An Environmental Emma Must-have: Explore this Sustainable Hair & Skincare Company

I don’t know about you, but every time I step in the shower all I see is plastic, plastic, and more plastic, whether it’s body wash, shampoo, or other products- every single one is in a plastic container.  Before I can even look at the actual ingredients in my hair products to see if they are eco-friendly, I am faced with the staggering amount of plastic waste that these hair products will produce over the course of my lifetime and beyond.  Plastic does not break down like other natural elements, because it is NOT natural. It releases carcinogenic chemicals (cancer-causing chemicals), seeps into our natural resources and wildlife, and goes against everything sustainable.  (For more information about plastics and microplastics, refer to my explore page.) Luckily, I have found hair products that not only eliminate the use of plastic, but also have safe, eco-friendly ingredients that are effective. 

Easy to Use: Plaine Products is a company that has embraced sustainability in a way that is accessible and convenient.  The company was started by two sisters whose goal was to reduce the use of plastic in the world.  They sell hair products, body wash, face wash, lotion and more and use refillable aluminum bottles for all of their products! Aluminum is a naturally occurring element, whereas plastic is created by humans.

Why I Love Plaine Products: I have long, thick hair that makes it inconvenient for me to use a shampoo and conditioner bar, which is the one of the only other sustainable alternatives to plastic bottles. Plaine Products takes a different approach, and uses bottles similar to those of mainstream shampoos, conditioners, etc. but the ingredients are completely natural and eco-friendly. An added plus is that I don’t need to use as much product per wash as I do with other hair brands because the ingredients are all natural – especially because many mainstream hair products have toxins that bind to your hair, making it brassy and harder to brush.  When I use Plaine Products, my hair feels smooth, nourished and it smells great! 

Shampoo/Conditioner- Useful Tips: Non-toxic shampoos typically don’t produce much lather.  Plaine Products shampoo, however, lathers very nicely using a natural ingredient Quillaja Saponaria.  To achieve the most lather, make sure your hair is very wet before applying the shampoo and add more water while shampooing for more even more lather.  If you have oily hair, leave the shampoo on for a few minutes.  If you have dry hair, leave the conditioner on for 3-5 minutes before rinsing.

A possible con (but not really): When you’re used to using products with silicones, sulfates, parabens, etc., your hair will take a little time to adjust to natural ingredients, so it could take a few weeks before you see the benefits of using a natural brand. Many of the chemicals used in mainstream hair products are designed to immediately address an issue, like frizz control or oily hair, but these chemicals can negatively affect your hair long-term. Plaine Products are also tear-free, so if you get them in your eyes, you won’t get a chemical burn – which I was surprised to learn is a potential effect of many mainstream brands. It could, however, still sting slightly, so I would be careful if you’re using them on a baby.   

Eco Friendly Bottles/Packaging: When you buy Plaine Products, you can submit another order when your supply gets low. They will then send you new bottles, allowing you to ship back your aluminum bottles to be reused (for free). This constant cycle of refilling and reusing makes Plaine Products one of the most sustainable hair products out there, and the fact that the bottles are aluminum mean that these bottles really can be reused and recycled for an extended period of time. In contrast, there is usually a limit to how long a plastic container can be reused or recycled. The only bit of plastic used in Plaine Products is a pump, which you only have to get once (you can reuse the pumps when you get refills). 

Cost: One of the issues I have run into when shopping sustainably is finding products that are actually affordable, because unfortunately, it’s often cheaper to use toxic chemicals. There are some other companies out there that use natural ingredients, but the sticker price is too high!  Plaine Products is more expensive than your standard drugstore brand, but is the quality of a salon brand at a fraction of the price. Plaine Products also offers a subscription plan that gives you 10% off when you refill.  If you’re not sure when you will want a refill, just set the subscription for 6 months or a year out and change it before you run out. You can also use my coupon code for 20% off: ECOEMMA. One final thing I like to remind readers when they shop is that although some sustainable products might be pricier than a drugstore brand, buying sustainably is an investment in your health, the environment, and in small companies, like Plaine Products, that are fueling the economy.  

Scents: Plaine Products offers 2 scents made from essential oils (natural ingredients): rosemary vanilla-mint and citrus lavender.  Most people seem to have a very strong preference. Honestly, I was happy with both, but my family preferred the lavender – my mom said it smelled like she was at a spa. I initially bought travel sizes of each scent (which are also refillable!) so I could try both scents before committing.  

Bodywash & Lotion: Plaine Products is truly a one stop sustainable shop.  If you are “married” to your current hair products and not quite ready to make a change, I would suggest at least switching to Plaine Products’ body wash and lotion. That will get you started on reducing plastic in your bathroom. The body wash and lotion come in the same two scents as the shampoo and conditioner: rosemary-mint-vanilla OR citrus-lavender.  I really love both.  I’m telling you these products will last you months.  You only need a little bit. EXCITING TIP: The citrus lavender lotion is helping me as a mosquito repellent! While humans love the lavender scent, mosquitoes don’t!  I douse my skin in this lotion before doing yard work and it’s been effective!  Here’s another reason to use this lotion: its main ingredient is aloe.  This lotion is a great after-sun moisturizer and helps heal and soothe skin that’s gotten too much sun.  My sister got a bad sunburn and this lotion didn’t sting and helped soothe the painful burn.

My Favs:  Plaine Products has a beauty oil that I just love!  I have researched so many companies and between my family members, we have tried a lot of oils!  There are plenty that I like, but many are typically anywhere from $50 to $100 for a bottle, not to mention that most come in plastic! Plaine Products has a beauty oil that you can use on dry skin, scars, anti-aging, etc. I personally use it to smooth out my hair after a blow dry. It’s a great alternative to getting keratin treatments (which are pricey and bad for your health.)The beauty oil seemingly lasts forever, so I consider it a must-have. My other favorite is the hair repair spray.  When hair is over processed, it tends to become dry and damaged. Hair repair is a great way to enhance the health of your hair. It can be used as a detangler, but I use it as leave-in conditioner.  It can also be used to repair split ends. It makes my hair feel softer and makes it shinier!

Skincare: I have been using the face cleanser, toner and moisturizer for about 8 months.  I love all of them!  The cleanser has a citrus scent and is made with vitamin C.  It’s good for all skin types.  My skin tends to be a mix of oily and dry whereas my mother’s is dry.  It works really well for both of us.  I only need a pump or two each time, so it lasts a long time before I need to order more.  I also enjoy the toner to balance my skin’s PH levels.  It’s hydrating and it naturally shrinks pores.  I just use a spritz or two.  The moisturizer is my personal skincare favorite.  It’s so gentle and doesn’t clog pores.  It is full of antioxidants and nutrients and helps to smooth fine lines and wrinkles.  I have really sensitive skin and this has worked better for me than any other moisturizer I’ve tried in the past.

Remarks from a Hair Stylist: After discussing Plaine Products with a hair stylist, she had an interesting comment;  You shouldn’t need to have five different hair products from a company in order to get the desired effects.  A good company sells hair products that require no additional reinforcement, and Plaine Products is the perfect example.  When you buy from Plaine Products, you aren’t being told that you need to buy an 8-step hair care routine, their shampoo, conditioner, and the occasional dash of oil is enough to sustain your hair.  

So, next time you shower, look around.  What will you see… A LOT of plastic??  If so, consider trying something new. As always, if you try this, please comment and let me know what you think!  

*Starter suggestions– shampoo, conditioner, body wash and/or lotion, and my favorite, beauty oil. 20% off with promo code: ECOEMMA