In addition to detangling hair and perfecting your style, brushes also serve a practical purpose. The bristles grab the sebum and oils from your scalp and distribute them along each strand of hair. This keeps your hair healthy and prevents oil from building up at the root and making a greasy look.

Swapping your toiletries out for vegan alternatives – yes, even your hair brush – doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive. There are plenty of options out there for people who want to look and feel their best, without having to harm animals along the way.

Article NavigationYou Mean Hairbrushes Aren’t Vegan?The Right Brush for the Job✓ Sculpting brush✓ Detangling brush✓ Thermal brush✓ Volumizer brush✓ Teasing brushOur Favorite Vegan Hair BrushesAveda Wooden Paddle BrushPaul Mitchell 413 Sculpting BrushEcoTools Detangler Paddle BrushBody Shop Oval Bamboo Pin HairbrushVegan-friendly Tools for your Tresses

You Mean Hairbrushes Aren’t Vegan?

While we know that certain foods, makeups, and medicines contain animal products, it isn’t as intuitive to check our beauty tools for sneaky non-vegan ingredients.

Hair brushes are commonly made with boar bristle, which beauty connoisseurs say reduces frizz and efficiently spreads sebum and oils throughout the hair.

Others argue that since boar bristle has been used since ancient times, it’s the best material for the job. However, even boar bristle that’s designated as “humanely raised” simply doesn’t have a place in a vegan beauty routine.

Many brushes use bristle from shorn farm-raised boars and note that the animals aren’t killed for their bristles. But, similar to wool, we know that there can be all kinds of problems associated with this. A processor that cuts corners might catch the boar’s skin during shearing, or may rush and create a traumatizing process for the boar.

On top of all this, the vegan perspective is that we are not entitled to any part of the boar’s body, no matter how shiny we want our hair to be. Those boars are raised on farms for the sole purpose of having humans use their hair for vanity. That’s just not vegan – or nice, for that matter!

Not to worry though, vegans – this doesn’t mean that you can’t have shiny, healthy, beautiful hair. Synthetic brushes made with nylon bristles can also keep hair shiny, soft, and healthy, without having to take anything from an animal.

It comes down to choosing the right brush for your styling needs and hair type to minimize any breakage or frizz.

The Right Brush for the Job

Buying the right hair brush might seem straightforward, but in reality, there is a whole world of products out there. The perfect vegan-friendly brush will depend on both your hair type, as well as the effect you’re looking for. Someone who needs to detangle their thick, curly hair will need a very different brush than someone looking to tease their fine, straight hair.

Before you start looking into all the brushes available, deciding on what you need your brush to do will help you narrow it down.

✓ Sculpting brush

The sculpting hair brush is a great option for those who want to blow dry their hair at home, but have trouble controlling and maneuvering a round brush.

In addition to helping heat style your wet hair, this kind of brush will smooth and soften hair while reducing static and frizz.

✓ Detangling brush

Love styling your hair with the blow dryer, but find that it creates frizzy unmanageable locks? Add a detangling brush to your toolkit.

This type of brush uses gentle bristles that won’t tug or pull on the hair while removing tangles and keeping hair smooth. You can use this type of brush on wet or dry hair.

✓ Thermal brush

Another must-have for heat styling with a blow drier, a thermal brush usually has a big, round barrel made from metal or ceramic.

This type of brush is ideal for most hair types, and the size of the barrel will help you dry your hair faster – that means you can take care of your styling needs before work or right before your big date. The thermal brush also provides volume and lift, to prevent flat hair midway through the day.

✓ Volumizer brush

We’ve all been there – you don’t want to go through the hassle of washing your hair every day, but your second-day hair lies limp and flat. With a volumizer brush, you can keep your style looking fabulous, even between shampoos.

Volumizer brushes eliminate frizz, fly-aways, and static while providing hair with lift, volume, and body.

✓ Teasing brush

When you need some volume at your roots, you might turn to your handy plastic teasing comb. However, a teasing brush will get you even better results.

Good teasing brushes will have several rows of bristles in staggering heights – this will allow you to get the most volume possible more quickly, meaning less damage to your hair. Use it to backcomb your hair and then smooth over the top.

Our Favorite Vegan Hair Brushes

Ready to add the perfect brush to your collection? Save yourself some time and guesswork, and try out one – or all! – of our favorite vegan-friendly brushes.

Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush

The wooden paddle brush from Aveda is a professional tool for sleek, beautiful styling. This brush features extended bristles, which help detangle hair without causing the stress on the follicles that can cause breakage and damage. This is also gentle on the scalp, which makes it perfect for brushing children’s long hair.

This cruelty free hair brush is also an excellent choice for people who use heat styling for smooth, straight styles. This can help you dry your hair faster, which saves you time and energy. The brush is also lightweight, so you don’t have to expend much energy using and wielding it.

The brush is versatile and easy to use, too. Simply brush vertically to detangle your hair, and brush horizontally to turn your hair silky and smooth.

What We Liked

In addition to coming from a company that’s committed to vegan and cruelty-free products, this brush is extremely durable. Some buyers noted they’ve had the same brush for nearly a decade – that’s value!

What We Disliked

Some reviewers said that the bristles were a little too rough on their hair and scalp. If you have very fine hair or a sensitive scalp, you’ll want to be very gentle to avoid irritation.

Paul Mitchell 413 Sculpting Brush

This cruelty-free brush from Paul Mitchell is a slim, versatile sculpting brush that’s easy on your hands. You can use this on wet or dry hair, making it a staple part of your hair care tool kit.

The nylon bristles have ball tips, which help detangle hair without causing breakage or damage. The brush has an air-cushioned “ouchless” pad to prevent scalp pain, and the teeth are set far apart and specially designed to untangle knots without a lot of pull.

This sculpting brush is perfect for detangling hair before styling and will carry you completely through your styling routine. You can use this brush to assist with blow drying or to finish off your style before you head out the door.

The best part? This brush is extremely affordable, so you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to get beautiful, healthy hair.

What We Liked

This brush gets rave reviews from professional hairstylists and beauty bloggers alike! Reviewers have great things to say and are especially impressed by the durability and affordability of this brush.

What We Disliked

While the product gets great reviews, some purchasers received brushes with missing bristles and other small defects from the Amazon seller.

EcoTools Detangler Paddle Brush

Are you revamping your haircare kit not only to vegan standards, but for sustainability too? Then the EcoTools Detangler Paddle Brush should be the first tool that makes its way into your collection.

This fan favorite is made with a sustainable bamboo handle and 100% cruelty-free nylon bristles. The large paddle is perfect for those with thick or long hair, and the vented cushion provides maximum detangling with minimal pulling and damage.

In addition to being made from sustainable, cruelty-free materials, this brush also allows you to use less energy during your hair care routine. The design allows you to dry your hair in 20% less time, helping you conserve electricity. By exposing your hair to less heat, you’re also keeping it healthier in the long run.

This eco friendly hair brush can be a staple in your hair care routine, as you can use it on wet or dry hair. It’ll take you all the way through from detangling to blow drying and finishing.

What We Liked

This vegan paddle brush is fantastic for frizzy hair. It evenly distributes oils for shiny tresses without causing frizz or damage.

What We Disliked

This brush is not something that you’ll pass down to your children or anything. Some users had issues with the entire pad and bristles falling out of the holder after a few months of use.

Body Shop Oval Bamboo Pin Hairbrush

The oval bamboo pin brush is a great tool to have at your disposal. Small and lightweight, this brush detangles and smooths hair while improving its overall condition and appearance.

The brush helps to distribute your hair’s natural oils, which create a healthy shine.

The balls on the flexible pins massage your scalp, which feels good and stimulates your hair at the root. It’s ideal for all hair types and is a versatile, lightweight, and easy-to-use little tool to have in your makeup bag.

What We Liked

What We Love: This vegan hair brush is super stimulating and does a great job bringing the oils from the scalp throughout the hair shaft. It feels great as a scalp massager and helps bring a healthy sheen to your hair with regular use.

What We Disliked

The Downside: Some reviewers said that, while the brush is comfortable and suitable for many hair types, it cannot be used on wet hair. This makes it a little less versatile than some of the other options on this list.

Vegan-friendly Tools for your Tresses

You don’t need a boar-bristle brush to get sleek, shiny, tangle-free hair. By choosing a vegan-friendly hair brush, you’re doing something that’s just as good for the animals as it is for your ‘do.

Pick your hair brush based on the task you need it to achieve, whether that’s removing tangles from long, thick, curly hair, or providing a little volume and lift to your fine, straight hair. Picking the best brush for the job will help achieve the exact style and result you’re looking for.

In 2017, there’s no need to use hair that’s taken from boars, no matter how “humane” and “cruelty-free” the supplier claims to be. Beautiful hair and kindness to animals don’t have to be mutually exclusive – simply choose the best nylon-bristled brush for your styling preferences and get to work on sculpting your perfect style.

