Inside California's Low-Waste Salon: Hair Compost and Refillable Beauty
Scisters Salon & Apothecary, located in the San Diego area of California, stands as a pioneering example of sustainable beauty and low-waste practices. Founded by Easton Basjec and Melissa Parker, this salon has transformed the traditional beauty experience into an environmentally conscious model, aiming to divert up to 99% of its refuse from landfills.
The Sustainable Salon Experience
Upon entering Scisters, visitors immediately notice the absence of typical salon elements. There are no walls of glossy plastic bottles, no sharp chemical odors, and only a small trash basket for minimal waste like coffee cups. Instead, the space features large refill containers for shampoo and conditioner, houseplants, and a pleasant scent of bergamot and vanilla. Co-founder Melissa Parker highlights that clients often comment on the inviting aroma, a rarity in conventional salons.
The beauty industry is notoriously wasteful, with North American salons sending an estimated 63,000 pounds of hair to landfills daily, along with tons of foil and hair dyes, according to Green Circle Salons. Many products also contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde and lye, posing health risks. Parker and Basjec have built their business on the principle that beauty should not harm the planet or people.
From Conventional to Eco-Friendly
Parker and Basjec, both natives of San Diego's East County, met while working at another salon and later attended business school together. They opened Scisters 15 years ago in La Mesa, initially operating like a standard boutique salon with over 150 products from a corporate brand. While they always considered sustainability, a turning point came when Basjec watched a documentary on zero-waste, and Parker faced health issues linked to salon chemicals. Studies show hairdressers are at higher risk for asthma, skin conditions, and cancer due to chemical exposure.
Rather than leaving the industry, they revamped their salon. They discontinued perms due to formaldehyde emissions and moved away from plastic-bottled products. After finding no suitable alternatives, they developed their own line, Element, launched in 2019. Made in a California lab, Element uses refillable glass and aluminum containers and ingredients like organic aloe and castor oil. Customers can refill using a "jar library" of donated containers.
Innovative Waste Reduction Strategies
Scisters implements multiple waste-reduction methods. Hair clippings are composted, foils are washed and recycled, and sugaring replaces waxing with a compostable paste. The salon uses washable cloths instead of paper towels, LED lights, and Ecoheads sprayers. Decor includes antique furniture to minimize new purchases. However, compromises exist, such as offering hair bleaching with ammonia, mitigated by air filtration and plants. Plastic pump tops and latex gloves remain unavoidable due to regulations, but these are shipped to Green Circle Salons for processing at a cost of $200 per box.
Financial and Community Impact
The transition to low-waste practices required upfront investment but has proven cost-effective. Parker notes that developing Element reduced outsourcing costs and improved systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, refill sales sustained the business when haircuts were halted, allowing them to pay rent while neighbors struggled. Denise Baden, a sustainable business professor at the University of Southampton, explains that eco-friendly practices often lower costs by reducing energy and water use.
Scisters actively promotes sustainability beyond its walls. Parker and Basjec speak at events like the San Diego Zero Waste Symposium and publish online guides to help other salons adopt similar models. They aim to distribute Element products widely, emphasizing that low-waste beauty must be scalable to make a real difference. Their efforts demonstrate that sustainable practices can enhance both environmental and financial health in the beauty sector.
