Recently, our founder, Toni, visited a salon in the UK. The moment she opened the door, the overpowering chemical odour hit her, leaving her feeling nauseous and overwhelmed. It had been eight years since she had encountered such a heavy smell of strong chemicals in a salon.

Love Hair has always worked towards building a brand that’s as close to an organic hair salon as you could get. It’s never been about jumping on the ‘sustainable Singapore’ bandwagon, sustainability and less chemicals are core brand missions.

Founded on the values of mindful environmental impact & sustainability, Love Hair is selective on what we expose our customers to - as well as the environment and our team. As we try to set new standards for sustainable salon practices, we believe that beauty should never come at the cost of our planet.

Environmental Impact of a Hair Salon

Traditional salons can generate a significant amount of waste & chemicals that can be harmful not just to our environment but also to ourselves. Here are five significant ways in which salons have a substantial environmental impact on a larger scale:

• Chemical waste: Salons generate significant amounts of chemical waste from hair dyes, bleaches and other beauty products. Improper disposal can lead to pollution of waterways and soil.

• Energy consumption: The operation of salon equipment, including hair dryers, straighteners and lighting, requires substantial energy usage, contributing to carbon emissions.

• Water usage: Salons consume large quantities of water for hair washing and laundering towels. This places strain on local water resources, especially in regions facing water scarcity.

• Plastic waste: Single-use items such as gloves, capes and product containers contribute to the plastic waste problem. Without proper recycling practices, this can exacerbate environmental issues.

• Air pollution: The use of chemical-laden products, particularly those containing ammonia, can release harmful fumes into the air, impacting both indoor and outdoor air quality.

Making Conscious Choices for a Sustainable Singapore

As one of the most sustainable cities in the world, we’re proud to have a salon that’s as conscious about its environmental impact as the city it thrives in.

Every product we use at Love Hair is carefully evaluated to understand its environmental impact. We select brands and products that align with our company values and share our commitment to sustainability. This includes opting for environmentally-friendly packaging, reducing plastic usage and supporting companies that prioritise ethical and eco-conscious sourcing. We are always focused on using less chemicals. 

At Love Hair, we've made it our mission to minimise our environmental impact. We educate our staff about ways we can reduce our energy and water consumption, as well as recycling practices to significantly reduce our waste output. Our salon basins are equipped with ECOHEADS shower heads, which reduce water & energy wastage by 65%, whilst filtering and softening the water we use for your hair. Even the toilet paper in the salon is made from bamboo and our refreshments are sourced from a bulk food store. 

We recognise our ethical responsibility towards the environment and want to minimise our environmental impact where possible. It's not just about profits; it's about the legacy we leave for future generations. Many of our team members have families and we don’t want to expose them to harsh chemicals that may inadvertently affect their health - not to mention the larger environmental impact of such chemicals over time.

At Love Hair, we believe that businesses can thrive while also being stewards of the environment.

Stepping Towards Being an Organic Hair Salon

Around 8 years ago, our founder, Toni, discovered she had an allergy to the harsh chemicals commonly used in traditional hair dyes. She had developed a sensitivity to the heavy chemicals and would feel dizzy and physically sick - not ideal when you’re a hairdresser! 

This experience was one of the reasons Toni started Love Hair. She knew that if this happened to her, then it could happen to anyone. One of the salons core values is to value health - for her team and her customers. This is why Love Hair is continuously working towards being an organic hair salon. 

While Love Hair advocates for natural, organic products, we understand the need for certain chemicals in hair care. Particularly in the hair dyeing process, chemicals are needed to open up the cuticles in the hair and allow the dye to penetrate. Or during keratin treatment on hair to make the hair more permanently straight. The key is to choose products with less harmful chemicals for these services. 

Our approach is to strike a balance, using the safest and most effective options. This includes moving away from ammonia-based products and we also implement rigorous skin testing for all clients to make sure that no allergic reactions happen.

Our Ethically Sourced Products

The products we use at Love Hair are a testament to our commitment to sustainability. These products not only deliver exceptional results but also align perfectly with our vision for a greener future.

Kevin Murphy

A renowned hair care brand, Kevin Murphy prioritises natural ingredients in their products, which are cruelty-free and avoid harmful chemicals where possible. This includes sourcing ingredients and materials in an eco-conscious manner, as well as implementing practices that aim to reduce their overall carbon footprint. Additionally, the brand employs packaging materials that are either recyclable or biodegradable.

Olaplex

‍Olaplex is a revolutionary hair care brand that strengthens and repairs hair on a molecular level, particularly post-treatment. But more than that, Olaplex achieves this through cruelty-free practices which never test on animals and using sustainable packaging. 

Bhave

‍Bhave revolutionised the keratin treatment on hair by extracting bioactive keratin from pure New Zealand’s sheep wool, unlike other keratin treatments that are synthetic chemicals. Bhave works on reducing its overall environmental footprint through minimising waste, conserving energy and adopting practices that contribute to a healthier planet.

Conclusion

It’s the 21st century and we believe everyone has to do their part in making choices on our environmental impact - as individuals and as businesses. Our journey towards becoming an organic hair salon is a testament to our dedication to a better, more sustainable beauty industry and more sustainable Singapore. At Love Hair, our belief in sustainability runs deep. We will continue to create a safer environment for our team and clients, and leave a positive impact on the planet.