The best organic produce around and don’t even get started on the bakery….Now, Whole Foods is adding to the beauty department with its own line of hair care. Should you try it? Most likely, yes.

Do you shop the beauty aisle much in WFM? Maybe it is time you do.

Whole Foods Market has come out with a line of plant-based hair care products. The line includes a selection of shampoos and conditioners, plus four styling products.

Wondering what exactly is showing up on the ingredient listing? While I couldn’t find a complete listing of the ingredients, and the products aren’t up on its website yet, we can view Whole Foods list of Premium Body Care Unacceptable Ingredients.

As you know, there is no better way to prove a product’s safety than by reading those labels. But the brand’s list of unacceptable ingredients is pretty extensive, and the ingredient listing for Whole Foods Market Dry Hand Cream is clean. Plus, the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics has named Whole Foods Market the leader in safety amongst the country’s largest retailers of personal care products.

You may be wondering what the sticker shock on these products looks like. Okay, the chain isn’t called “whole paycheck” for nothing. It is pretty dang easy to drop some serious dough up in that place. But here’s another cool thing about the brand’s new hair care line. Each product is under $10.

Say what?!

Yep, safe hair care, said to work like the conventional stuff, without a hefty price tag? Sounds like a run to WFM is in our near future. Get ready to temporarily abandon your second-day hair. Just to get you pumped up and ready to shop, here is a complete list of the new product line up.

Moisturizing Shampoo or Conditioner— Keep locks weightlessly moisturized with botanically based, salon-quality formulations featuring chestnut extract, argan oil, and shea butter. Lightly scented with a custom bergamot blend.

Volumizing Shampoo or Conditioner— Give tresses a boost with Tilia tomentosa, and quinoa protein in botanically based, salon-quality formulations to pump up the volume and nourish the scalp. Lightly scented with rosemary.

Color Preserve Shampoo or Conditioner— Protect color treatments with plant extracts and pea and quinoa proteins in botanically based, salon-quality formulations to reduce color fading and maintain color retention. Lightly scented with a custom bergamot blend.

Perfect Shine Spray— Argan oil provides a healthy shine and frizz control, without the use of silicones.

Moisture Balance Volumizing Hairspray— Quinoa protein and chestnut extract provide exceptional strength and volume.

Medium Hold Styling Gel— Baobab seed protein reinforces strands to give hair added strength, protection and nourishment.

Weightless Hold Styling Mousse— Baobab protein nourishes with amino acids and gives hair shine, strength and protection.

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The post Whole Foods Market: Go for the Guac, Stay for the Hair Care appeared first on EcoSalon.

It’s not only trees and flowers budding this time of year. Spring means we finally get to toss those winter hats aside. Did your hair lose its luster over the chilly months? Here are natural ways to thicken hair and get tresses ready to shine.

While cold weather season may be the root of your problem right now, it’s not the only thing that causes hair to thin and lose its luster. Diet changes, stress, hormonal imbalance, and harsh hair care products can all bring on limp locks too.

7 Natural Ways to Thicken Hair

1. Let’s start on the inside. We already know what we eat shows up on our skin. Same goes for our hair. To keep hair thick and lush, be sure you are consuming adequate essential fatty acids. Studies show that women who eat enough omega 3-s and omega 6-s have greater hair density. Healthy EFAs, like those found in olive oil and avocados, also keep the scalp from becoming dried out, which helps to prevent hair loss. You can even use EFAs topically with Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask.

2. Get your antioxidants. This means both inside and out. Consuming foods rich in antioxidants helps to fight free radical damage that can lead to hair loss. Another way to reap these benefits is to use hair care made with antioxidant-rich oils. Try Josh Rosebrook Enrich Mask.

3. Honey to the rescue (again!). We know that honey is a superhero ingredient for skin. Not that surprising that it helps with hair too. The sweet substance is softening, antibacterial, and ultra healing. If a healthy scalp means healthy hair, this stuff is the ticket. Add a tablespoon or two to your shampoo before applying to hair.

