30 steps to another way

Surfactants in standard shampoo (usually called sodium lauryl sulphate on the label) are often derived from palm oil, making them harmful to our rainforests as well as often to sensitive skin. Some natural or organic shampoos specify that their surfactants come from other sources such as coconut, so look out for that.

Switch from shampoo and conditioner bottles to plastic-free solid bars. These are also great for travel, as they take up hardly any space. You will need a couple of tins or old containers to transport them in. Make sure your bar can drain after using it, ideally on a shower rack or soap dish to preserve its lifespan. Although many bars are more expensive than liquid shampoos, they last a surprisingly long time, making them more affordable in the long term – after all you are paying for just the shampoo, not the added water and packaging in their conventional counterparts!

Be patient and find the right one for you – some are natural which may take your hair time to adjust to. If you find your conditioner bar hard to apply, you can turn it into liquid by simply chopping it up and whisking it into boiling water until it reaches the right consistency. You will need several old bottles as one bar will make a lot of liquid conditioner; make sure you dilute it well. You can also use diluted apple cider vinegar as a conditioner.

If you are feeling particularly adventurous and don’t want to use any hair products at all, you could try the ‘no poo’ method. This involves transitioning to simply washing your hair with water – you can look it up to find lots more information and advice.

Want something more luxurious? You can find many recipes for natural hair masks online. Using coconut oil is a restorative treatment for lots of shine. All you have to do is soften it and rub it into the ends of your hair, and leave in for half an hour or so before rinsing out. Natural shampoo bars often cannot clean the coconut oil out of your hair; instead use a whisked egg to rinse it out in lukewarm water (you don’t want scrambled egg!). If you are vegan, you could try rubbing some argan oil into your hair before washing, which comes out easier.