Despite all the effort you put into washing and conditioning your hair, you might not be doing enough if you’re not exfoliating the home in which your strands take residence: your scalp.

Scalp exfoliators, which function pretty much like their facial counterparts, work by deeply cleansing, dissolving, or sloughing off dead skin cells to provide the optimal environment conducive to shiny, bouncy, and healthy locks.

Think of your scalp as your face, and your hair follicles as your pores. Now think of how much exfoliating makes a difference to your face after a single session (so smooth! so bright!)—and the fact that you see all those beautiful effects even though you already cleanse your face with direct contact every day. So imagine how much gunk accumulates on your scalp (a.k.a. the extension of your face covered in hair and therefore hard to reach). Yikes! Oh, and you can multiply that if you tend to layer on dry shampoo or wash infrequently.

Your scalp is also vulnerable to excess oil, acne, clogging, and dead skin buildup, all of which might cause flat, lifeless strands, hair thinning, or in extreme cases, bald spots. And of course there’s dandruff and even fungus or yeast. By giving your scalp some exfoliating action, your scalp will be purified and fresh, your dead skin cells will make way for the healthy ones, and your follicles will be in their best state to grow a prettier mane. Plus, you put your head in prime shape to absorb all the other wonderful foamy nutrients you add as you suds up.

If you’re curious about how much more potential your hair has to reach peak Blake Lively status, try these natural scalp exfoliators:

1. Intelligent Nutrients PurePlenty Exfoliating Shampoo

If you don’t feel like adding another step to your shower routine, use this herbal-scented shampoo once or twice a week to infuse your scalp with nettle, which helps clear the follicles, as well as ajuga plant stem cells and saw palmetto, which are known to inhibit DHT (a type of hormone linked to hair loss). This delicious formula also contains plant-based oils with antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, like the almighty black cumin. Oh, and the bottle comes equipped with a pointy applicator so you can get the good stuff directly on your scalp where the ingredients need to be. This formula brings a whole new meaning to clear-headedness.

2. John Masters Deep Scalp Follicle Treatment Volumizer

Clean scalp and shiny volumized hair? Uh, yes. This treatment contains a blend of 17 certified-organic herbs and essential oils to clear out the debris on your scalp, dissolve oil buildup in the hair roots, and pave way for beautiful hair. This formula features the ever-so-stimulating thyme, Irish moss to detoxify, and soy proteins to help strengthen hair. Just wash and condition as usual, then spray this on your head while your strands are still damp.

3. Briogeo Scalp Revival Charcoal + Tea Tree Scalp Treatment

This leave-in treatment harnesses the power of Japanese Binchotan charcoal to naturally draw out follicle-clogging impurities and sweep away the debris from your scalp, clearing the path for the powerful hair vitamin biotin to help your tresses grow fuller and healthier. If you’re feeling itchy, this formula soothes you with its super-refreshing peppermint, tea tree, and spearmint oils while witch hazel helps control an overflow of oil production. And don’t be afraid of being too squeaky clean—the sodium hyaluronate and aloe vera add a good amount of balanced hydration. You can use this after your shower (and go about your day delighted knowing your scalp is getting clean!).

2 DIY Ingredients to Make Your Own Scalp Exfoliator

If you prefer to alchemize your own scalp exfoliator, add these ingredients prized for their gunk-eliminating properties to your regular shampoo and make sure your directly massage the concoction into your scalp:

Activated Charcoal

Wellness folks are still going nuts over activated charcoal’s near-mystical ability to pull dirt, grime, and excess oil out of skin (without damaging the fresh, young-looking skin we prefer to stay intact). Add a teaspoon to your ‘poo and don’t be scared of your shower turning black for sec — the stuff comes right off with a splash of water. Try this one from Starwest Botanicals.

Organic White Willow Bark Extract

A common ingredient in acne treatments, white willow bark extract is also found in scalp exfoliators thanks to its ability to penetrate skin and clear it out. Unfortunately, many formulas with willow bark also contain other chemicals like PEGs, so your best bet is to nab your own (like this one from Mountain Rose Herbs) and add a few drops to your scalp prior to washing.

*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.

Related on EcoSalon

The No Poo Method: Is Nixing Shampoo the Key to Your Best Hair?
The One Beauty Product Absolutely Everyone Must Own
A Sulfate Free Shampoo for All Tress Types: 7 Best Shampoos for Dry to Oily Hair

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A few months ago, I discovered the “no poo” method. That is, washing hair sans shampoo.

Washing your hair isn’t exactly rocket science, but could you be doing it smarter? Or, rather, are you doing it wrong?  Discover just how the no-poo method can transform your hair’s health and appearance and a completely doable guide on how to go no poo yourself.

The No Poo Method, Explained

After learning more about what shampoo does to your scalp and hence, your hair, I decided to give the remarkably fuss-free approach to scalp and hair health a try.