4. Scalp massage does more than feel good. Okay, it feels great. But a good massage with healthy oils can actually stimulate hair growth. Everyone loves coconut oil for skin, and it works great as a scalp oil too. The best bang for your buck? St. Tropica Organic Coconut Hot Oil Hair Mask. Another healthy oil to try – avocado oil moisturizes dry locks and adds instant body. Warm the oil in your palms and massage into scalp, working through to ends. Wrap in a warm towel and leave for 15 minutes. Wash and style as usual. This is one of my favorite hair therapy tricks.

5. Ditch the chemical hair care. Did you know the ingredients in conventional hair products that make your hair feel smooth are damaging in the long run? Plasticizers and petro-ingredients may make strands seem soft and silky, but they aren’t doing your hair, scalp or health any good. And synthetic surfactants in mainstream shampoos? Drying your hair and scalp out, not getting it squeaky clean. Use products crafted from natural ingredients and let the real you behind those dried out locks shine. Try Rahua Voluminous Shampoo and Conditioner.

6. Be kind to strands. Using a coarse brush or pulling hair back into tight elastics can cause breakage. Use a natural bristle Widu brush that is appropriate for your hair texture. And my favorite way to tie back my hair is with Twistband Hair Ties. So soft, they never break strands or cause the dreaded dent, and are so cute too. Another kind to hair tip…wash less often. Yep, give your hair a break on days it’s not actually dirty by shampooing every 2 or 3 days.

7. Manage stress for better-looking locks. Stress shows up on skin and hair, lowers productivity, and makes you feel crummy. You’ve heard it before but I’ll say it again: A daily meditation practice is so, so helpful in decluttering the mind and getting clear on your shiz. Not a lotus and om kinda person? There are other ways to meditate. Even a walk around the block counts if you are staying in the moment.

Here’s to happier locks and a bouncy spring!

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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Some of the best ingredients are old school. Think neem is ancient history? Well, it is, but it’s also a gold mine for skin and hair today. Find out what neem oil benefits you are missing out on, plus product picks.

Neem has long been used in Ayurveda for its medicinal and therapeutic attributes, and was traced to ancient Indian texts as far back as 2000-4000 BC. You may not be downing neem fruit smoothies, but neem oil benefits skin, hair, and teeth. And that’s just for starters.

Neem oil has many uses and benefits, from softening skin to repelling insects. It is rich in vitamin E and essential fatty acids, making it a suitable ingredient for dry and mature skin types. Its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory components help to control acne and lessen the severity of skin conditions like eczema and rosacea. The oil contains antifungal and anti-viral properties which treat ringworm, cold sores, warts, and athlete’s foot. Dandruff, head lice, cuts, burns, you name it, it seems neem is good for it.

Before you go out and buy yourself a big bottle of neem oil, there are a few things you should know about this natural ingredient. The oil is both very potent and strongly scented on its own. Most cosmetic products contain neem oil that has been mixed with another natural oil to make it more skin friendly and pleasant to use.

Neem Oil Benefits and Product Picks

Multi Use

Pratima Skincare Neem Healing Oil

Ayurvedic skincare line, Pratima Skincare, carries several neem products. Healing Neem Oil is a versatile oil that can be used as skincare or to treat a variety of ailments. A good one to stock in your beauty cabinet.

For Acne

Vered Organic Botanicals Clarifying Detox Mask

Acne skin type can benefit from the detoxifying and antibacterial effects of neem oil. This mask gently exfoliates and clears skin.

Pratima Skincare Neem Purifying Cream

Clear congestion, banish breakouts, and lightly hydrate upset skin with this healing herb combo.

YULI Pure Treatment Mask

Use to balance oils and clear pores, while zapping zits and blackheads.

For Sensitive/Rosacea

Pratima Skincare Very Sensitive Herbal Cleanser

Irritated or inflamed skin can benefit from a dose of neem. Try this super mild cleanser built to address the most delicate skin types.

