The demand for vegan hair and beauty products in South Africa is soaring. More and more consumers are making the effort to support products that are cruelty free, vegan and sustainable.
This demand is increasingly matched by new product lines from top professional brands.
Here, we showcase 15 of the best international vegan and organic hair and beauty brands available online at Hairhouse Warehouse. Also see below for our FAQ about vegan hair and beauty products.
Demand for vegan and cruelty-free products
Worldwide, there’s surging demand for vegan and cruelty-free products. According to a report, Global Vegan Cosmetics Market Outlook, 2028, the market is expected to grow by 6.31% annually up to 2028. In 2022, the industry was worth US$17.39 billion. By 2028, it’s expected to reach more than US$24 billion.
This demand is being driven by concerns about:
- animal cruelty in the cosmetics industry
- the environmental impact of hair and beauty products and packaging
- the potentially harmful effects of chemical ingredients in hair and skincare.
Best vegan hair and beauty brands in South Africa
These vegan, cruelty-free and organic hair and beauty brands formulate their products with gentle, natural, plant-derived ingredients that don’t harm animals or the environment.
Celeb Luxury
This 100% vegan, cruelty-free brand was created in the US in 2016 to produce hair products that maintain and enhance colour using “revolutionary” technology. The semi-permanent Colorwash Shampoo range maintains, boosts and corrects colour brilliance with just one wash. Its formulations are free from gluten, sulphates, PPD, ammonia and peroxide.
Best vegan colour shampoo: Celeb Luxury Gem Lites Colorwash Shampoo
Agadir
Products from this specialist haircare brand are infused with natural argan oil, known for its ability to restore dull, damaged, dry hair without weighing it down. The brand was started by the Bogosian brothers, two hairdressers in 1960s Manhattan, who created products for their broad client base.
Best natural hair repair treatment: Agadir Argan Oil Spray Treatment
DESIGN.ME
Four friends from Canada launched this fun, creative and innovative brand of “new age” haircare solutions. The goal was to create products that give hair “sheen, oomph, volume and styling speed”. They’re all cruelty-free and don’t contain sulphates, parabens or gluten.
Best cruelty-free volumising shampoo: PUFF.ME Volumizing Shampoo
FFØR
FFØR stands for free from, original and real – the ethos behind this 100% vegan and cruelty-free UK company. It’s mission is to provide beautiful hair with a “clean conscience”. Nothing harsh, harmful, wasteful or unkind is used in the formulations or manufacturing of its products.
Best vegan styling cream: Blow:By Blow Styling Crème
Arcaya
Looking for an intense, concentrated face treatment? German cosmetics brand Arcaya specialises in simplified but effective skincare solutions that deliver quick results. Its Beauty Ampoules are formulated with natural active ingredients to target specific concerns with almost immediate results.
Best intensive skin treatment: Arcaya Beauty Ampoules: Regeneration, 5/pack
ColorpHlex
A naturally derived protein molecule is the hero ingredient in the products from this 100% vegan US brand. It can penetrate the hair, targeting damage caused by colour, bleach and chemical treatments, to improve strength and quality, and correct dry, brittle hair.
Best vegan shine serum: ColorpHlex Shine Serum
Be Care Love
BCL haircare products from sunny California are all enriched with fruit and botanicals, natural ingredients that are sustainably sourced and certifiably organic. All formulations are free from sulphates, parabens, GMOs, phthalates and harsh preservatives.
Best organic hair repair cream: BCL Spa Critical Repair Cream Citrus & Coconut – Dark Spots
JOC
This pioneering Italian brand’s goal is “beauty guided by an authentic and socially responsible way of living”. All packaging is made of up to 50% post-consumer recycled plastic. It’s range of vegan shampoos include hydrating, restructuring, smoothing and colour-protection shampoos.
Best vegan smoothing shampoo: JOC Care Smoothing Shampoo
Kerachroma
Cleanse, condition and colour all at once with this cruelty-free, vegan brand of colour-boosting cleansing and conditioning “clenditioners”. The paraben-free range is formulated to strengthen, restore and protect colour through intense conditioning, leaving hair soft and vibrant.
