How to Become a Cruelty-Free Salon

Today, choosing cruelty-free products isn’t just an ethical choice; it’s a necessity. At SBS, we know that there’s no place for animal cruelty. In our industry, there have been decades of animal testing, which is why we should be making a stand that enough is enough.

We are proud to stock an extensive range of cruelty-free hair products online, giving salons and industry professionals everything they need to transform their salons into cruelty-free spaces. So, here, we thought we’d explore just how you can do this! From selecting brands that align with these values to understanding how to recognise whether a product has been tested on animals before using it in your salon, we’re here to help you.

What Is the Difference Between Vegan and Cruelty-Free Hair Products?

There’s a simple and short answer to this question: vegan salon products aren’t manufactured using any substances that animals have produced, and cruelty-free products do not use animal testing in their production. There is some overlap, and many vegan brands are also cruelty-free and vice versa. However, you shouldn’t assume that a brand is one just because it’s the other. If you wish to stock only professional vegan hair products, such as those available here at SBS, you must check the packaging for an official vegan certification. But how do you check if a product or brand is cruelty-free?

How to Identify Cruelty-Free Products

Sometimes, hair product packaging can be challenging to decipher. While an industry professional with years of experience may know how to translate the various technical terms and what each ingredient does for a client’s hair, someone at the beginning of their career may struggle with this. Thankfully, identifying if a product is cruelty-free is simple – just look for the bunny! The Leaping Bunny logo is a clear indicator that your chosen product has been made without testing on animals. If you don’t see this, look out for the PETA cruelty-free or Choose Cruelty-Free logos. In instances where the label is damaged, missing or unclear, or you want to order products online and need to cross-check an entire brand, there are plenty of search tools online to assist.

For example, the Leaping Bunny Shopping Guide is constantly updated with plenty of fantastic cruelty-free hair care brands for you to choose from. There are so many that you’ll never need to buy from a brand that tests on animals ever again! To make things easier, we recommend shopping at SBS! We only stock cruelty-free products on our website, so you can rest assured that when you purchase from us, you’ll never stock an item or brand that has been involved in animal testing.

The Environmental Benefits of Becoming a Cruelty-Free Salon

As you’d expect, the main benefit of choosing cruelty-free products is that no animals are ever harmed in their production. However, there are also indirect environmental advantages to choosing products with these ethics. For example, many companies that adopt these practices often also prioritise sustainable efforts as part of their mission. While animal welfare is incredibly important, these hair care companies also choose to establish cruelty-free production as part of their strive to minimise their environmental impact. Of course, if you want to be a more sustainable salon, you should look into this separately and select brands that align with your morals. But, in general, choosing a cruelty-free company for your salon professional supplies stands you in good stead and is the best choice you can make for animal welfare.

The Business Benefits of Becoming a Cruelty-Free Salon

Salon owners will be pleased to know that becoming a cruelty-free salon is also beneficial from a business standpoint; let’s take a look:

• Improve your brand image. Choosing these products will help enhance your reputation and make you stand out as an ethical choice for both clients and other industry professionals looking to work with you.

• Stay ahead of trends. Being ethical is much more than a trend; but consumers and clients are becoming much more interested in brands that have eco-conscious morals. Because of this, highlighting your cruelty-free nature helps you stay on top of this movement and stock the latest products and brands to stay ahead of what’s new.

• Comply with regulations. Here in the UK, testing on animals is banned. By choosing to only use cruelty-free products, you’re guaranteed to stay compliant with the government’s regulations on animal testing.

At SBS, we’re proud to have created a community of like-minded individuals with the same morals and ethics. As part of our Trade Registration, industry professionals have access to a wider range of cruelty-free hair products with next-day delivery, advanced payment discount, and free shipping on orders over £100, to name just a few benefits! We make stocking your salon with ethical products simple and cost-effective, and we are proud of the community we’ve created.

The Best Cruelty-Free Brands at SBS

As mentioned, we’re proud to only offer brands that do not use animal testing in their production. This means that whether you’re looking for cruelty-free salon shampoo, conditioners, or styling products when you shop at SBS, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for.

• O&M – This brand is PETA-approved and is committed to sustainability through its wide range of ethically-approved products.

• CENTRED – All of CENTRED’s products are cruelty-free and approved by The Vegan Society.

• Nine Yards – Instead of animal testing, Nine Yards has a thorough human testing process that is completely harmless.

• EveryGreen – As well as being cruelty-free, EveryGreen hair products are sourced from sustainable ingredients and use entirely recyclable containers.

You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to selecting brands for your cruelty-free salon! Please browse our website to discover the full range of products available, and don’t forget to sign up for our Trade Registration to unlock the benefits of becoming a part of our community.