What Are The Best Plant-Based Haircare Brands?
Plant-based haircare brands are evolving our wellness routines, offering a more natural, sustainable approach to hair health. From what it really means to why it’s worth the switch, here’s everything you need to know.
As the demand for cleaner, greener beauty grows, more of us are taking a closer look at what we put on our hair. Harsh sulfates, synthetic fragrances, and chemical-heavy formulas are being left behind in favour of more mindful, plant-based alternatives, and for good reason. Today’s leading plant-based haircare brands are building their entire ethos around gentle, effective ingredients that nourish rather than strip, supporting long-term hair and scalp health in a more sustainable way. This isn’t just a trend, it’s a movement towards healthier routines that work in harmony with both your body and our planet.
In this blog, we’re diving into the world of plant-based haircare and spotlighting the standout brands that are making waves with botanical formulas, sustainable practices, and results you can actually see (and feel).
What Is Plant-Based Haircare?
Plant-based haircare refers to products that are made with ingredients extracted from plants. This includes anything from botanical extracts and essential oils, to fruit enzymes, seeds, and herbs. These formulas avoid harsh synthetic chemicals, artificial colours, and animal-derived ingredients, making them a more natural and often gentler alternative to conventional products.
Plant-based doesn’t always mean 100% natural (some synthetic ingredients may be used for stability or performance), but the emphasis is always on cleaner, more ethical formulations.
Many plant-based brands are also:
- Vegan certified: No animal ingredients or by-products.
- Cruelty-free: Never tested on animals.
- Eco-conscious: Using sustainable sourcing and recyclable packaging.
How Is Plant-Based Haircare Different?
Unlike traditional products that often rely on sulphates, parabens, silicones and synthetic fragrance, plant-based haircare focuses on nourishing your scalp and hair strands without disrupting your skin barrier or the environment.
Where synthetic ingredients may offer a short-term fix (like gloss or volume), plant-based alternatives are designed to deliver long-term hair health, targeting the root cause of issues like dryness, dullness, and damage.
This makes plant-based formulas ideal for people with sensitive skin, allergies, or those wanting to reduce their exposure to irritating ingredients.
What Are the Benefits of Switching to Plant-Based Haircare?
Thinking of making the switch? Here are some of the key benefits:
- Gentler on your scalp: Free from harsh detergents like SLS, which can strip your natural oils.
- Supports long-term hair health: Nourishes with ingredients your hair recognises and responds to.
- Minimises product buildup: Avoids heavy silicones that can suffocate and weigh your hair down.
- Sustainability: Brands often use low-impact ingredients, biodegradable formulas and eco-friendly packaging.
- Kind to animals: Most are vegan certified and cruelty-free.
Using plant-based haircare brands doesn’t mean you have to compromise on results. In fact, many people find their hair becomes shinier, softer, and easier to manage over time.
Plant-Based Haircare Brands to Know About
Monpure
This British brand is at the forefront of plant-based scalp and hair health. Monpure blends botanical extracts like aloe vera and pumpkin seeds with active ingredients to reduce irritation and encourage healthy hair growth.
Try: Monpure Follicle Boost Hair Density Serum – A lightweight, vegan certified serum designed to revitalise your roots.
Centred
A wellness-first brand that addresses hair health from the inside out. Centred use clean, vegan formulas that are packed with antioxidant-rich plant oils and aromatherapeutic blends, promoting health hair growth and mental wellbeing.
Try: Centred En-Root Scalp Treatment – A cooling, pre-wash scalp serum infused with peppermint and rosemary to stimulate hair growth.
Olaplex
Known for their bond-repairing technology, Olaplex’s formulas are now fully vegan certified, a huge bonus for those who want strength, shine and sustainability.
Try: Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo – A cult favourite for a reason, helping to strengthen dry, brittle and damaged hair.
Hairburst
Hairburst takes a nutritional approach to haircare, combining plant-based ingredients and supplements to support strong, healthy hair growth from within.
Try: Hairburst Healthy Hair Vitamins – Powered by a premium blend of 26 vitamins and minerals including biotin, zinc and selenium. Shop with 30% off right now for a limited time only!
ESPA
A luxurious plant-based brand rooted in spa rituals. ESPA’s haircare range uses natural oils and aromatherapy to calm your senses while conditioning your hair and scalp.
Try: ESPA Super Nourish Glossing Conditioner – Uses naturally active ingredients to replenish and nourish stressed hair strands.
Key Plant-Based Ingredients to Look Out For
Some of the most effective ingredients in plant-based haircare include:
- Aloe Vera: Calms the scalp and boosts hydration.
- Coconut Oil: Rich in fatty acids to smooth and strengthen.
- Argan Oil: Adds gloss and seals in moisture.
- Rosemary Oil: Stimulates scalp circulation.
- Pea Sprout Extract: Promotes hair growth and strengthens roots.
- Pumpkin Seed Extract: Supports hair density naturally.
Not Sure What Plant-based Haircare Brands to Use?
Take Our Hair Test
Not sure which plant-based haircare brands are right for your routine? Our real-time hair quiz helps match you with the best products based on your hair type and concerns, in just a few minutes.
Explore Our Plant-Based Haircare Brands
If you're looking for haircare that supports your wellness goals, making the switch to plant-based is a no-brainer. It's sustainable, skin-friendly, and packed with the power of nature. What's not to love?
Explore our full edit of vegan certified haircare.
Shop Plant-Based Haircare Brands
Bring bounce back into dry, dull and damaged hair with ESPA Super Nourish Glossing Conditioner, rich in Acai Phytosterols to instantly quench parched strands with intense hydration.
Ideal for sufferers of a dry, irritated, flakey, or oily scalp, CENTRED. En-Root Scalp Oil soothes, calms, detoxes, and stimulates hair growth.
Looking for More Hair Inspiration?
Don’t miss our blog, ‘Refillable Skincare, Haircare, and Self-Care For The Environmentally Conscious’ where we share advice and product picks to boost your ethical wellness routine.
