For many people, the word “vegan” is usually associated with food. It’s less commonly linked to everyday products like clothing, furniture, or personal care items.
But in recent years, vegan shampoo has become part of the conversation, often prompting the same question: What exactly is vegan shampoo, and why are so many people switching to it?
That’s why vegan shampoo has gained attention not as a trend, but as a more thoughtful approach to hair and scalp care.
What Is Vegan Shampoo, Really?
Vegan shampoo means no animal-derived ingredients and no animal testing.
That includes ingredients like animal keratin, collagen, beeswax, lanolin, or silk proteins — which still show up in a lot of traditional hair products.
Instead, vegan shampoos use plant-based ingredients and botanical extracts to cleanse and nourish your hair.
Also, vegan shampoo isn’t just about the end product, it’s about the entire production process being free from animal testing and harm.
Why Vegan Shampoo Often Feels Gentler
If you’ve ever felt like your scalp is:
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dry but also oily
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itchy for no clear reason
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irritated even though you “wash properly”
…it’s often not your hair type. It’s the shampoo.
Some shampoos use very strong cleansers to strip away oil and buildup. They do clean but they can also throw your scalp out of balance.
Dermatology research shows that harsh cleansing ingredients can disrupt the scalp’s natural barrier over time, which may lead to dryness or irritation.
Additional clinical reviews on scalp conditions note that irritation and itch are often linked to product formulation and ingredient exposure, rather than hair type alone.
Another factor to consider is ingredient sensitivity. Clinical studies on allergic contact dermatitis show that some shampoo components can trigger scalp reactions in susceptible individuals.
Because vegan shampoos tend to use milder, plant-derived surfactants, they are often better tolerated particularly for sensitive or reactive scalps.
Why Shampoo Bars Are Even Better
Liquid shampoo is mostly water and needs extra preservatives to stay stable in plastic bottles. Shampoo bars skip that they’re more concentrated and come with less packaging.
And when it comes to waste, data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency shows that plastic packaging is a major part of household waste, including bathroom products.
One shampoo bar can replace two to three bottles of liquid shampoo, which is why so many people switching to low-waste routines start here.
How to Identify Vegan Shampoo
If you’re new to vegan shampoo, it helps to keep things simple.
Here are a few easy ways to spot one:
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Check the label: Look for “vegan” or “cruelty-free” clearly stated on the packaging.
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Glance at the ingredients: Some shampoos still use animal-derived ingredients, so fewer and more familiar ingredients are usually a good sign.
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Consider the brand: Brands that focus on plant-based and ethical products tend to be more consistent across their range.
Once you know what to look for, choosing a vegan shampoo becomes much less overwhelming.
And if you’re curious about trying a vegan shampoo bar but don’t want anything complicated, this is where /liv/ Nature comes in.
It offers plant-based, vegan shampoo bars designed for everyday use, no plastic bottles, no unnecessary fillers, and no overpowering formulas. Just simple bars that do their job and are easy to stick with.
They’re a great option if you:
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want to try shampoo bars for the first time
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prefer simple ingredient lists
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are cutting back on plastic
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want something gentle for regular use
Vegan shampoo doesn’t promise miracles.
It just removes a lot of what your hair and scalp don’t need.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what makes the biggest difference.
