It’s been a while since I posted on my Binky Vegan Studio website but I always kept it in the background and I think that it is time to become more active again.

I have always been into animal welfare more than any other environmental issues. This is why I became a vegetarian early in my life and why a few years ago I took the next step and went all the way vegan. It makes me happy to see animals in the forest, in the fields, in the sky and say to them “You need not fear me, I won’t hurt you”.

The Plastic Plague has been somewhere down on my list but I never thought about the waste I was about to create whenever I bought a bottle of shampoo. I was going to put it in the recycling bin once empty, so that made it ok.

Things have changed. Something clicked, in my brain, in my heart, I don’t know. Now when I see my shampoo bottle I think of turtles and octopuses (Octopi?). The effect of using plastic is less direct on animals than having them as food, but it is definitely there. Once that click happens I don’t think it goes away. So I am going to try to ditch single-use plastic, starting in the bathroom.

It is not going to be easy. I have long hair and I take good care of it. I don’t even own a hairdryer because I don’t want to damage my lengths. I love shampoos and conditioners. I have some for colour care, some for when my hair feels dry, for when it feels greasy, when I want to boost my waves or when I want it straighter. Masks, leave-in conditioners, oils and sprays… I also have an array of shower gels in different flavours for different moods. Citrus to wake up, lavender to get sleepy or minty for aching muscles after the gym.

I am now looking at soaps (soaps!!) and shampoo bars, which are just soaps for hair but more serious-looking. When I go to hotels or when I teach residential art courses, I ignore the little shampoo, conditioner and body wash bottles (I used to love these so much) and open the little soap instead. I take the unfinished soap home to put on the kitchen sink.

With all this, I will start reviewing products as I try them. I will also post links to websites where I buy my plastic free goodies. In a couple of days I am going for my first visit to a Lush shop. I am ridiculously excited about it. I will report!