Are All Natural Products Better For Your Hair?

In the last two decades, the all natural product trend has become increasingly popular. The terms “all natural” and “organic” sound healthy and better for you than the alternative..right? Or have these terms been used as marketing tactics to scam people into thinking a particular product is better for them and is worth more money when really it’s not?

In this post we’re going to get to the bottom of these “all natural” products and give our best recommendation on if they’re worth it or not.

What are all natural hair products?

There are four main terms listed on hair products to show that they’re “healthier” for you, and in this section we’re going to break each of those down to explain what they mean. These terms are “natural”, “organic”, “vegan”, and “cruelty free”.

1. All natural hair products

All natural products typically mean that they contain no additives that are man-made. This could be chemicals, plastics, or sulfates. But the thing is, it can be hard to differentiate what is synthetic and what is natural. And the term “all natural” is not regulated by the FDA. So in reality, it has no guarantee that there aren’t synthetic ingredients in the product, EVEN if it’s labeled “all natural”.

2. Organic hair products

Organic products can have a little more legitimacy when it comes to not containing synthetic ingredients than “all natural” products can. But not always! If the product has a USDA organic seal on it then it will be majority organic, over 90% or so. But without the seal, it’s still not guaranteed.

3. Vegan hair products

When it comes to vegan products, this means that they contain no animal derived ingredients. It is not uncommon for hair and makeup products to contain ingredients derived from animals. This could be fat, oils, tissues, or even hair. And when something is labeled “vegan”, it typically is true that it does not contain any animal ingredients.

BUT to replace those ingredients, there are usually synthetic ingredients and sometimes harsh chemicals that take their place.

4. Cruelty free hair products

Cruelty free products are different from vegan products meaning that they may contain animal derived ingredients, but they were not tested on animals during production. Typically instead of testing on animals they will test on humans.

What are the benefits of all natural products?

For the remainder of this post, we’re going to group all the above categories as “all natural” products.

The proclaimed benefits of these types of products are that they are better for your hair because they do not contain harsh chemicals and additives. In this day and age, manufactures are constantly looking for ways to increase their profit by finding cheaper and more accessible alternatives to natural ingredients.

This decreases their cost to manufacture the product and allows them to mass-produce it and sell at an affordable cost. But some of these additives can be terrible for your hair and skin. To learn more about some of these additives in cheap hair products, and to see my most recommended brands see my post here.

All that being said, see what I have to say below about the coined term “all natural”.

Do all natural products really work?

In my experience as a hairstylist, I have found that most brands that claim to be “all natural” definitely do not work as well as other brands. While certain chemicals are bad, they aren’t ALL bad. Sometimes chemicals can actually be very helpful for us.

My best example of this is with AVEDA products. I was once hired at an AVEDA hair salon that only uses AVEDA products. If you aren’t familiar, AVEDA claims to use all naturally derived ingredients.

I only worked in this hair salon for a day, because I quickly realized that these products did not work nearly as well as the products that I was used to. The purple shampoo didn’t do anything to my clients hair. I found in just 1 day of using these products that my work was going to be severely affected.

When it comes to coloring your hair, sometimes chemicals need to be used! That doesn’t mean that your hair is going to be destroyed. If you want to get the best results, you need a little bit of chemicals to aid you.

Are all natural hair products actually a scam?

This question falls into a bit of a grey area. The term “all natural” is commonly used as a marketing tactic to trick you into believing that it is better than a product without that term stamped on it. They’re able to charge more for the product just for claiming that it is “all natural”, when in reality it may not even work as well as a competitor that doesn’t have that label on it.

My best suggestion is to use only professional grade hair products. This means something that was sold or recommended to you through your hair stylist. Hair products that are mass-marketed and sold at Target for $2 a bottle are going to contain harsh additives, even if it says “all natural” on it.

Professional products will cost more than cheap products will, but you’re guaranteed that you’re using something that’s not destroying your hair in the process. Professional products are typically much more highly concentrated as well which will last you twice as long. Cheap products are diluted with water and harsh chemicals.

Conclusion

To conclude, the labeling of “all natural” hair products has captured the attention of consumers in recent years, raising questions about the products efficacy and authenticity. While the idea of using these products free from synthetic additives and chemicals sounds appealing, the reality is more complex.

Terms like “natural,” “organic,” “vegan,” and “cruelty-free” can be misleading, as they lack clear regulations in the product formulations. The benefits of all-natural products typically revolve around avoiding of harsh chemicals. However, this might not always yield the best results for your hair. Some chemical ingredients can be beneficial.

The real question of whether all natural hair products are a scam is not a straightforward answer. The term “all natural” often serves as a marketing strategy, allowing companies to charge higher prices for products that may not necessarily outperform synthetic alternatives.

To ensure the health and vitality of your hair, it’s best to consider using professional-grade hair products recommended by your hair stylist. These products might cost you a little more, but they are typically more concentrated and less diluted with harmful additives.

If you have any further questions for me on this topic, leave them for me in the comments. And as always, Have A Good Hair Day!