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The media – fashion magazines, commercials, even TV shows and movies send a message that certain hair colours and types are more fashionable, or even more beautiful than others .They promote the idea that we should intervene with nature, and use a variety of chemicals and hair styling gadgets to achieve a desired look. When curls are in fashion, perms and curling paraphernalia are necessary – when straight hair is in, outcome the straighteners and straightening treatment. Of course in reality all types and colours of hair, with all their natural variations, are beautiful. Even grey hair can be look stunning. Hair that is taken care of looks healthy and beautiful, regardless of whether or not it conforms to fashion.
Hair will be healthier with reduced reliance on chemicals and heat for colour and styling which is the opposite to the message commonly portrayed. With regular trims or cuts, less hair washing, using natural, organic shampoos, oils coconut oil and essential oils including tee tree, lavender, aloe vera or henna, our hair can look great, more naturally. For example natural henna can help to produce stronger hair strands with less breakage, balance hair porosity, reduce or eliminate dandruff, smooth hair cuticles, thicken hair, and promote growth and less shedding due to antibacterial and anti fungal properties. Hair can be dried and styled more naturally rather than relying totally on hair dryers and hair sprays, and natural products are strong enough to tame even the wildest hair.
If you want to treat your hair at home with natural, organic ingredients, consider these excellent recipes:
Here are 12 apple cider vinegar hair benefits and treatment.
Some recommend no washing at all and allowing natural hair oils to take care of their hair called ‘no poo’ haircare, but that is another story. I am not that brave.
There are professionals in the hair and beauty industry who do care about the environment. They choose good commercial environmentally friendly, even organic, products and act responsibly to reduced their carbon footprint. Perhaps they use alternative energy, support local producers when choosing their products.
Question your local salon and encourage them to think about using these, or change your patronage to an establishment more in line with your green values. M Salon is one salon that offers the Devines line of products that are organic and natural – so natural they are good enough to eat! M Salon cares deeply about the environment and makes sure that all that they do reduces their carbon footprint.
My local hairdresser cares about the environment. She is a fan of the 60’s and her salon is furnished with retro second hand furniture throughout. I recently took her a bag of retro toys , children’s books and magazines to keep her client’s children occupied during their visits. She is keen to protect the environment and uses ecofriendly products, without harmful chemicals such as ammonia and is also looking into alternative energy. She uses bio degradable and disposable, towels when hair washing. It is estimated that one Eco Towel per client can save up to 50% on laundry bills using less energy, water and detergent polluting the earth. The ones she uses are made from recycled paper and bamboo. There are other options for hair salons, including many products and practices that can still allow a trip to the hair salon to continue the green values
During my first Montreal winter I noticed that my long, slightly damp curls that I hadn’t dried properly after a shower, would freeze and snap off. Whilst this was a novelty at first, it didn’t take me long to realise that my hair was not looking that great. I learned that at different times and seasons I had to adapt my hair care regime. During the summer or in a heated room, I didn’t need to dry my hair, but on some occasions I did. I also learned the hard way that a good cut makes all the difference…
A friendly Spanish speaking neighbour newly arrived to Canada offered to cut my hair. I explained to her in my newly learned French the style I was hoping to achieve. Either my French or her understanding of my French was not up to scratch. Maybe she couldn’t actually cut hair as it’s very thick and curly, but was trying to help me out anyway. The end result was that whilst both sides of my hair looked ok, they did not match. The hairstyle was ridiculously lopsided, and resulted in me tying my hair up for months until it had grown and could be rescued. That is the great thing about hair. It grows, it is alive. Some people shave off their hair to raise money for charity, or to be made into wigs for people suffering with hair loss. Either way, our hair is precious, to be taken care of, as is our planet. Let’s hope that whilst growing and caring for our hair, we are also taking care of our planet.
There are commercially produced environmentally friendly hair products, and an endless list of natural ingredients to use for home remedies. For more ideas see http://naturalbeautytips.co/category/hair-care/
Resources:
http://blackgirllonghair.com/2013/02/3-tools-that-promote-moisture-in-natural-hair/
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