DIY Zero Waste Hair Solutions for natural hair

The beauty industry is responsible for millions of tons of plastic waste each year, it’s a staggering figure that may surprise many. If you’re like me and like to take care of your personal health, while being conscious of the need to have a plastic-free planet, then this blog is just for you. Because listen, you don’t have to compromise your beauty routine for the sake of the environment. By switching to DIY zero waste beauty products, you can reduce your exposure to harmful chemicals, minimise waste, and support the environment through ethical sourcing.

Here is how you can transition to a more sustainable beauty routine that benefits both your hair and the planet.

While beauty products promise soft hair and glowing skin, many of the ingredients and packaging come with a hefty environmental price tag. About 90-95% of conventional beauty products, especially shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks, contain chemicals that are harmful to both your health and the planet.

Common ingredients like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates are widespread in shampoos, conditioners, and hair masks. These chemicals can disrupt hormones, irritate the skin, and harm aquatic life when washed off into the water supply. Parabens, for example, can linger in the environment, polluting water and harming wildlife. Sulfates, while creating a rich lather, strip hair of natural oils, causing dryness and long-term damage. Phthalates, found in synthetic fragrances, are linked to reproductive issues and asthma and are toxic to marine ecosystems.

The beauty industry also plays a significant role in plastic pollution. While it’s hard to pinpoint an exact figure, estimates suggest the industry generates millions of tons of plastic waste every year. Most of this waste ends up in landfills or the ocean, where it poses a threat to marine animals and since it takes hundreds of years to decompose, they tend to stay in the ocean or on land for a very long time.

Furthermore, chemicals from beauty products like parabens and sulfates wash down the drain with every shower. While the specific impact on aquatic life varies depending on the chemicals and local ecosystems, it’s clear that these chemicals can harm fish and other marine life. By choosing DIY alternatives, you help reduce the chemicals entering the water supply, which inevitable end up on your plate when you eat fish that has been exposed to these chemicals. 

Choosing ethical ingredients goes beyond just avoiding harmful chemicals; it’s about supporting practices that are sustainable, fair, and kind to animals.

When you’re buying ingredients for your DIY beauty products, look for fair trade-certified options. Fair trade ensures that the farmers who grow raw materials like shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter receive fair wages and work under safe conditions. Supporting fair trade helps promote sustainable farming practices and ethical labour standards.

Switching to DIY beauty products can feel overwhelming at first, but it’s a rewarding transition. Here’s a quick and easy DIY recipes for an eco-friendly hair treatment you can try.

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe avocado
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions:

• Mash the avocado in a bowl until it is smooth.
• Add the honey, olive oil, and coconut oil to the avocado and mix well until you have a smooth paste.
• Apply the mixture to your damp hair, focusing on the ends.
• Cover your hair with a shower cap and leave the treatment on for 30 minutes or 1 hour.
• Rinse the treatment out with warm water and shampoo your hair as usual. (And remember to check the ingredients of that shampoo as well)

Tips:

You can add other ingredients to your treatment, such as eggs, mayonnaise, or aloe vera gel. Doing this treatment once a week is enough, but you can do it as often as you want.

Adopting a sustainable beauty routine doesn’t have to be complicated. By making small changes—whether it’s creating your own hair mask, swapping to a plastic-free shampoo containers, or choosing products with ethical sourcing—you can make a huge difference. Not only will your hair benefit, but you’ll also be contributing to a cleaner, greener planet.

Start today by creating your own eco-friendly beauty kit. Share your DIY creations and experiences with friends or on social media—let’s inspire each other to build a community of beauty lovers who are committed to sustainability!