The post Best Cruelty-Free Vegan Hair Brushes appeared first on Urban Vegan.

These light, often inexpensive products carry out a multitude of functions that all contribute to repairing and nourishing hair long after your shower ends.

While all hair types can benefit from the moisture and protection afforded by leave-in conditioners, these products are especially important for people with curly or kinky hair, whose hair follicles require more moisture than other hair types.

People living a plant-based lifestyle have no shortage of options when it comes to leave-in conditioner – in fact, plants are great sources of moisture and nourishment for hair, in addition to being friendly to the animals and our planet.

The leave-in conditioners below are entirely plant-based and are not tested on animals. Consider your hair type, the climate you live in, and your hair’s individual needs for moisture and heat protection, and choose from our list of favorites below.

1. Original Sprout Leave-In Conditioner

A favorite product for thick, curly hair that tangles easily, Original Sprout’s leave-in conditioner contains natural ingredients and is entirely free of hormone disrupters.

When applied to damp hair, it fortifies hair, tames frizz, and protects against the sun and environmental damage.

Because it’s all-natural, the formula can be used on small children, and many reviewers note this product to be ideal for children with long hair that tangles easily, as it is an extremely effective detangler – no more tears during brushing!

Adult users of the product also love how silky and soft it leaves hair throughout the day.

The formula is free of sulfates, gluten, soy, and dairy, and comes in a 12 fl. Oz. Bottle with pump.  It is safe to use on color-treated hair.

What We Love

This leave-in conditioner is worth it for its detangling properties alone – if you’ve ever tried to brush a child’s long hair, you know what a nightmare it can be to detangle after a long night of sleep or a nap. Original Sprout’s formula makes for a smoother, more pleasant brushing experience, and greatly reduces tangles throughout the day and night.

What We Didn’t Like

Some reviewers note this product has a strong, off-putting scent, so if you or your child are particularly sensitive to fragrances, you may find this blend a little too harsh.

2. Dr. Bronner's Lavender Coconut Hair Creme

A favorite household name for vegans and eco-conscious shoppers alike, Dr. Bronner’s hair creme is a light styler free of animal products, synthetic detergents, preservatives, or GMOS.

Each of the naturally derived ingredients plays a role in hair health – organic coconut oil leaves hair shiny and soft, while jojoba oil provides excellent manageability and texture.

The product, which contains a total of seven pronounceable ingredients, is certified vegan by Vegan Action and is certified organic by the USDA National Organic Program, making it an ideal addition to your green shopping list.

It is also certified fair trade by IMO, meaning you can rest assured the people who gather these ingredients are paid a fair wage.

The product comes in a 6 fl. Oz. Bottle with pump.

What We Love

Users with frizzy, curly hair sing the praises of Dr. Bronner’s leave-in creme – it leaves even the most unruly hair soft, lightly scented, and frizz-free. Additionally, a small amount of product goes a long way, so it saves you money in the long run, as it doesn’t need to be replaced as frequently as other products.

What We Didn’t Like

Users with thinner, finer hair found this formula to be a little too heavy for use as a leave-in treatment. If your hair isn’t thick and curly, use a very small (⅛-¼ teaspoon) amount, or opt for a product more suitable for fine hair.

3. Acure Argan Oil Leave-in Conditioner

With a light, weightless formula, Acure’s leave-in conditioner with argan oil and argan ​extract is perfect for all hair types, from fine and straight to thick and curly.

In addition to being incredibly versatile, Acure’s formula is also a wise choice for those with sensitivities, or who just want to make green, eco-friendly choices, in addition to avoiding animal products and testing.

Powered by Moroccan argan oil and ​argan ​extract, the formula is designed to protect hair at the cellular level, strengthening the root bulb while providing body and shine to each strand of hair.

It provides superior hydration and protection, without weighing your hair down, making it a good choice for people in hot and humid climates, or with thin hair that can get greasy from heavier products.

Acure’s leave-in conditioner is free of gluten, sulfates, parabens, phthalates, silicone, and synthetic fragrances.

It’s 100% biodegradable, vegan, and safe to use on color-treated hair.

What We Love

The versatility of this product is perhaps its best feature – even users with fine, straight hair got great results, including detangling, and imparting softness and shine. It is especially effective on frustrating frizz.

What We Didn’t Like

The product has a strong lemon​ smell, which some users thought was harsh and overpowering – even those who are not typically sensitive to fragrance. Additionally, some users found that the formula was not effective enough, considering the higher price point.

4. Alba Botanica Fragrance-Free Leave-in Conditioner

The leave-in conditioner from Alba Botanica is a lipid-rich formula, harnessing the power of nourishing coconut oil and protective antioxidants to repair dry, damaged, and color-treated hair.

This product contains all the good stuff, but leaves out the bad – the formula is fortified with herbal extracts, botanical oils, and plant proteins, but is completely free from sulfates, parabens, preservatives, phthalates, artificial colors, and silicones.

It contains 100% vegetarian ingredients and does not use animal testing.

Althaea Officinalis, or flowering marshmallow, is the star of this leave-in conditioner, providing properties that seal in moisture for supple, shiny hair.

Moringa Seed micro-proteins also provide superior defense against the sun and environmental damage, making it ideal for damaged and dry hair, or hair that has been colored.

The product is available in a 7 fl. Oz. squeeze tube, and has a neutral fragrance.

What We Love

Good for thick and fine hair alike, reviewers love the creamy, luxurious texture of the product, which dries light in hair. The coconut oil in the formula is super effective, and is one of the best frizz-reducers out there.

What We Didn’t Like

Users with 3a/b type hair found this formula to cause frizz, disrupt curl formation, and an overall dry, sticky feeling.

5. Beauty Without Cruelty Revitalize Leave-in Conditioner

The Revitalize Leave-in conditioner from Beauty Without Cruelty maximizes hair’s shine and manageability, in addition to providing all-day protection from environmental elements, chemical treatments, and heat styling.

The formula combines Provitamin B5 and jojoba oil with aromatherapeutic essential oils to create an effective leave-in conditioner for all hair types.

The product helps prevent split ends and control frizz with powerful ingredients, but won’t dull or weigh down hair, so it’s perfect for everyday use. The formula uses 100% vegan ingredients, and the company itself is Leaping Bunny Certified and certified vegan by the Vegan Society.

The conditioner utilizes 100% pure premium Oshadhi essential oils, is pH balanced, and is free from parabens and synthetic fragrances. It is available in a one- or two-pack of 8.5 fl. Oz bottles.

What We Love

Reviewers with fine hair noted this product is perfect – effective enough to reduce frizz and provide moisture, but not so heavy to weigh down strands or make a greasy look.

What We Didn’t Like

Users with especially frizzy hair found that this product did not help tame the unruliness – this is a great choice for moderate frizz, but may be too light for those with especially frizzy locks.

6. Aya Natural Leave-in Conditioner

With an olive, jojoba, coconut, and rosemary oil blend, the hair care cream from Aya Naturals keeps hair well nourished and hydrated long after your shower is finished.

These plant-based ingredients come together to combat frizz, damage, and dryness without the use of harsh parabens, sulfates, or alcohol. It is an especially good choice for people looking to add shine and luster to dull hair.

Aya Natural leave-in conditioner works from the root up, soothing the scalp and strengthening the hair shaft to truly repair and protect existing and growing hair. The formula is cruelty-free, and PETA approved so you can feel good about the source and creation process of your purchase.

Aya believes that products which are not edible should not be applied to the skin, so you can trust that this formula is safe and suitable for use around children.

The 8.1 fl. Oz bottle comes with a convenient hand pump to provide a small amount of product to work through damp or dry hair, for maximum styling customizability.

What We Love

Aya’s leave-in conditioner provides unmatched shine, making strands brighter and more lustrous, even after color treatment or use of harsh chemical products. It’s also a great detangler, making hair easy to brush and comb after washing.

What We Didn’t Like

Some reviewers found the smell of this product to be overpowering, and people with frizzy hair were disappointed in the effectiveness as a method of frizz control.

7. Malibu Leave-in Mist Conditioner

While leave-in conditioners dispensed in a pump can feel heavy on the hair, Malibu’s leave-in conditioner comes in a convenient spray bottle to mist onto hair for as light or as heavy of an application as necessary for your hair type.

The formula uses gluten-free plant proteins to penetrate deep into the hair shaft and hydrate and detangle to reveal the hair’s natural softness and shine.

The conditioner is a weightless, pH-balanced thermal protector that also defends against harmful UV rays. The formula is light enough to use daily, to strengthen and protect hair from environmental elements, sun damage, and heat styling.

