Clean, green beauty is booming, particularly in the realm of hair care. We pay attention to what we eat and to what we’re slathering on our faces so it makes sense that we now also notice what’s in our shampoo. Traditional hair care products can contain harsh chemicals that can not only have harmful effects on your hair (or rather on your scalp which is apparently almost four times more absorbent than the skin on your arms) but also on the environment.
Conventional chemically derived hair care products can harm the environment in a host of ways. Ingredients including sulfates and parabens, when washed down the drain, pollute waterways negatively affecting fish and other marine life. The manufacturing process also contributes to air pollution while many of the chemicals are derived from non-renewable resources.
And let’s not forget about all that plastic packaging. Shampoo and conditioner bottles, when not recycled, just end up in landfills or floating in the ocean. Overall, traditional hair care is not great for the environment, so it’s worth considering more eco-friendly options.
Luckily, these days it’s much easier to find really good natural hair care products and services to rival their conventional counterparts. We’ve sourced the best naturally derived shampoos in Dubai and also the salons that offer a more natural approach, those which perform perfectly while also prioritising non-toxic ingredients to guarantee beautiful healthy hair.
The hair care products……
LUSH
From liquid shampoo to shampoo bars, conditioners, treatments, styling products, afro hair care, vegan products and even hair dye – LUSH is our frequent go-to for healthy hair products for the whole family. We love the solid shampoo bars, a great alternative to liquid shampoos which take more energy and water to create. Plastic free and self-preserving, you can even buy an eco-friendly tin to keep it in for traveling. Try the Seanik Shampoo Bar with Irish moss, seaweed, lemon and salt – simply gorgeous.
OSERTH
Combining ‘O’ from ocean ‘S’ from Sky and ‘erth’ from Earth, OSERTH is a luxury sustainable haircare brand from Sweden which not only promises beautiful tresses but also environmental responsibility. Each product is free from any animal-derived ingredients, contains no nasty sulfates or parabens and is housed in 100 per cent recyclable sugar cane bioplastic packaging fuelled by renewable solar energy. And if that isn’t good enough, each also smells completely divine. Try the OSERTH Restore Range – formulated with a protein complex derived from kale, carrot and lemon together with bamboo and shea butter for shine and softness (perfect for us beach-going desert-dwellers).
RUH Natural
Originally from Argentina, RUH products are made in an artisanal way, minimising chemicals and environmental pollution. Their sophisticated and extensive line of natural shampoo bars and cosmetics are powered by ingredients that are good for your hair and for the planet. Each nutrient-packed bar replaces 2 plastic bottles, providing up to 50+ washes. From curly to colour-treated, there’s a bar for everyone – plus each comes packaged in a 100 per cent compostable, recyclable and biodegradable cardboard box with water-based in. Hooray!
Rahua
The Rahua brand is committed to sustainability and the preservation of the Amazon rain forest and its indigenous people. The brands founders are dedicated to creating luxurious beauty products with clean ingredients and work alongside Amazonian indigenous natives to produce legal tools for full protection of 150,000 acres of primary rainforest. 10 per cent of proceeds from the Rahua Enchanted Island Collection allows Rahua to protect miles of Galapagos coastal areas, working with locals to clean the coastline and beaches of thousands of plastic bottles.
The brand’s non-toxic, clean formulas prevent pollution of waterways and the product packaging is recyclable, reusable and many are also refillable. While we covet ALL of Rahua’s range, it’s the Voluminous Dry Shampoo that’s grabbed our attention – crafted with plant-based ingredients and packaged in an environmentally friendly non-aerosol dispenser, for those days in-between washes!
Lavera
Pop into your local Aster Pharmacy and you’ll be able to pick up the Lavera hair care range which is not only lovely to use but also created in the most sustainable and holistic way. From the way that Lavera derives its raw materials (sourcing high-quality organic and local wherever possible) to doing everything to reduce energy consumption (Lavera purchases 100 per cent green electricity and generates 20 per cent themselves), the company proactively supports animal rights with the majority of products being vegan, earning it a place on the PETA positive list, is fully climate-neutral and supports some incredible climate projects across the globe.
Sound good? We think so! Try the ‘Sensitive’ shampoo with organic aloe vera and quinoa and you’ll be hooked.
Naobay
Naobay (that’s ‘Natural And Organic Beauty And You) is a family-owned Spanish brand created when its founders grew tired of misleading labels and unclear ecological messaging and decided to take action while also showing that natural and eco-friendly is not incompatible with beauty and health. Committed to transparency, you’ll find a list of ingredients (most of which are naturally derived with a high percentage of organic too) on every product and their Valencia based production cycle is as simple as possible to have the least environmental impact. Also available at Aster Pharmacy (great products that don’t cost the earth – literally!).
The hair care salons…
Aveda
Aveda’s mission is to care for the world – whether through their products or the ways in which they give back to society. In keeping with Ayurvedic principles and a concern for the earth, Aveda is committed to using organic ingredients. Whether at they’re gorgeous UAE flagship salon in Dubai’s Galleria Mall or their smaller but equally gorgeous setups in Bloomingdales and Harvey Nichols, book in for treatments, hair cuts or even hair colour services that give back to your hair with a signature blend of protective plant oils including certified organic sunflower, castor, jojoba, coconut and babassu.
Cruelty-free and at least 92 per cent naturally derived, all products are manufactured with 100 per cent wind power through renewable energy credits and carbon offsets so you can feel as good about what the stylists are using on your hair as you do with your newly styled locks.
Boho Salon
Boho Salon was established to ‘bridge the gap between high quality hair | beauty services and sustainability.’ Its warehouse Arjan salon interiors (think high ceilings, bright and earthy tones, foliage and the cutest boho accents) are not only Insta-worthy but also the perfect setting for a hair service with heart. Boho proudly carries brands such as Davines, that prioritise high-quality ingredients, embracing a vegan and cruelty-free approach while adhering to sustainable and ethical production and packaging practices. They are curl experts too, so if you need to tame your mane, look no further than this stylish spot.
Upping the eco game, the Boho team also offer highlighting services with biodegradable paper foils instead of the traditional aluminium that use 96 per cent less energy to produce than aluminium. The fabulous salon team – at both branches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi – are as dedicated to making you look and feel good as they are to minimising their environmental impact. We highly recommend!
The Den Salon
Founder Jaja wanted to create a salon that was welcoming and chic – and so The Den Salon was born! With chilled vibes and a bohemian feel with good music, drinks and friendly staff – coming here is a little like hanging out at a friend’s house. We love the vibes and we love the Italian sustainable haircare brand Davines range of products and in-salon treatments at The Den. Called Natural Tech Tailoring, these can be adapted for any hair challenge and have been crafted to combine a science-backed serum base and a botanical booster, both derived from sustainably sourced Italian plant extracts.
There are two treatment options: an express five-minute Herbal Hair Infusion Fast Treatment and a comprehensive 30-minute Hair Herbal and Scalp Ritualistic Treatment which promise to transform even the most unruly hair! And you can stock up on Davines products to take home too.
