earth day hair tips

Every day really can be Earth Day.

We’ve all heard it before: “Every day is Earth Day.” Well, why not? Caring for the environment isn’t just for conservationists. With these simple tips, you can care for your hair, yourself and the environment at the same time. In no time flat, you too will be eco-friendly and loving it.

Sulfate and Paraben Free Hair Cleansers

Many synthetic chemical ingredients used in hair and skin products are not only considered harmful to your hair and skin, but also to the environment. Though “natural” doesn’t always equal nontoxic, do you really want to take a chance on a shampoo that is arguably poisoning the earth entering your bloodstream? Many shampoos have ingredients derived from crude oil! Blech! Play it safe and do yourself and Mother Earth a favor and quit the questionable chemicals with sulfate and paraben free shampoos.

Organic Ingredients

There’s no doubt that my $39 investment in a beginner espresso machine and cutting out the daily visits to the Mega Chain coffee joint has helped me put my money to better use and I’m not throwing a plastic stirrer, coffee cup and lid into a landfill every day. By purchasing hair products with organic ingredients, I am more at ease knowing that my products have been made without pesticides. Note: the standards for “organic” do not mean a product is wholly organic. Read the labels (even if it means putting on your reading glasses in front of the entire store”>.

Are You a DIY-er?

For years, I was a bona fide Do It Yourself-er when it came to coloring my hair. Before I began leaving the semi and demi colors to a professional stylist, I went through many a box of clearance aisle Medium Ash Brown. One thing I learned in my quest to be “greener” was to rinse out the plastic bottles and recycle them, along with the paper instructions and the packaging. Even most small towns offer recycling of some sort. It is not imperative to completely cleanse your recyclables – using too much water defeats the purpose. A good rinse will do just fine.

Cold Water

Admittedly, this isn’t for everyone, but even my 76 year old mother knows this trick. If you wash or cleanse your hair in the sink, by all means, use cold water. Cold water is great for hair because it helps keep the follicle closed, increases shine and protects your color. And, of course, you’ll save on hot water. It doesn’t hurt to keep your water heater at 120 degrees, either. Ka-ching!

Big Air

Air dry those fabulous curls! Save electricity and save your curls. If you are in a time crunch or can’t stay away from the hair dryer, purchase one of the many eco-friendly hair dryers now available. Eco-dryers have a ceramic heating element that purportedly uses less electricity than the common metal heating coils. As always, curly girls, don’t forget the diffuser!