The convenient spray bottle contains 8 fl. Oz. of formula, which lasts a long time given the small amount of product required per application.

What We Love

An absolutely tiny amount of formula is necessary for detangling and softness – even users who frequently swim in chlorinated pools found this leave-in conditioner to leave hair healthy and soft, in spite of the harsh chemicals their hair was exposed to.

What We Didn’t Like

Users with thick, curly hair may find this product too gentle to provide detangling and frizz protection – it is best suited for people with fine, straight or wavy hair, who experience mild to moderate frizz, and who have smaller requirements for moisture.

All-Day Hair Protection

Leave-in conditioner can provide your hair with all-day hydration, nourishment, and protection, hours after your shower has ended.

Depending on your hair type and moisture needs, there are a variety of products available, from gentle, misted detangling formulas, to luxurious, creamy blends meant to tame excessive frizz.

Regardless of your needs, there are plenty of options on the market for plant-based formulas that don’t use cruel animal testing during processing.

Think about your hair type and the functions you need your leave-in conditioner to perform, and consider adding this under-appreciated hair product to your beauty routine.

The post Best Vegan Leave in Conditioner Brands appeared first on Urban Vegan.

So what do we do? Are we stuck with stringy or lifeless locks? Do we have any choices? Of course, we can google it and get hundreds of options, but do they work?

Here, I review two vegan hair masks that claim to work equally as well as any non-vegan product, providing us with the same beautiful, healthy hair as anyone else.

Not into using products that you haven’t made yourself? That’s fine too.

I’ve also gone ahead and discussed three of my all time favorite homemade vegan hair masks for dry hair, oily hair, and general strengthening. Each mask uses less than five ingredients, all of which can be found at your local grocery store or even at a local farmer’s market for you organic folks!

Article NavigationVegan Hair Masks You Can BuyAya Natural Hair Care MaskGiovanni 2chic Ultra Repair Hair MaskVegan Homemade Hair MasksWhat Ingredients Are Best for Homemade Hair Masks?1. Avocado2. Banana3. Lemon Juice4. Coconut Oil5. StrawberryWhich Combination(s) Work Best For My Hair?Oily Hair and/or DandruffDry Hair and/or FrizzDamaged, Color Treated Hair and/or Strengthening TreatmentHealthy Hair, The Vegan way

Vegan Hair Masks You Can Buy

Aya Natural Hair Care Mask

AYA, another top company in the vegan beauty industry, centers its products around being all natural and free of harsh chemicals. Their deep conditioning vegan hair mask is paraben and sulfate free, making it a great option for those with dry and/or color treated hair. AYA’s hair mask focuses on the use of natural oils such as olive oil, coconut oil, and argan oil to aid in the healing of damaged hair that needs a little TLC. Being fragrance-free, dye free, and alcohol-free, the all-natural hair mask is also great for anyone with sensitive skin.

What We Love: The deep conditioning hair mask is PETA certified vegan and cruelty-free and works miracles on knots and tangles. Users also appreciated the smell of the mask and noticed a real difference in the softness of their hair over time.

Downsides: The product is a little difficult to rinse out since it is fairly thick.

Giovanni 2chic Ultra Repair Hair Mask

Giovanni is one of the leading vegan skin and hair care companies on the market today. The company is known for their variety of 100% vegan product lines, all tailored to specific hair care needs. Giovanni’s 2Chic Ultra Repair Hair Mask is a newer product that is formulated to help reduce frizz, aid in strengthening from root to tip and reduce damage from over-processing or coloring.

Their Ultra Repair Hair Mask contains a multitude of vitamins including Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Vitamin K, Vitamin E, and Vitamin A, all of which are needed for healthy hair growth. The herbs and oils found in this product also play a part in moisturizing your hair, penetrating deep into each strand for a permanent fix.

What We Love: The combination of vitamins and nutrients leaves your hair feeling soft and smooth, while users also noticed a change in the overall strength of their hair (less breakage and frizz) over time.

Downsides: A couple of users felt that product did not live up to their expectations, claiming it was too basic and didn’t do much more than moisturize their hair.

Vegan Homemade Hair Masks

If you like knowing exactly what is in your beauty products, then I highly recommend you take the time to make your own hair mask.

Now, a simple Google search will bring up dozens of vegan homemade hair masks, but speaking from experience, that is all kinds of overwhelming!

On top of that, knowing which products are best for your specific needs can be even more confusing. So how about I break it down for you?

What Ingredients Are Best for Homemade Hair Masks?

When deciding which products you want to use on your hair, it’s important to know what it is you are trying to treat. Dryness, for example, is best treated with avocado or coconut oil due to their moisturizing properties. That being said, let’s discuss a few of the most common ingredients in homemade vegan hair masks and why they are ideal in aiding in the health of your hair.

1. Avocado

Avocados are one of the most common ingredients you will come across in homemade hair mask recipes. This is due to a number of certain vitamins found in this tasty… fruit? Vegetable? Whatever it is. Vitamins found in avocados, such as Vitamin E and Vitamin B are essential for hair growth, working together to strengthen your hair at the root and protect it from common sources of damage such as processing from hair dye or heat from a straightener.

2. Banana

Another common ingredient in many hair masks, bananas not only work magic on your body when ingested but also when placed directly onto your hair. Bananas contain plenty of Vitamin B6, which helps restore your hair’s natural shine and strengthen each strand. Bananas are also high in Biotin, which is the key component in having beautiful, healthy hair.

3. Lemon Juice

When coming straight from the source, a little bit of lemon juice will go along the way when applied to the roots of your hair. One of the most important aspects of having healthy hair is actually blood flow, which lemon juice aids in regulating. Having good blood flow insures that your roots are producing the oil your hair needs to be strong and healthy.  Lemon juice is also known to reduce dandruff when applied directly to the scalp.

4. Coconut Oil

Several types of oils have been studied for their effects on human hair, but coconut oil always seems to prevail compared to its competition. Here’s the thing, what many people do not know about common hair products is that they are designed to only coat the outer layers of your hair. This means that the product isn’t actually making any permanent changes to your hair’s overall health, it’s just acting like a bandaid – a temporary fix.

Coconut oil is the only type of oil that actually penetrates deep into each strand of hair, insuring that the cortex (mainly where all of your hair’s vital nutrients are stored and dispersed) is receiving the benefits for permanent change.

5. Strawberry

Okay, I’m sure this is not an ingredient you expected to see because I certainly didn’t! I was surprised to learn that strawberries actually have a multitude of benefits for your hair, both when consumed and when used raw in a hair mask. Due to their high level of Vitamin C, strawberries aid in strengthening your hair and helping it grow, while a deficiency is this vitamin has also been shown to result in split ends.

Which Combination(s) Work Best For My Hair?

Purchasing a hair mask at the store is easy, mainly because the product often says what type of hair or hair concern it is best to treat. Making a hair mask from scratch requires a little bit more research, which I have already done for you. Below are three of my personal favorite homemade vegan hair masks, as well as what each one is best for treating.

Oily Hair and/or Dandruff

I have naturally oily hair that is also very thin, so I like to do a hair mask once/week that will take away some of that excess oil. I have found that the combination of strawberries, lemon, salt, and tea tree oil works best in this situation. Here’s what I use (note* my hair is color treated, short – jaw length, and fine):

• 3 strawberries
• ¼ tsp of salt
• Juice from ½ lemon
• ¼ tsp of tea tree oil

Directions

1. All you need to do is mash up the strawberries (I use a fork), and stir in the salt, lemon juice, and tea tree oil until it is all well incorporated. The consistency should be smooth, but a few lumps from the berries is fine.
2. Spread the mask evenly over your hair – preferably freshly washed or product free. 
3. Massage into your scalp for a few seconds (10 or so).
4. Let the mask sit on your hair for five minutes, rinse thoroughly, making sure no residue is left behind.

Dry Hair and/or Frizz

During the colder seasons (fall, winter), my hair tends to get very dry, making it also very frizzy, two annoying problems at the same time. After a lot of trial and error, it seems like the best combination for dry hair and/or frizzy hair is a mix of coconut oil, lemon juice, and avocado. The amount of each item will vary based on the length of your hair, but here are the proportions for mine.

• ¼ avocado
• 2 tbsp (non liquified) coconut oil
• Juice from ½ lemon

Directions

1. Once you have your ingredients, all of which can be found fairly cheap at your nearest grocery store, simply mash up the avocado until it’s smooth and mix in your coconut oil and lemon juice. The result should be smooth, but a few remaining lumps won’t cause any problems.
2. Smooth the product onto your hair and massage it into your scalp, leave it on your hair for 5-10 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
3. When putting the product on your hair, I recommend wearing a towel around your neck or standing in the bath/shower to avoid a mess!

