Finding good shaving products can be a challenge for those who follow a vegan lifestyle. Many of the products used for shaving contain animal-based ingredients, such as lanolin and tallow. But don’t worry – there are plenty of vegan-friendly shaving products on the market. In this article, I’ll list some of the best options available.
Vegan Shaving Products
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Not too many years ago this would have been a very different article. Back then many of the good old-school shave soaps generally contained tallow and/or lanolin and most shave brushes were made with boar or badger hair. Things changed with the resurgence of both artisan-made shave soaps, synthetic shave brush fibers, and a generally more environmentally-conscious world. Now being a vegan has never been easier in the world of shaving, with an abundance of vegan shaving products available.
To be doubly sure I reached out to Sharpologist’s email list and asked who purchases vegan shave products, and why. I received a number of answers (it turns out that some traditional shavers are not vegan but look for vegan products for a variety of reasons).
Vegan Shave Creams/Soaps And Aftershaves
I used Sharpologist’s best shave soap, best shave cream, and best aftershave lists as a starting point since the foundations have already been laid there–click/tap on those links to learn more and to purchase. Then I also reached out to many of the artisans and brands to ask if they were “vegan friendly” since some ingredients (glycerin, for example) can be derived from either animal or plant sources.
Some shaving brand/artisan shaving cream/soap and aftershave lines are fully vegan while others have specific vegan products. Here are the details.
Blu Atlas shave cream is vegan.
Castle Forbes products are vegan.
Catie’s Bubbles base formulas are vegan with a couple exceptions. There are two scents (Vintage and Lancaster Leather) that contain a real animal musk, Castoreum, so any offerings in those scents are not vegan.
Dr. Jon’s shave soaps and aftershaves are vegan.
Eshave pre-shave oils, shave creams, and aftershave soothers are vegan.
Nancy Boy shaving creams and aftershave balms are vegan.
Phoenix Artisan Accoutrements (PAA) Crown King (CK) shave soap base (CK1-CK6) and aftershaves are vegan.
Pacific Shaving “Natural,” “Caffeinated,” and “Clean Face” products (shave creams and aftershaves) are vegan. PS’s famous Shave Oil is also vegan.
Saponificio Varesino “Beta” shave soap base and aftershave balms are vegan.
Southern Witchcrafts products are vegan.
Taconic Taconic products are vegan.
Van Der Hagen Luxury Shave Soap is vegan.
Wholly Kaw shaving soaps, aftershave balms, and aftershave splashes are vegan.
Shave Brushes
As I mentioned earlier, shave brushes made with horse hair or synthetic fibers can be considered vegan. Once again I used research from Sharpologist’s best shave brush list as a base. Here’s a good list to start from:
Muhle claims their “Synthetic Silvertip Fibre” brushes are vegan: “The synthetically produced hair, which is also suitable for vegans, is very easy to look after and dries faster than any natural material.“
The Muhle 39K256 “Synthetic Silvertip Fibre” brush is a recommended brush from Sharpologist’s “best brush” list. However there are a number of very fine synthetic brushes on the market.
PAA Amber Aerolite and Peregrino Synthetic Brushes also get a prominent mention. They are both outstanding performers and outstanding values!
Related Post: Synthetic Shave Brushes – Are The Days Of Badger Hair Shave Brushes Numbered?
Vie Long Horse Hair Brushes are regarded by many shaving aficionados as the best horse hair shaving brushes available. Horse hair shave brushes are made with horse hair obtained from grooming cast-offs (the animal is not harmed).
Some Vegan Shave Products From The “Megamart”
There are a few products available from groceries, drug stores, and “megamarts” in the U.S. that are vegan friendly:
Cremo shave creams and aftershave balms.
NIVEA MEN Sensitive Calm Liquid Shaving Cream with Vitamin E and Hemp Seed Oil is vegan.
What is Veganism? A Brief Guide to the Vegan Lifestyle
Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practical, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.
In practical terms, this means that vegans do not eat any animal products, including meat, poultry, fish, dairy products, eggs, or honey. Vegans also do not use animal-derived products such as leather, wool, silk, or fur.
Why Do People Choose To Be Vegan?
There are many reasons why people choose to be vegan. Some people do it for animal welfare reasons, believing that it is wrong to kill animals for food or use them for other purposes such as testing cosmetics. Others choose to be vegan for environmental reasons, as animal agriculture is a leading cause of deforestation, water pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. Some people go vegan for health reasons, as a plant-based diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes. Others choose to go vegan for different benefits that include preventing harm and killing of animals, reducing our over consumption of resources, and more.
What Are The Benefits Of A Vegan Lifestyle?
A vegan lifestyle has several benefits. For one, it is much better for animals. Animals raised for food in factory farms are kept in cramped, filthy conditions and are often subjected to cruel treatment. By not eating animal products, vegans seek to reduce the demand for these products, and eventually help put an end to this type of farming.
Veganism can also be good for human health. A plant-based diet has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and other chronic diseases. Vegans tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels than non-vegans, as well as a lower body mass index (BMI).
Finally, veganism can be good for the environment. The livestock industry is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, water pollution, and deforestation. By not eating animal products, vegans seek to help reduce their impact on the planet.
Veganism Vs Vegetarianism
Veganism is the practice of avoiding the consumption of any animal products, including meat, eggs, and dairy products. A vegan lifestyle also avoids the use of animal-derived products, such as leather or wool. Veganism is a form of vegetarianism, but it takes things a step further by excluding all animal products from the diet.
Vegetarianism is the practice of avoiding animal flesh but consuming dairy and egg products. A vegetarian diet excludes meat, poultry, and fish but includes eggs and dairy. Some vegetarians also consume honey.
Summing Up
In conclusion, there are many vegan-friendly shave products available on the market. By choosing products, you can help reduce your environmental impact while enjoying a close, comfortable shave.
Do you have a favorite vegan shave product? Leave a comment below!
The vegan diet does allow refined foods and highly processed foods (such as manufactured snack foods made using industrial processes from refined ingredients, including various additives and typically a lot of salt).
A whole-food plant-based diet, which excludes refined foods and highly processed foods, is equally kind to animals and much health.
The difference is that the vegan diet’s focus is not harming animals and the whole-food plant-based diet’s focus in maximizing health.