SKIN Healing Calendula Salve

A soothing salve that works on rosacea, burns, even cracked lips. A must-have.

For Dry/Mature

Mahalo Balm

Mahalo Balm marries neem with cocoa butter and other rich oils to deliver moisture and anti-aging benefits to dry and mature skin.

Pratima Skincare Neem Rose Face Sunscreen SPF 30

Ward off damage with zinc protection and skin supportive ingredients.

For Hair

Pratima Skincare Neem Mint Botanical Shampoo

A gentle herbal shampoo ideal for all hair types.

Alaffia Neem & Shea Scalp Recovery Conditioner

Tend to dry, flaky scalp with this moisturizing hair treatment.

Yarok Feed Your Do Styling Whip

An invigorating lemon mint styling product to sculpt and protect hair.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

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What do wine making, beautiful artwork, and natural skincare have in common? Cruelty-free and vegan personal care line, CREO, has managed to blend the three. We found out how in an interview with co-founder and chief chemist, Karl Wright.

How many of you shop by label appeal? You know, buying a product because it looks pretty or would match your bathroom? We are all guilty of this, but it is also important to make sure the products you purchase are good for you and work the way you want them to.

That’s where CREO comes in. These products obviously offer major aesthetic appeal with beautiful artist-created labels. Even better, the brand uses healthy ingredients to create the hand-crafted skin and hair care products. As for the wine making? You’ll just have to read the interview.

An Interview With CREO Co-Founder and Chief Chemist, Karl Wright

Liz Thompson: You call yourself a “consulting winemaker”. How did wine lead you to natural hair and skincare?

Karl Wright: I was working in the Napa Valley when some friends I grew up with were taking the pressed grapes and harvesting the seeds to make oil, and composting the skins. We formulated a skincare line which used the cold pressed grape seed oil and an antioxidant grape seed extract that I made from the seeds, as well. Then I got involved in a project where we patented the extraction and use of germinated seed extracts.

A lot of the protein chemistry and antioxidant chemistry crosses over from winemaking to personal care. This also involves molecular interactions, free radical oxidation, polyphenols / antioxidant effects and enzyme chemistry.

Formulating skincare products has also made me a better winemaker.

LT: What is your ingredient commitment?

KW: We are committed to using plant-derived, cruelty-free ingredients and to provide products that are designed to make hair look better through true hair health without the use of silicones or plastics, [which are] designed to produce a cosmetic effect without enhancing the overall health of the hair.

(Note: CREO also makes products for face and body.)

LT: Who are your products designed for?

KW: Our products are designed for discerning individuals, primarily women, who are ecologically sensitive but also demand a product that provides salon professional grade performance.

LT: Where did you get the idea to blend art with personal care?

KW: We started with the idea that perhaps a shampoo bottle could be something more than just a clinical looking piece of plastic. So much of the packaging nowadays has a “sameness” to it and we truly feel that the hand crafted nature of the CREO product (all of our products are produced by hand, not in a giant factory) deserved a more hand touched look. In addition, we felt that the meaning of the brand name, “CREO”, should play into a more creative approach. CREO finds its roots in Latin and means “to create or to make”. When we started to brainstorm with a local artist, it was actually she who first posed the question, “what if we put an actual painting on the bottle?” Our hope is that in time we will be able to use CREO as a vehicle for bringing a wide variety of artists to the public eye and to devote a portion of the proceeds toward art oriented non-profits.

LT: How do you choose the artists you collaborate with?

KW: We do it the old fashioned way – we talk to people. Our approach is very simple. We mock up labels and go out into the world and gather reactions. What we’re looking for is a smile, an immediate gut reaction that will often be accompanied by an outreached hand and an observable desire to interact with the bottle. If we don’t see that, we keep looking. If we do see it, we know that we have that magical “it factor” to lend an additional element of delight for the consumer.

LT: What is one healthy tip you can offer our readers?