Damaged, Color Treated Hair and/or Strengthening Treatment

My hair has been dyed more times than I can honestly remember, so finding a hair mask that wouldn’t fade my hair dye, but would still act as a strengthener for my damaged hair was crucial. The combination of avocado, banana, coconut oil, and almond milk (aids in the rejuvenation of cells) seemed to do the trick here.

• ½ avocado
• ½ banana
• 2 tbsp coconut oil
• 3 tbsp almond milk

Directions

1. All you are going to do here is mash together the avocado and the banana and then follow that up by mixing in the coconut oil and almond milk.
2. Once everything has been thoroughly combined, go ahead and slowly start adding the mixture to your hair, working root to tip. Side Note: This is meant to be a larger mask because you want to focus the product on your strands, really saturating them in the mixture.
3. Once you have saturated your hair and massaged your roots a bit, let it sit in your hair for 10-15 minutes depending on the length of your hair.
4. Now rinse everything out thoroughly.

Healthy Hair, The Vegan way

With the vegan lifestyle vastly growing in today’s society, beauty industries are being forced to either make changes to their current products or incorporate a line of products suitable for vegans.

Hair care companies like Giovanni and AYA have stepped up to the plate and made the necessary changes to appeal to a new type of consumer, incorporating vegan hair masks into their product lines.

I highly recommend giving those two companies a shot, or if you are more of the DIY-type, play around with my three homemade vegan hair masks and see if any of them suit your needs.

Your options are endless, even if you can’t find what you are looking for in the store, you can probably find it in your cabinets!

The post Best Vegan Hair Masks (Store Bought & Homemade) appeared first on Urban Vegan.

We’ve got you covered!

We’ve sifted through countless products to bring you the best vegan-friendly hair mousses that are not only cruelty-free but also effective in transforming your tresses.

Let’s dive in and find the best vegan mousse to turn your hair woes into hair wows!

GIOVANNI Mousse Air-Turbo Charged Hair Styling Foam

Giovanni Mousse air-turbo charged hair-styling foam is a great choice to have a firm hold on volume and texture. This styling foam strengthens hair and has amazing stay-power. This gluten-free hair mousse has the goodness of vitamin E, aloe vera, and lavender, which keeps your hair healthy and lets your hair color last long.

What We Like: Natural ingredients, color safe formula, vegan and animal-friendly, sulfate-free.

What We Didn’t Like: Makes hair look oily when overused.

Best Price at Amazon

Design Essentials Natural Curl Enhancing Mousse

This mousse by Design Essentials is a vegan-friendly option that excels in managing curls. It’s packed with the hydrating benefits of avocado and almonds, making it a great choice for hair care. It smoothens hair and separates curls, providing a frizz-free look.

What We Love: Fast drying, no flaking, deeply hydrating, suitable for all hair types.

What We Didn’t Like: A bit on the pricier side.

Best Price at Amazon

Nexxus Mousse Plus Volumizing Foam

If you’re after salon-quality voluminous curls, this mousse is for you. Enriched with keratin and ceramides, it helps your hairstyle last longer. This mousse is alcohol-free and comes in user-friendly packaging.

What We Like: Light and airy mousse, silicon-free, long-lasting, no residue.

What We Didn’t Like: May not hold certain hairstyles for long.

Best Price at Nexxus

Kiss My Face Hold Up Styling Mousse

For those who love natural products, the Kiss My Face styling mousse is a great choice. It’s gluten-free, contains no paraben, phthalates, or SLS and, despite having a fruity, lime smell, does not contain any artificial fragrances. The packaging is bright, colorful and youthful and is available in an 8.5-ounce bottle.

What We Love: Wonderful citrus smell, contains natural ingredients, long-lasting, leaves hair feeling softer, gives hair body, light feel.

What We Didn’t Like: Could be more moisturizing, might work better on coarser hair, lime smell can be overpowering for some, may attract bees in the summer.

Best Price at Amazon

African Pride Moisture Miracle- Rose Water & Argan Oil Curl Mousse

African Pride’s mousse is a natural ingredient powerhouse. It features nourishing ingredients like rose water and argan oil. Argan oil imparts a shine to your hair, while rose water hydrates and softens hair, promoting better growth.

What We Like: Free from sulfates and parabens, easy-to-use.

What We Didn’t Like: The formula can be a bit sticky.

Best Price at Amazon

OGX Renewing Argan Oil of Morocco Voluminous Mousse

This volumizing mousse from OGX is a one-stop solution for hair management. It’s powered by argan oil, which imparts a shine and helps you achieve beautiful locks. Expect this mousse to add bounce to your hair and assist in creating the perfect hairstyle.

What We Like: Adds volume to hair, has a pleasant mint fragrance, is shine-enhancing and multifunctional.

What We Didn’t Like: Can leave a slightly greasy feel.

Best Price at Amazon

AGADIR Volumizing Mousse

Agadir’s volumizing mousse is infused with argan oil, which is incredibly beneficial for hair. The product is suitable for all types of hair – dry, oily, and curly. It’s known for its signature aromatherapy fragrance and helps manage dry and damaged hair without causing any buildup.

What We Like: Heat protection, has a great fragrance, adds shine to hair, facilitates easy styling.

What We Didn’t Like: May not hold certain hairstyles for long.

Best Price at Amazon

Sebastian Mousse Forte, Strong-Hold Mousse

Sebastian Professional Mousse is a top-tier hair-styling mousse that defines and protects curls. This professional-grade product offers a firm hold and adds volume to curly hair, leaving it soft and manageable.

What We Like: Great for frizzy hair, boosts volume, provides UV protection, nourishing formula.

What We Didn’t Like: A bit on the expensive side.

Best Price at Amazon

Cake Beauty The Curl Whip Mousse

This vegan mousse from Cake Beauty is the ultimate mousse for curly hair. It not only volumizes the hair but also facilitates easy and natural styling. The product is safe for use as it lacks harmful chemicals.

What We Like: Natural ingredients, cruelty-free, creamy texture, zero crunch.

What We Didn’t Like: Has a thicker consistency.

Best Price at Amazon

It’s a 10 Miracle Styling Mousse

“It’s a 10” offers a miracle styling mousse that’s perfect for those who want to nourish their hair while styling. This lightweight foam moisturizes hair, improves texture, and provides a firm hold, making it an excellent choice for vegan hair care.

What We Love: Alcohol-free, rich in nutrients, protects from heat,adds texture.

What We Didn’t Like: The consistency could be thicker.

Best Price at Amazon

Kenra Volume Mousse Extra 17

Kenra’s volume mousse is perfect for those who want a firm hold without the heaviness. It aids in styling and ensures your hair doesn’t become stiff. Its thermal protection, high humidity resistance, and non-drying formula make it a reliable hair care product.

What We Like: Long-lasting, non-sticky formula, controls frizz, keeps hair hydrated.

What We Didn’t Like: The pump quality could be improved

Best Price at Amazon

BIOLAGE Styling Whipped Volume Mousse

Biolage’s styling mousse offers shine and bounce to hair while maintaining a natural softness. Inspired by the expansive properties of the cotton flower, this mousse adds volume and is an excellent choice for thin and straight hair.

What We Like: Adds bounce, softens hair, easy to use, lightweight.

What We Didn’t Like: The consistency is quite thick.

Best Price at Amazon

Pureology Style & Protect On The Rise Root-Lifting Hair Mousse

This medium control mousse from Pureology offers extra shine and root lift to your hair. It conditions hair just like a hair mask and is completely weightless. Infused with tuberose, almond milk, and cedarwood, this mousse adds bounce to your hair in the most nourishing way possible.

What We Like: Provides all-day volume, has a thick consistency, vegan formula, aromatic fragrance.

What We Didn’t Like: A bit on the pricey side.

Best Price at Amazon

No nothing Very Sensitive Strong Mousse

As the name suggests, “No nothing” products contain limited ingredients, with no fragrance at all. This fragrance-free hair mousse from “no nothing” is especially formulated for sensitive people. It has no chemicals which makes it safe for all.

What We Like: Alcohol-free, chemical-free, hypoallergenic, free from parabens and soy.

What We Didn’t Like: The quantity could be more.

Best Price at Amazon

Why Choose Mousse?

With a dizzying array of hair products out there – from gels to serums, and sprays to wax – why would you choose a hair mousse?

Many think of hair mousse as something from the past, a product from the 80s used only to define those big curls and massive perms.

However, think again – hair mousse is making a comeback!

With advances in technology, hair mousse has changed – gone are the hair drying formulas of old.  Our reviews show that hair mousses have become more nourishing for your hair and can add moisture, with many products leaving your hair looking shinier and healthier.

Hair mousse is also a very versatile product. It can be used to define natural waves and curls; it can add volume and lift, make hair more manageable, reduce frizz and hold different styles in place.

