the benefits of a dry shampoo without increasing your risk for cancer or potentially setting your hair on fire, you can find ones without these harmful ingredients. Our dry shampoo, <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/products/styling/powder/">Powder</a>, is talc-free and comes in a non-aerosol bottle, eliminating all harm to you and the environment. </p><h4>IS HAIR CONDITIONER BAD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT?</h4>
<p>Many of the ingredients that are harmful in shampoos can also be found in conditioners. Parabens are also used as preservatives in conditioners. So is TCS, which is used to prevent bacteria growth. Unknown chemicals included under the vague term of “fragrances” are found in conditioners as well. </p>
<p>However, if you want to condition your hair, there are many natural, inexpensive ways to do so on your own:</p><ul><li><strong>Apple cider vinegar:</strong> Although this is not bad for the environment, be aware that it can sting if it gets into your eyes. To create a conditioner out of apple cider vinegar, mix one to two tablespoons with a pint of water.  </li><li><strong>Raw eggs and tea:</strong>Pour onto hair, work through and rinse.</li><li><strong>Essential oils:</strong> Coconut oil, safflower oil, rosemary oil, and others can be used to add natural oils back into the hair and scalp after shampooing. Add just a few drops – a little goes a long way – then rinse.</li></ul>

<h4>MINIMIZING YOUR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT</h4>
<p>In addition to using environmentally-friendly shampoos, dry shampoos, and conditioners for your hair, there are other steps you can take to reduce the environmental impact of your hair care routine. </p><h5>Wash less often, conserve water</h5>
<p>Obviously, washing your hair means more time spent in the shower, which means using more water. One way to cut back on water consumption and help the planet is to wash your hair less often. Not only are fewer chemicals going down the drain if you’re using an eco-friendly shampoo, but less water is going down the drain as well. Here are more ideas of <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2021/02/25/going-green-making-your-shower-eco-friendly/" target="_blank">how to be more eco-friendly</a> in your shower routine.</p>

<p>If your immediate response is to argue that your hair gets too dirty or oily if you don’t wash it daily, start slow. Begin by going to every other day, getting your hair used to the idea of skipping some time in between shampoos. On the “no-wash days,” try an updo – a cute bun, loose braids or even a simple ponytail – to avoid the fear that your hair will look dirty and limp. If you’re still struggling with oiliness, get ideas for <a href="https://uat.hairstory.com/stories/2020/05/06/what-is-your-oily-scalp-telling-you/#:~:text=If%20your%20scalp%20is%20excessively,trying%20to%20tell%20you%20something.&text=First%2C%20the%20natural%20oil%20your,is%20%E2%80%93%20well%2C%20too%20much.">oily scalp remedies</a> here. </p>
<p>Once your hair has gotten used to skipping a day, try two. Create a routine where day one (the wash day) is the day you wear your hair down. On day two, use dry shampoo to absorb some of the oil and add volume for a cute half-up/half-down hairstyle. And, for day three, throw it in a bun or ponytail. Continue to challenge yourself and see if you can get to the point where you only need to wash your hair twice a week.</p><h5>Turn down the heat when you wash your hair</h5>
<p>It’s not only the amount of water you use that’s important, it’s also the heat of the water. Hot water consumes a lot of energy, which increases your carbon footprint. Plus, really hot water opens your pores, removing a lot of the natural bacteria that help keep our skin healthy and able to fight off the bad bacteria. By washing your hair in warm water, not only are you reducing your carbon footprint, but you’re also keeping yourself healthy. Plus, it’ll save you money on your electrical bill. Try it for a month, and if you haven’t gotten used to the cooler temperature, perhaps the lower electric bill will be enough to convince you to make a permanent switch. </p><h5>Be stingy with your products</h5>
<p>We’re not just talking about shampoo here. Whether it’s body wash, hair products, or lotion, try cutting back a little. It’s likely that you’re using much more than you need. Take some time to figure out the exact amount you should use to get desired results, and then stick to that amount each and every time. Not only will this help your wallet, but it will also put fewer pollutants (non-recyclable containers, harmful chemicals) into our landfills and water supply. </p><h5>Conserve, even on vacation</h5>
<p>A weekend getaway or a luxurious week to forget about the pressure of daily life doesn’t mean you should throw away the good habits you’ve created at home. Stick to your conservationist ways while staying at a hotel. This doesn’t only apply to your hair care routine; make a conscious effort to reuse your towels and sheets as well. </p><h5>Spread the word</h5>
<p>Once you’ve settled into a new routine and are both confident and comfortable with your environmental efforts, share your strategy with others. Your friends and family may not be aware of the simple things they can do to help save the planet. Offer to be their support and accountability buddy as they work to change. Then, encourage them to reach out to others. One person’s effort can multiply, making a large impact on our environment. </p>
<p>* * *</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Sources:</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Denise Baden Associate Professor in Business Ethics. “Change the Way You Wash Your Hair to Help Save the Environment.” <em>The Conversation</em>, 12 Jan. 2021, <a href="http://theconversation.com/change-the-way-you-wash-your-hair-to-help-save-the-environment-111113." target="_blank">URL</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">“Contaminants of Emerging Concern Including Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products.” <em>EPA</em>, Environmental Protection Agency, 1 Sept. 2020, <a href="http://www.epa.gov/wqc/contaminants-emerging-concern-including-pharmaceuticals-and-personal-care-products" target="_blank">URL</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">HALE, Photograph by REBECCA. “5 Reasons to Ditch Your Shampoo Bottle for a Shampoo Bar.” <em>National Geographic</em>, 5 Nov. 2020, <a href="http://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/environment/2018/08/5-reasons-ditch-your-shampoo-bottle-shampoo-bar" target="_blank">URL</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Thomson, Amy. “Is Your Shampoo Poisoning Your Drinking Water?” <em>Mother Jones</em>, 7 Sept. 2017, <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2017/09/is-your-shampoo-poisoning-your-drinking-water/" target="_blank">URL</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Ewg. “Coming Soon to a Store Near You: EWG VERIFIED™ Hair Care.” <em>EWG</em>, 19 Dec. 2018, <a href="http://www.ewg.org/childrenshealth/22374/coming-soon-store-near-you-ewg-verified-hair-care" target="_blank">URL</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Hontela, Alice, and Hamid R. Habibi. “Personal Care Products in the Aquatic Environment: A Case Study on the Effects of Triclosan in Fish.” <em>Fish Physiology</em>, Academic Press, 3 Dec. 2013, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B978012398254400008X" target="_blank">URL</a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Sneed, Annie. “What's Inside Dry Shampoo? Alcohol, Petroleum, and Clay.” <em>Wired</em>, Conde Nast, 6 June 2017, <a href="http://www.wired.com/2015/05/whats-inside-dry-shampoo/" target="_blank">URL</a></p>

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