As someone who is quite scientifically based, I am hyper aware of what chemicals that I consume. While I do not believe that green beauty is an essential or important choice — nor should I push my beliefs onto everyone. I firmly believe in advocating greener choices. I think it’s an universal relief when you’re following the CGM, flip a product over, and understand the ingredients — even if the EOs or natural ingredients may be more unusual. There’s a huge difference between an algae extract versus a chemical that Europe has banned!
One of the reasons whg I choose green is not only for chemical exposure, but due to most green brands being hyper-aware of animal testing. I have not bought any product which performs animal tests since I was a young child and learned about the inhumane practice.
Please be aware that I do share non cruelty-free options for my readers, but I personally do not use these products for my own values and ethical beliefs. I feature all different types of products because I have a lot of reader of all different budgets, beliefs, and hair needs — despite my personal beliefs. No judgments passed! We all have the right to make decisions.
PLEASE NOTE: A BUNNY DOES NOT MAKE IT CRUELTY FREE! There are tons of companies in the natural hair care community (as well as other beauty startups) who falsely mislabel their products because they know people trust the integrity. Do your research. Download the PETA and Leaping Bunny apps, as well as check Logical Harmony for brands. Australian brands will be accredited via Choose Cruelty Free. You can download their app too!
UPDATE: Innersense responded back to me. They missed their deadline of applications due to new manufacturers. They’re resubmitting. They assured me that the CF status has never changed. We should see an update soon! Pleasure communicating witch them!
Please make sure to go back to prior products posts too. I always include cruelty free and clean options in my posts! However since this is an original post, I won’t be replicating any info. Thanks! This list may be periodically updated, but I do try to keep my product lists as diverse as possible!
Carina Organics Gel: you can buy it here. You can buy the scented one here. The ingredients are the same except the scent.
- Attributes: moderately priced, protein free, humectant free, vegan and certified cruelty free via PETA
I Create Hold by Innersense: you can buy it here. Innersense themselves also offers great sales if you’re on a budget! As a blog: I personally recommend and buying via Organic Bunny to support her wonderful business — so if you’re not on a budget, you can support a fellow small business for me!
- Attributes: moderately to expensively priced, contains aloe vera, contains glycerin and honey in terms of humectants, has protein, has botanicals, contains protein, not vegan due to animl byproduct (honey), cannot find a certificate of cruelty free status from PETA, Leaping Bunny nor Logical Harmony but claims cruelty free (contacting them over this)
Scalp Rescue Gel by Max Green Alchemy: you can buy it here.
- Attributes: moderately to expensively priced, contains aloe vera, contains soy protein lower down (an easier protein for protein sensitive and great for low porosity hair), contains botanicals, no humectants except panthenol, vegan and certified cruelty via PETA
Scalp Rescue Sculpting Gel by Max Green Alchemy: you can buy it here. This is a harder hold and its protein is lower down than the top gel as well.
- Attributes: moderately to expensively priced for sizing, contains aloe vera, contains soy protein at the very bottom (an easier protein for protein sensitive and great for low porosity hair), contains botanicals, no humectants except panthenol, vegan and certified cruelty via PETA
Herbal Curl Defining Gel by Koils by Nature: you can buy it here. Target also carries this gel, as well as Naturally Curly now! There’s two scented versions as well as a fragrance version. No difference in ingredients; just added essential oils for scents.
- Attributes: moderately priced for, contains aloe vera, protein free, humectant free, contains castor oil, contains botanicals, vegan and cruelty free certified via PETA
Strong Hold Pourable Gel by Kavella: you an buy it here.
- Attributes: moderately-expensively priced, contains glycerin and panthenol in terms of humectants, protein free, contains aloe vera, certified vegan and cruelty free via PETA
2chic Ultra-Volume Thickening Styling Gel with Tangerine and Papaya Butter by Giovanni: you can buy it here. This isn’t the cleanest option here, but a good option to try!
- Attributes: affordable, contains glycerin and panthenol as humectants, contains aloe vera, protein free, contains unspecified fragrance, certified vegan and cruelty free via Leaping Bunny
Hair ResQ, Thickening Treatment, Style + Thicken Strong Hold Gel by Petal Fresh: you can buy it here. This has yeast extract — so it’s NOT Celiac’s friendly!
- Attributes: midway priced, contains aloe vera, contains botanicals, contains Shea butter, no humectants except panthenol and ethylhexylglycerin (mild), hair growth benefits, certified cruelty free and vegan via Logical Harmony
Blood of the Dragon Styling Gel by Morocco Method: you can buy it here.
- Attributes: moderately to expensively priced, contains aloe vera, protein free, contains glycerin, certified vegan and cruelty free via PETA
Blue Yarrow Hair Styling Gel by SEVI: you buy it here.
- Attributes: moderately priced, contains aloe vera, protein free, contains panthenol but otherwise humectant free, contains botanicals, vegan and cruelty free via PETA
Styling Gel by Intelligent Nutrients: you can buy it here. This contains alcohol denatured which is a drying alcohol, but is being included due to its organic ingredients and protein free formula which is hard!
- Attributes: moderately priced, contains a drying alcohol, protein free, contains glycerin and agave in terms of humectants, contains botanicals, vegan and cruelty free via Leaping Bunny
neuStyling Gelee by NEUMA: you can buy it here. This also contains a minor alcohol, but much further down and is being included for its organic ingredients.
- Attributes: moderately priced, contains a drying alcohol, contains weak rice protein, contains glycerin and sorbitol as humectants, certified vegan and cruelty via PETA
Organic Hair Gel by Herbal Choice Mari: you can buy it here. This also contains minor traces of alcohol due to being processed with vodka, but they claim to use a Celiac friendly vodka.
- Attributes: midway priced, contains a drying alcohol, no protein, no humectants, certified vegan and cruelty via Leaping Bunny
Baomint Curl Defining Gel by Adwoa Beauty: you can buy it here.
- Attributes: moderately priced, no protein, contains glycerin, contains Shea butter, doesn’t signify if the fragrance is natural or not (as a warning), certified vegan and cruelty via Leaping Bunny
Firm Hold Gel by LOMA: you can buy it here, but some of the reviews are saying the product isn’t like how they buy it. This is done via Amazon and via 3rd party. Maybe contact LOMA is your wary.
- Attributes: moderately priced, contains a protein that’s good for LP hair, contains aloe vera, contains sorbitol and panthenol as humectants, certified vegan as cruelty free via PETA
Spray Gel Volume Plus by Beauty Without Cruelty: you can get it here.
- Attributes: moderately priced, contains soy protein (much more tolerable for protein sensitive hair and great for LP), contains aloe vera, contains glycerin as as well as sodium PCA and panthenol as humectants but glycerin is further down, certified vegan as cruelty free via PETA
Curl Enhancing Custard by OBIA Naturals: you can buy it here.
- Attributes: midway, contains wheat protein (strong protein), contains aloe vera, contains glycerin midway down, certified vegan as cruelty free via PETA
Frizz Control Defining Gel by Boo Bamboo: you can buy it here. A slightly less clean option due to Polyquat-69, but it’s one of the best frizz frizz defense agents out there!
- Attributes: midway priced, protein free, contains aloe vera, contains glycerin as well as panthenol and sorbitol as humectants, certified vegan as cruelty free via PETA, TEA isn’t a clean ingredient
