Monday 18 August 2008

Green Hair

There have been discussions on a couple of blogs recently (on Green Girls Global and then follow the links there) about whether it is environmentally friendly to have long or short hair and the consensus in the posts (though admittedly not in the comments) seems to be that short hair is more environmentally friendly. Now I'm not saying short hair isn't environmentally friendly, but I definitely think that long hair can be just as environmentally friendly. Here's how I do it:

I wash it once a week with Yaoh shampoo and conditioner that contain no parabens or other nasty chemicals and are probably the most environmentally friendly hair products on the UK market (though sadly are packaged in plastic).

I let my hair dry naturally
I cut my own hair when it needs it
I have never used styling products, either chemical or electrical
I never visit the hairdresser so no-one else uses styling products on my hair

What do you think? is your hair green?

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

The last time my hair was green was at a Dead Kennedys gig in the mid eighties, Juliet. This is one of those occasions when I'm glad to going bald.

Anonymous said...

I wash mine every other day with products from Lush and Naked and whatever the eco baby stuff was that was on sale in Sainsburys a while ago! I dry it with a hairdryer but it's not the full blow-dry at all, I haven't got the time or patience for that! Never coloured my hair or anything either. It's currently shoulder length but I'm growing it for our wedding next year.

Janice Thomson said...

mine is long too - I don't ever use a hairdresser - I use shampoos and conditioners environmentally safe and free of animal products and I haven't used a hairdryer for years and years. I am very careful that no hair goes down the drain so I'm almost green :)

mansuetude said...

not green unless its Saint Patrick's day and I had green beer. :) Never use blow dryer, and it is long today. I could use some safer hair products, too. What a thought you planted--planting thoughts is very green! :)

Anonymous said...

My hair is long and fairly green (I hope). I cut it myself and never use any products on it. It seems to like it as it is quite shiny. Sometimes I think all the products make it look lifeless. Green is the way to go for healthy hair.

Anonymous said...

I got VERY long hair and no chemical products for me. I use herbal stuff which are easily available in India!

polona said...

i think long hair can be just as environmentally friendly as short.

mine is short, though, and i have to dye it as it has started to turn grey since my early age so i can't say i'm really green...

d. moll, l.ac. said...

Well, I guess my hair is as green as yours, Crafty Green Poet, though I wash it every three or so days, but with non-toxic stuff, and we re-cycle the plastic bottle. I cut it myself.....Has anyone tried making their own shampoo?

Anonymous said...

I have to admit that this never crossed my mind. I have short hair and wash it three times a week and get it cut every several months.

Anonymous said...

I have long hair, too.. I don't get any treatments/dye jobs etc from saloons, but I don't think I'll be able to cut my own hair without making a disaster out of it. So, I guess my hair is green, but not as deep a shade of green as yours :D

The buns, on the other hand, have extremely green fur! Short fur, no shampoo, no treatment, no blow drying, no cutting required!

The Bunns said...

We Cleenze Our Own!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

i used to have green hair when i was a kid and swam all the time but it's not green no more!!! I wash my hair every day especially in the summer!

Anonymous said...

This is definitely something to do something about.

scatterhaiku said...

interesting. :) don't think i've ever thought of this question before. i'm a guy with short hair. currently, really, long hair is out of the question. but does this mean i should consider shaving it all off? :O

AscenderRisesAbove said...

what an interesting post; short hair being more green. thanks for link and food for thought

holly said...

Crafty,
Well, um, I don't dye my hair anymore, but for a long time I enjoyed shades of reds and pinks and browns. Sure, I could buy better, more natural hair care products, and do when I have the money. I do dry my hair...didn't for years, but do now...makes it more "fluffy!" "Green" hair is important, yes...at least hairspray isn't so much in style anymore! Yuck!

and to gingatao,
I wish I had gone to a Dead Kennedys gig!

Nia said...

in my case, short hair = masses of styling gel and washing or rinsing every day. Some hair types don't suit short hair!

My hair is relatively green; good quality shampoo and cream, with "green" brands when I can find them. I try to wash my hair every third day or so, not more often.

primdollie said...

Oh dear well my hair is short but alas I do wash it nearly daily (every other in the summer) and daily when go to work because shower 1st thing! and I do use gel and some hairspray but not a lot, no hair dryer or anything like that and do have a hair dresser cut it monthly and well gotta hide the grey some how so frost it about every 4 months when it grows out..... so probably I am not very green am I!!?? sorry!! hugs Linda