KW: Don’t be fooled by silicone. Although it is not inherently bad, it can deceive you into thinking that something meaningful is happening when it is not. Although it can have a somewhat beneficial effect of holding moisture in longer, silicone mostly works to fill in rough hair surfaces, making them appear smooth. While this isn’t inherently bad, it is temporary. So, our one piece of advice would be “pursue truly healthy hair with a smooth outer surface”. Once that is attained, all of the products designed for temporary cosmetic improvement will usually be completely unnecessary.

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Image courtesy CREO

The post CREO Co-Founder Talks Wine, Art, and the Worst Ingredient for Your Hair appeared first on EcoSalon.

Over winter yet? Us too. Snow, blustery winds, and freezing rain have not only taken their toll on skin and psyche, but winter hair woes have set in too. These tips to battling blizzard head will ensure good hair days straight through to spring.

Feel your hair care efforts have become futile in the face of blizzard hair season? Ditch the chemical hair products and back away from the blow dryer. A few simple product and technique switch ups will buoy your ‘do straight into warmer weather.

We’ve talked dry winter skin here but the season has its disadvantages to hair too. If you are you tired of dealing with dryness, flyaways, or limp locks, a little TLC will have your tresses back to bouncy before the first tree buds.

7 Winter Hair Tips

Acure Organics Dry Shampoo

1 Suds Less // The most common hair complaint in winter has to be dryness. If you are battling hay head there are steps you can take to banish sapped strands. Enlist the help of a dry shampoo. Rather than suds up each day, don a pretty shower cap and reach for the dry shampoo instead. It will add volume without stripping away hair’s natural oils.

Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask

2 Moisture Infusion // For added moisture try a weekly hair mask. One made with rich plant oils, like Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask, hydrates strands and moisturizes scalp. Leaves hair strong, bouncy, and shiny. More the DIY type? Try this homemade natural hair mask recipe.

Jao Brand GOE Oil

3 Cling Control // Those dreaded flyaways. Indoor heating, dry air, coats and scarves all contribute to static. Tame stray strands with a hit of oil. GOE Oil by Jao Brand provides instant control when smoothed over hair. Remember, a little dab’ll do ya. Too much oil will cause limp locks.

Yarok FEED YOUR ROOTS Mousse

4 Amp It Up // Fine-haired women tend to go flat in dry weather. If winter has sucked the life out of your hair, pump up the volume with a root lifting product. Yarok FEED YOUR ROOTS Mousse provides body without drying hair. Another tip? If you are prone to lifeless locks, ditch the hat for better hair days.

Widu Elite Bubinga Wood Boar Bristle Brush

5 Dry Hair Brushing // Are you making the most of your scalp’s natural oils? Be sure oils are reaching the ends of strands with a proper brushing. A boar bristle brush (ethically sourced, of course!) is gentle on hair and scalp, while invigorating skin and distributing oil. Feels great too.

Twitstband

6 Winter Up Do // The pony isn’t only for summer, you know. This classic style is a year ‘round hair saver. Just be sure you aren’t doing more damage. A sure way to look stylish while going easy on strands is with Twistband hair ties. Perfect for no wash days.

Image via Shutterstock

7 Mane Food Group // You know how what you eat shows up on your skin? This goes for hair too. Be sure to up your healthy fats intake during winter months to keep hair shiny and at its best. Good sources include ghee, olive oil, nuts, and seeds.

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The post 7 Winter Hair Tips to Stave Off Blizzard Head appeared first on EcoSalon.

Horst Rechelbacher, Austrian-born founder of Aveda Corps., one of the first mainstream companies to eliminate toxic chemicals in products, and enthusiastic-pioneer of mass market plant based beauty, sadly passed away last month at the age of 72. But he left behind a legacy of healthier communities.

Throughout his work and career Horst Rechelbacher shed light on the dangers of toxic chemicals in cosmetics long before the conversation was mainstream. Most importantly, not only was he an outspoken advocate on the issue, he offered solid solutions.

