SUSTAINABLE ETHICAL HAIRDRESSING...The ugly side of hairdressing
If you love having your hair done. Have you ever stopped to think about how being pampered affects the planet? It’s not an everyday occurrence like going shopping and remembering your plastic bag, is it? I can’t imagine it pops into your mind.
Think about yourself sat in the chair having your hair done. And try to visualise everything around you that is being used on your hair. Can you even begin to know what is being used and where it will all end up?
I never once stopped to think about the effect my work might be having on the environment. It wasn’t in the forefront of my mind.
As hairdressers we pour toxic hair colour down the sink into our waterways every day. Even a low level of these chemicals will affect aquatic life. We throw out used foils, colour tubes, paper, peroxide bottles and bleach boxes. Plastic shampoo bottles, gloves and now PPE in the regular bin. We use more plastic and paper than the other shops on the high street. And we even throw valuable hair cuttings into the bin.
The beauty industry is one of the largest producers of aluminium waste. With each salon using an average of 2km of tinfoil a month. Most of this ends up in landfill where it can take over 400 years to degrade. When it comes to the salon industry, studies show. Almost 400 million tons of waste are produced each year, out of which 150 million reaches our landfills.
Change for the good
I stopped to think about everything I used and how I dispose of them, and I realised I wanted to offer a more authentic way in my hairdressing. I try to be conscious of my choices in my everyday life. It only seemed natural that I would do the same in my work life. Which drove me to look for a solution. The changes I have made now permeates everything I do. From the products I use to how I dispose of them. I now work with Green salon collective, Natulique colours, Maria Nila vegan sustainable hair care. My other initiatives are using Pure planet as an energy supplier. Who gives a crap loo roll, vegan beverages and raw treats. Paper not foil as an alternative to foil.
GREEN SALON COLLECTIVE – As a member I recycle hair, used foils, empty colour tubes, chemicals, PPE, plastic & Paper.
ZERO HAIR TO LANDFILL – Hair is such a useful tool. Green Salon Collective is working on many hair related project. Such as hair booms, hair mats and even gardening and composting projects, all by using your hair! You can take away some of your hair and put it in your plant pots, they love it. I also take hair cuttings up to my allotment to compost, It’s fantastic for my vegetables.
HAIR BOOMS – A hair boom is made from hair cuttings of any length or colour. That are tightly packed into cotton or nylon tubes. When placed in either water or on the shores of beaches. These booms will stop oil (e.g. from an oil spill) from spreading, saving wildlife and the natural landscape.
HAIR MATS – These can be used in a similar way to the booms. They can be used on land, parks, gardens and even your street or driveway.
ZERO METALS TO LANDFILL – Most recyclers consider dirty foil. And colour tube.
NATULIQUE 98% natural derived hair colour, with essential oils.
Natulique family-owned business in Denmark. Natulique is available in recyclable aluminium tubes. Ammonia, parabens, lauryl sulphate free with organic essential oils. They are cruelty-free too. On the production level, all of their products are produced using wind power. And come in recyclable containers. So I made the transition from one of the big colour houses to a small colour house. I now feel part of a small community of like-minded people, where we support each other.
MARIA NILA
Maria Nila is not the usual haircare brand. They are 100% vegan and cruelty free. Maria Nila products are developed out of love for animals. By choosing high-quality vegan products. It easier for you and myself to take a step towards a sustainable and friendlier world. Maria Nila is proud to work with Zeromission and Plan Vivo! They also support the project Taking Root. Taking Root collaborates with the farmer. In some of the poorest parts of the world for reforestation of forests. They also donation to Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary together with The Perfect World Foundation.
PAPER NOT FOIL
Paper not foil are made from recycled industrial scraps and degrades with no toxic waste. Off-cuts are recycled at the mill. They can be reused many times. And when I finish with them they are recyclable. This Sustainable mineral paper uses 96% less energy then aluminium.
WHO GIVES A CRAP
When you use the bathroom at mine. You will be using who gives a crap toilet paper. Made from recycled paper. They donate 50% of our profits to help build toilets. And improve sanitation in the developing world. Roughly 40% of the global population. Around 289,000 children under five die every year from diarrhoeal diseases. Caused by poor water and sanitation. That’s almost 800 children per day, or one child every two minutes.
Eco/Sustainability fees, how do they work?
A small fee of £2, enables me to be involved with the Green Salon Collective to make a difference together. By doing this you are supporting me as a sustainable ethical hairdresser. All the profits go to charity. So by choosing to have your hair done by me, you’re not only going to love your hair. You will be doing your bit for the planet.
Please share this blog with anyone you know that gets there hair done. I hope you enjoying reading.
Further reading
https://papernotfoil.co.uk
https://www.natulique.com
https://marianila.com/uk
MeetthefiveRs’ article, Green Salon Collective: Circular disposal solutions for salon waste
Electrek’s article, How Mauritians are using human hair to try to curb the giant oil spill
Matter of Trust’s, Clean Wave Program
Science Alert’s article, Could Human Hair Be Used to Clean Up Oil Spills?
Science Daily’s article, NASA Tests Hair-Raising Technique To Clean Up Oil Spills