We talk about going green all the time. We make sure we are not energy hogs at home. We have switched out our regular incandescent bulbs for compact florescence. We make sure to buy Energy Star appliances and electronics. We have switched out our old fashioned bulb televisions that produced a lot of wasted heat and energy for more energy efficient LCD displays. Our cell phones even are green in a way. We have green cars. We have green homes. We even have green communities. Now, we have green hair! Yes, you read right: Green Hair! Let’s take a look at alternative cleansers that are “green” and see if they can save you a little green as well.

One of the main concerns in the types of products we use has to do with what chemicals are present not only in the product we choose to use to cleanse our hair, but the packaging it comes in. We have to remember that not only do these chemicals get into our bodies when we use them, but they also leech into the water supply from the rinsing process and the biodegrading of the packaging that leeches into the groundwater supply. Chemicals that make our “whoa” alarm go off include the following: phthalates, bisphenol A, and triclosan, which are found in our shampoos, conditioners, hand soaps, dish detergents and plastic bottles.

Everything from laundry detergent to shampoo and cosmetics are being switched out and replaced with green alternatives. Every person’s experience with these new green products has been positive, but with any kind of change, there's a lot of trial and error. Let’s examine some different types of alternatives.

Traditionally, hair shampoos use synthetic cleansers – specifically, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Both are common sulfates, and when used as a main detergent in the cosmetics industry (because they are cheaper than most detergents), we can see a clear effect on the scalp. SLS can irritate and dry the skin, hair and scalp, and lead to episodes of dandruff or a dry flaky scalp. Sulfate free shampoos are starting to appear on the common salon shelf, but in the past had to be obtained from “green” companies or their retailers. Mainstream companies like Tigi, BedHead, CHI, and Redken are now offering sulfate-free shampoos as an alternative to their main line of shampoos which do contain SLS products. These products are of course more expensive because they are “green” and their ingredients are not as cheap, but the real winner is your scalp and hair. There are non-mainstream companies offering SLS-free shampoos such as Max Green Alchemy, Whole Body 365, Avalon Organics, and Nature’s Gate.

Another alternative instead of traditional shampoos or SLS-free shampoos is a shampoo bar. A shampoo bar is simply a shampoo in a solid state like a bar of soap. However, there are environmentally friendly forms of this bar and can be made with so many different oils and natural extracts. They can use different plant particles that will act as emollients that scrub the hair and scalp. They can use different essential oils to treat split ends, dry scalp, irritation, and other conditions. Each bar lasts about one month and can even be made at home using recipes offered online.

Lastly, you can use many different natural ingredients as a hair cleanser. Many different plants, extracts, and oils can be used to cleanse the hair. Common alternatives include: Eggs, Beer, Mayonnaise, Calendula, Aloe Vera, Soap Wart, and Baking Soda. Each alternative is used in its own unique way allowing it to be used as a cleansing agent for hair.

If you’d like to go green, there are many different ways you can do it for your hair cleansing needs. You need to remember not every solution will work for you and is dependent on your experimentation to find the solution that will work for you. In the end, you may find a solution that makes your hair look gorgeous and is less inexpensive than your traditional shampoo.