Last Updated on April 6, 2023 by Verna Meachum

If you’re a vegan, you might be wondering if there are any vegan curly hair products on the market. The good news is that there are plenty of vegan hair care options available nowadays.

You can find vegan shampoo, conditioner, hair masks, and other styling products that will hydrate and protect your hair.

This article will provide an overview of what vegan curly hair products are, including what to look for when shopping for vegan hair care products and some of the best vegan curly hair products available.

We’ll also drop some nuggets for how to easily spot vegan products on the market (or online).

Overview

Vegan curly hair products are becoming more and more popular as people become aware of the benefits they offer.

For example, they are free of harsh chemicals and synthetic ingredients that can strip away natural oils and damage hair.

Instead, vegan curly hair products rely on plant-based ingredients to nourish and hydrate hair. This means that they can help to restore moisture levels, strengthen hair, and improve manageability.

So if you’re looking for a way to achieve healthy, beautiful curls without breaking the bank, vegan curly hair products are definitely worth considering.

What are Vegan Curly Hair Products?

Vegan curly hair products are those that do not contain any animal-derived ingredients or animal byproducts. 

Vegan is also cruelty-free, meaning that the product was not tested on animals during any stage of development.

Many vegan products also avoid using artificial colors, fragrances, and other harsh chemicals that can irritate the scalp or skin.

Shopping for Vegan Curly Hair Products

When shopping for vegan curly hair products, make sure to check the ingredients list to ensure that there are no animal-derived or insect-derived ingredients such as:

• beeswax
• honey
• lanolin
• gelatin
• collagen
• milk
• keratin
• silk
• egg
• amino acids
• products may also not contain or be sourced from leather, fur, silk, feathers, down, bone, horn, shell, wool, cashmere, shearling, angora, animal skin, suede, or mohair.
• carmine
• squalene
• oleic acid
• casein
• glycerin not listed as vegetable glycerin
• panthenol (check with the brand as this can be derived from animals, but it’s also derived from plants or can be synthesized)
• stearyl alcohol, cetyl alcohol, caprylic/capric triglyceride (may be vegan but, please check with the manufacturer to find out the source).

Vegan products will be made with plant-derived nutrients and oils that will nourish your hair. They will also be cruelty-free, meaning they have not been tested on animals.

Common vegan hair care ingredients include:

• argan oil

• shea butter

• cupuaçu butter

• coconut oil

• aloe vera

• jojoba oil

• avocado oil

• botanical extracts

• hydrolyzed soy protein

• castor seed oil

• sunflower oil

• lavender oil

• hydrolyzed rice protein

• hydrolyzed wheat protein

• hydrolyzed oat protein

• guar gum

• kelp extract

• hydrolyzed quinoa

These ingredients are all incredibly beneficial for curly hair. They can help to restore moisture levels, strengthen hair, and improve manageability.

How Can I Check If My Product Is Vegan Friendly?

The process of finding out if an item is vegan friendly can be time-consuming. What should I be looking for on my packaging?

To identify vegan-certified curly hair care products, look for labels on the packaging that state “vegan,” “vegan-friendly.”

Tools

Another way to check if a product is vegan is to look for the vegan certification symbol on the product or packaging.

This certification is given by vegan organizations such as:

• Vegan Society
• Certified Vegan
• Peta
• V-label (from the European Union)
• Vegan Action
• Choose Cruelty Free
• Leaping Bunny
• Double Check Vegan Tool. This tool is really cool. All you have to do is copy and paste the ingredient listing or type a single ingredient in the search bar and it will tell you if it’s vegan-friendly or not. Note – this is for ingredients only, not product names.

Tips

✓ When in doubt, contact the company and ask if their product is vegan and cruelty-free.

✓ If a product contains wax, be sure it’s palm-derived carnauba wax.

✓ Check out PETA’s Beauty Without Bunnies search tool to find cruelty-free, vegan hair products.

✓ Search tools in NaturallyCurly’s Shop. Use their filter option to find cruelty-free products.

✓ When in doubt, leave it out. If you can’t find vegan-certified products or you’re not sure about an ingredient, it’s always best to err on the side of caution and choose a different product.

When it comes to vegan curly hair products, there are plenty of options available on the market. With a little bit of research, you’ll be able to find vegan products that will work well for your curly hair.

We’ve provided a list of some popular vegan curly hair products on the market. Please note, this is not an all-inclusive list.

Feel free to use the tools above to help you find vegan products that work for you.

Vegan Curly Hair Products

Cleansers

Conditioners

Leave-In Conditioners

Curl Creams

Gels/Custards/Jelly

Mousse

Hair Treatments

Pillowcase/Slap Cap

A satin pillowcase or sleep cap is a must-have to keep your curls frizz-free and to reduce breakage throughout the night. Avoid silk, which is manufactured by boiling worms alive in their own cocoons.