Can Non-Vegan Celebrities Have Vegan Hair?

By Liis Hainla. Published: August 2024.
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Hollywood is abuzz with the latest trend in ethical beauty: Blake Lively has launched a brand-new vegan haircare line called Blake Brown, which is set to hit Target shelves this Sunday, August 4. Additionally, Jennifer Aniston’s established vegan haircare line, LolaVie, has made its debut at Ulta Beauty within Target stores. 

This move towards cruelty-free and plant-based products is generating significant attention, but it raises a provocative question: Can non-vegan celebrities genuinely champion vegan haircare?

Celebrity Endorsement or Marketing Ploy?

Blake Lively’s Blake Brown brand promises a premium, salon-quality experience with products that are cruelty-free and made from clean, vegan ingredients. Lively claims her new line reflects her dedication to sustainability, using recycled materials and reducing waste. Similarly, Jennifer Aniston’s LolaVie, which is not new but now available at Target, boasts high-performing, naturally-derived ingredients.

But let’s not be too quick to applaud.

Neither Lively nor Aniston are vegan, raising concerns about the authenticity of their commitment to ethical beauty. Are these stars truly invested in the vegan lifestyle, or is this just another savvy marketing strategy to capitalize on the growing demand for ethical products?

Mainstream Appeal

Celebrity endorsements bring vegan products into the limelight, making them more attractive and accessible to a broader audience. This increased visibility can drive demand and encourage other brands to adopt similar practices. 

When high-profile figures like Lively and Aniston launch vegan lines, it pushes the industry to elevate its standards. Their involvement can lead to more rigorous product development and a stronger commitment to clean, cruelty-free ingredients across the board.

Retail Accessibility

By partnering with major retailers like Target, Blake Brown and LolaVie make vegan haircare more available to everyday consumers.

This democratization helps normalize ethical beauty choices and sets a new standard for the industry. 

However, the fact that Lively and Aniston aren’t vegans themselves can undermine the credibility of their brands. Consumers might view their involvement as a superficial attempt to jump on the ethical beauty bandwagon rather than a genuine commitment to veganism.

Superficial Solutions

Launching a vegan haircare line is a step in the right direction, but it’s only a small part of a larger picture. Blake Lively, for instance, is still the face of L’Oréal Paris, a company that is neither cruelty-free nor vegan. She also promotes Chanel’s Madamoiselle line of calfskin leather handbags. Plus, her diet reportedly includes a variety of animal proteins.

Similarly, Jennifer Aniston, while a supporter of animal charities and vocal against the slaughter of dolphins in Japan, has not opposed the slaughter of other animals. Her commitment to veganism does not extend beyond these specific issues.

True change requires a holistic approach to veganism across all personal care products and lifestyle choices. Even with their emphasis on sustainability, the production and distribution of these products still have an environmental impact. Real sustainability demands ongoing efforts to address the full lifecycle of products, from sourcing to disposal.

Vegan Haircare: A Default Standard?

It’s also worth noting that many haircare products in 2024 are inherently vegan by default. Animal-derived ingredients like caviar, silk, and keratin have been used in luxury lines, but these have become less common as the industry evolves. Many modern formulations rely on plant-based alternatives that offer similar benefits without animal involvement. 

Consequently, creating a vegan haircare line often requires minimal adjustments to existing formulas. Yet, the label “vegan” is often marketed as a groundbreaking achievement, when, in reality, it may just be a standard industry practice with a new name. This marketing strategy can make it seem as though these brands are pioneering ethical beauty, when they are often aligning with trends that are already becoming the norm.

The Verdict: A Step Forward or a Missed Opportunity?

The introduction of Blake Brown, LolaVie, and countless other celerity vegan beauty brands at Target is a mixed bag. On one hand, it’s a positive move towards making vegan beauty products more mainstream and accessible. On the other hand, the questionable commitment of non-vegan celebrities promoting these lines can dilute the message of genuine ethical beauty.

Brands like Pacifica Beauty, Aveda, and Alba Botanica have been offering accessible vegan haircare for decades, remaining truly ethical through and through. Unlike these established names, which have long been committed to vegan and cruelty-free practices, the celebrity-endorsed lines may appear as opportunistic moves rather than genuine ethical advancements.

Ultimately, whether you’re Team Blake or Team Jen, it’s clear that while their vegan haircare lines represent progress, they also highlight the need for a deeper, more authentic commitment to veganism and sustainability in the beauty industry. It’s a step forward, but there’s still a long way to go.

My name is Liis. I've been a vegan for a long time and advocate for the vegan lifestyle. Through Vegan Avenue, I write about the latest vegan news, trends, events, and all things related to the vegan lifestyle.