Men's Hair Care
Shop vegan and cruelty-free men's hair care products. All men's hair products in our store are 100% free of animal-derived materials, ingredients and by-products.
Men's Hair Care
What are vegan & cruelty-free hair care products?
The term “vegan” with regard to hair care products, refers to products that do not contain ingredients that are derived or sourced from animals or insects. The term “cruelty-free” means a product and its ingredients are free of animal testing.
Fun Fact: On this site, we feature hair care products that are both vegan AND cruelty-free; they contain no animal or insect ingredients, and are not tested on animals.
What animal ingredients are typically found in men’s hair care products?
It's relatively easy to be aware when there are animal ingredients in a meal…but what about a shampoo? Have you ever wondered where keratin in “keratin enriched” shampoo comes from? Unfortunately, it’s often the by-product of some serious suffering of a sweet and innocent animal. For your reference, we’ve put together a quick overview of common animal-derived and sourced ingredients that are found in many non-vegan shampoos and conditioners, as well as some effective, plant-based alternatives:
Squalene: An oil typically sourced from shark liver. Vegan alternatives include vegetable oils such as olive oil, wheat germ oil, rice bran oil.
Vitamin A: Can come from fish liver oil (such as shark liver oil), egg yolk and butter. Vegan sources include lemon grass and wheat germ oil, carrots, other vegetables, and synthetic production.
Biotin: Often used as a texturizer, Biotin is found in all living cells, and in large quantities in milk and yeast. Fortunately, there are many plant-based sources of this B vitamin as well, including carrots, onions, leafy greens, cabbage, and fresh berries.
Cetyl Alcohol: A waxy substance that’s found in the spermaceti (head cavity) of whales, dolphins, and other cetaceans. Fortunately it can also be derived from plants, such as coconut.
Gelatin: Typically made by boiling discarded animal bones, skin, and ligaments. It gives products (such as hair gel) a thick, smooth, gelatinous texture. Vegan alternatives include Irish moss (carageenan) or seaweed (agar, kelp, etc.).
Hyaluronic Acid: Taken from rooster combs, acts as a moisturizer and lubricant in personal care products. Fortunately, there are some animal-friendly sources of hyaluronic acid; it can be produced synthetically, and many foods such as vegetables and soy help us produce it naturally in our own bodies!
Keratin: Found in animal hooves, feathers, horns, and hair, it promises to restore damaged hair, make hair stronger, and even keep curly or kinky hair straight. As an animal-friendly alternative, many brands use plant-based amino acids in place of keratin.
Stearic Acid: A fatty substance, often taken from the stomachs of pigs, and sometimes even euthanized pets. Fortunately for us animal lovers, stearic acid can be found in many plant and vegetable fats, including coconut.
Lanolin: A product of the oil glands of sheep, extracted from their wool. Used as an emollient in many skin and hair care products. Alternatives include plant and vegetable oils.
Silk Protein: Derived from silk, which is made by silkworms. Is said to improve hair’s elasticity, and resiliency. Vegan alternatives include plant-based proteins such as corn, rice, soy and wheat.
What companies make vegan/cruelty-free men’s hair care products?
The following companies make shampoo, conditioner, beard oil and/or styling products that are cruelty-free and vegan-friendly:
- JĀSÖN
- Every Man Jack
- Herban Cowboy
- Paul Mitchell
- men-ü
- Kiss My Face
- Leven Rose
- Duffy’s Brew
- Aēsop
- ATTITUDE
- Nature’s Gate
Why buy hair care products that are vegan/cruelty-free?
It comes down to this: when you buy a vegan-friendly and cruelty-free product, you’re buying an animal-friendly product. Doing so helps to put an end to the perpetual cycle of paying companies to test the cosmetic and personal care products that we use, on animals. Every type of hair care product you could want is available in a vegan and cruelty-free version.
Does buying vegan/cruelty-free hair care products make a difference for the animals?
Buying vegan & cruelty-free products is one of the most effective forms of animal welfare activism. When you buy vegan and cruelty-free beard oil, for example, you’re telling stores, manufacturers, and everyone in the supply chain that there’s a market for beard oil that's free of animal ingredients and testing; companies will naturally respond to that demand by supplying such products for consumers. The more consumers buying vegan and cruelty-free products, the greater the shift in the market will be. It will also erode the market share of products that test on animals and use animal-derived and sourced ingredients, ultimately resulting in less animals harmed and/or slaughtered for products.
Are vegan and cruelty-free men’s hair care products expensive?
In general, men’s vegan and cruelty-free shampoos, conditioners, hair treatment and hair styling products are not any more expensive, or any less-expensive, than products that contain animal/insect derived ingredients, or that have been tested on animals. Just like their non-vegan/non-cruelty-free counterparts, the prices of these products can vary based on differences in the quality and the availability of the ingredients used, differences in the manufacturing processes employed, different brand names behind various products, and various other factors.
How do you choose which men’s hair care products to list?
We maintain a growing list of companies that are rumoured to be vegan-friendly and cruelty-free. We contact these companies to find out straight from them if they abide by specific cruelty-free practices, including:
- Not testing their final products or ingredients on animals
- Not paying someone else to test ingredients or final products on animals for them
- Not using ingredients that are tested on animals
- Not selling their products in countries wherein animal testing is required by law, such as mainland China
Any vegan-friendly products made by companies that abide by these guidelines, and that are sold on Amazon, are listed here for your shopping convenience.
Similar product categories
If you’ve found this page on men’s vegan hair care products helpful, check out similar product categories to learn or shop more:
For companies that make vegan & cruelty-free men’s hair care products
If you make vegan and cruelty-free shampoo, conditioner, styling gel, hair dye, or anything other hair care product for that matter, we’d love to feature you and your products on the “Brands We Love” section of our site! Contact us at - info(at)getitvegan(dot)com - to get started!
Sources
Some of the information for this mini guide on men’s vegan hair care products was gathered from the following sources:
- Articles: “Is My Shampoo Vegan? A Guide to Vegan Hair Products.” (June. 11, 2013). The Vegan Woman. Retrieved April 22, 2017. http://www.theveganwoman.com/is-my-shampoo-vegan-a-guide-to-vegan-hair-products/
- Animal Writes: “Animal Rendering Products In More Places Than You Think.” Renea Mohammed (Summer, 2003). Resne.com via The Vancouver Humane Society Newsletter. Retrieved April 22, 2017. http://www.rense.com/general39/animal.htm
- Articles: “Vegetarian Alternatives To Collagen Supplements.” (July. 30, 2016). WayfaringRachel.com. Retrieved April 22, 2017. http://wayfaringrachel.com/vegetarian-collagen/
- Resources: “Animal Ingredients.” Caitlin Uttley (n.d.). Choose Cruelty Free. Retrieved April 22, 2017. http://www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au/animal-ingredients/
- Articles: “All About Different Types of Proteins in Hair Products.” Nikisha Brunson (March, 2015)). Urban Bush Babes website. Retrieved June 6, 2017. http://urbanbushbabes.com/all-about-different-types-of-proteins/