Best vegan colour-boost conditioner: Kerachroma Vivid Color + Clenditioner
LOMA
Few hair-care companies take their commitment to renewable, sustainable beauty as seriously as this US brand. It uses only researched ingredients that are 100% vegan, non-toxic and free from cruelty, parabens, sodium chloride, gluten, soy, sulphates, phthalates, pesticides, formaldehyde, hormones, and synthetic fragrances and colours. It sources, manufactures and fills all of its products.
Best vegan moisturising shampoo: LOMA Moisturizing Shampoo
Malibu C
The core of this pioneering brand is a selection of customised haircare solutions that are 100% vegan, cruelty-free and formulated without gluten, parabens, sulphates, preservative and fragrances.
All products are made in Malibu C’s Wellness Labs in the United States.
Best vegan hair repair treatment: Malibu C Miracle Repair Sachet
Manic Panic N.Y.C.
The punk subculture of 1970s London inspired Manic Panic’s world of semi-permanent colour solutions. This is the brand for bold, vivid hues. All dyes are tested and quality-controlled by in-house staff. The products are 100% vegan and cruelty free.
Best vegan semi-permanent hair colour: Manic Panic High Voltage Classic Semi-Permanent Hair Color Cream
Marrakesh
This US brand uses luxurious natural oils, such as argan and hemp, in its therapeutic solutions for problem hair and daily management. It is dedicated to long-term sustainability, environmentally-friendly and cruelty-free products, which are 100% vegan.
Best vegan curl-boosting product: Marrakesh Kahm Curl Craving Essential Solution
OSMO
OSMO is a UK haircare company that is a trusted global brand. It has an extensive range of quality products for every need. Each is carefully formulated with quality ingredients. Most of its range is vegan and its Colour Save, Silverising, Super Silver and Super Cool products are sulphate free.
Best sulphate-free no-yellow mask: OSMO Super Silver No Yellow Mask
Superplex
This haircare range from Italy specialises in damage-repair treatments. Superplex products have gentle formulas that allow for long-term conditioning and protection of chemically-treated hair. They rebuild the hair from within the cuticle so you don’t have to worry about damage again.
Best conditioner for blonde hair: Superplex Keratin Cool Blonde Conditioner
FAQs
Q. What is vegan hair care?
A. Vegan hair and beauty solutions are formulated without any animal ingredients or by-products. Common animal-derived ingredients include honey, keratin, beeswax, carmine, shellac, collagen, glucosamine, guanine, panthenol and lanolin.
Q. Is cruelty free the same as vegan?
A. No. Cruelty-free products are developed without testing on animals. Vegan products don’t contain animal-derived ingredients. So, a cruelty-free product may not be vegan. And a vegan product may not be cruelty free. Many hair and beauty brands now create products that are 100% vegan and cruelty free.
Q. What are the benefits of vegan hair and beauty products?
A. Vegan products are kinder to animals and reduce your environmental footprint. Commonly, they’re formulated with natural ingredients and don’t contain harsh substances like sulphates, parabens and synthetic fragrances, so they’re gentler on the scalp and the skin too.
Q. Are vegan products safe?
A. They are not safe by definition – just because they’re vegan. But most vegan brands use plant-based natural ingredients that nourish and promote hair and skin health. Always check labels for harsh, unsafe ingredients.
Q. Are vegan hair products as effective as other products?
A. They’re just as effective and may even be better. Usually, vegan products are made with nourishing, hydrating, naturally-derived ingredients that contain minimal additives. They are less likely to strip hair of its natural oils and moisture.
Q. Are vegan hair dyes safe?
A. Vegan hair dyes don’t use harsh chemicals or irritants. They don’t contain a chemical called paraphenylenediamine (PPD) and contain no, or very little, ammonia. As a result, they’re less likely to damage your hair and irritate the scalp.