The beauty industry has poor environmental practices with few regulations. According to Zero Waste, 120 billion units of packaging are produced every year by the global cosmetics industry, much of which is not recyclable. As our cover model shows, one does not have to sacrifice their beauty to cut down their impact on the environment.

With Earth Day coming up (April 22nd), we’ve gathered a list of eco-friendly hair products and tips from the plastic packaging of our products, to the ingredients in the products we use.

We’ve pulled together eight easy ways to make our hair routine more eco-friendly and reduce our impact on the planet.

1. Look for sustainable and responsibly sourced ingredients

One of the quickest ways you can become more eco-friendly with your hair routine is by investing in more products that are organic and made with sustainable ingredients. Research brands that are dedicated to making their products with ingredients that are ethically sourced from sustainable farmers so that they won’t negatively impact the ecosystem.

Our lovely cover model Daniela (@danichirinos) prefers LUS Brands, a cruelty-free, vegan, WOC-owned brand based in Toronto that makes products for all types of curly hair. Daniela told us, “Their All-in-One product literally changed my hair and has made me fall in love with my natural hair texture. Recently I tried the 3 step program (shampoo, conditioner, and the all-in-one), and OHHH MY GOD. Day and night! Literally amazing.”

2. Opt for vegan products

Most brands and products will advertise that they are cruelty-free or vegan on their packaging, but it’s always a good idea to double-check on their websites and social media. Also, try to avoid these common animal-derived ingredients:

• Beeswax - normally used in balms and is also known as Cera Alba (Latin name).

• Carmine - a red-colored dye created by crushing beetles to obtain the chemical that makes the beetle red.

• Lanolin - derived from the sebum of sheep.

• Shellac - derived from bugs.

• Honey - bees produce this sweet liquid using nectar from flowers.

3. Choose planet-friendly packaging

Daniella said that Aveda products are another favorite of hers. “When I don’t use LUS, Aveda is my go-to. I’ve been using them for years and years and love their products. Also vegan and cruelty-free! I’m most in love with their newest line, Botanical Repair. It’s amazing!!!”

4. Use shampoo bars

Environmentally and travel-friendly solid shampoo bars work just like their bottled counterparts, cleansing, and nourishing hair, without the need for excess plastic. Their compact size also makes them an absolute game-changer when traveling or going to festivals, saving you from having to lug big bottles around with you.

5. Shampoo less

Reconsider washing your hair every day  as you can end up using a lot of water in the process. Start with skipping one day this week, two next week and so on until you’re only shampooing a couple of times per week. If you want to keep your hair fresh between washes just use a dry shampoo which will refresh your mane without a drop of water.

6. Speed up your hair washing

On the topic of lathering up, if 50 people rinsed their conditioner out 10 seconds faster, we would save 9000 liters of water! By using less water, we can all do our part in helping to preserve our environment and saving energy. Alternatively, you could use a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner meaning you’ll only be rinsing once.

7. Upcycle your empties

Want to save the planet in a creative way? Instead of throwing your finished shampoo or conditioner plastic bottles away, try upcycling. Find innovative ways to upcycle your pre-loved empties by turning them into a makeup brush holder or a quirky plant pot.

8. Make your own hair products

In our poll, 75% of people said they’d never tried using natural ingredients on their hair. You may be surprised to realize how many products you have in your pantry that you can use on your hair including, honey, banana, coconut oil, and aloe vera! Research DIY hair care recipes and get creative at home.

For more hair care inspiration and advice visit All Things Hair.