Depending on how much and when you apply it mousse can be used to add texture or make hair appear thicker. It really is a jack of all trades!

What Ingredients Might Be in Non-Vegan Hair Mousse?

Even if you have finally found a company that is cruelty-free when it comes to testing, you still need to watch out for ingredients that have originally come from animals. It really is a minefield out there!

There are some ingredients that might have come from animals or animal by-products, and not all of them are as obvious as honey or milk.

Here are just a few that could be lurking in your favorite hair mousse.

Panthenol – This can be used in a mousse as a moisturizer and lubricant, to give your hair that smooth, sleek, healthy look. Panthenol comes from Vitamin B5 and can be made synthetically or from plants. However, sometimes it can be made from animals, so it’s always worth checking.

Proteins – Such as casein and keratin. These can improve the health of your hair and are often found in hair products. These again can come from animals or from their milk, although some can be manufactured synthetically or found in plants.

Hydrolyzed Silk – This is another protein that can help to protect your hair. If it is not made synthetically, the silk fiber is made by silkworms to form their cocoons; but to get that silk, the worms are boiled in their cocoons! Yuck!

Stylish Guilt-free Hair

So if your hair-care regime needs a good mousse, there are plenty of options out there that do the job while being animal-friendly, cruelty-free and compatible with your compassionate lifestyle.

Here’s wishing you many happy hair days to come!

The post [14 Best] Vegan Hair Mousse Brands appeared first on Urban Vegan.

But if your hair gel doesn’t explicitly say it’s 100% plant derived or vegan, there’s a good chance that one or more of the ingredients in your hair gel contains the excrements from whales and dolphins or the bones, skin, and ligaments of other animals.

Biotin, Cetyl Alcohol, Keratin and Hyaluronic Acid are just a few commonly added animal-derived ingredients in hair care products.

For vegans and animal lovers alike, there are alternatives.

I’ve rounded up some of the most effective vegan hair gels on the market.

Luckily, there is a vegan option to suit every hair type.

Article NavigationList of the Best Vegan Hair Gel BrandsDeva Curl Light Defining Gel (Top Pick)Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Styling GelGiovanni Eco Chic L.A. Natural Styling GelAlba Botanica Advanced Strong Hold Style GelHugo Naturals Styling GelWhich Hair Gel Products Works Best for My Hair Type?Coarse or Thick HairFine, Limp or Thinning HairFine to Medium Straight HairShort HairCurly HairDoes Gluten Free Matter for Hair?Which Vegan Hair Gels are the Least Toxic?Keep Animal Excretions Out of Your Hair

List of the Best Vegan Hair Gel Brands

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Brand	Deva Curl	Max Green	Giovanni	No products found.	Hugo Naturals
Hold Power	Light	Flexible	Strong	Strong	Medium
Natural/Organic Ingredients	Some	All	Some	All	All
Moisturizing
Free of Artificial colors
Hypoallergenic
Sulfate-Free
Paraben-Free
Gluten-Free

Deva Curl Light Defining Gel (Top Pick)

Great for Curly and Ethnic Hair Types – Leaves Hair Feeling Soft

Deva Curl’s light defining gel is a maximum hold, yet lightweight formula that is easy to use.

This non-drying formula is silicone, paraben and sulfate free.  Soy and wheat protein locks in moisture and adds shine and bounce to hair.  The gel has a tropical scent reminiscent of mango and starfruit.

What We Love

This was my personal top vegan hair gel pick. Deva Curl’s Light Defining Gel leaves curls soft, not crunchy unlike a lot of maximum hold hair gels.

It doesn’t dry hair, but it also doesn’t leave it greasy and weighed down. I found it immensely helped reduce the frizz factor in my very frizz prone waves.

Deva Curl gave my hair the most volume out of all of the cruelty-free hair gels I tried and worked extremely well for my thick, wavy hair texture.

Amazon reviewers with very curly ringlet and ethnic hair seemed to have success with this product as well. I also found it to be a great value for the amount of product.

The Downside

This gel seems to work best when styled on wet or damp hair. It does not seem to perform as well when applied to dry hair. Some of the other gels I tried worked equally well on dry hair and might be better suited for someone who wants a more versatile styling product.

Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Styling Gel

Great for Both Men and Women – Gender Neutral Scent

Max Green, Alchemy’s plant-derived styling gel, provides natural hold, styling power, and humidity protection.

It is formulated with active botanicals and pro-vitamin B5 to keep hair shiny and manageable all day long.

The formula is sodium lauryl sulfate free, paraben free, petrochemical free, wax free and contains many organic ingredients.

The gel has a fresh and natural lemon scent.

What We Love

This product has a gender neutral scent and packaging, so it appeals to men and women alike.

The environmental working group rates this product as a “0” on their toxicity scale, which is a testament to its naturally derived ingredients.

The gel has a medium hold and keeps hair soft and tangle free throughout the day. I found it provided and maintained my hair body over the course of the day. This product would work well for thin to thick hair types.

The Downside

This product is on the pricier side per volume. It costs about $14 for 8.2 fluid ounces. If you care about quality over quantity, I would recommend this gel. It has a medium strength hold and might not be the strongest option for those with the curliest and thickest hair types.

Giovanni L.A. Natural Styling Gel

Best Overall Value – Great For Those on a Budget

Giovanni L.A. Natural Styling Gel is a super concentrated formula that provides maximum hold.

The formula is free from animal ingredients and enriched with certified organic botanicals. Lavender, thyme, and rosemary extracts strengthen hair, encourage growth and provide an earthy scent.

What We Love

This vegan-friendly hair gel provides a super strong hold throughout the day, even in humidity. The formula has a great consistency that works well into hair. It provides a natural shine and keeps the frizzies at bay.

Despite being a super strong hold, the product doesn’t create overly rigid hair. It seems to be suitable for men and women alike with varied hair textures.

It is also a great value as one of the most affordable vegan hair gel options.

The Downside

Giovanni’s Natural Strong Hold Styling Gel isn’t the most natural option. It does in fact list methylparaben and propylparaben as ingredients. What it carries out in performance, it may lack in integrity. Though there are organic and botanical ingredients present, it is not an entirely natural product. If parabens are a concern of yours, this product is probably not your best bet.

No products found.

No products found.

Best For Sensitive Scalps & Allergy Sufferers

This wheat protein, B vitamin, and antioxidant rich formula provides a firm hold for all day sculpting needs.

Alba Botanica’s Strong Hold Style Gel is salon quality without the parabens, phthalates or synthetic fragrances.

The alcohol-free formula helps prevent damaged and dried out hair over time. The seven-ounce bottle costs about eleven dollars.

What We Love

This product holds well and has no odor, which makes it an especially great find for those with sensitive skin and scalps or for individuals with allergies.

A little bit of this product goes a long way. I would feel comfortable wearing this in my hair on a daily basis, and I don’t have to worry about smelling like I’m wearing a product.

The Downside

This formula does have slightly stickier consistency. It washes out of hair well, but when applying it does feel a bit tackier when working through hair.

Hugo Naturals Styling Gel

Best For Anyone With Soy & Gluten Sensitivities

Hugo Naturals Styling Gel is a medium hold hair gel for all hair types.

It is crafted with sage and witch hazel botanicals. In addition to being vegan, the formula is sulfate free, paraben free, silicone free, alcohol-free, soy free and wheat free.

The natural and light citrus scent dissipates quickly upon application. Quinoa and Oat extract naturally leave hair moisturized. The four-ounce bottle costs around eleven dollars.

What We Love

Hugo Naturals Styling Gel is the only vegan gel option that had the added benefit of being both soy and gluten free.

This is the clear choice for those with soy or gluten sensitivities. I also loved that this product works equally efficiently on wet or dry hair.

You can wake up and apply directly to your dry locks. It’s a great time-saver in the morning. The hold kept my style in place for several hours.

The Downside

This is one of the pricier options per volume. The quality of the product is great, but the quantity isn’t quite there.

Which Hair Gel Products Works Best for My Hair Type?

While all five of these vegan hair gels were exceptional options, we put together a hair type buying guide to make the decision a little easier.

While each gel purports to cater to a range of hair types, we know that most products aren’t one size fits all.

Different hair textures have different needs. After assessing customer reviews, we selected the best potential options for each hair texture and type.

Coarse or Thick Hair

You have coarse hair if your individual hairs are wide in diameter. Thick hair is another way of saying that there is a lot of hair on the head and can be coarse or fine.

With thick or coarse hair, the hair likely has plenty of body on its own and needs control more than lift. This hair type does best with a stronger hold styling gel that can control frizz and maintain style.

Of the 5 products above we recommend these two:

• No products found.
• Giovanni L.A. Natural Styling Gel

Fine, Limp or Thinning Hair

Fine hair refers to the individual hairs being thin in diameter, whereas thin hair refers to hair that is sparsely spread over the scalp due to genetics, damage, hormonal changes or aging.

