Plant powered hair colour is gaining popularity with beauty enthusiasts

We know hair colour has come along way since the Marilyn Monroe platinum days. But have we really figured out how to effectively develop professional colour lines with ingredients powered by plants?

The short answer YES! There are now several effective and well reviewed professional colour lines that have focused on plant-based ingredients, low toxicity and/or sustainability. Not all colour lines are created equally and they all focus on something different. Though their bottom line is effectiveness.

Because without good grey coverage, there is little point in offering any colouring services.

Plant-based hair colour lines start from the ground up. But are also being designed to return to the ground with higher and higher amounts of biodegradability.

Just over 10 years ago, there were a handful of professional hair care and colour brands offering plant-based products, though they were mostly okay in what they offered. Some better than others. The last decade has see tremendous growth for plant-based, low toxicity and sustainable brands. People are demanding it and the professional brands have gotten significantly better at what they offer in a product.

At our salon, Queen's Shop - Fine Hairdressing Inc. we have chosen Davines as our main colour and haircare line. We found that they align most with our standards of gentle beauty care, sustainability and plant-based ingredients.

I also want to be clear, when we say plant-based hair colour, we don't mean things like henna.

When you walk into our salon, it doesn't smell chemically like a typical salon. And that alone is a great reason to want plant-based hair colour. I also want to be clear, when we say plant-based hair colour, we don't mean things like henna. We are still hairstylist professionals, and though henna isn't bad per say, it doesn't give the flexibility and care for the hair that traditional hair colour and developer offer.

And when someone says 'so it's all natural', to me there suggesting things like henna, lemon juice or beet juice. There is very much so still science and a chemical reaction with professional hair colour brands. Even with the ammonia free lines. It is still a scientifically formulated chemical reaction, working with how the hair melanin functions.

Henna instead is a stain. We can't effectively remove it. Which is why most hairstylists will turn you away and suggest you grow it out or colour over it.

While we are here, some will say things such as 'I don't want to use any chemicals' and this an impossible ask. Water is a chemical. What we want is low toxicity chemicals, that's a very reasonable request for products you put on your skin and use every day. And this is the reason our salon doesn't smell like hair dye when you walk in. Yet our colour line is every bit effective.

Benefits of plant-based products is that plants are easier to grow than animals, and less harmful to collect ingredients from.

Now the big picture benefits of plant-based products is that plants are easier to grow than animals, and less harmful to collect ingredients from. Therefore, it is instantly better on the planet. And, plant derived ingredients are more likely to be biodegradable.

They support agriculture research and biodiverse slow food farming.

Brands like Davines take this to another level by sourcing sustainably grown plant ingredients. By using only what they need to make the products their most effective, instead of watered down. They support agriculture research and biodiverse slow food farming. Which is even better for our planet. Their goal is to leave things better than how they found it.

These brands give us access to a beautiful hair colour with lasting effects; tonality and hair health.

And from a hairstylists perspective, these brands give us access to a beautiful hair colour with lasting effects; tonality and hair health. As well as being better for OUR health too, though hair colour on average is fine for a client to come into contact on an occasional basis, hairstylists breathe in fumes and touch hair colour every work day, for several hours. This can be damaging to the body and immune system over time. Some are unaffected, though many are and have had to change careers. If we can choose to work with a brand that offers a low toxin colour line, that is what is going to best for our health. And if it's healthier for us, it will likely be for you too.

As always, I want people to keep in mind that everyone's body is different with unique situations. What is good for one person, isn't necessarily good for another. If you've been thinking of switching to plant-based hair colour, but have had reactions to hair colour in the past, come in for a patch test. We always recommend speaking to your doctor(dermatologist) or naturopath if you do have reactions. You may be allergic to certain ingredients. For example, I am sensitive to foods like kale and quinoa. They are 'healthy' foods, just not for my body.

Eventually, all brands will come around to using plant-based ingredients. And we can't wait for the possibilities.

Davines' professional permanent hair colour line is beautiful, effective and sustainable right down to the packaging.