Living plastic-free: Shampoo
They call me the Queen of Denial. Because this year is all about giving up some of my favourite things in the quest to live plastic-free for 2007. It’s like a lent-induced abstinence - for 365 days. Case in point - my favourite shampoo/conditioner of all time is Freeman Botanicals. I’m a long-time die-hard fan. I’ve even lived through three total product rebrands and one episode where it magically disappeared Jimmy-Hoffa style from the shelves for over a year. So now, when I find it, I buy it in bulk. That is, until Jan 2007, when I swore off buying anything packaged in or containing plastic.
I now live in Freeman-Denial.
Because, Freeman Botanicals, like ALL the other shampoos and conditioners in the haircare aisle comes packaged in plastic. Sad, but true – shampoo+plastic=unholy union.
Fortunately way back in December 2006, when this no-new-plastic pledge was just a simmering thought in my higher enviro-brain, I realized I’d no longer be showering with my Freeman friend – so a non-plastic shampoo replacement was one of the first things I hunted for way back in January.
I found a non-plastic variety at LUSH, wrapped lovingly in wax-paper. LUSHGirl told me they didn’t have a conditioner though, but the particular Trichomania I picked had conditioner mixed right in. It’s steep at $11 bucks a chunk (I could buy a whole year’s supply of Freeman for that price) and from what I can tell it will probably only last a month or two. Fortunately it has performed much better than LUSH’s deodorant (which was lousy with a capital L).
On the plus-side LUSH’s shampoo produces a nice lather and leaves my hair clean.
On the minus side – towel-dried hair is like a tangled mess of straw which abandons ship when I comb it out - even with a hair pic. I may be bald by 2008. Another minus - it leaves my hair quite ‘fly-away’…and we’re not talking in a sexy kinda a way either.
Fortunately, when I dropped by the LUSH booth at the EPIC Sustainable Living Expo this weekend, I asked if they had a non-plastic conditioner (sometimes you know, it pays to ‘Ask again’) I struck LUSH gold once again. Because LUSHGirl#2 introduced me to their Jungle Hair Conditioner. I haven’t tried it yet, but if it works as well as the shampoo, I’ll be a happy, plastic-free camper. Added bonus – it’s also entirely cruelty-free.
Gotta love the LUSH.
So here’s how things add up:
- Category: Shampoo
- SAINT: LUSH Trichomania Shampoo bar
- Convenience: 8/10
- Price: Expensive. But mom-nature is worth it
- Quality: Not as good as Freeman, but surprisingly, not bad…not bad at all
- SINNER: Too numerous to mention….let’s just say ALL the shampoos and conditioners in the haircare aisle.
Lessons learned:
- Don’t take NO for an answer. They say ‘Ask and ye shall receive’ but if the first time you ask and you don’t receive…ask again.
- Eco-friendly goes hand in hand with eco-expensive. But at least in 50 years when we are all hunkering down in our eco-bunkers to get out of the tornadoes and floods, and soaring heat you can say ‘hey, it wasn’t me…’
Comments
I too was inspired by you
I too was inspired by you and marched down to Lush and bought the deodorant. I opted for the creme one (which I bought the metal container for) and I love it. Absolutely adore it.
thank you.
I use the crystals for
I use the crystals for deoderant. Sometimes you can find them "raw", with no packaging, at a health-food store.
Great blog - it's easy to talk about what we should all do to lessen our imprint on the earth, but you are actually doing it.
Spread the word.
Vinegar makes a nice hair
Vinegar makes a nice hair rinse and it can be found in glass bottles. Just dilute a tablespoon or two in a cup or two of warm water and pour through your hair. Not eco-expensive, either. (But be careful of the glass in your shower.)
I have a LUSH in short
I have a LUSH in short biking distance from me, but've never gone in! I'll definitely check it out next week. Will do some research on the safety of the products first though -- Do you know about EWG.org's Safe Cosmetics project?
Hey Green LA girl. No need
Hey Green LA girl.
No need to do some research first on LUSH's ingredients first before dropping in. They carry catalogue/magazines, which showcase all their products, and list all the ingredients. Very cool. Very transparent of them.
Thanks for the link to EWG.org. I'll check it out. I've got the extra challenge with cosmetics in that I live cruelty-free. So the more info I get, the better.
Plastic free. Cruelty Free. Vegetarian. Chocoholic
Hiya EnviroWoman! Great
Hiya EnviroWoman!
Great blog. I'm so happy to hear about your efforts. Keep up the very good work!
I'm also a longtime fan of LUSH, and am glad they've made a convert of you. My only complaint (and it's a relatively minor one) is that they tend to discontinue products. However, sometimes, they bring them back due to customer demand.
Regarding plastic free refills, my health food store invites shoppers to use their own containers (glass, etc.) to refill with Nature's Gate conditioners/shampoos, soaps from Dr. Bronners, etc. Nature's Gate also offers organic stuff too, so if you want to try something new, you might consider that option as well.
Also, not sure if anyone's approached the subject of feminine needs, but Lunapads.com is a plastic-free alternative to that monthly conundrum regarding plastic/throwaway things.
Anyway, I'm really glad I dropped by. I'm adding your blog to my Google reader.
Best,
Deb
Hiya Deb You got me all
Hiya Deb
You got me all excited when you said your local health food store let you refill your own containers with soaps and shampoos...I thought maybe I had found a good lead for a local Vancouver source....and then I discovered you lived in New Jersey.
Poop. And here I thought we west-coasters were so environmentally progressive. That shoots that theory right outta the Pacific Ocean.
Does anyone in the Lower Mainland know of a place I can get refillables for dish washing detergent and shampoos!
And Debbie in Iowa, thanks for the tip about vinegar. I'm going to have to try that if my Lush conditioner doesn't work out. That vinegar, its good for a 1,001 uses, isn't it?
Plastic free. Cruelty Free. Vegetarian. Chocoholic
have you tried a little
have you tried a little olive oil or almond oil as conditioner? Just a bit and comb it through your hair. I leave mine in, but my hair is curly-helps the flyaways a lot!
Add comment
Send message to EnviroWoman
Want to communicate privately with this user? Send them an email now via the changeverything.ca system.
Hi EnviroWoman, I have been
Hi EnviroWoman,
I have been following your posts avidly. When you first posted about LUSH, I tried their deodorant and liked it and then went to their soft-water shampoo and jungle conditioner. Works great for me. My hair may not be as long as yours.
Let us know what you think.
Thanks,
Wm