Co-owner of newly opened Easton

revolution

Aveda’s Marketing Manager, Claire

Linney, for the UK and Ireland filled us in on how the company produces products that are better for their users and also the environment: “We are the first beauty company

to manufacture with 100 percent wind power, by doing this we keep 17 million pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere every year. We raise funds for access to clean water around the world and we also partner with indigenious communities and local farms around the world to make sure we are sourcing our ingredients in a sustainable way to benefit and preserve local communities and cultures. One of our first partnerships was with the Yawanawa tribe in the Brazilian rainforests to cultivate uruku, a red dye used in Aveda makeup, that has enabled the tribe to recover rights to 125,000 acres of rich, bio-diverse land in Brazil, now protected from deforestation.”

ECO UP

Now, we aren’t for a second suggesting that you should start looking into solar powering your salon, but ‘eco-ing up’ is certainly a lot easier than you might think and – contrary to popular opinion – it could actually save you money.

Regal, Bryn Wilkins, explained to us some of the simple, and cost-effective steps they took to make sure their salon was eco-friendly. He says: “We class ourselves as

an ‘eco salon’, in that we try to be as environmentally friendly as possible. One of the things we do is use Easy Dry towels in-salon. These are towels that are biodegradable and made by an environmentally-conscious company that plants a tree for every single one it cuts down. The towels help us in two ways; as they are biodegradable we can simply throw them away after use, which saves time on laundering and we don’t need to use either a washing machine or tumble dryer, which saves us money. In our last salon putting in both saw our energy and water bills rise from £8,000 to £16,000 a year. So a simple switch like this can cut back on the energy your business uses, as well as costs.”

NURTURE NATURE

Sometimes, going back to basics is simply what’s best and there’s no denying that harnessing the power of nature can deliver results, fast. HOB Salon’s Tracey Snow revealed that natural brand Alterna – despite being high-end – is easily the most popular range sold at the Camden salon, thanks to the instant impact it has on clients’ hair. “The results speak for themselves.

Customers – even those who might not think they want a natural or high-end

product – as soon as they try Alterna they rarely go back to another brand. The range is so good because of its natural ingredients, which are all actually beneficial to the health of your clients’ hair. Unlike many non-natural ranges it is sulphate – and other harmful chemicals – free, and has a unique enzyme therapy that delivers the ingredients straight into the hair structure, rather than just temporarily coating it. I think it’s very important that salons start thinking about more natural or eco products, as not only are they effective but clients are asking about them more and more. Not only because they are interested in the benefits to their hair but because they want to know whether what they are using – and buying – is harmful to the environment.”

GREEN FUTURE

There’s no denying it, the eco revolution is well on its way. Thanks to an increasing social consciousness, your clients now care more than ever about the products they buy, what you use on their hair and also about whether your business is adapting to the eco needs of both your local and the global community. It might sometimes seem like a huge

inconvenience but simple changes to the way you run your business have a tangible impact on the world we live in. Whether it’s a decision to start stocking a new product range, recycling or even giving eco towels a whirl, go on, give it a go. Be eco fabulous.

EASTON REGAL CO-OWNER BRYNWILKINS SHARES HIS TIPS ON HOW TO ECO UP YOUR OWNSALON ANDSAVE SOME PENNIES WHILE YOU’RE AT IT:

1 2

66

RECYCLE: It’s an easy way to ensure your business does its bit for the environment. Contact your local

council who will supply the bins and bags you need. We recycle and I think for an industry like ours – which throws away a huge amount of recyclable waste – it’s really important.

STOCK NATURAL, ORGANIC AND ECOLOGICAL PRODUCTS: Give

your clients a good choice of products that are good for them and the environment. We stock the Kevin Murphy range that our clients love. It’s paraben and sulphate-free, and its recyclable packaging makes it eco friendly.

3 4

ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS: Stop

printing your own paper newsletters and set up an electronic version. It

saves on environmentally harmful paper waste, saves you money and also ensures your salon get its message out to your clients much more effectively.

ECO TOWELS: The amount of laundering involved in using normal towels in-salon is huge and takes up a massive amount of energy and your money. Switch to biodegradable towels which you can throw away and you should cut your energy use – and bills – noticeably.

Easton Regal, Clerkenwell