Founder of beauty care companies Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, author, ayurvedic scholar and organic farmer, Rechelbacher grew revolutionary companies supplying high performing products and a keen awareness to the vital importance of natural beauty.

He would famously drink hair spray and other products made by his company to prove they weren’t simply giving lip service. “Everything we put in and on our bodies must be nutritious and safe,” was Rechelbacher’s signature motto.

Our skin, like a sponge, absorbs mostly anything we put on it; yet cosmetic ingredients are not regulated the same way food is. In the last decade, studies linking cosmetic ingredients to cancer have uncovered the importance of Rechelbacher’s pioneering work. But long before the conversation was mainstream, he was formalizing the best, toxic-free products through Aveda, and later Intelligent Nutrients; safe alternatives in form that didn’t sacrifice function.

Through his companies and tireless advocacy work, Mr. Rachelbacher revolutionized the beauty industry forever.

Mr. Rechelbacher’s plant-based approached stemmed from his mother, an herbablist. At the age of 14, he apprenticed at a nearby hair salon; only three years later to find himself working in Rome. He went on to found Aveda in 1978, fusing plant science and beauty against the modern ideas of efficiency through chemicals.

Thanks to Rechelbacher’s dedication Aveda is the first beauty company to produce with one hundred percent wind power, and the first beauty company to use one hundred percent post-consumer recycled PET packaging.

After selling Aveda in 1997, Rechelbacher founded Intelligent Nutrients, a beauty company using only certified organic ingredients. Most of the ingredients used are grown on his 570-acre organic farm in Osceola, Wisconsin.

Horst left us with fundamental ideas of the power of nature. Below are three revolutionary shifts he brought into the beauty industry forever.

1. The Relationship between Plants and Beauty is Luxury

Horst launched his career at a time when laboratory science was the shining horizon of global industries; food, beauty and others were looking for leaps in efficiency via chemicals as the answer to limits of nature. But Horst held on to the intrinsic benefits plants have to offer, and believed in beauty from the inside and out. His luxurious products free of toxic chemicals offer an alternative to the mainstream, proving you didn’t have to sacrifice form for function.

2. Companies are Greater Than Their Final Product

Rechelbacher’s work went far beyond his products. As an outspoken advocate for eliminating toxic chemicals in beauty, Horst helped finance the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Today, the organization stands as one of the largest and most influential groups working towards regulating the cosmetic industry and increasing consumer awareness. Their most recent work persuaded Johnson & Johnson to remove two ingredients from their baby shampoo that are linked to cancer.

He also conducted his business as a holistic vision of health: He led Aveda to be the first beauty company to produce with one hundred percent wind power, and the first beauty company to use one hundred percent post-consumer recycled PET packaging. Intelligent Nutrients offers an ingestible product called Intellimune, made of five powerful seed oils: black cumin, pumpkin, red grape, raspberry and cranberry. His companies didn’t just make healthier products, but healthier and more holistic consumer world.

3. Natural is Not Only Good for Our Health, It’s Good For Business

In 1997, Aveda Corps. was sold to Estee Lauder for a reported $300 million, and is still carried in over 25,000 stores and salons worldwide. Now that’s good business.

To leave something behind, greater than ourselves, is a life well lived. Horst Rechelbacher founded and matured healthy companies that have touched millions of people. As the father of safer cosmetics, his legacy will live on; inside and out.

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Don’t be swayed by commercials, the best rejuvenating hair treatments for shiny, healthy hair are those you can make at home from kitchen ingredients.  Here are 8 of our favorites that you can make at home!

Let’s be honest, your hair requires a little love from time to time to keep it shiny and healthy. But you don’t have to break the bank and buy a ton of salon-grade products to do so. The best hair treatments are those you can make at home in a few easy steps. Plus, by making your own, you know exactly what goes into the mix. Here are our favorite DIY hair treatments that will instantly rejuvenate your hair.

