easy ways to make your beauty routine sustainable

How Can You Make Your Beauty Routine More Sustainable?

Your role in sustainable beauty starts with small changes at home: turning off the tap while shampooing (saves gallons weekly), choosing concentrated products that require less rinsing (like Aveda's high-performance formulas), building a capsule haircare routine with 3 to 4 essential products instead of 15+ half-used bottles, recycling bottles correctly (remove pumps, rinse containers, check plastics #1 and #2), and selecting brands that use post-consumer recycled packaging. These daily habits reduce water waste (critical in Southern California), minimize plastic waste, and simplify your routine while improving hair health.

It's a conversation I have almost every day in my chair. A client from San Marino or Altadena will lean in and ask, "Hasblady, I love that you use natural products here, but I feel so overwhelmed trying to be 'green' at home. Where do I even start?"

A client from Altadena came in frustrated with her overflowing bathroom cabinet. She had 15 different products and wasn't sure which ones to actually use or why she'd bought half of them. During her color appointment, we did a "capsule audit" and narrowed it down to four Aveda products that matched her fine, color-treated hair: Smooth Infusion Shampoo, Smooth Infusion Conditioner, Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair leave-in, and Confixor Liquid Gel for styling. She texted me a month later: "My hair has never looked better and I'm using half as many products. Why did I think I needed all that stuff? My bathroom counter finally has space and I'm not overwhelmed every morning." That's the power of buying less but buying right.

I get it completely. For over 30 years, since I first opened my salon doors, my passion has been about more than just creating beautiful hair. It's about caring for the person in the chair and the world we all share. That's the heart of why we are an Aveda Lifestyle Salon here at Bokaos. We believe beauty and responsibility can and should go hand-in-hand.

But that commitment doesn't end when you walk out onto Hugus Alley. The truth is, the most significant impact comes from the small, thoughtful habits we build into our daily lives. So let's talk about a few simple ways you can extend that sustainable ethos into your own home, without adding any stress to your routine.

It All Begins with Your Choices at the Shelf

Walking down a beauty aisle can be confusing. Every bottle promises the world. But as stylists, we learn to look past the flashy labels and understand what's actually inside.

Our salon's founder, Hasblady Guzman, built Bokaos Aveda on the principle of using the purest products possible. This is why our partnership with Aveda is so important. They are deeply committed to things like responsible sourcing and using naturally derived, vegan ingredients. When you choose a brand that already does the heavy lifting on sustainability, you're making an impact before you even open the bottle.

Look for products that are transparent about their ingredients and packaging. Aveda, for example, uses 100% post-consumer recycled materials whenever possible. This simple choice reduces waste and supports a circular economy.

How Your Shower Habits Can Help Southern California

We all love a long, hot shower, especially after a hike in the hills above Pasadena. But in Southern California, we are all keenly aware of how precious water is. The good news is that a few tiny tweaks to your shower routine can make a huge difference.

It's not about taking a rushed, cold shower. It's about being mindful.

  • Turn off the tap while you lather. This is the easiest win. Once you've wet your hair, turn the water off while you massage in your shampoo or let your conditioner work its magic. You'll save gallons of water over the course of a week.
  • Use a high-performance shampoo. This might sound counterintuitive, but using a quality, concentrated shampoo like Goldwell DualSenses Just Smooth Taming Shampoo or Invati Advanced means you need less product to get the job done. Less product often means less time and water are needed to rinse it all out.
  • Consider a cooler rinse. Rinsing your hair with lukewarm or cool water doesn't just save the energy used to heat it; it's actually better for your hair. Cooler water helps seal the hair cuticle, which locks in moisture and adds shine.

These aren't drastic changes. They are small, conscious moments that add up, preserving our local resources while also improving the health of your hair.

Beyond the Blue Bin: Recycling Your Beauty Products Correctly

I've had so many clients admit they just toss their empty product bottles in the trash because they aren't sure how to recycle them. It's a common point of confusion, but it's easier to tackle than you think.

Most plastic bottles, tubs, and jars from reputable brands are recyclable, but the pumps, lids, and sprayers often are not.

