Looking for a vegan and cruelty-free shampoo that will help you maintain healthy and silky hair? Try this vegan-friendly shampoo that is perfect for anyone looking to embrace a more natural way of life.
The word ‘vegan’ instantly bubbles up a picture of green leafy veggies. Right? But a beauty enthusiast visualizes a lot more.
Of late, veganism is not just associated with food. You can find skin and hair care brands going vegan and proudly flaunting that too.
Although we have known for ages that staying natural provides endless benefits, not many of us tend to remember it while purchasing a product. Most commercial shampoos contain harsh chemicals and fragrances that spoil your hair.
However, we see ads and buy those with a brilliant tagline.
But, this needs to stop!
When choosing a shampoo, the ingredients should be the foremost thing to look at. Cleaning hair is part of a daily routine, so choosing the right ingredients should be integral to your purchase decision.
When grocery shopping, scanning the label is a routine for me.
Is there something specific I look for? Yes.
If a shampoo categorizes itself as vegan, I am inclined to have it in my bath storage.
- Related: Vegan Anti-Dandruff Shampoos
Being an animal lover, I know how precious these little beings are. So, I look for cruelty-free products too.
So, what is vegan and cruelty-free shampoo exactly?
Read on to find what you should look for and what exactly makes up a vegan & cruelty-free shampoo.
Vegan And Cruelty-Free Shampoo
What Is A Vegan Shampoo?
Vegan shampoo means that the product does not contain any ingredients derived from animals.
They are made up of plant-based organic ingredients that are biodegradable. So it is safe for your hair and the environment.
Ideally, a vegan product should not have any connection with animals for production & testing purposes.
However, some companies claim to be vegan but test their products on animals. So, in today’s market, vegan means devoid of animal-based ingredients.
A vegan shampoo contains essential oils, aloe vera, and other nourishing ingredients that nurture your scalp and reverse hair damage.
I have seen my weaves become super-soft and silky after vegan application. And the best part, it is available for all hair types.
So, is it necessary to buy non-vegan products that only damage your hair? I don’t think so.
What Is A Cruelty-Free Shampoo?
As the name suggests, cruelty-free shampoo doesn’t include any cruelty against animals. It means the final product does not test on animals. However, this doesn’t necessarily hold for the raw materials used.
A brand can claim to be cruelty-free, but the intermediate ingredients used may be tested on our furry friends. So, cruelty-free doesn’t mean the whole production process is guilt-free.
It would be best to look for sure signs to check whether your product is cruelty-free. I will discuss this in detail below.
Why Are Hair Experts Recommending Vegan And Cruelty-Free Shampoo?
With immense shampoo options flooding the hair care corner, choosing the right one is the need of the hour. If you ask a hair expert, they recommend vegan & cruelty-free options. Why is that?
Let’s find out.
- Natural products are bliss
The vegan shampoo contains natural extracts such as green tea, aloe vera, banana, and chamomile that nourish the scalp and hair.
These plant-based ingredients have the nutrition your tresses need. Your hair follicles will thank you for keeping them fed with natural oils and plant extracts. So, your dream of thick and long hair is not far-fetched.
- No Harmful Chemicals
While reading the label of shampoos, I loved the ones highlighted with “Natural Ingredients,” but the incessant mention of chemicals would make me sad.
To my delight, with vegan shampoos coming into the picture, I was satisfied that I did not need to treat my lovely locks with chemicals. This means no question of scalp allergies, rough hair, or impurities jamming.
I would especially recommend it for kids, as chemical-loaded shampoo contains chemicals (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) that can harm the kid’s eyes and cause hair loss in the long run.
- Good for the Animals
If you are an animal lover like me, you should feel proud that you are using products that do not test on animals.
These little creatures do not have to be caged inhumanely for you to enjoy the perfect shampoo for your hair. After serving their testing purpose, these animals are usually put down or disposed of.
So, isn’t it a win-win for you and the animals? A guilt-free purchase indeed.
Moreover, vegan shampoo does not contain animal-derived ingredients like honey, beeswax, collagen, carmine, and cholesterol. Every human would love that, I guess.
