We’ve all been there: standing in the shower, surrounded by a graveyard of colorful plastic bottles. There’s the half-empty volumizing shampoo that didn't quite work, the deep conditioner that felt a bit too heavy, and various styling gels that are mostly just taking up shelf space.
It’s estimated that 550 million shampoo bottles end up in landfills every single year in the U.S. alone. If you lined them up, they’d wrap around the Earth several times. That’s a staggering amount of plastic for something as routine as washing our hair.
But here is the catch: many of us want to go green, but we’re terrified of "crunchy" hair. We’ve heard the horror stories of DIY baking soda rinses and soap-based bars that leave hair feeling like literal straw.
At The Earthling Co., we’re here to tell you that zero waste hair care doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. You can have the best hair of your life while sending exactly zero plastic to the landfill. This is your step-by-step guide to building a sustainable hair routine that delivers salon-quality results without the environmental guilt.
Step 1: The Mindset Shift (And the Purge Phase)
Before you toss every plastic bottle you own into the recycling bin, let’s talk strategy. Moving to a plastic free hair care routine involves a small adjustment period, both for your habits and your scalp.
Finish What You Have
The most sustainable product is the one you already own. Don't waste the liquid shampoo currently in your shower; finish it up, and then make the swap. This prevents immediate waste and gives you time to research which bars are right for your specific hair texture.
Expect a "Detox" Period
Most traditional liquid shampoos are loaded with silicones (like dimethicone). These coat your hair to give it an artificial "slip" and shine. When you switch to plant-based, concentrated bars, your hair has to "detox" from those synthetic coatings. Your scalp might overproduce oil for a few days as it realizes it's no longer being stripped by harsh sulfates. Stick with it—once your natural oils balance out, your hair will have more natural volume and shine than ever before.
Step 2: Choosing Your "Holy Grail" Bars
The foundation of any zero waste hair care routine is the solid bar. However, not all bars are created equal. Many "natural" bars are actually just soap, which has a very high pH that can damage your hair cuticle.
The Earthling Co. bars are syndet bars (synthetic detergent bars—the good kind!). They are pH-balanced to match your hair and scalp, ensuring your hair stays smooth and healthy.
Match Your Bars to Your Hair Type:
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For Dry, Damaged, or Color-Treated Hair: You need the Deep Hydration Bundle. It’s packed with Rice Protein and Vitamin B5 to repair bonds and add serious hydration.
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For Fine or Oily Hair: Try our Volumizing Shampoo & Conditioner Bar. It gives you that "oomph" and lift without the heavy oils.
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For Sensitive to Balanced Hair: The Unscented Bar is a crowd favorite for a reason, providing a perfect middle-ground cleanse perfect for sensitive skin.
Step 3: Master the "Solid" Technique
Using a bar isn't quite the same as squeezing a bottle. Because our bars are 100% active ingredients (no water filler!), a little goes a long way. If you use too much, you’re just washing money down the drain.
The Step-by-Step Washing Routine:
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Saturate Thoroughly: Your hair needs to be dripping wet. Water is the "activator" for the concentrated ingredients in the bar.
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Lather in Your Hands: Rub the bar between your wet hands for about 10–15 seconds to create a creamy foam. This is often better than rubbing the bar directly on your head, as it prevents tangles.
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Focus on the Scalp: Massage that foam directly into your roots. You don't need to scrub the ends of your hair; the suds will clean them as you rinse.
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Glide the Conditioner: Unlike the shampoo bar, you can slide the Conditioner Bar directly onto the mid-lengths and ends of your hair. You’ll feel the "slip" almost instantly.
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The Wait: Let the conditioner sit for 2–3 minutes while you finish the rest of your shower routine. This allows the cocoa butter and jojoba oil to penetrate the hair shaft.
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The Cool Rinse: Always rinse with cool water. This helps seal the hair cuticle, locking in moisture and increasing shine.
