Kooshoo Hair Accessories

Since 2010, Kooshoo has been improving on an everyday essential: the humble hair tie. Founded by yoga teachers Rachel Evans and Jesse Schiller, the brand created the world’s first plastic-free hair ties using organic cotton and natural rubber. Ethically made and dyed using low-impact methods, the durable, long-lasting ties hold up well in all hair types without snagging or slipping — and they won’t linger in a landfill when their time’s up.

Kooshoo’s products reflect the values of its founders, Rachel Evans and Jesse Schiller, a husband and wife duo who teach yoga. Evans grew up on Norfolk Island, a remote Australian territory of about 2000 people where resourcefulness is part of daily life. The brand’s name comes from “Kooshoo,” a word in the island’s Norfuk language meaning “feeling good,” and that spirit shows in everything they do.

Due to the durability of natural rubber, the plastic-free hair ties don't have a label proclaiming them commercially biodegradable. But, the ties will break down naturally within about a decade — much less time than the hundreds of years it takes traditional plastic-based hair elastic to break down. You can choose to put them in your own back yard compost, though, as the materials are natural and non-toxic.

Kooshoo estimates that a staggering 15 million hair ties get tossed in the U.S. alone every single day, many contributing to plastic pollution. This one simple swap makes a great, Earth-friendly addition to anyone’s routine.