Eco-Friendly Hair Care: Why Reef-Safe Products Matter

Many commercial hair products contain chemicals that don’t break down naturally and can negatively impact coral reefs and marine life by causing coral bleaching, DNA damage, and endocrine disruption (which can interfere with human and marine life hormone systems, leading to a wide range of health problems, including reproductive issues, developmental problems, and increased risk of certain cancers).

As someone who spends hours in the ocean, I wanted a hair protectant that protects my hair without harming me or the ocean that I love. That’s why I set out to create a reef-safe, all-natural hair product. But what does “reef-safe” actually mean, and why does it matter?

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What Does "Reef-Safe" Mean?

A reef-safe product is one that does not contain chemicals known to harm coral reefs or marine life and by default us. Originally, this term was mostly used for sunscreens, but it applies to hair and body care products too. 

When we swim, surf, or even rinse off in a beach shower, whatever is in our hair products washes into the ocean. Some ingredients—especially synthetic silicones, sulfates, and preservatives—linger in the water, disrupt marine ecosystems, and even harm the delicate balance of coral reefs. Those same ingredients also aren’t good for our bodies. Our scalp and our skin absorb what we put on it and a lot of that enters our bloodstream.

The Impact of Toxic Ingredients on the Ocean

1. Silicones & Synthetic Oils Clog Marine Life

Looking for that smooth feel in your hair? Many hair products contain silicones (like dimethicone or cyclopentasiloxane) to create a smooth feel. The problem? Silicones don’t break down easily in water. They form a film that can coat fish gills, disrupt marine plant growth, and accumulate in ocean ecosystems.

2. Sulfates & Harsh Detergents Damage Marine Life

Sulfates (like Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate) are harsh cleansers that strip hair of its natural oils. When they wash into the ocean, they harm fish by breaking down their protective mucus layers, making them vulnerable to disease and toxins.

3. Preservatives Like Parabens & Phthalates Are Hormone Disruptors

Parabens and phthalates are commonly found in conventional hair care products to extend shelf life and improve texture. However, these chemicals have been found to mimic hormones in marine animals, disrupting reproductive cycles in fish, coral, and other sea creatures. Also consider what they are doing to people.

Why Your Hair Products Should Be Ocean-Safe

1. Coral Reefs Are Dying—And Chemicals Are Part of the Problem

Coral reefs support 25% of marine life but are rapidly declining due to climate change, pollution, and harmful chemicals. Studies show that even low levels of certain cosmetic chemicals can bleach coral, prevent reproduction, and kill young coral polyps.

2.  Supporting a More Sustainable Beauty Industry

By choosing reef-safe hair care, you’re supporting a shift away from toxic beauty standards and helping drive demand for cleaner, safer products.

3. It’s Not Just the Reef It’s Hurting

These harmful chemicals are also harming you. All of the harmful chemicals we mentioned are also being absorbed into your body too.

What to Look for in a Reef-Safe Hair Product

When choosing ocean-friendly hair care, avoid these harmful ingredients:
❌ Silicones (dimethicone, cyclopentasiloxane)
❌ Sulfates (SLS, SLES)
❌ Parabens & phthalates
❌ Synthetic fragrances & dyes

Instead, look for natural, biodegradable ingredients like:
✅ Plant-Based Oils (Coconut, Jojoba, Argan, Castor, Shea Butter) – Provide moisture without coating the ocean with synthetic residue.
✅ Botanical Extracts (Aloe Vera, Rosemary, Sea Buckthorn) – Nourish the scalp while being safe for marine life.
✅ Essential Oils (Lavender, Rosemary (promotes hair growth), Tea Tree) – Offer natural fragrance and scalp benefits without synthetic chemicals.

How to Check If Your Hair Products Are Safe

If you’re unsure whether a hair product contains harmful ingredients, here are some free tools that let you copy-paste ingredient lists and check for toxic chemicals:

EWG's Skin Deep® Database – Rates individual ingredients and products based on toxicity and safety.

INCIDecoder – Explains cosmetic ingredients in easy-to-understand terms.

Think Dirty App – Lets you scan barcodes or search manually for product safety ratings.

Clearya – A browser extension that alerts you to hazardous chemicals while shopping online.

It’s time we start taking matters into our own hands and doing our own research. The institutions we have relied on to “protect” us and the environment have failed over and over again. 

Every Choice Matters. 

Every time we step into the ocean, we have an impact. Choosing reef-safe hair care is a small but powerful way to protect the places we love while keeping our hair healthy and strong. It’s also a way to protect yourself.

That’s why I created my ocean-safe, organic pre-surf hair protectant—to give surfers a way to shield their hair from saltwater without harming the sea or themselves.

Would you be interested in more reef-safe beauty swaps? What should I make? Let me know in the comments!