The Best Cruelty-Free & Vegan Hair Styling Products For Men

1. The best cruelty-free hair gels
2. The best cruelty-free hair clays
3. The best cruelty-free hair wax
4. FAQs

One of my all-time favourite cruelty-free brands for men, Harry’s is just an exceptional company.

From the customer service, fantastic quality products, genuinely well-thought out email marketing. As soon as I started stocking my bathroom with my namesake I never looked back.

And Harry’s Sculpting Gel is a hair-styling staple. Firm, grease-free, long-lasting hold.

• £5
• 200ml
• Certified cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Suitable for all hair types
• Paraben, alcohol and sulfate-free
• Fragrant, lemon-herb scent
• Firm hold – keeps my almost shoulder length hair slicked back without any grease

Read our cruelty-free review of Harry’s here.

Perfect for people with curly hair – mine’s straight as a die, sorry – Aveda’s Confixor Styling Gel is a vegan curl enhancer and gel for bouncy curls.

The confixor (or gel) product is designed to be mixed with the curl enhancer, accentuating your natural curls.

There are a few reviews suggesting that using too much of the confixor can lead to ‘crunchy’ hair.

Not an adjective we’ve heard in this context before, but something to be aware of.

• £16
• Confixor – 250ml
• Vegan
• Certified cruelty-free

If your untameable frizz needs a product that will condition and style simultaneously, give it a go!

Now whilst Aesop’s Sculpt Hair Polish doesn’t sound like a gel I can assure you it is. Or at least it’s not a clay or wax. So it must be a gel.

And a damn good one. It’s non-greasy and perfect for those of you (us!) who suffer from dry, coarse hair. And it has a thickening, volumising effect. So be a little wary of over-using.

• £23
• 100ml
• Certified cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Free-from microbeads, parabens and SLS
• Scented with lime, bergamot rind and clove bud
• B. Corp certified

The spicy, citrussy notes smell more like a high quality shampoo than a traditional hair gel or wax.

And supporting a B. Corp certified company is always a win for us.

Aesop also feature prominently in our best cruelty-free & vegan beardcare products.

Read our review on whether Aesop is cruelty-free here.

Unquestionably the most hipster option on the list, Green People’s Quinoa & Avocado Styling Gel is superfood for your hairline.

This vitamin-enriched, certified organic hair serum is a 2-in-1 leave in conditioner and texturising gel.

The combination of styling and nourishing your hair all at once is perfect for someone, like me, who values convenience.

• £12.50
• 100ml
• Certified cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Certified organic
• Fair trade
• Ethical consumer award
• Recyclable and recycled packaging
• Gluten-free

Avocado oil is an enriching antioxidant that repairs damaged hair and enhances shine. And quinoa – a protein rich grain – nourishes and strengthens hair follicles.

It’s suitable for all skin-types and particularly sensitive scalps.

Read our cruelty-free review of Green People here.

Sachajuan’s Hair Cream is – just about – a gel.

One of my favourite, natural ways to style my hair is post saltwater swimming. There’s something about the salty hair look for me that works.

And this grease-free, lightweight styling gel is a great swim-free alternative.

• £23
• 125ml
• Vegan
• Certified cruelty-free
• Paraben-free
• Suitable for all hair types

Ideal for the laid-back, holiday look we all crave (but haven’t been able to get for two years!!!!)

Murdock London actually do an excellent sea salt spray, but it doesn’t really fit into any of these categories!

JASON’s Styling Gel is a fantastic, plant-based styling gel with a non-greasy finish.

The blend of plant proteins – to strengthen follicles, flaxseed – rich in vitamin E for hair repair and health and panthenol – binds follicles and locks in moisture, makes for a quality scalp.

• £8.41
• 180ml
• Certified cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Phthalate, paraben, sulfate, GMO and petrolatum-free
• Biodegradable formula
• Volumising effect

Suitable for all hair types – including colour treated hair.

Is a cream a clay? In this case yes. And Harry’s Taming Cream is another stunner from my favourite brand.

Because the cream has a moisturising, nourishing effect you’d be forgiven for thinking that it may have a greasy sheen. But that couldn’t be further from the truth.

