Today, more and more hair care ranges and products are advertising themselves as “vegan”. Not the same as organic, this label is increasingly sought after and popular, but what exactly are vegan products? What advantages does using them offer? And what is the difference between vegan products and conventional or organic products? Here’s what you need to know!
What is vegan?
While the term “vegetarian” applies only to diet, “vegan” evokes a real lifestyle choice and philosophy. Veganism involves not eating animal products (meat, fish, milk, eggs, etc.) but also avoiding any products made using animals (leather clothing, fur, products tested on animals, etc.).
Everything you need to know about vegan hair care products
We can often forget that conventional cosmetic products, as well as being full of sulphates, quats and silicons, can also contain ingredients from animals. If you want to make a change and start using more responsible and above all more animal-friendly products, vegan ranges are THE solution for you.
As you’ll have understood, vegan beauty products use natural, plant-based ingredients and are of course “cruelty free” (meaning they do not contain any product or ingredient tested on animals). Much more than just a fad, vegan shampoos and hair care products are an increasingly popular choice. This is because they are just as effective as traditional products while also being better for the environment, animals and your hair!
The use of ingredients of animal origin in shampoos
Conventional beauty products (for hair or other uses) contain a number of ingredients of more than questionable origin. The reason being that these are often the cheapest option. This means that there could well be ingredients of animal origin in your shampoo, conditioner or hair mask. There are two types of ingredients: those extracted from the body of animals, which involve killing the animal, and those produced by animals, which encourages animal exploitation.
Among them, you might find (non-exhaustive list):
- Eggs, which are found in a lot of shampoos.
- Honey and other hive products, used for their moisturizing and anti-bacterial properties.
- Milk and its derivatives for its moisturizing effects.
- Allantoin or snail slime, used for its restorative properties.
- Chitosan/chitin/chondroitin, extracted from the shell of crustaceans and used as a hair fixer in gels and lacquers.
- Keratin, widely used in hair products and derived from the horns and beaks of animals, among other things.
- Glycerin, bovine or porcine grease, known for its moisturizing properties.
- Squalane, derived from the liver of sharks, and mainly used in conditioners and hair care products.
- Lanolin, obtained from sheep’s wool and used to make hair care products.
- Silk, which is used in hair colours and other hair products and made by boiling silk worms in their cocoons.
There is no doubt that there you have many excellent reasons to switch to vegan hair care products, which are made entirely from natural and plant-based ingredients.
Watch out for labels!
First, it is important to understand that the organic label doesn’t mean vegan and vice versa.
The term “organic” denotes a product or food from organic farming, produced in an environmentally-respectful way. As we have already see, “vegan” refers to products manufactured without the use of ingredients of animal origin.
So what about the “Cruelty Free” label? This means that the product is not tested on animals. But be careful, that doesn’t necessarily mean it is vegan!
European regulations introduced in 2004 and 2013 prohibit the testing of finished products or ingredients on animals. While this type of testing has been banned in Europe for years, and in China since 2021, the “Vegan Society” label goes further and guarantees animal well-being as a whole. This means an agricultural culture that respects biodiversity, respects the earth, campaigns against deforestation, doesn’t use trained captive monkeys to harvest coconuts, for example…This is why it is important to choose vegan certified products and not just brands that claim to be vegan without the certification. This label guarantees that no animal has been involved in the manufacture of the product.
As part of its eco-responsible approach, ELENATURE hair products, which are specially produced to take care of you, your hair and the environment, are vegan and 100% made in France! Our shampoos are sulphate, paraben and silicone free and designed using an innovative, totally clean formula, which is great for your hair and for the planet.
