Blog » Cruelty Free
-
A Guide to Cruelty Free Hair Color
Animals are for loving, not testing on! Wondering if your fave hair color is cruelty free? Check below to see which brands are committed to protecting animals.
THE GOOD: CRUELTY FREE LINES
Cruelty free professional dye
• Paul Mitchell
• Kevin Murphy
• Aveda*
• Rusk
• Kenra
• Arctic Fox
• Pravana
• Manic Panic (available at Sally Beauty)
• Ion Color Brilliance (available at Sally Beauty)
Cruelty free at home box dye
• Herbatint
• Naturtint
• Tints of Nature
Cruelty free henna
• Lush
• Rainbow Research
• Light Mountain Hair Color
* = Indicates that this brand's parent company is not cruelty free.
CRUELTY FREE BRAND SPOTLIGHTOur personal fave for vivid brights, Arctic Fox, was founded in 2014 by Kristen Leanne, a model and serious animal lover. So serious, in fact, that not only is her line 100% vegan and cruelty free, but 15% of sales are donated to prevent animal abuse and help animals in need!
Arctic Fox Hair Color: 15% of sales are donated to prevent animal abuse.
WHAT ABOUT OLAPLEX?The best insurance for any hair color treatment is Olaplex. It's a bond multiplier that can be mixed with your dye to repair and protect the hair while it's being processed. We're so excited about this product and equally stoked to announce that it's 100% vegan and cruelty free!
Olaplex Salon Kit
THE BAD: LINES THAT STILL TEST ON ANIMALS
Drug store brands that test on animals
• L'Oreal (Preference, Feria, Excellence, Healthy Look)
• Garnier (Nutrisse, HerbaShine)
• Clairol (Nice'n Easy, Natural Instincts, Age Defy, Perfect 10)
• Revlon (ColorSilk)
Professional lines that test on animals
• Schwarzkopf (Brilliance, Color Ultime, Live, Palette)
• L'Oreal Professionnel
• Sebastian Professional
• Wella
• Redken
• Joico
• Vidal Sassoon
• John Frieda
• Clairol Professional
• Matrix
• Goldwell
Wanna let them know this isn't cool? Contact these companies by clicking on the handy links above and urge them to discontinue animal testing. Feel good in the knowing that you're taking a crucial step towards ending needless cruelty towards our furry friends.
Have more brands to add to the list? Leave them in the comments below!
WANT MORE INFO?Navigating the world of cruelty free living may seem a little overwhelming at first, but don't worry - we're here to hold your hand! For further information about all things cruelty free (not just hair dye!), check out the Leaping Bunny guide. Leaping Bunny certification by Cruelty Free International is the gold standard for companies that demonstrate full transparency in their practices, ingredients, and suppliers. And here's where it gets a tad bit confusing - not all cruelty free brands are Leaping Bunny approved. (Cruelty Free International leaves it up to the brands themselves to apply and pay for the Leaping Bunny certification.) For a more comprehensive list of companies and products, check out PETA's Beauty Without Bunnies search function and their new iOS app, Bunny Free. And feel free to leave any questions you may have in the comments section below!
A FINAL NOTE ABOUT ANIMAL TESTINGLife is about progress, not perfection. We're not suggesting that anyone throw out every product they own that was made by a company that isn't cruelty free. But together we can make a difference - by making conscious decisions about how we spend our money, starting right now. ♥
-
A Personal Edition: My Transformation & Discovering Hairstory Studio
Hair is such a fleeting piece of our DNA. It grows old with us; depending on how healthy we live, our hair directly reflects that. By our bodily nutrition to topical treatments that go into our scalp, it is so important to educate yourself on beauty and health as one. My hair has gone through a myriad of stylistic changes in the past few years. With change comes more knowledge of the good, bad, and ugly of products and our hair’s relationship with the elements.
Photo by: Sacha Columbia
Here’s a little about my hair transformation and my first time using Hairstory Studio products.
