When the pandemic first hit in 2020 and most of the world had accepted extensive use of masks I was slightly horrified by the amount of waste they produce. The image of a mountain of garbage in our oceans followed me around every time I went outside. As a responsible adult, I thought of what changes can I make to provide a bit of relief to the environment and reduce my own carbon footprint? As I looked around my own house, I noticed that my bathroom has quite a grand collection of plastic. The most-used material for shampoo bottles is HDPE (High density polyethylene) which is recyclable, but my closest recycling station only has a PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) bin making it harder for me to recycle. So I thought, there must be a better way to care for my hair while caring for the Earth at the same time, so I decided to switch to solid shampoo and conditioner.

Initially I was very happy with my choice. I got a few bars from local bio shops and a few more from well-known brands. Unfortunately, the solid hair care market is relatively new, so the options are limited compared to the thousands of traditional products. There are multiple benefits that I didn’t even realise, such as I didn’t have to worry when taking it on my travels as it didn’t take up so much space. Also, it seemed my hair reacted well to it as I now had more days in between the washes. It also built some new habits, such as buying some products in a refill system since I became a regular at a ‘green’ shop.

The problem arose towards the end of COVID measures. When it got safer to go to public places and see other people. To pick up my social appearance I found a hair stylist from a higher-end salon who works with my type of Asian hair regularly. This measure was necessary since the treatment I wanted is not very well known in Europe. I was born with naturally straight hair so to give it volume I spend hours styling it. The hair structure is very different to European hair so instead of getting them permed, I wanted to try a Korean perm which would create a soft big curve instead of a twingling shape. I booked an appointment 2 weeks in advance and travelled 2 hours to get to Aarau from Geneva. Upon arriving the hairstylist gave me a critical look but didn’t comment on the state of my hair. She then went on with the preparations of setting up the machine, giving me all kind of gowns and finished preparing by taking a ‘before’ picture. She worked on my hair for 6 hours all the while asking me all types of questions like if I spend a lot of time in the sun, how do I dry my hair and finally what shampoo am I using? By the time that question rolled in I felt too self-conscious to reveal that I use locally made hair soap, but she didn’t even wait for an answer “Your hair is too dry, it doesn’t retain moisture. You must change your products.” We then spoke about how to treat it: shampoo, conditioner, hair masks and oils. She asked me to send her a photo of the ingredients next time I go to buy my products so she can advise on whether it will suit me. After everything was done and I was putting on my coat something dawned on me – she never took an ‘after’ picture.

I was very disappointed that my efforts to save the planet resulted in dull hair and pitiful looks from hairdressers. The result of a 6-hour expensive procedure didn’t even deserve an Instagram story. As I was travelling back home, I contemplated whether I had really helped anything or was I trying to solve an environmental crisis with some nonsensical actions? In the end, I think my heart was in the right place: if there is a demand for more sustainable solutions then producers will adapt. These questions can and should be discussed on a greater scale. None of the big problems have easy solutions and people should be prepared to make greater sacrifices as no goal will be attained by small convenient solutions. A commitment, be it a shampoo change or a savings plan, should not be short-term. Nowadays I think about it often on my way to recycle the HDPE bottles and when checking my sustainable investments.

I remember it vividly… Driving to the alps for a ski weekend. Happily going about my daily routine like nothing was happening. Fresh in Switzerland and excited for my new adventures. We were hearing these murmurs, rumours, whispers… that there was this outbreak on the other side of the world… There is no way this is going to end up worldwide, more like an isolated scare … That certainly was not the case, as came to be apparent very quickly, no this was an outbreak of unparalleled size. How was I going to believe that this was just the beginning of a GLOBAL Pandemic? The start of shutting down, my first thought, ABSOLUTLY NOT. But in reality, life as we know it was about to completely change! Entire industries shutting down, the economic effects long lasting. How could countries, suddenly have complete control over the way their populations move, live, interact?

Many of these changes have now become the norm, a complete change in the way we go about life, unfathomable amounts of hand sanitizer, masks for every occasion and social distancing… what next, who knows?! But one thing I have come to realise is, life is short, very short, and these events no matter how big or small, can occur at what seems, like the drop of a hat… Overnight. And they have long lasting effects, the extent of which we do not yet know exactly but we have had a taste of. Almost as if we have just scratched the surface. For me at least I will not be so naïve in the sense that this could so easily happen again. And I for one will be much more prepared, set up for the future, protected… because if the next one personally affects me, I want to be in the best position I can be to head-off the negative effects.

…and who knows, I may have a family of my own to look after by then and even this, as I have come to learn over the last year and a half, is not beyond the realms of reality.