Cruelty Free Hair Products

Looking after your hair is at the forefront of many people's beauty routines. Although it's great to have healthy hair, it shouldn't come at the expense of your principles.

In recent years, consumers and companies in the beauty industry have realised the importance of cruelty-free products that are environmentally-friendly.

Many countries have banned the use of animal testing on cosmetics. Some companies have also gone above and beyond and only sell products that are vegan friendly.

Beauty experts Cosmetify recently carried out research into the most popular cruelty-free hair products around the world. The following list is a breakdown of why these brands are so popular and their best selling products.

 

What are the most popular cruelty-free hair care products around the world?

The most popular cruelty-free hair care products include Daily Shine Rosemary Shampoo by A'kin and Smooth As Silk Shampoo by Giovanni. Brands such as Ameliorate and Evo sell vegan-friendly products and use recyclable packaging.

Animal testing is banned in places such as Europe and Australia. However, there is not a global ban and some states in America and other countries (like China) can still legally sell products that have been tested on animals.

Products and brands can be identified as cruelty-free by certification such as the Leaping Bunny and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) approved. It takes rigorous investigations and commitment for companies to be certified as Leaping Bunny certified or PETA approved. Companies may have tested on animals in the past, but the certifications provide promises that they won't in the future.

Continue reading to find out which hair care brands are cruelty-free and their best selling products.

Aesop

 

Aesop is an Australian brand that is currently owned by Brazilian company, Natura & Co. The core belief in the company is to promote a healthy scalp first. Some of their best selling vegan hair products include the Volumising Shampoo, which helps combat thinning hair and hair loss.

The brand uses plant-based material and laboratory-made ingredients that have been carefully selected for their high quality. They avoid all animal-derived ingredients in their hair care products. Through their hard work, Aesop has achieved PETA cruelty-free status and are Leaping Bunny approved.

Aside from their products, Aesop also applies the same sustainable approach to their stores. Each location is carefully chosen so that the Aesop can fit into the space already available. The very first Aesop store was located in an old underground car park!

Giovanni

Giovanni is an American brand that has been used by Hollywood royalty for its hair care routine for decades. Past fans include Lucille Ball, star of the beloved 1950s sitcom I Love Lucy. The first salon was opened in the 1960s on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood and Giovanni started selling their own products in 1979.

Hairdresser Arthur Guidotti founded the company after he realised his hands were suffering due to the harsh chemicals in hair products. He sought out to make his own alternatives, based on natural ingredients.

Giovanni has gained a reputation for being an innovator. The brand was one of the first hair care companies to use tea tree oil in their products. To this day, Giovanni's tea tree shampoos are some of the best selling hair care products in the United States. Other popular products include the Smooth As Silk shampoo and conditioner.

Almost all of Giovanni's hair styling products are vegan and are sold in eco-friendly packaging. They are also Leaping Bunny certified.

Christophe Robin

Christophe Robin (not to be confused with a certain fictional character!) is a French brand that excels at hair colouring.

The brand is favoured by models and actresses such as Scottish actress Tilda Swinton and French actress Catherine Deneuve. Although the brand isn't exclusively vegan friendly, Christophe Robin is committed to cruelty-free production.

Best selling products include the Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt, which helps protect against grease and bacteria. The founder and namesake of the company believe that cleansing and exfoliating your hair is just as important as make-up removal.

Green People

Green People produce natural and organic vegan hair care products. The natural 'super food' hair products are cruelty free and are suitable for sensitive scalps.

Except for a few products, most of the packaging is fully recyclable and made from materials such as sugar cane.

The Green People has won over 150 awards, both in the UK and internationally. One such award was the Best Ethical Hair Care Range, which was given by the magazine, Marie Claire.

Bestsellers include Quinoa and Artichoke Shampoo, which is suitable for normal, thick and frizzy hair types. Another popular buy is the Neutral Scent Free Conditioner, which contains nourishing ingredients such as organic aloe vera, green tea and B vitamins.

Ameliorate

The meaning behind Ameliorate's name (to make something better) sums up the brand's core beliefs. Although perhaps more widely known as a skincare company, Ameliorate has set out to look after your scalp to protect against dry skin.

The dermatologist-approved products exfoliate and hydrate your skin and leave your hair looking and feeling healthier. The Clarifying Shampoo is a popular product amongst customers with rough and dry skin.

Ameliorate isn't vegan because of its use of milk protein, but it is vegetarian friendly. The product packaging is also sustainable. The bottles are partly made from sugar-cane derived plastic, which is 100% recyclable.

Faith In Nature

Faith in Nature is a UK brand that uses 100% recyclable packaging. The hair care products are vegan friendly and have been Leaping Bunny certified. The brand monitors their suppliers to make sure that they are also following Faith In Nature's high ethical standards.

Faith In Nature works closely with Cruelty-Free International (CFI), a global organisation that works towards ending cosmetic testing on animals.

Unlike some of the other products on this list, Faith In Nature products can suit most budgets. Bestsellers include the Coconut and Shea Shampoo Bar. Shea Butter can help prevent breakage and hydrate dry hair types.

A'kin

A'kin is an Australian brand that makes its products free from sulphates, silicones, artificial colours and fragrances.

The brand is vegan friendly and only uses recyclable packaging. A'kin refuses to export its products to China and other countries where animal testing is required by law.

The brand uses local, Australian botanical ingredients and aims to reduce their carbon footprint by minimising waste where possible.

Some of A'kin's best selling products include their Daily Shine Rosemary Shampoo and Lavender & Anthyllis Leave-In Conditioner.

Colab

Colab sells vegan dry shampoo in a variety of scents. Popular products include 'Extreme Volume' (with an enticing bergamot and rose scent) and 'Paradise' (a combination of Tiare flower and coconut). The recipe promises to remove grease and excess oil without leaving white specks. It is also dermatologically approved.

Colab was awarded PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies certification. Their parent company, SLG, has been awarded 'cruelty-free brand' certification from PETA. The brand only works with suppliers that are cruelty-free too.

The dry shampoos are 100% silicone and paraben-free. Colab is available internationally in 38 countries, including the United States, Russia and Japan.

Drunk Elephant

Drunk Elephant was named after the belief that elephants eat fruit from marula trees and get drunk as it ferments in their stomachs. The brand uses virgin marula oil in most of its products.

The American brand is an expert in both skin and hair care. There are plenty of vegan hair products, although some use animal products. The company doesn't show a preference for synthetic or natural ingredients as they concentrate on what is biocompatible.

Beauty Packaging awarded Drunk Elephant 'Beauty Company of the Year: Excellence in Packaging' in 2021. The packaging designs are bright and colourful and are almost entirely recyclable, apart from the bottles with pumps.

One of the most popular products includes Cocomino Glossing Shampoo. The shampoo is suitable for all hair types and leaves your hair feeling shiny and smelling of coconut. Ingredients include argan oil, citric acid, coconut oil and panthenol.

Evo

All but four of Evo's products are vegan-friendly (Crop Strutters, Cassius, Box o' bollox and Shebang-a-bang). The Australian brand has a cruelty-free PETA accreditation. Evo is also partnered with Green Circle Salons - the world's first sustainable salon movement. The program aims to recover 95% of each salon's waste.

Evo uses recycled plastic in their packaging, as well as hardwood brushes. They also donate excess stock to homeless shelters.

Popular products include Mane Tamer Smoothing Shampoo, which nourishes and smooths hair. The Therapist Hydrating Conditioner hydrates hair and protects it against UV rays. Evo products are free from ingredients such as sulfates, parabens, tea, and gluten.