- Publication date:
Hairborist treatments: available in bulk, for over 10 years!
Do you want to reduce your plastic consumption and move towards zero waste? Read on, the shampoo eco-refill is made for you!
Bulk to fight marine pollution
You are probably familiar with bulk, meaning goods that are not packaged before sale. Almost all supermarkets now have a bulk section, and many customers bring their own reusable pouches or glass jars in order to reduce their use of plastic packaging. About ten years ago, we wanted to extend this principle to our haircare products. The goal? Allow our clients to extend their convictions to their bathroom and engage in the protection of the environment, particularly the oceans.
The massive production of plastic since the 1950s poses one of the greatest challenges for the planet: there is a real paradox in producing short-lived or even single-use products in plastic, a material that is extremely durable and takes 100 to 1000 years to decompose completely. Moreover, recycling remains largely a myth in many countries: in France, for example, barely 22% of plastics are recycled. The rest ends up elsewhere, most often in Asia. Neither the technologies currently available nor the nature of the most commonly used plastics allow us to recycle more for the moment. These figures are alarming and explain why plastic has rightly become the enemy of the environment: according to recent research, two million tons of plastics enter the ocean every year.
The Hairborist organic shampoo refill
There is urgency to act, which is why the Hairborist brand wanted to commit and take part in reducing plastic waste. Of course, this required some adaptations: we chose to design our packaging in PET, a very resistant material, which can be refilled many times before showing signs of wear. In addition, this material turns out to be 100% recyclable and much less energy-consuming than glass, for example. We explain in detail in this article the reasons that motivated our decision.
Back to our concept of refillable packaging. To achieve this, we provide our shampoos to our partner hair salons in very large formats, equipped with an adequate pump, so they can refill their clients’ bottles in a very simple and fast way. We explain this concept during all of our professional training sessions to generalize the use of “bulk” in cosmetics and to establish this new habit in the hairdressing sector.
Refilling VS solid shampoo
Very trendy in recent years, solid shampoos have become popular and widely discussed. Considered zero waste ambassadors, they are now found not only in organic stores but also in supermarkets and conventional distribution channels. However, at Hairborist, we have always refused to manufacture solid shampoos. Why? The reason is simple: when we create new products, we are constantly looking for the perfect balance between natural, ecological and effective. And while solid shampoo may indeed seem very attractive from an environmental perspective, its impact on the hair is more mixed: the foaming agents it contains are harsh on the scalp and hair and can, in the long term, weaken it. This is because the base of solid shampoo is soap, which has a basic pH. If this does not pose a problem for body use, it tends to open the hair scales and dry out the fragile skin of the scalp.
Conversely, favoring liquid shampoo allows us to use much gentler cleansing bases, with pH levels close to that of the skin, which respect the balance of the scalp. Let us cite for example our two flagship shampoos, Sensity and Daily Clean: the first is formulated from vegetable soap nuts, an amazing nut, whose exceptional foaming power is matched only by its softness. It is perfectly suited to sensitive and/or dry scalps. The second has a unique sugar-based formula, both original and effective, specially designed for normal hair as well as people who wash their hair frequently.
How does an organic shampoo refill work?
Nothing could be simpler! First, find the nearest Hairborist salon thanks to this map. Then make sure that the salon offers our eco-refill shampoo system and go there to get your beauty product. The first time, you will leave with a product in packaging that seems “classic” but it is not: it has undergone migration content/container tests and was designed to withstand time and wear. From your second visit, make sure to bring your empty shampoo bottle: your hairdresser will clean it if necessary and refill it in just a few moments.
Bonus: you will receive a small discount on your refilled product. For us, this is a way to thank you for your ecological approach and encourage you to continue down this path.
Going further…
If you like the concept of refillable shampoo, why not go further? All our liquid products are available in refill. This applies to our pre-shampoo treatments made from vegetable and essential oils, our detangling balms, but also certain styling products such as our non-aerosol hairspray, our smoothing lotion before blow-drying and our volume mousse, for example. In fact, all of our bottle-format products are refillable. Enough to transform (almost) your entire haircare routine into an engaged and responsible approach!
Share this article
Similar articles
12 October 2026
Your hair follows a natural cycle of growth, transition, rest and shedding. Discover how the hair growth cycle works, what happens during each stage and which factors can influence your hair's natural rhythm....
5 October 2026
Sebum has a bad reputation because we tend to notice it most when our roots become oily. Yet it plays several important roles for both the scalp and hair. Discover why sebum is necessary and how to adapt your hair care routine for oily roots and dry ends....
28 September 2026
A good hair loss routine does not rely on a miracle product. Discover how to care for your scalp, cleanse gently and protect your lengths from breakage, while focusing on what your hair truly needs....