Here's a simple checklist to follow:

  1. Empty and Rinse: Make sure the container is as clean and dry as possible. A quick rinse is usually all it takes. Leftover products can contaminate a whole batch of recycling.
  2. Separate the Parts: Unscrew the cap or pump from the bottle. You can typically recycle the bottle itself, but check the little number on the bottom. Most programs in the Pasadena area accept plastics #1 and #2. The pumps and some caps often have to be thrown away.
  3. When in Doubt, Look it Up: A quick search for your local recycling guidelines can clear up any confusion.

And don't forget about repurposing! A beautiful glass jar that once held a hair masque can be perfect for holding cotton swabs, hair ties, or even a small succulent on your windowsill. It's about seeing the potential in an object beyond its first use. That's a core part of the green lifestyle we champion here at Bokaos Aveda.

Building Your "Capsule" Haircare Wardrobe

One of the most powerful sustainable choices is simply to buy less. Instead of having a cabinet overflowing with half-used products you bought on a whim, work with a professional to build a minimalist, effective routine.

Think of it like a capsule wardrobe for your hair. You need a few high-quality, versatile staples that work perfectly for your hair type and goals.

Here are examples based on common hair needs:

This is where a real conversation with your stylist is invaluable. During a cut or color appointment, we can assess your hair's needs and help you choose the 3 to 4 products that will give you the best results. It saves you money, reduces clutter, and ensures that every product you own is one you truly love and will use to the last drop.

Your Sustainable Beauty Questions Answered

How do I recycle product pumps and spray caps?

Most pumps and spray mechanisms cannot be recycled in standard curbside programs because they contain multiple materials (metal springs, plastic tubes). Check if your local area has a specialty recycling program (some Target and Whole Foods locations have beauty product recycling stations). Otherwise, pumps go in the trash, but the bottles themselves can usually be recycled after rinsing. Remove all pumps before placing bottles in your recycling bin.

How can I tell if a beauty brand is truly sustainable or just greenwashing?

Look for specific, verifiable claims rather than vague "natural" or "green" language. True sustainable brands will transparently share: ingredient sourcing details, percentage of post-consumer recycled packaging, vegan or cruelty-free certifications from recognized organizations, and carbon-neutral or offset programs. Aveda, for example, publishes detailed ingredient sourcing information and uses 100% wind power in manufacturing. If a brand makes sustainability claims but provides no specific data, that's a red flag.

What are the best Aveda products for my specific hair type?

This is exactly what we determine during your consultation! Generally: fine hair benefits from Pure Abundance line, frizzy hair from Smooth Infusion, curly hair from Be Curly, dry hair from Cherry Almond or Damage Remedy, color-treated hair from Color Conserve, and thinning hair from Invati Advanced. But texture, density, and styling habits all factor in, which is why a personalized recommendation during your appointment is most effective.

How do I conserve water when I have long, thick hair that takes forever to rinse?

Use the water-off method for shampooing: wet hair thoroughly, turn off water, apply and massage shampoo (this can take 2 to 3 minutes for thick hair), then turn water back on only to rinse. For conditioning, apply product, clip hair up, turn off water while it sits for 2 to 3 minutes, then turn water back on to rinse. Using a concentrated shampoo like Aveda formulas means less product and faster rinsing. This method can save 10+ gallons per shower.

Can I make my own beauty products to be more sustainable?

While DIY can seem sustainable, it's often less effective and sometimes wasteful if ingredients go unused. Professional formulas from companies like Aveda are concentrated, extensively tested for efficacy, and produced at scale with sustainable practices you can't replicate at home. The most sustainable choice is buying fewer, higher-quality products that work for your hair and using them completely. A capsule routine of 3 to 4 professional products creates less waste than experimenting with multiple DIY batches.

Book Your Sustainable Beauty Consultation

Creating a more sustainable beauty routine is a journey, not a destination. It's about making small, conscious choices every day that add up to a big, positive change for ourselves and our environment. It's a philosophy that has guided me and my team for decades, from our first salon to our beautiful space here in Old Pasadena.

If you ever want to chat more about building your own sustainable routine or finding the perfect Aveda products for your hair, we're always here.

Come visit us at Bokaos Aveda Salon at 52 Hugus Alley, Pasadena, CA 91103. Let's find the simple steps that work for you. Give us a call at (626) 304-0007 or book your next appointment online. We can't wait to see you.

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