These hair types may appear oily more quickly than coarse, thick hair. Due to this differentiation, a stronger hair gel may weigh your hair down or cause it to appear greasy and need to be washed more frequently.

The medium hold options seem to be better suited for this hair type. They will still maintain your style without leaving your hair looking damp all day.

Fine and thin hair benefit from volumizing and petroleum free products. Gels containing alcohol ingredients may work as long as the hair is not dry, damaged or chemically processed. If your hair is damaged in any way, opt for one of the two alcohol-free options.

Of the 5 products we recommend these two:

• Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Styling Gel
• Hugo Naturals Styling Gel

Fine to Medium Straight Hair

If your hair falls somewhere between fine and coarse hair and doesn’t tend toward oily or dry, you can work with a range of gels.

This versatile hair type would probably work well with most styling gels, depending on what look you wanted to achieve.

A medium hold gel that maintains style is adequate for everyday straight hair styling. If you plan on curling or adding waves to your straight hair, you may opt for one of the stronger holding products mentioned above under Coarse or Thick Hair.

Of the 5 products above we recommend these two:

• Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Styling Gel
• Hugo Naturals Styling Gel

Short Hair

Regardless of texture or density, short hair can be best styled with strong hold hair gels. Stiff holding gels can tame cowlicks, create spikes, stand up mohawks or make temporary dreads out of short hair.

Of the 5 products above we recommend these two:

• Giovanni Eco Chic L.A. Natural Strong Hold
• No products found.

Curly Hair

If you have wavy to curly hair and want to maintain your curls in a frizz free fashion, moisturizing styling gels can help tame your texture. Light or flexible hold gels are a great option. Styling gels that work into wet hair can help boost the volume of your curls and maintain the shape without making your curls feel crunchy.

Of the 5 products above we recommend these two:

• Max Green Alchemy Scalp Rescue Styling Gel
• DevaCurl Light Defining Gel

Does Gluten Free Matter for Hair?

We all know gluten-free is important for individuals with gluten intolerances when it comes to food items, but when it comes to hair products you may be wondering if it makes a difference.

The verdict is still out.

Some would argue that the gluten molecule is too large to be absorbed through the skin. However, some individuals with celiac disease or gluten sensitivities have reported skin rashes and other topical reactions to items containing gluten.

If you have celiacs or a known aversion to cosmetics with gluten or wheat ingredients, you should opt for the products that advertise as gluten-free.

Which Cruelty-Free Hair Gels are the Least Toxic?

All of the vegan hair gels featured in this article are made with mostly or entirely naturally derived ingredients.

However, some brands certainly had higher standards for what “natural” means to them.

If organic is a priority for you, Max Green Alchemy’s Scalp Rescue Hair Styling Gel uses the most organic and non-GMO ingredients. Alba Botanica and Hugo Naturals also had some of the most recognizable plant ingredients.

Keep Animal Excretions Out of Your Hair

Working veganism into your personal care regime can seem difficult if you have stand-by products you know and love. However, the chances are great that any non-vegan products also contain a cocktail of hormone disrupting and carcinogenic chemicals.

Many vegan brands are more conscious of what goes into their product. Vegan hair gels like the ones mentioned here offer a safer and cruelty-free alternative without sacrificing performance.

What’s safest for the animals also turns out to be what’s the safest for us, humans, too. It’s important to make sure that you purchase products that aren’t just cruelty-free but also vegan.

Vegans have great hair days too!

The post Choosing the Best Vegan Hair Gel for Your Hair Type appeared first on Urban Vegan.

The one that holds your style without harming animals?

We gotchu Queen!

In this guide, we’ll explore the top cruelty-free hairsprays and what to consider when shopping.

Let’s dive in and find the perfect product for you!

Aveda Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray

For those seeking a strong hold and environmental responsibility, Aveda’s Control Force Firm Hold Hair Spray is a standout choice. It offers long-lasting hold and humidity defense for all hair types.

Plus, it’s climate-conscious, with Aveda funding renewable wind energy to offset CO2 emissions associated with its production and use. Perfect for eco-conscious style enthusiasts.

Shop Aveda

Beauty Without Cruelty Natural Hold Hair Spray

Ideal for those who prefer a gentle touch, the Beauty Without Cruelty Natural Hold Hair Spray offers a clear, non-aerosol formula that’s kind to your hair. It’s suitable for vegans and vegetarians, paraben-free, pH balanced, and contains no synthetic fragrances.

This product is a testament to the brand’s commitment to cruelty-free beauty since 1963. A great choice for those who value natural ingredients and ethical practices.

Shop BWC

ABBA Curl Finish Hair Spray

For those with curly hair, the ABBA Curl Finish Hair Spray is a game-changer. Infused with Grapefruit and Avocado Oil, it amplifies curls for a long-lasting hold and shine. This product is paraben-free, ensuring a gentle touch for your hair.

It’s the perfect choice for those seeking to enhance their natural curls while maintaining a healthy hair routine.

Shop ABBA

amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray

The Amika Fluxus Touchable Hairspray is a dream come true for those who want a flexible hold without sacrificing touchability. Its unique formula, featuring Butyl Ester of PVM/MA Copolymer, protects hair against high humidity while maintaining a natural feel.

Free from sulfates, parabens, phthalates, and more, it’s safe for color-treated, Brazilian-treated, and keratin-treated hair. Ideal for those who want a stay-all-day style with a natural finish.

Shop amika

Pacifica Big Waves Soft Hold & Volume Hairspray

Embrace your inner surfer girl with Pacifica’s Big Waves Soft Hold & Volume Hairspray. This unique blend of sea salt and coconut helps maintain your big waves throughout the day or night.

The scent of coconut and vanilla adds a touch of summer and surfboards to your hair. Ideal for those who want to keep their waves intact while enjoying a touch of beachy aroma.

Shop Pacifca

Giovanni Cosmetics Inc. L.A. Hold Hair Spritz

The Giovanni L.A. Hold Hair Spritz is your ticket to perfect placement and stylized hold. Whether you’re under the lights or out on a hot night, this maximum-holding mist will keep your style in place.

It adds shine, washes out easily, and leaves your hair feeling conditioned. It’s color-safe, paraben-free, and cruelty-free, making it an excellent choice for those who want salon-quality hold with a conscious.

Shop Giovanni

IGK Hair 1-800-Hold-Me Flexible Hairspray

The IGK 1-800-Hold-Me No-Crunch Flexible Hold Hairspray is a must-have for those who want a touchable, reworkable hold. Inspired by makeup setting sprays, it uses hi-shine micro-light reflectors to give a subtle, healthy glow to all hair types and colors.

It’s vegan, gluten-free, and offers UV protection. Ideal for those who want a medium hold that’s never crunchy or sticky, but always radiant.

Shop IGK

John Masters Organics Hair Spray

The John Masters Organics Hair Spray is a unique blend of organic, natural ingredients that provide a touchable hold without flaky residue.

It’s one of the only certified USDA organic hair sprays on the market, featuring organic aloe vera leaf juice and acacia senegal gum. It’s perfect for those who want a natural, organic solution to keep their hairstyles in place all day.

Shop John Masters

drybar Money Maker Flexible Hold Hairspray

The Drybar Money Maker Flexible Hold Hairspray is a flexible blowout finisher that provides a soft, movable hold with easy brushability. It’s never stiff or sticky, making it perfect for those who want a natural look that’s easy to manage.

This vegan hairspray is cruelty-free and free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and more. It’s a great choice for those who want a flexible hold that’s easy to brush through.

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R+Co Vicious Strong Hold Flexible Hairspray

This vegan hairspray is a wickedly good choice for those who want a seriously strong hold that can be brushed through without flaking or cracking. It allows you to style and re-style all night long.

It’s vegan, gluten-free, and paraben-free, making it a great choice for those who want a strong hold without compromising on their hair’s health.

Shop R+Co

OUAI Texturizing Hair Spray

The OUAI Texturizing Hair Spray is an ultra-lightweight hair spray that holds your “undone” style using zeolite, panthenol, and fruit extracts. It’s perfect for volumizing, reducing oiliness, and providing hold.

The scent, North Bondi, is a nuanced blend of rich florals and sheer white musk, inspired by Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, featuring notes of bergamot, Italian lemon, rose de mai, violet, and more. The product is available in two sizes: Full Size (4.6 oz) and Travel Size (1.4 oz).

Shop OUAI

Living proof. Flex Hairspray

The Living Proof Flex Hairspray is a versatile, medium-hold spray that can be used on damp or dry hair for setting, styling, and finishing. It offers heat protection up to 410°F/210°C and is safe for color or chemically treated hair.