I’ve had long hair, mop tops, bobs and everything in between, except a close shaved fade. During my early twenties, I always admired Edie Sedgwick’s character and bold personality. I loved her rebellious nature that allowed her to freely chop her long brown hair on The Factory alley staircase. With a little encouragement, I finally took the leap.
I have been through all different kinds of drug store shampoos and conditioners that were too gunky even for my thick hair. Later on in life, I was considering making my Twiggy/Edie hair dream a reality… but I knew my hair would need reinforcements.
The process is long and expensive. Transforming my hair from deep espresso brown to platinum blonde took a few sessions and in between I rocked a lavender color. Now that I have achieved the look, nurturing what little locks I have is my goal.
One key fact of healthy hair: Wash it less. That’s easy for me, since there is so little of it. Yet with continuous retouching, my hair slowly was losing its softer feeling and becoming dry and wispy. Especially from relocating from temperate Seattle to the Las Vegas desert. I need serious hair restoration if I continue the blonde lifestyle, so…
Enter Hairstory Studio...
Hairstory isn’t just another static product. Their a conceptual lifestyle combining consumers, storytellers and stylists. Creator of Bumble & Bumble, Michael Gordon’s new mission with Hairstory is to embrace less is more.
In the beauty world, cosmetology is often lost in salon brands with over saturated product lines and unrealistic standards of service. Hairstory is letting “the girl next door” types, into their world to narrate their hair potential as a personal metamorphosis.
Photo courtesy of Hairstory Studio
The science behind their products is simple. It allows hair to just be, without too much force. That’s every girl’s end goal, right? Effortless style. With just four products, Hairstory allows the beauty routine to be streamlined. When I used New Wash, and especially Hair Balm for the first time, I could feel a change in look and texture.
New Wash contains only essential oils; enough vitamins to wash, but not too much. It is detergent free, a beauty game changer as shampoos go. There is no need for conditioner, because the New Wash concept is to give back, not strip hair. It feels like a hair moisturizer upon touch and goes on hair just like one. It’s not soapy or over scented, just hints faintly of spearmint. It’s a nutritiously dense wash; just like the “less is more” motto, a little goes a long way.
Photo by: Sacha Columbia
When I’m not in a hurry for work, I like to take my mornings slowly. Maybe throw on a facial mask for a half hour while my hair dries. On such a morning, the Hair Balm is a perfect leave in moisturizer. For Hair Balm to work its magic, let hair air dry and continue to style if that’s your routine. As I fore mentioned, my hair is dyed platinum blonde, which is severely strenuous for hair follicles. When I used Hair Balm, I noticed a significant difference in the overall brightness and softer texture. My hair no longer feels fried! Hair Balm penetrates the color to pull out fading blonde sheens, without depositing any color, like purple shampoos tend to do.
A final touch of spritz to add texture and body is a perfect finishing touch to style. Hairstory Studio’s Undressed is a light mist that adds volume to even the finest hair. My locks are on the thicker side, so one spritz throughout my pixie is just enough to tousle through. What Undressed does is provide minimal styling effort and lets the hair style on its own. It’s lighter than surf spray and more refreshing like a moisturizer.
Photo by: Sacha Columbia
Since using Hairstory and following along with their series of Editions or stories, I’ve thought deeply about my own hair journey. My transformation from thick brown bangs was like pulling the curtains away from my face. I embraced the mod, gamine girl that I longed to be. I continue to learn more eco-friendly routes to reach blonde tones and educate myself on healthy restoration. Do not be swayed again by the drugstore or even salon marketing, do your own research. Don’t buy another “shampoo” again! Say no to detergent, hello to the New Wash. If Hairstory isn’t in your shower, I suggest you pay them a visit.
Stylists: Learn how you can join forces with Hairstory Studio.
Restore your hair with New Wash, Hair Balm and Undressed.
Hailey Way is a blogger, digital strategist, model, and dancer. Peep her personal blog here, or follow her on your fave social media channels.