Benefits of a Vegan Hair Care Routine
At Pharmacopia, all our products are vegan and cruelty free. Not only are we all animal lovers here at Pharmacopia, but we also believe that plant-based ingredients and products are better for animals, your health—and the planet, too. These all-natural, vegan ingredients are not only found in our bestselling Pharmacopia Shampoos and Conditioners, but also in all of our products: Body Wash, Body Bars, Body Lotions, and Lip Elixir.
In fact, we know that there’s no need for animal-derived ingredients to cleanse, hydrate, and nourish hair strands. There are plenty of effective plant-based ingredients, as found in our Verbena, Citrus, and Argan Oil Shampoos and Conditioners. These plant-based ingredients get the results that you want—healthy, shiny, silky, hydrated hair—without any potential side effects. And these natural ingredients help to nourish the skin on the scalp, too.
What is vegan haircare?
Product labels communicate a lot, and that is why it’s important to always read the labels on products you use. Know that the word “vegan” gets used a lot but doesn’t always mean exactly the same thing to everyone. Sometimes, it’s hard to imagine that animal ingredients are even used in hair care products. But here’s a look at common animal-derived ingredients used in many hair care products today—except, of course, for vegan products like Pharmacopia’s better-for-you Shampoos and Conditioners.
Beeswax: Since this ingredient is taken from bees, vegan products like ours don’t use it.
Collagen: Most collagen is sourced from animals though some non-animal derived collagen is being developed to come from yeast and bacteria. Stay tuned for more research in this area.
Gelatin: This common hair care ingredient comes from cows or pigs. This is also on our never-to-be-used list at Pharmacopia!
Honey: Even though bees aren’t killed, vegan shampoos and conditioners like ours at Pharmacopia don’t believe in taking animal products like honey that benefit the bees.
Lanolin: This common ingredient comes from sheep—and is avoided in vegan haircare products like ours.
Stearic acid: We use plant-derived stearic acid in our body lotions, but many products source this skin-softening ingredient from animals.
Squalene: Squalene with an “e” is derived from shark liver oil. There is a vegetable-derived version called squalane with an “a” that is a great emollient. This better type of plant-based squalane, typically derived from rice bran and olive oil, is used in our hydrating Pharmacopia Body Lotions.
The Benefits of a Vegan Hair Care Routine
There are many benefits of incorporating a vegan hair care routine into your daily self-care regimen. These include:
1. Vegan hair care products don’t use any animal-derived ingredients. But know that vegan doesn’t always mean cruelty free. Vegan products don’t contain animal ingredients. Unless a product says “cruelty free,” it may be tested on animals. A product should state clearly on a label that the product is both vegan and cruelty-free.
All Pharmacopia products have been vegan and cruelty free from our beginning in 1999. That’s why “Cruelty-Free and Vegan” is written right on the front of all our product labels. We’re proud to have earned the Beauty without Bunnies seal from PETA for over 20 years.
2. Vegan hair care products are usually better for the environment. Many vegan hair care products like our own Pharmacopia Shampoos and Conditioners are often produced in a more sustainable, planet-friendly way. Our haircare is not only biodegradable, but our hair care packaging is made from 100% post-consumer recycled bottles, diverting over 150 tons of plastic from entering the landfills each year.
3. Vegan hair care products can help soothe the scalp. Our plant-based ingredients, by their very nature, aren’t harsh and therefore tend to help soothe scalp irritation. Some ingredients, in particular, are noteworthy:
- Aloe vera is a rich source of many hair- and scalp-nourishing ingredients including vitamins A, C, and E, along with minerals like zinc, fatty acids, and amino acids. These amino acids are the building blocks of protein, and it’s protein—or keratin—that makes up the hair shaft, the part of hair that you see. Aloe helps reduce scalp irritation and makes hair shiny.
- Chamomile contains a high concentration of flavonoids or antioxidants and terpenoids—powerful anti-inflammatory compounds. When used in plant-based hair care products, chamomile helps to soothe the scalp.
- Olive leaf extract is high in a compound called oleuropein, an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant that helps to reduce redness and irritation on the scalp. Some studies have also found this plant-based compound to be antibacterial and antifungal.
- Shea butter is high in nutrients like vitamins A and E, along with fatty acids, making it an effective natural moisturizer for both hair and the scalp. Because of its fatty nature, shea butter acts as a sealant, keeping moisture in the hair strands and helping to reduce dryness and split ends. And because it’s chock-full of antioxidants, it’s also good for the scalp, too. These antioxidants help reduce inflammation, which may help relieve conditions like dandruff.
- Argan oil, found in our Argan Oil Shampoo and Conditioner. This oil is high in fatty acids like oleic acid and linoleic acid. These fatty acids help to hydrate and strengthen hair strands—leaving hair smooth, glossy, and shiny (i.e., healthy and healthy looking!).
- Coconut oil is rich in a fatty acid called lauric acid. It’s quickly absorbed into the hair shaft without feeling greasy, keeping locks soft and shiny. It nourishes the hair, helping to prevent protein loss from hair strands—and prevents frizz, too.
- Jojoba oil resembles the natural oils produced by the scalp, helping it to be absorbed easily—without a greasy feeling. It’s also rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamins B and E that help support healthy hair.
5. Using vegan hair care products can help make a difference. When it comes to making an impact on the world around us, it’s the baby steps we take every day that count. Using vegan hair care products is one important step.
One thing we know for sure at Pharmacopia: Vegan, cruelty-free hair care products offer an effective alternative to traditional hair care products. Plus, as with all our Pharmacopia better-for-you products, these products are better for your health and the environment, too.