For each treatment, simply mix together and apply starting at the roots and working your way down. Be sure to cover all your hair. Comb through with wide tooth comb, and leave in for 15 – 20 minutes (the longer the better). Wrap hair in shower cap or warm towel to seal in heat. Then cleanse hair as normal.

Making your own hair treatments is better for the environment (and often your wallet). Enjoy and have fun!

1. Avocado and Coconut Milk

Open avocado and remove seed. Mash avocado with fork and slowly add in coconut milk while whisking, until the mixture reaches a conditioner consistency.

2. Eggs and Olive Oil

Crack open 2 – 3 eggs, and beat together. Add in 3 tablespoons of olive oil and mix together. (You might have to shampoo twice to get the egg out, but it’s incredibly moisturizing.)

3. Avocado, Argan Oil, Honey and Tea Tree Oil

Open one avocado, remove seed and mash together with fork.  Add in 2 – 3 tablespoons of argan oil, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 4 drops of tea tree essential oil. Mix together until all blended.

4. Potato, Aloe Vera and Honey

Cook one medium size to large potato (depending on the length of your hair) until potato is soft (usually about 45 minutes at 375 degrees). With a fork mash potato in a bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of aloe vera (you can use aloe gel or snap some off from your house plants—the fresher the better). Add 1 tablespoon of honey and mix together until all blended.

5.  The Miranda Kerr Special

In an interview with Elle France, Miranda Kerr said she relies on this hair treatment for a healthy shine. “Minimum once a week, I mix both and I leave the mixture on as long as possible. This is a homemade recipe that my mum taught me and I still haven’t found a better one to repair my hair after the shows.” Mix together 1/2 cup of olive oil and 1/4 cup of lemon juice.

6. Apple Cider Vinegar, Olive Oil and Cool Water

In a sealable bottle, mix together 1/2 cup cider vinegar, 3 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 1/2 cups cool water (the colder the better). Shake together and apply over hair. Don’t fear the smell of this one, the apple cider vinegar vaporizes quickly and doesn’t leave your hair smelling like feet.

7. Rosemary and Olive Oil

Pour 1/2 cup of olive oil and 1/2 cup of dried rosemary into a medium size saucepan and heat until warm. Strain ingredients through a cheesecloth and apply mixture throughout hair.

8. Simply Coconut Oil

This is my tried and true hair care treatment that I use at least once a week. Simply apply virgin coconut oil through hair and comb through. Works like a charm and it’s really simple!

Do you have a secret DIY hair treatment for your hair? Tell us in the comments below!

images: thenailbeautique, JIGGS, boughtbooks, Flооd, mateoruescas, hamad M, Jonathan Cohen, Myra Zafi, Phú Thịnh Co

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Red hair is bold, sexy, sassy and fun. It stands out in ways that other hair colors just can’t compete with, especially when it catches the light in just that certain way. But very few of us are naturally blessed with this gorgeous hue, from pale ginger to rich auburn, so if we want to feel like a flame-haired bombshell a la Christina Hendricks or Florence Welch, we’ve got to fake it.

Red can be one of the hardest hair colors to achieve, since it tends to fade quickly, and the wrong shade can send you to the clownish side of the spectrum. Here are some natural red hair color tips, and organic red hair dye brands that can safely get you the vivid shade you’re looking for, including healthy and all-natural henna. 

At the Salon: Aveda Plant-Based Hair Color

Nobody does red hair color better than Aveda, and if you want to avoid the pitfalls that can come with at-home dye jobs, putting yourself in the hands of a pro is your best bet. The brand’s full-spectrum permanent dyes are up to 99% naturally derived, with plant-based formulas instead of the petrochemicals that typically make up permanent hair dye. The nice thing about going to a salon is you can have a color custom-mixed to ensure that it’s just right for your skin tone, and the colorist can blend different shades to give your overall look more depth.

Aveda isn’t the only option for safe, organic red hair color, of course. Look for a salon in your area offering organic, non-toxic options, and check out the brands they use online before making an appointment.