I don’t know how Harry’s do it. But I have never found a flaw with any product,

• £5
• 150ml
• Certified cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Paraben and sulfate-free
• Coconut and fragrant herb scent
• Softer, more natural hold with a moisturising effect
• Ideally suited for thicker, coarser hair

It does contain alcohol, so be sure to check the ingredients if you have a sensitive scalp.

And actually if you do have a sensitive scalp, Harry’s does a soothing Scalp Cream that should mitigate irritation.

So whilst Aveda’s Control Paste may technically be a hair paste, not a clay. This is really the only category it fits in.

This styling paste provides solid hold. And as a longer (ish) haired gent I should know.

• £23.50
• Vegan
• Certified cruelty-free
• 75ml
• Pliable hold

One of the main problems with styling longer hair is either the strength of the product – or lack of. Or the greasy-effect it can have.

Fortunately Aveda’s Control Paste is reasonably strong and non-slimy. So really ticks the boxes. Although for longer than mid-length hair you may want to look for something a little sturdier.

Aveda also do a superb thickening paste, which has a slightly stronger hold than the control version.

Read our cruelty-free review of Aveda here.

Normally a product you see in barber shops – and only high-end ones – Murdock London’s Matt Mud is a sheen-free shaping clay perfect for shorter hair.

This pliable shaping clay has a firm hold and grease-free finish. Ideally suited for multiple, textured styles.

• £14
• 50ml
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Made in the UK
• Recyclable packaging, made from 100% recycled materials
• Contains kaolin and vitamin E for a firm hold and dry finish
• Paraben, phthalate, sulphate, PEG, petroleum and synthetic dyes-free

If you’re in the market for all-day clay, it doesn’t get much better than Murdock London.

I think pomades are closer to clays than waxes. But you can see my confusion.

Lock Stock & Barrel’s water-based formula minimises grease, whilst creating a pleasing sheen.

Perfect for slicked back looks – which has been my go-to hairstyle over the last 2 years.

• £16
• 85g
• Certified cruelty-free
• Vegan – whilst the pomade is vegan, not all the products are, some do contain beeswax
• Paraben, artificial colour & phthalate-free
• Suitable for all hair types

If you’re in the market for a firm-holding, grease-free wax. Or pomade. Then Lock Stock’s pomade is well-worth a try.

The pomade is as hair-raising as its classic film’s namesake.

Mancave – one of our favourite cruelty-free brands for men – has an excellent Texturising Hair Paste.

This firm-medium hold paste is a washbag staple. Great for a textured hair effect – although not ideal for the longer-haired gent – this nutrient-rich paste is a cracking travel-sized product.

• £5.95
• 75ml
• Certified cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Paraben, sulfate, synthetic dye and petrochemical-free
• Cedarwood and whiksy scented

Rich in caffeine – which is used to stimulate hair growth, shea butter – full of fatty acids, vitamin A and E that moisturise follicles and grapeseed oil – strengthening strands and also has a moisturising effect.

Read our cruelty-free review of Mancave here.

Spelling fibre ‘fiber’ is, of course incredibly jarring. But for product names my hands are unfortunately tied.

But Vision Haircare’s Fiber Wax is perfect for textured finish, short-medium length hair.

The fibrous nature of the product means that the hold is exceptionally strong.

• £11.99
• 100ml
• Cruelty-free
• Vegan
• Made in Sweden
• Uses recycled plastic in all containers

In fact, the plastic used in the packaging is made from ocean cleanup plastic. Which is a nice, eco-friendly touch.

It does contain alcohol so be sure to check the ingredients if you have a sensitive scalp.

OK so it’s technically a balm, not a wax. But a balm is closer to a wax than a gel or clay in my mind. And we don’t want this page to have 60 different headings.

And Rahua – an entirely cruelty-free and vegan brand – makes incredibly unique products. Including this hair balm.

• £32
• 17g
• Entirely vegan brand
• Certified cruelty-free
• Lightly scented with enfleurage oil – a light floral scent
• Suitable for all hair types and textures

Formulated with ultra-moisturising and nourishing Sacha Inchi and cocoa seed butter, this hair balm styles and improves hair quality all in one.

If you suffer from flaky scalp or dry, dank hair. Rahua’s all-natural, high quality balms will – or at least should – work wonders.