Step 4: Sustainable Styling and Post-Wash Care
A sustainable hair routine doesn't end when you step out of the shower. The tools you use to dry and style your hair are just as important as the suds.
Swap Plastic for Wood
Plastic hairbrushes eventually break down into microplastics. A Bamboo Hairbrush with bamboo bristles is a game-changer for plastic free hair care. Not only is it compostable at the end of its long life, but the wooden bristles also help distribute your scalp’s natural oils (sebum) down the hair shaft, reducing frizz and increasing shine naturally.
Seal the Ends
Standard hair serums are often 90% silicone in a plastic pump. Our Hair & Body Oil comes in a glass bottle and uses nutrient-dense oils like Jojoba and Argan.
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The Zero-Waste Way: Rub 2–3 drops into your palms and smooth over damp or dry ends to seal in moisture and protect against heat damage.
Step 5: Storage is Your Sustainability Secret
If your shampoo bar lives in a puddle of water, it’s going to turn into mush. Proper storage is the difference between a bar that lasts 4 weeks and a bar that lasts 4 months (or 80+ washes!).
Invest in Drainage
You need a storage solution that allows air to hit all sides of the bar. Our Self-Draining Soap Dish lifts the bar up so it can dry out completely between uses. This hardens the bar, making it more durable and ensuring you use every last gram.
Travel Like a Pro
If you're on the go, a Travel Case is essential. It prevents your bar from picking up lint in your bag and keeps your luggage clean. Just remember: when you get to your destination, take the bar out of the tin and put it on a dry surface so it doesn't stay damp inside the closed container.
The Ingredient Breakdown: What's Actually Inside?
When you move to zero waste hair care, you become an ingredient detective. You'll notice our labels are shorter and easier to read than the back of a standard bottle. Here is what we use to ensure your hair stays healthy:
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Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate: A coconut-derived surfactant that cleanses without the "stripping" feeling of sulfates.
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Cocoa Butter: Provides a deep, buttery moisture that mimics your hair's natural lipids.
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Rice Protein: Increases hair volume and adds a natural structural shine.
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Vitamin B5 (Panthenol): A humectant that helps the hair retain moisture and improves elasticity.
What we strictly exclude: Parabens, sulfates, silicones, and artificial fragrances that can irritate sensitive scalps and harm aquatic ecosystems.
Why This Routine Actually Works
The biggest misconception about sustainable hair routines is that they are "lesser" versions of traditional care. In reality, they are often superior for long-term hair health.
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Concentrated Actives: Liquid shampoo is up to 90% water. You’re essentially paying for a plastic bottle and a heavy shipment of water. Our bars are 100% active ingredients, meaning you get more value in every wash.
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TSA-Friendly: No more "leaky bottle" disasters in your suitcase. Solids are inherently travel-friendly and exempt from liquid restrictions.
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Scalp Balance: By removing harsh detergents (sulfates), your scalp can finally reach its natural state of balance. Many people find they can actually go longer between washes because their scalp isn't overcompensating for being stripped of oils.
The Earthling Co. Commitment
We aren't just a hair care brand; we’re a community of people trying to leave the planet a little better than we found it. We are a Certified B Corp, we are Climate Neutral Certified, and we give back to environmental non-profits with every purchase.
When you build your plastic free hair care routine with us, you’re supporting a supply chain that values ethics as much as aesthetics. Every bar is made with intention, ensuring that your beauty routine doesn't come at the cost of the Earth.
Progress Over Perfection
Transitioning to a zero waste hair care routine doesn't have to happen overnight. It starts with one choice—one bar of shampoo, one wooden brush, one glass bottle of oil.
You don't have to be "perfectly" zero waste to make a massive impact. Every plastic bottle you don't buy is a victory for our oceans. Plus, once you see the shine and bounce your hair achieves with plant-based ingredients, you’ll wonder why you didn't make the switch sooner.
Ready to start your journey?
Shop our Best-Selling Shampoo & Conditioner Bundles and save 20% on your new routine today!