- Environment-friendly
As the shampoos are devoid of chemicals, they do not cause any harm to the environment when washed off in the drains.
This biodegradable product causes no water or soil pollution—Pat yourself for acting like a responsible human and opting for vegan & cruelty-free shampoo.
How To Know Whether Your Product Is Cruelty-Free And Vegan?
How do you shop for shampoo? Of course, you choose the one that suits your hair texture and your hair type- oily or dry.
Apart from this, if you are a know-it-all consumer, you scan the label to learn more about shampoo. The label lists the ingredients, instructions, warnings, and other essential features the company wants to convey.
Companies know that consumers have become highly cautious and prefer brands that proudly describe themselves as vegan and cruelty-free. These two words have become the major USPs of shampoo brands.
So, how do you recognize whether a product is cruelty-free and vegan? Search for these terms in the label-:
- A cruelty-free Logo
Look for a cruelty-free logo on the label of the shampoo you are planning to purchase.
I look for these two most common logos-:
- Leaping Bunny- This is the only internationally recognized global logo for cruelty-free products.
- PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment) Certified- Certification from PETA, one of the largest animal rights organizations, assures that no animal tests were performed for ingredients, formulations, and finished products. This assurance is what I call a “purely cruelty-free” product.
- A Certified Vegan Logo
The presence of the official Vegan logo assures consumers that no animal-based ingredients are present in the shampoo. Look for a vegan logo, and go through the ingredients.
- Deeply scan the ingredients list
Whenever buying any product for my skin or hair, I study the ingredient list very well. After doing this for a long time now, I know with most of the ingredients used, and if something seems new, I quickly Google it. (all the power in my hands.) So, you can try this too.
Let me mention some of the most common animal-derived ingredients-:
- Honey
- Fish oil
- Gelatin
- Glycerine
- Cholesterol
- Whey
- Retinol
- Do a Website Check
So, still in a dilemma? I have another option too. Check the brand’s website or social media handles and browse through user queries or FAQs. You can ask your questions too, like-:
- Does your shampoo include animal-based ingredients?
- Are your products tested on animals, or are they cruelty-free?
- Is your shampoo 100% vegan?
These few things will help you find the best shampoo for your tresses. And believe me, you will love the crown you wear after continual usage.
Vegan and Cruelty-Free Shampoo: FAQs
Is vegan automatically cruelty-free?
No, you cannot use the terms interchangeably. A product can be vegan and not tested on animals, while others can be made from animal derivatives and tested on animals. Vegan talks about the ingredients used, whereas cruelty-free discussions about the production process.
Can a brand be vegan and cruelty-free?
Yes, a brand can be both vegan and cruelty-free. Most brands are marching towards this objective, mainly because of consumer awareness.
What are the top non-vegan ingredients in a shampoo?
Ans. If the ingredient list contains the following, they are non-vegan-:
Keratin,
Carmine,
Stearic Acid,
N-Acetyl Glucosamine,
Lanolin,
Glycerine.
These are some of the popular non-vegan ingredients in regular hair products.
Are vegan shampoos more expensive?
Yes, they are more expensive than the standard shampoos in stores. It is mainly because of the pure ingredients they use. The quality & purity of ingredients makes it a bit pricey. However, they are affordable and are worth it.
Is Tresemme Vegan?
No, Tresemme is not vegan. Its products include animal-derived ingredients such as keratin and collagen.
Final Thoughts
I have been using vegan and cruelty-free shampoo for over a few years, and I love what they have done to my hair. My locks have become satin-silky, luscious, and just gorgeous.
I am pleased about the healthy nutrients my hair follicles get from these plant-based shampoos. Shea butter, aloe vera, and coconut oil are some of the must-have ingredients I look for.
Secondly, I feel proud that none of the animals were harmed in the making or testing of these products, so I boast of saving the environment.
However, as I said earlier, vegan doesn’t necessarily mean cruelty-free, so check labels for both.
So, now you know all about vegan and cruelty-free shampoo. I would love to know your plan in the comments about the next shampoo purchase.
To Summarize