The product is formulated with Flexible Web Technology, a blend of firm and flexible polymers, and conditioning emollient for brushability and shine. It’s a great choice for those who want a flexible, reworkable hold that doesn’t weigh down the hair or dry it out.

Shop Living Proof.

Paul Mitchell Freeze and Shine Super Spray

The Paul Mitchell Freeze and Shine Super Spray is a shine-enhancing, non-aerosol hairspray that locks any look in place with powerful hold and a high-shine finish. It’s vegan, paraben-free, and gluten-free.

The refreshing cucumber melon scent with soft floral notes adds a pleasant touch. Ideal for coarse hair, this hairspray is perfect for those who want a firm hold that lasts all day and leaves their hair looking shiny and vibrant.

Shop Paul Mitchell

PureOlogy Style + Protect Soft Finish Hairspray

The Pureology Soft Finish Flexible Hold Hairspray is a fast-drying, layerable hairspray that provides a flexible hold with a natural finish. It’s made with Orange Peel Oil, which softens the hair and adds luster for a natural, shiny finish.

This vegan hairspray is 100% vegan and is designed to protect color-treated hair. It’s perfect for those who want a soft, flexible hold that can be layered to achieve the desired effect without any stiffness.

Shop PureOlogy

IGK Hair Beach Club Texture Spray

The IGK Beach Club Texture Spray is your shortcut to beachy waves and volume without drying out your hair. This salt-free, volumizing texture spray gives you that windswept look in seconds without any heaviness or stickiness. It’s safe for all hair types including colored and chemically treated hair.

The key ingredients are Glycerin, which helps lock in moisture and add texture, and Gluten-Free Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, which gives hair natural volume and body. Ideal for those who want to recreate that beachy hair vibe anytime, anywhere.

Shop IGK

Lush Sea Spray

The Lush Sea Spray Hair Mist is a volumizing sea salt spray that gives you that beach-beautiful style. It’s made with carrageenan, which thickens and softens hair, and sea water, which adds volume at the roots.

The product is scented with a fresh, citrusy ocean mist, featuring grapefruit oil, neroli oil, and rosewood oil. This vegan product is perfect for those who want to add body, shine, and texture to their hair with a light hold and an intoxicating citrusy-floral fragrance.

Shop Lush

Cake The Hold Out Flexy Hold Hair Spray

The Cake Beauty The Hold Out Flexy Hold Hair Spray is a light-as-air formula that controls your style with a touchable hold and soft volume. It’s driven by beautiful natural ingredients and can be used to shape your desired look or gently mist through your hair to add a burst of lasting volume.

This product is vegan and brushes out with total ease while maintaining a memory of your style even after brushing. Ideal for those who want a natural look with a flexible hold.

Shop Cake

Sachajuan Strong Control Hairspray

The Sachajuan Hairspray Light and Flexible is a lightweight styling and finishing product that provides a flexible hold without stiffness or stickiness. It adds a light, bouncy hold that won’t weigh your hair down, making it suitable for both men and women.

This vegan and cruelty-free hairspray is free from parabens and can be layered to build a style that feels natural and never leaves hair dull. Ideal for those who want a natural, flexible hold for everyday styling.

Shop Sachajuan

Things to Keep in Mind When Shopping for a Vegan Hairspray

Before you can jump into making a purchase, there’re a few questions you need to ask before purchasing your product – namely, “is the product cruelty-free,” “will this spray be good for my hair type,” and “what am I going to use this for”?

Let’s dive a little deeper into each of these questions so they can help guide your decision.

Cruelty-Free Status

For myself and most vegans, it doesn’t matter how well a product works if it isn’t cruelty-free – if animals had to be harmed to make or test it, I’m not buying it!

For this reason, the cruelty-free status of a product is the first thing I check – this ensures that I don’t accidentally purchase a product that has been tested on animals, and makes it easier to choose from a smaller list of products, as opposed to the entire hair care aisle.

While animals don’t always die during animal testing like they do for meat, cosmetic testing creates the same – if not more – suffering: simply put, cosmetic testing is hell for animals.

Hairspray that’s tested on animals might be rubbed into the eyes and shaved skin of rabbits to see the type of irritation it causes or forced into the stomachs of mice to determine the lethal dosage of the product.

Additionally, many animals used in cosmetic testing aren’t covered under the meager animal welfare laws that have been put into place, so there’s little to no regulation over what happens to these animals in the lab. For more information on vivisection and why we should avoid products that are tested on animals, read our full guide on animal testing here.

Luckily for us and the animals, there are plenty of humane alternatives to animal testing that make vivisection obsolete. These, combined with the use of safe, natural, non-toxic ingredients mean products can still be safe for human use, and don’t require the suffering of mice, rabbits, and other animals to make their way onto shelves.

However, be aware that some companies may claim to be cruelty-free but still sell their products in countries where animal testing is required by law. Always do your research and look for certifications from reputable organizations like Leaping Bunny or PETA to ensure the products you’re buying are truly cruelty-free.

Leaping Bunny is the original animal welfare organization and keeps an expansive database of products and companies that do not engage in animal testing. If you have any question in your mind as to whether or not a product you’re interested in is animal-friendly, you can run it through their list at leapingbunny.org, check it out on their app, or look for the Leaping Bunny icon on the back of the bottle.

Your Hair Type

Different hair types have different needs when it comes to hair care products. That’s why it’s important to consider your hair type when choosing a vegan hairspray. Here’s a quick guide to help you understand what type of hairspray is best for your hair.

There are six major hair types to think about when shopping for hair care products, compare the descriptions below to your hair to get a little closer to finding your perfect spray.

1. Fine & Healthy Hair

While fine, healthy hair suffers no damage, the strands themselves are thin, and can’t hold their own against more assertive products. Look for products that increase volume, and aren’t so heavy that they weigh hair down or overpower it. Look for plumping, volumizing, and moisturizing products, but avoid anything waxy.

2. Fine & Damaged Hair

Because fine hair already struggles with volume, any damage caused by heat styling or coloring can create a one-two punch that’s difficult to breathe life into. Look for volumizing hair spray to plump up fine, delicate strands, but avoid anything with alcohol in the ingredient list, as it will dry out hair and exacerbate any damage.

3. Medium & Healthy Hair

Medium hair means your strands are of average thickness, few ingredients are off the table, and you can pull off most hairstyles without issue, especially if your strands are free of any damage or dryness. This hair type just needs to focus on preserving the lovely condition it’s in, so look for sprays that advertise themselves as thickening sprays that don’t contain alcohol that can dry out otherwise healthy hair.

4. Medium & Damaged

Your hair is thick enough to hold its own but not so much that it’s impossible to handle – the only issue is dry, brittle strands caused by damage from your blow dryer, flat iron, or over processing. Like fine and damaged hair, avoid anything with alcohol, which will suck any last bit of hydration out of your strands, and choose products that will help tame frizzies.

5. Thick & Healthy

While thick strands of hair make for awesome volume, they are more prone to coarseness and frizziness than thin or medium hair. In addition to a good conditioning routine, avoid hair sprays with water as the first ingredient. If hair is healthy, you don’t have to avoid alcohol altogether – cetyl and stearyl alcohol are fatty acids, which can help coarse, frizzy hair look shinier.

6. Thick & Damaged

Thick hair can be unruly in a healthy state, but add a little damage and things can go haywire quickly. People with thick, damaged hair should reach for sprays that are hydrating, moisturizing, and formulated to fight frizz. Because layering on too many strengtheners can cause thick hair to misbehave, avoid any sprays that include keratin.

With a better handle on the type of hair, you’re working with, the last step is to think about the role your vegan hairspray is going to play and the environment you’re wearing it in.

The Function of Your Hairspray

Lastly, it’s important to keep in mind the role your hairspray will play in your style – and this goes beyond simply holding hair in place. The amount of hold you need in your hairspray varies wildly between sitting behind your computer at the office to dancing the night away at a rooftop bar. Consider the elements, such as a classroom versus a windy beach, as well as how much movement you plan on doing over the course of the day (or night).

In addition to a variety of scents and formulas for certain hair types, hair sprays come in varying degrees of hold, from “soft and natural” to “helmet hair.” Depending on your needs, and how many different places you plan on wearing your hairspray, you may want to stock up on a few types, or grab a few travel sizes to keep in your purse to bring it from the office to the club.

To give you a better idea of what to look for, a soft hold hairspray is ideal for a natural, flexible look, while a medium hold hairspray offers a balance between flexibility and control. A strong hold hairspray is best for structured styles that need to stay in place all day or night.

Good for Your Hair, Good for the Animals

While it may require a little extra effort to find the perfect hairspray that is good for you and good for the animals, it is worth the effort.

By finding a brand or product that is committed to animal welfare, in addition to containing (or not containing) certain ingredients for your hair type, you can achieve the hairstyle and amount of hold that works for you and your lifestyle.

