New research reveals nearly a quarter of people in Wales are facing the dilemma of a bad hair day a few days a week or more, but is tackling the tangle challenging our efforts to be eco-friendly?
Across Wales, 6 in 10 people who have bad hair days use an electrical item to fix it, with over three quarterssaying it can take up to half an hour to redo their do. However, half would try using more eco-friendly methods, if they could see how much they were spending on energy to fix their hair.
Luckily help is at hand. A smart meter will show anyone fighting a ferocious frizz how longer use of electrical appliances impacts their energy use.
Getting a smart meter is a small step everyone can take to help combat the climate crisis and using one to see your energy use is key to reducing it. While firing up your hairdryer or straighteners for longer might only use a small amount of energy, it all adds up.
Commissioned by Smart Energy GB, the survey of over 200 Welsh people also found that hairdryers, straighteners and curling tongs were the most popular tools to tame an unruly mop. However, nearly half of people surveyed in Wales claimed never to have a bad hair day.
To help reduce our energy use, owners of Amaryllis eco-Salon in Cardiff, Rebecca O’ Brien and Tiffany Hall, have developed a list of small sustainable swaps to your hair care routine.
- Avoid aerosols – Non-aerosol hair sprays such as Davines will last 3 or 4 times longer than the aerosol versions and can be a great way to hold down that one curly lock that just won’t stay in place. What’s more, you can pick them up for the same price!
- Try a dry shampoo or leave-in conditioner – Washing your hair everyday could do it more harm than good, so switching to an eco-friendly product you can use out of the shower such as a non-aerosol dry shampoo or conditioner will save your hot water and your time when dealing with a bad hair day.
- Go low maintenance – Choosing an easy to style hair cut can be one of the most effectively sustainable ways to tackle a bad hair day. Think about how your hair falls naturally and work with it so reduce use of heat appliances, products and energy at home.
- Pick the right packaging – Some brands offer their products in biodegradable packaging, so check the label when you buy to see how environmentally friendly yours is.
- Come for a refill – At Amaryllis if you bring four of our Davines bottles back when they’re empty, we will refill a shampoo for you for free. This is great for the pocket and environment!
- Try staying cool – We use so much hot water while washing our hair, so switching to a cooler temperature when washing your will keeps your energy use down. For the brave, a cold rinse is great for the scalp and the condition and shine of your hair too!
- Use your appliances effectively – Your hair dryer doesn’t need to be on a very hot setting all of the time and will do the same job on a lower setting for less energy. Speak to your stylist about drying and styling tips and make sure your hairdryer is still working efficiently. The older they get, the more likely they are to need replacing.
- Seek out a sustainable salon – Ask a professional at your local eco-friendly salon for their own top tips on how to manage your hair at home in the most sustainable way to help reduce the energy you spend and use.
Ellen Clark, Director of PR and Digital Media at Smart Energy GB, said:
“You never know when a bad hair day is going to strike, so having some eco-friendly tricks up your sleeve will help you to use less energy, and in turn, help to tackle climate change. Requesting a smart meter from your energy supplier to see what affect your behaviour has on your energy consumption is the best way to reduce it.
“Smart meters are changing the way we use energy, helping to build a more sustainable future and paving the way to more renewable power sources. While they can’t solve climate change on their own, they are a vital step we must all take to help stop it.”
Smart meters are the building blocks of a reliable, clean and affordable energy system, helping to create a more sustainable future and there are already over 14.3 million installed in homes and microbusinesses across Great Britain. Every household in England, Scotland and Wales can request a smart meter at no extra cost by simply searching I want a smart meter or calling 0300 131 8000.
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