As people become more health and eco-conscious, many have started to make changes to their diet and overall lifestyle to promote a healthier body and environment. Vegetarian and vegan diet and lifestyle choices have also risen in popularity. Generally speaking, a vegetarian is someone who does not eat meat. However, a vegetarian may still consume other animal products like dairy. A vegan diet consists of no animal-based products / ingredients and is mostly plant-based. Outside of food, there are also other vegan products one may wish to implement into their lifestyle. If you want your natural hair products to actually be natural, cruelty-free, and earth-friendly, you may be in search of the best vegan natural hair products. In this list, we have compiled ten of the best vegan natural hair products your curls, coils, or kinks, will love – some of which may be found right at home.
Here are our picks for the best vegan natural hair products:
Disclaimer: Caring for Natural Hair is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. However, all reviews, thoughts and recommendations are of our own.
1) SHEA BUTTER
Derived straight from the shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) or “karite tree” found in western Africa, shea butter is a popular and completely natural, vegan product that can be highly beneficial for your natural hair and skin. Butters seal moisture in your hair and can also help to smooth and prevent brittle, split ends. In addition, shea butter contains essential fatty acids along with vitamins A and E and other nutrients that can aid in improving the overall health of your hair. Use this choice of the best vegan natural hair products for twist-outs and braid-outs, or as a quick moisture sealant.
2) AFRICAN BLACK SOAP
You have probably heard of African black soap before. It is a widely used natural remedy for various skin / body care issues. African black soap can also be used as a natural shampoo alternative. It is composed of a mixture of shea butter, plantain bark, coconut oil, and other elements. In return, your hair strands receive a list of nutrients such as antioxidants. You can turn african black soap into a liquid form for your shampoo and add different oils to help with slip. There are different tutorials detailing the steps of doing so available online.
3) ALOE VERA GEL
The aloe vera plant provides multiple perks for your hair strands. You can additionally extract a gel directly from the leaves of the aloe plant. The aloe vera gel alleviates itchy scalp and other scalp issues (e.g. dandruff). Furthermore, aloe vera gel may also stimulate hair growth as it provides your strands with vitamins A, E, and C. Nonetheless, you can get aloe vera gel directly from the plant or you can buy commercial aloe vera gel that is already prepared. Add aloe vera gel to a DIY hair mask and reap the benefits.
4) ALOE VERA JUICE
In addition to aloe vera gel making our list for the best vegan natural hair products, you can also extract aloe vera juice from the plant and reap its hydrating benefits. Use aloe vera juice as a daily moisturizing mist and add softness and shine to your strands in the process. Moreover, aloe vera juice can aid in balancing your hair’s pH – another key to maintaining healthy hair.
5) ROSEWATER
Rosewater is just that – the liquid extracted from the petals of roses by way of steaming / distillation. This choice of the best vegan natural hair products is a natural yet mild astringent, hence its popularity in skin care. To add to this, rosewater has anti-inflammatory properties which makes it great for soothing an irritated or itchy scalp, including certain scalp issues like dandruff. Rosewater has a delightful scent and may act as a curl refresher as it helps with frizz and shine. Add rosewater to a DIY moisturizing / refreshing mist along with other hydrating ingredients like aloe vera juice to nourish your strands with.
6) OYIN HANDMADE HYDRATING HERBAL LEAVE-IN
Natural hair looking dry and dull? Refresh and revitalize your curls, coils, or kinks, with this collection of natural, vegan leave-in tonic sprays from OYIN Handmade. Currently, there are three different “flavors” and two different sizes to choose from. These tea-based tonic sprays infuse your strands with moisture and stimulate the scalp with ingredients like aloe vera and nettle. The OYIN Handmade brand also features multiple other vegan products.
7) OLIVE OIL
Oils are an important part to maintaining healthy natural hair. Textured hair types (kinky, coily, and curly hair) are prone to dryness as the natural oils produced by the scalp have more difficulty reaching the full length of the spiral strand. Olive oil is a good, versatile choice of the best vegan natural hair products as it can aid in the prevention of hair breakage. Olive oil promotes softness, shine, and may be used as a conditioning agent in your other hair products. It is also great for processed and excessively dry hair.
8) OBIA NATURALS BABASSU DEEP CONDITIONER
Deep conditioning should be apart of every natural’s hair care routine. Deep conditioners replenish your strands with an array of strengthening and nourishing ingredients like shea butter, natural oils, aloe vera juice, and more. The OBIA Naturals Babassu Deep Conditioner is vegan, pH balanced, and protein-free (great for low porosity naturals). It consists of Babassu oil that nourishes your strands and improves elasticity, along with vitamin B5 that strengthens your strands. The OBIA Naturals brand is also all vegan.
9) AZTEC SECRET INDIAN HEALING CLAY
Clay masks are suitable for both the skin and hair and provide numerous benefits. The Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay is a calcium bentonite clay mask that clarifies and detoxes. You can use it as a hair mask to remove dirt and impurities from your strands. To add, this mask works best when mixed with apple cider vinegar, which may help to balance the pH of your hair. Bentonite clay is also known for enhancing curl definition and softness, as well as lessening frizz.
10) LOVE BEAUTY AND PLANET ROSE SHAMPOO AND CONDITIONER
Looking for both a vegan shampoo and conditioner? You’re in luck. The Love Beauty and Planet rose shampoo and conditioner set has a vegan, silicone-free, and paraben-free formula that provides a gentle yet effective cleanse. Both the shampoo and conditioner bottles are made from recyclable materials and can both be recycled (except for the caps and pumps). In addition, the shampoo is safe for color-treated hair and the conditioner provides enough slip to aid in detangling. Treat your strands to a soft and smooth finish and a delightful rose petal scent with this choice of the best vegan natural hair products.
In conclusion…
When looking for natural hair products that work for your coily, kinky, or curly hair, it is important that you double-check the ingredients label. Many hair products that claim to encourage healthy hair actually contain ingredients that can do more harm than good in the long run (e.g. chemical preservatives). Vegan hair products are a good aim when looking for products that contain natural ingredients that are healthy for your hair and the environment. Natural butters, oils, and other extracts found in the best vegan natural hair products can provide your strands with an array of nutrients and encourage stronger strands.
Click here to see natural hair product ingredients that you should avoid:
Sources:
1 Cherney, Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez And Kristeen. “How Can Shea Butter Be Used on My Skin and Hair?” Healthline, 8 July 2051, www.healthline.com/health/shea-butter-for-hair.
2 Petre, Alina M. “Vegan vs Vegetarian – What’s The Difference?” Healthline, 2016, www.healthline.com/nutrition/vegan-vs-vegetarian.
3 Cherney, Kristeen. “African Black Soap Benefits: 13 Reasons Why It’s an Ultimate Beauty Buy.” Healthline, 9 July 2020, www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/african-black-soap-benefits.
With a few of the best vegan hair products in mind, we would like to know – do you follow a vegan diet? If not, would you ever consider transitioning to one? Share in the comments down below!
