Sustainable Beauty Practices – SS2 Beauty & Cosmetology Lesson Note (Third Term)

Sustainable beauty, also called Green Cosmetology, is the practice of running a beauty business so that it meets today’s needs without harming the world for future generations. It reduces waste, saves water and energy, and uses natural, ethically sourced ingredients instead of harsh chemicals that can pollute rivers.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Explain what sustainable beauty (Green Cosmetology) means.
2. Name three features of eco-friendly products to look for on a label.
3. Describe how a salon can reduce, reuse and recycle.
4. Give natural alternatives to harsh chemicals used in hair dye, nail polish and preservatives.
5. State ways a salon can save water and electricity.

What is sustainable beauty?

Sustainability means meeting our needs today without ruining the world for the people who will be born tomorrow. In the beauty industry, this is often called “Green Cosmetology.”

• The problem: The beauty industry produces millions of plastic bottles every year and uses chemicals that can poison our rivers when they wash down the drain.
• The solution: We look for ways to reduce waste, save water, and use ingredients that are grown naturally without harsh pesticides.
• The “clean” philosophy: Green beauty should be “clean” for the body and clean for the environment.

What should you look for in eco-friendly products?

When you are buying stock for your salon, you can choose to be an “Eco-Warrior” by checking the labels for these three things:

1. Biodegradable ingredients: These are ingredients that can break down naturally in the soil or water without leaving poison behind. For example, use crushed apricot seeds in a scrub instead of plastic “microbeads.”
2. Solid products (the “waterless” trend): These are shampoos and soaps that come in bars instead of plastic bottles. Since they do not contain water, they do not need chemical preservatives or plastic packaging.
3. Ethical sourcing: This means the ingredients (like Shea Butter or Hibiscus) were grown fairly, and the farmers were paid a good price for their hard work.

How can a salon reduce waste?

A busy salon can produce a lot of rubbish. Green cosmetology teaches us the “Three Rs”:

• Reduce: Use only what you need. Do not pour out half a bottle of shampoo if the client has short hair. Switch to LED light bulbs in the salon to save electricity.
• Reuse: Instead of using thousands of disposable paper towels, switch to high-quality cloth towels that can be washed and used again. Use glass jars that can be refilled with bulk products.
• Recycle: If you must use plastic, make sure it is the kind that can be recycled. Teach your staff which bin to put the empty hairspray cans in.

What are the natural alternatives to harsh chemicals?

Many traditional salon treatments use “heavy” chemicals. In sustainable beauty, we look for “green” alternatives that work just as well.

• Hair dye: Instead of dyes with high ammonia, many green salons use henna or plant-based dyes that are gentler on the scalp and the environment.
• Nail polish: Look for “5-Free” or “10-Free” polishes. This means they are made without the most dangerous chemicals, such as formaldehyde or toluene.
• Natural preservatives: Instead of parabens, some eco-friendly brands use rosemary extract or vitamin E to keep their products fresh.

How can a salon save water and energy?

In many parts of Nigeria, water and electricity are precious. A sustainable salon is a “smart” salon.

• Water-saving sinks: Use “low-flow” spray heads on your hair-washing sinks. This can save up to 50% of the water used during a shampoo.
• Cold water washing: Whenever possible, wash towels in cold or lukewarm water. It saves energy and makes the towels last longer.
• Natural light: Design your salon with big windows. This gives you natural light for doing makeup and saves you from turning on all the electric lights during the day.

Classroom practical and discussion

1. The scrub test: Mix sugar and coconut oil to make a scrub. Compare it to a store-bought scrub. Which one feels better? Which one is safer for the drain?
2. Waste audit: Look into the bin at the end of a practical session. How many things in there could have been reused or avoided? (For example, cotton pads and plastic stirrers.)

Discussion: Why is it better to buy Shea Butter from a local market woman than to buy a “Shea Cream” imported from Europe in a plastic bottle?

Evaluation

1. What is Green Cosmetology?
2. List the three things to check for on the label of an eco-friendly product.
3. What are the “Three Rs”? Give one salon example of each.
4. Name one natural alternative to high-ammonia hair dye and one natural preservative.
5. State two ways a salon can save water or electricity.

Assignment

Write a short plan (one page) for making a salon more sustainable. Include at least one way to reduce waste, one natural alternative to a harsh chemical, and one way to save water or energy.