By BR Amelia
Caring about the environment isn’t a new fad, it’s been around since…well…for as long as I can remember, no doubt well before. I still recall running around the house, gathering up all the aerosols containing chlorofluorocarbons and tossing them out after I was told at primary school how bad they were for the environment - much to my parent’s chagrin, and possible amusement. I like to think that we all care for the world around us, and we all do out bit – from recycling glass, paper, tin and whatever else Council allows. If we can we compost, we use natural products for cleaning, and if possible we’ll even buy organic food – or hit the neighbours up for some of their homegrown goodness. So why in this world of ever increasing environmental awareness are hairdressers still using highly toxic chemicals?
Well it turns out, many of them aren’t.
Organic hairdressing is becoming a ‘thing’. And it’s not just a thing in the highfalutin realms of Ponsonby, Remuera and Parnell, it’s a steadily growing theme throughout all of New Zealand. But what does organic hairdressing even mean?
Does it mean freshly picked, steamed and mashed organic carrot masks? Hair colour created from the blood (ok, juice) of beetroot? Not quite. It means the hair salons have simply chosen to use organic shampoos, conditioners and hair colourants. But, why?
From all accounts it comes down to care for both their customers and the environment. According to Peter Salter Hairdressing in Greenhithe, Auckland, they wanted to show their clients healthier choices for their hair and everyday living. Meanwhile Koa Organic Hair in Mt Vic, Wellington believe what you put on your body is equally as important as what you put in it, which is why they’re committed to using safe chemical free products wherever possible. Christchurch and Rangiora’s Pure Hair & Body is a salon that claims to offer 91% natural organic hairdressing and beauty therapy, and they do so by using products that contain no dangerous ingredients, parabens, chemicals, artificial fragrances and colours. Another salon passionate about using organic products is Renaissance Organic Hair Salon in Nelson, who believe using an organic colour system leads to less scalp irritation, a clean fresh environment for the client and the stylist, and healthier hair.
So what’s next? Hairdryers powered by solar roofing or wind power? We’ve yet to find one, (but if anyone knows a salon that does that, let us know in the comments!) however The Powder Room in Wellington is taking things one step further by striving for a zero waste policy, that includes using reusable gloves, water flow reducers, as well as composting, reusing and recycling waste. There’s a massive BR Amelia high five going their way!
So tell us, are you interested in seeing an organic salon? Do you already visit one? Let us know all about it (and don’t forget to review it in our salon reviews area).
It is not a bad thing to look at chemical free treatments, for your whole body from the outside to the inside.