At-Home Permanent Red Hair: Naturtint and Herbatint

If you’d rather just grab a box off the shelf and get it over with, there are a few options to choose from. Whole Foods and other natural food stores offer brands like Naturtint and Herbatint. Herbatint is free of ammonia, alcohol, fragrance and parabens, and uses less peroxide for a more natural-looking result; the Environmental Working Group (EWG) gave it a safety score of 2 out of 10, (lower numbers indicating a safer product). Red shades range from light copper blonde to ‘flash fashion’ crimson red, and they can be mixed to create your own custom shade. The same goes for Naturtint, which scored a 3 from EWG. These box formulas aren’t perfect, but they’re a big improvement over the conventional store brands.

Not sure which shade to choose? When it doubt, go lighter. You can always dye it again if the results aren’t bold enough for you, but it can be hard to fix cherry-red hair that’s darker and more dramatic than you wanted.

Making a Big Commitment: Henna

By far, the healthiest and most permanent option for red hair color is henna. Totally plant-based, henna bonds with the proteins in your hair rather than just coating it in a very long-lasting reaction that’s hard to reverse. Because it has a sheer effect, working with your own natural hair color, the results tend to look fairly natural, with lots of dimension.

You can control the hue of your results using the custom formulas described at HennaForHair.com, which incorporate other natural ingredients like coffee, hibiscus petals and lemon juice. Always try it out on a small piece of hair before coloring your entire head.

Temporary Red Hair: Vegetable Dyes

If you want to give natural red hair color a try, but you’re feeling a little commitment-shy, try a temporary rinse. Vegetable dyes like Manic Panic can be used over your current hair color (assuming it’s not too dark) for a subtle effect that washes out in a week or two. Manic Panic is vegan, PPD-free and never tested on animals, but some formulas do contain parabens. Learn more about the ingredients at Bonzai Aphrodite, and make sure to do an allergy test before use.

Main Image: megan leetz Other Images: Aveda.com

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Welcome to the third installment of our seven-part Eco Salon Eco-Beauty Approved Guide: Hair Care. Coming up next is:

MAKE-UP & COLOR PRODUCTS
PERSONAL CARE & HYGIENE
SCENT
SUN

We’ve worked really hard to gather this list from professionals in the field, including Kristen Arnett, Paige Padgett, Jessa Blades, Greta Eagan, Sophie Uliano, Todra Payne, Renee Loux, Starre Vartan and others, along with our very own editors and writers. We’ve looked at ingredients, brand missions and philosophies, considered skin and hair types, all types of concerns and tested several products in each line. We’ve broken it down by category, with multiple options in each, so get ready for lots of options.

We’ve also considered price and tried very hard to include a broad range from luxury to affordable for just about any budget. Even though we’ve listed just one or two product recommendations per brand, it’s hard to go wrong with these companies, so experiment until you find your new must have products! Without further ado, please read on for the 2013 EcoSalon Approved Eco-Beauty Guide!

THE HAIR CARE LIST

1. ACURE Organics

Natural, organic and fair trade skin care products that provide visible results founded on a simple concept: provide healthy skin care products using the purest organic and fair trade certified ingredients in order to help raise money in the fight against breast cancer and to support environmental causes.

Product Picks:

Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Shampoo (dry or damaged hair, thick, textured)

Moroccan Argan Oil + Argan Stem Cell Cell Conditioner (dry or damaged hair, thick, textured)

2.Alaffia (and sister Brand Beautiful Curls) 

Founded to advance gender equality and alleviate poverty through the fair trade of handcrafted shea butter products formulated based on indigenous beauty knowledge.

Product Picks:

Alaffia Neem & Shea Scalp Recovery Shampoo (for all hair types, but especially flaky, sensitive scalp)

Beautiful Curls Fortifying Curl Lotion (for dry, wavy to curly hair)

3. Aubrey Organics 

Providing all natural, safe and effective personal care and lifestyle products to the consumer.  We offer a true and authentic alternative to many of the mass produced synthetic products on the market today.