By choosing products that are cruelty-free and vegan, you’re voting with your dollars to show companies that animal testing is cruel, outdated, and unacceptable. Arm yourself with knowledge as you replace your cosmetics with animal-friendly alternatives, and take care of the animals and our earth, in addition to your great style.

So why wait? Start your cruelty-free journey today and make a difference with every purchase. And don’t forget to share this guide with your friends and family to spread the word about cruelty-free and vegan hairsprays. Together, we can make a difference for animals and our planet.

The post 18 Best Vegan Hairsprays [Cruelty Free] appeared first on Urban Vegan.

A study by Clairol revealed that nearly 75% of American women color their hair, and nearly 88% of women feel their hair has an effect on their sense of self-confidence.

This isn’t a new phenomenon – since ancient times, people have been using dyes from plants to change the color of their hair. Now, with synthetic boxed dyes available, people can color their hair in the comfort of their own home, but with that convenience also comes harsh, toxic chemicals that are usually tested on animals.

Small mammals like mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs are subjected to painful tests. These tests can include skin and eye irritation tests, where chemicals are rubbed into shaved skin or eyes without pain relief, repeated force-feeding studies, or “lethal dose” tests, where the animals are force-fed large amounts of a test chemical to determine how much of that ingredient causes death.

Sadly, many of the animals used in cosmetic testing, such as mice and rats, are not covered under the protection from the Animal Welfare Act.

So what’s a hair-coloring vegan to do?

Luckily, there are many high-quality vegan hair coloring products that don’t rely on cruel animal testing. Even better, these products meet a wide variety of needs, from sensitive scalps to grey hair coverage to fun and funky colors that allow vegans and non-vegans alike to express themselves through their hair.

What Are Vegan Hair Dyes Made From?

Many vegan hair dyes, especially those that are touted as “all natural”, are made from vegetable-based coloring.

For example, henna is a popular all-natural alternative to hair dye, and is made from the powdered leaves of a tropical shrub.

Henna-based dyes are good options for people who want to color their hair and are looking for a safe, gentle, and all-natural alternative.

Vegan Hair Dye List

Image	Brand	Type	Colors	Colors
	Manic Panic	Hair Color	28	Semi-Permanent
	Arctic Fox	Hair Color	19	Semi-Permanent
	EcoColors	Hair Color	13	Permanent
	Smart Beauty	Bleach/Color	8	Permanent
	Herbatint	Natural Color	24	Permanent
No products found.	No products found.	Henna	1	Permanent
	Shea Moisture	Hair Color	12	Permanent
	Surya Brasil	Henna	1	Semi-Permanent

Manic Panic Hair Color

Best For: Bright Color

Manic Panic’s line of semi-permanent cruelty-free hair color comes in the boldest, brightest colors like Atomic Turquoise and Cotton Candy Pink.

What We Love

The color has staying power, about 8-10 weeks when applied to blonde hair. The colors are vibrant and bold, and Manic Panic offers a huge color range, so you’ll never get bored! Additionally, Manic Panic hair color is safe to use during pregnancy, which is a huge plus.

The Downside

For the colors to be their most intense, you’ll need to apply this color to bleached or lightened hair. This isn’t the dye for you if you’re looking to turn your dark brown hair tangerine orange, or at least not without having to put some elbow grease in first.

Arctic Fox Semi-Permanent Hair Dye

Best For: Delicate Hair, Grey Hair

Like Manic Panic, Artic Fox offers a wide variety of colors, as well as toners for blonde and silver hair. Users note that the color is long-lasting and that it doesn’t bleed onto clothes or pillows.

What We Love

Artic Fox is the ultimate vegan hair dye. It’s advertised as a vegan product, contains no harmful chemicals, conditions hair, and is gentle enough for more frequent use than chemical-based dyes. Best of all, 15% of each product purchased is donated to help fight animal cruelty. Beautiful, bold hair color AND fighting for animal rights? What could be better?

The Downside

Some people note that, while Artic Fox does not have a chemical smell due to the natural ingredients, it does have a strangely sweet smell. Some reported their hair smelling like bubblegum immediately after use – which could be a good or bad thing, depending on your feelings on bubblegum.

EcoColors Hair Color

Best For: Sensitive Scalp

EcoColors offers permanent hair colors in 13 natural shades. The entire coloring process is contained in a single kit, and application is easy and efficient.

What We Love

EcoColors dyes are gentle on hair and scalp, and the color comes out looking very natural – no one will be able to tell that it isn’t your natural hair color.

The Downside

Some users who tried EcoColors on grey hair noted that it did not take. If you’re looking for a dye to use on grey hair, this may have mixed results. It also tends to be slightly more on the expensive side, at around $20 USD per box.

Smart Beauty Hair Lightener

Best For: Hair Toner, Pastel Colors

Smart Beauty offers an extensive line of cruelty-free hair dye options, but what stuck out most was their hair lightener and line of pastel colors.

What We Love

The Smart Beauty Hair Lightener is ammonia free, which makes it not only gentler on your hair and scalp, but takes away that unpleasant chemical aroma that comes with most boxed dyes. The lightener can also lighten dark hair to a very light blond, and tones and conditions during the coloring process to keep hair healthy and strong.

The Downside

While users are glad to find a color that is cruelty-free in such fun shades of pastels, many do report that the color fades from hair more quickly than other brands.

Herbatint Permanent Herbal Haircolor Gel

Best For: Grey Hair

A natural coloring gel free from ammonia and other harsh chemicals, Herbatint is consistently rated high as one of the best vegan hair dyes on the market.

What We Love

The versatility of Herbatint is unparalleled – you can use this dye on grey hair, dark hair, and hair that’s been previously colored, all without fear of strange or poor results. It is gentle on your hair and scalp, and you can mix only what you need instead of wasting an entire bottle.

The Downside

Due to the inclusion of sulfates and alcohol in this product, it can be very drying, so make sure if you choose this product, you condition well, and avoid if you have damaged or fragile hair.

No products found.

No products found.

Caca Brun Henna from LUSH provides subtle color that is gentle and restorative for hair. Henna adds richness and shine to your hair by coating each strand and is a great option for people who want to color their hair, but are hesitant to use chemical dyes.

What We Love

As it comes in a bar that you mix with water, you only need to use as much of the dye as you need at that moment, and save the rest for another application.

The Downside

This henna produces unpredictable results when used on grey hair – users note that the color takes, but it could be a wildly different color than the expected brown. Avoid using this henna on grey hair unless you’re willing to take a risk.

Shea Moisture Hair Color System

Best For: Kinky, Dark, Curly Hair

If you have dark, textured hair and have avoided coloring because you don’t want to bleach, the Shea Moisture line is the line for you! Shea Moisture is a gentle, ammonia-free formula that doesn’t result in burning or harsh smells.

What We Love

Shea Moisture provides beautiful color even on dark hair – you can apply it to never-bleached, dark, curly hair, and still come out with beautiful color. The color will be on the darker side if applied to dark hair, but most dark-haired users are amazed at their results – and at not having to damage their hair with harsh bleaches and lighteners. It also can be used to cover greys.

The Downside

Depending on the color of your natural hair, your results may vary – some people like the deep color, but find it worrisome that it can be difficult to predict exactly what the color will look like once applied to natural hair. If you’re looking for a gorgeous color that you might not necessarily be able to predict, this is a good product for you.

Surya Brasil Henna Light Brown Cream

Like the LUSH Henna, Surya Brasil Henna adds a beautiful shine to hair, as it coats each strand of hair with color. When cared for well, it also lasts for about 6-8 weeks.

What We Love

The Surya Brasil Henna is a gentle, effective way to cover grey hairs which, as those with grey hair know, can be hard to come by. The Henna coats each strand of grey beautifully, without streakiness or unpredictable results that can come from dying grey hair at home.

The Downside

This henna contains some ingredients that are known to cause irritation, like peroxide. It is not considered and “all natural” dye and those with very fragile, breakable hair or sensitive scalps will want to avoid it for the irritation it can cause.

Color with Conscience

People have all different reasons for wanting to color their hair – to cover greys, to express themselves through vibrant color, or just to make a change in their appearance.

Luckily, there appears to be a hair dye to match every need and goal, and quite a few of them are 100% cruelty-free.

As with most cosmetics, this isn’t a comprehensive list of all the vegan hair dye brands on the market. When in doubt, look for the bunny rabbit logo on the packaging that designates a vegan and cruelty-free product.

Just because you want to change the color of your hair doesn’t mean that animals need to be put through pain or suffering. By turning to gentle, natural, plant-based colors, you can get the effect you need while being gentle to animals, all at the same time.

The post Top 8 Vegan Hair Color Options for Guilt Free Hair appeared first on Urban Vegan.