You should never have to apologize to your hair. Even if you’re soaking in gobs of sea salt, sun and chlorine, your hair will understand. After all, don’t you deserve to enjoy your outdoor-sy time after six months of snow, sleet and rain? Should you be guilt-free about dipping your scalp in the water, no matter how salty or filled with pool chemicals it may be? (Yes and double yes!)

But your hair can be like your mother-in-law – you shouldn’t have to make her happy, but in the end it makes it a lot easier to just get through the day. The fun of the sun can turn our hair drier than the 5,500 year old hair filling out the shoe of this ancient Carrie Bradshaw. It’s all about the sebum. (Isn’t it always?) Sebum is the natural lubricant in our hair that keeps it moisturized – and chlorine, salt, and sun essentially suck this straight out of your hair. This causes your hair sheen to diminish and the cuticle to possibly crack, causing split ends.

Luckily, there are some good natural products on the market that help wash away dry hair with a mere rinse in the shower. One in particular? EO’s Products Repair – Deep Conditioner Wild Lime and Ginger. EO is a fantastic company and I’ve always had good luck with their products. Their certified organic products “use the highest grade natural and certified organic ingredients” and they are sustainably sourced and free of parabens, artificial dyes, and fragrances. Oh, and their signature blue bottles are made from recycled PET plastic.

So yes, their deep conditioner does well in terms of keeping things natural. (Here’s a complete list of the ingredients in the deep conditioner.) But how does it work? The directions call for you to leave the product on your wet hair for ten minutes. I lathered up for a little less but was still pleased with the outcome.

The conditioner works well – I have fine hair and felt like I was walking around with a pleasant ball of fluff on my hair after using it. It has a non-descript scent that is fairly pleasant. It didn’t weigh my hair down like a lot of deep conditioners can do – but I did have to spend an extra minute or two rinsing it out of my hair. Use just a little at a time and rinse well. It’s $9.99 for four ounces, and you can find online here.

Image: Môsieur J. [version 3.0b]

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A few weeks ago, a friend and I were wandering through a book release party when we came upon the lovely makeup ladies of Josie Maran Cosmetics. They were offering up complimentary makeovers. Already a fan of the eco-conscious cosmetic line and all things “free,” I quickly hopped into a makeup chair. First, I noticed that my own mascara had headed south like a pack of ducks for winter. Second, I picked up on the fact that all the Josie Maran makeup artists had dewy, glowing skin. And by picked up, I mean hit in the face like a lighthouse beacon. These ladies had a glow, and I wanted it yesterday.

The secret to this glow? According to Josie Maran Cosmetics, it is their Argan Oil. Otherwise known as Moroccan Oil, this is Josie Maran’s organic take on an ancient product out of Morocco that has been used for centuries and was sold in Moroccan markets even before the Phoenicians arrived. Rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, it contains emollients that are excellent moisturizers for your hair and your skin.

But does it work? Filled with hope that this product would be the cure-all for dry skin, I slathered up my face and lips. I have chronically chapped lips that no lip balm has been able to cure, so I had high hopes that said Argan Oil would accomplish the impossible. I found that the Argan Oil absorbs quickly and that it is best to treat it like a cold cream. It is highly moisturizing and yes, I give it mad props as an excellent solution to dry skin. Did it cure my chapped chopper covers? Sorta. After applying, they would remain moisturized for a while, but would require touch ups.

Argan Oil also claims to be great for hair. Frankly, I have hair strands so fine that a light conditioner makes it look and act like a paper weight. So I asked those with thicker, richer locks to share their experience. As luck would have it, EcoSalon’s Editor-in-Chief Sara Ost is a user of the product – not Argan Oil, but MorrocanOil – similar, just not organic, MoroccanOil is cruelty-free and uses recycling in their packaging. As Sara told me, “I actually just started using MorrocanOil because it was on sale at Nordstrom Rack. Yes, so green, I know! I bought it because I was excited to see something green at a box store, and it’s normally ridiculously expensive. It took a few times to get the amount right – I had some uber grease streaks going on the first day – but now it’s my favorite hair product. Tames the frizz and defines the curls without being crunchy. In fact, there’s no ‘product feel’ to my hair at all.”

Don’t want to invest in the $48 Josie Maran Argan Oil or $39 for MorrocanOil? Organic olive oil will get you similar results on your skin, hair and nails. But be forewarned – I went through a brief spat of being saturated in olive oil a few weeks back. Yes, my skin was hydrated, but it took forever to absorb. I was leaving more oil slicks behind me than a tanker in Prince William Sound. (Yes, there are more topical references, but I’m not going there just quite yet.) You can easily use olive oil for skin hydration, but just be careful sitting down or brushing up against any unfortunate furry friend in the meantime.

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