Product Picks:

Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Shampoo (for thick, dry hair)

Honeysuckle Rose Moisturizing Conditioner (for thick, dry hair)

4. Emtage

Founder Robyn Emtage, personally committed to her customers, to the health of their hair and skin, and to the health of the planet, creates formulas that improve the health of the hair while making it silky, smooth and abundant shine using pure, unprocessed oils and botanicals from Japan, Tahiti, India, and other parts of the world.

Product Pick:

SILKtáge ™ Rejuvenating Styling Serum (for all hair types, especially curly and dry)

5. Intelligent Nutrients 

Founded by Horst M. Rechelbacher (he created Aveda), Intelligent Nutrients is a leading innovator of certified organic health and beauty products utilizing 100 percent food-based and organic certified ingredients and free of harmful toxins.

Product Picks:

Harmonic Shampoo (for all hair types, color safe)

Harmonic Conditioner (for all hair types, color safe)

6. Jason 

A full range of personal care products, including skin care, soap & bath, hair care, oral care, kids care and sunscreens, to care for you and your family formulated without toxic ingredients.

Product Picks:

Tea Tree Scalp Normalizing Shampoo & Conditioner (for oily hair & flaky scalp)

7. John Master’s Organics 

Caring about yourself and caring about the earth don’t have to be mutually exclusive. For more than 20 years, this has been the guiding force in creating Super Natural Beauty for your hair, your skin, and your home that treats the earth with respect.

Product Picks:

Lavender Rosemary Shampoo (for all hair types, color safe)

Citrus & Neroli Detangler (for all hair types, especially easily tangled, color safe)

8. Original Moxie 

Eco friendly hair products for a diverse range of hair types, featuring a unique diagnostic approach and natural ingredients.  Their bottom-up product development begins and ends with real people and takes a problem-solving approach to real hair care needs.

Product Picks:

Get Fresh Shampoo (fine, limp or oily hair, color safe)

Featherweight Conditioner (fine, limp or oily hair, color safe)

Mane Tame (for most hair types, especially frizzy, curly or fly away)

9. Rare Elements 

Built on the principles of luxury and performance, this distinct brand delivers the same gratification that salon-professionals depend on and the healing benefits that only nature can provide. Made using the most exotic and quintessential ingredients in the world, they’ve developed a simple yet effective collection that is ideal for restoring and maintaining the hair’s integrity.

Product Picks:

Pure Shampoo (for all, but best for dry, damaged, processed hair, color safe)

Essential Conditioner (best for dry, damaged, processed hair, color safe

10. The Wonderseed 

The Wonder Seed’s mission is to nurture, heal and protect skin and hair with a complete line of products rich in virgin organic hempseed oil, the most nutritious oil on Earth.

Product Picks:

Hemp Seed Oil Shampoo – Sweet Orange (for all hair types)

Hemp Seed Oil Conditioner – Sweet Orange (for all hair types)

11. Yarok 

Their focus is to make the greatest positive impact on hair and scalp health with the least negative impact on the natural environment. Whether it’s our packaging, our product formulations, our day-to-day operations or our strategic partnerships we are dedicated to supporting environmental causes.

Product Picks:

Feed Your Do Styling Whip (for all hair types, especially dry, frizzy or in need of texture)

Feed Your Youth (for all hair types, especially thinning or sensitive scalp)

Read Eco Salon’s 2013 Eco Beauty Approved Guide Part 1: 19 Bath & Body Products here.

And Part 2: 41 Facial Care Products here.

*Disclaimer: Help support EcoSalon! Our site is dedicated to helping people live a conscious lifestyle. We’ve provided some affiliate links above in case you wish to purchase any of these products.

Looking to try healthy beauty products before you buy?  Goodebox delivers 6-7 personalized samples per month to take the guess work out of cleaning up your beauty routine. Try Goodebox today.

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