Hair care without cruelty

Hi, I’m Kelly Director at Opulence, and I’m so excited to talk about a topic that’s close to my heart – vegan and cruelty-free haircare.

It’s the start of a new year and the perfect time to reflect on the impact of our choices and try something new. Why not start with your haircare routine?

Switching to vegan and cruelty-free haircare products is easier than ever – and is a step that benefits your hair, our animal friends and the planet.

Let me walk you through it – it’s simpler than you think:

Why go vegan with your haircare routine?

Choosing vegan isn’t just about moving away from animal ingredients, rather it’s about embracing clean, effective products that work wonders for your hair.

I’m often asked whether vegan haircare products are as good as non-vegan ones. The answer is a big YES. Vegan products have come a long way. Today’s vegan products are packed with powerful plant-based ingredients that deliver amazing benefits, without compromise.

Cruelty-Free vs. Vegan. What’s the difference?

Here’s where things can get a little confusing:

• A product can be vegan (no animal ingredients) but still tested on animals.
• On the flip side, a cruelty-free product won’t involve testing but could still contain animal-derived ingredients.

Easy steps to transition

A gradual shift to ease the transition: Start with the basics, like swapping out your shampoo or conditioner for vegan alternatives. Gradual changes are easier to stick with. It’s all about making small changes that soon add up.

We carry a range of vegan-friendly products to help you take the first step. Do ask us for recommendations tailored to your hair type.

All of our Benvoleo line are completely Vegan friendly and majority of our Semi Di Lino line are also vegan-friendly as they have reformulated the products with any animal-derived ingredients.

Ethical haircare for 2025

Neither the term ‘vegan’ nor ‘cruelty-free’ is regulated, so understanding labels and ingredients is key to making informed choices.

Feel overwhelmed by ingredient labels? You’re not alone. Did you know 1 in 3 people don’t understand the ingredients in their hair & beauty products?

Plant-based haircare: pure and simple

Look out for words on the label like keratin, lanolin, beeswax, honey, glycerine, marine oil, gelatine, squalene, hyaluronic acid, uric acid, carmine (cochineal) and stearic acid which are typically sourced from animals.

A quick word of caution: Products are constantly being updated and re-formulated so make sure you check the label each time you buy, if you’re strict about following a vegan lifestyle.

The truth behind cruelty-free labels

Claims such as “cruelty-free” or “not tested on animals,” may only refer to the final product, when in fact, nearly all animal testing occurs at the ingredient level.

Sometimes you’ll see “We do not test on animals” on the product. BUT the brand could still have paid other companies to do the practical testing.

For complete peace of mind look for the Leaping Bunny logo. It’s the only internationally recognised certification guaranteeing that no animal testing was carried out in developing the product. But remember the ‘Leaping Bunny’ logo does not necessarily mean the product is vegan.

Alfaparf Milano products used in salon are manufactured in Italy. The EU has banned animal testing for cosmetics since 2004 for finished products and 2009 for ingredients.

Ready for a fresh start?

If you’d like to explore vegan and cruelty-free options for your hair, drop by for a chat. We’d love to help you find the perfect products for you.

Here’s to a fresh start for 2025 – and a more conscious, compassionate approach to beauty. 💚