Shampoo’s essential function is to cleanse the scalp and hair, stripping them of them of debris and sebum, the natural oils produced by hair follicles. However, the scalp’s sebaceous oil glands work in overdrive and produce excess sebum when they sense that the scalp is dry. Shampooing regularly may be the reason your hair gets so greasy so quickly, even if it offers an immediate, albeit temporary, solution to oily hair.

It’s a vicious cycle. But, you can break it! By shampooing less often, your scalp naturally reduces its production of sebum and leaves your locks looking buoyant and lush for longer.

No Poo Method: Step-By-Step

The no poo method instructs that you instead wash hair with a gentle alternative to shampoo, such as baking soda and apple cider vinegar, or just water alone.

Before you try the no poo method yourself, keep in mind that it will take between two and six weeks to see results – a small price to pay for a lifetime of luxurious locks. One of my main concerns was what I should do after a tough workout, from which I often emerge drenched in sweat. A rinse with water just didn’t seem like it would cut it. The addition of apple cider vinegar, however, worked surprisingly well. And don’t worry – the apple cider vinegar does not leave behind a scent once your hair dries.

Your hair will feel strange when you first embark on your no poo journey. It won’t feel as glossy and “cleansed” directly after a wash, but that’s a good thing. Over time, your hair will strengthen and look better than it ever has.

Trust me, and take the plunge:

The No Poo Method

1. Put one tablespoon of baking soda into one cup of water. Stir until dissolved and set aside and within reaching distance from the shower.
2. Pour one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar into one cup of water. Feel free to add a few drops of your favorite essential oil or a tablespoon of honey, but they are optional. Stir and set aside, also within reaching distance from the shower.
3. In the shower, apply the baking soda mixture to your hair, focusing on the roots. Use fingers to distribute the mixture to the rest of your hair. Rinse.
4. Delicately pour the apple cider vinegar mixture over hair and use fingers to massage the mixture into the scalp and down toward the ends of your hair. Rinse thoroughly.
5. Repeat this process once every two to three days. I work out almost everyday, so I find it necessary to wash my hair daily. But if you skip the gym, try to skip a day here and there.
6. Aim for washing your hair only three to four times per week.

That’s all there is to it!

Related on EcoSalon
Best Organic Natural Conditioners for Frizzy, Curly Hair
EcoSalon’s 2013 Eco-Beauty Approved Guide Part 3: 11 Hair Products
A Guide to the Most Safe, Eco-Friendly Shampoos for All Hair Types

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Nothing is better than finding the best sulfate free shampoo for your hair. Suddenly, it’s like your hair takes on its own persona. It’s a shiny, happy person bouncing around your scalp, so much so that this article deserves its own soundtrack. So let’s give it one. 




This song is clearly about how happy Kate Pierson’s hair is.

What is it about natural, organic, and non-toxic shampoos that make our hair so awesome? First off, they generally don’t contain ammonium lauryl sulfate of the notorious sulfate family, which also includes ammonium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate. These are the surfactants, or sudsing agents that make your traditional shampoo foam up. They are also quite drying to both your hair and scalp.

Sulfate free shampoos typically use decyl glucoside as their surfactant of choice. This ingredient, which rates a zero from the Environmental Working Group, is plant-derived and biodegradable. It’s not known to have any adverse health effects.

So what’s the best sulfate free shampoo for your hair type?

1. Best for All Hair—Harmonic Shampoo by Intelligent Nutrients ($22.00 for 15 oz.)

Intelligent Nutrients was founded by Horst Rechelbacher, who also created Aveda. Consider it Aveda’s bigger and better younger sister. This shampoo is formulated without sulfates, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, parabens, silicones, and synthetic fragrances.

More importantly, it performs like a champ. Using only a quarter-size cap full, you get a through wash which leaves your hair feeling like it’s had a makeover. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

2. Best for Color Treated—John Masters Organics Bare ($14.50)

When you’ve already put your hair through a color treatment, you want a shampoo that’s light on harsh ingredients. This sulfate free shampoo uses organic white tea and chamomile to detoxify hair, with jojoba oil to moisturize it. Fragrance free, it also include evening primrose for an added moisturizing effect.

3. Best Medicinal Shampoo—African Black Soap Deep Cleansing by Shea Moisture ($9.99)

Excellent for regulating sebum production, this shampoo treats psoriasis, dandruff, and eczema. Containing tea tree and willow bark extract to help detoxify the scalp, it is free of sulfates, parabens, phthalates, paraffin, gluten, propylene glycol, mineral oil, synthetic fragrance and more.

It also is highly recommended for African-American hair.

4. Best Clarifying Shampoo—Lemon Myrtle by Miessence ($24.00)

A good clarifying shampoo is a great trick to have up your hair arsenal. Regular build-up from pollution, product, chlorine, and that bad shampoo you used at your cousin’s house can leave residue on your hair that weighs it down. But washing with a clarifying shampoo removes this gunk, leaving your hair lighter. You should always follow up with a good conditioner.

This product from Miessence uses moisturizing, certified organic aloe vera as well as certified organic rosemary, burdock and sage extracts to balance hair. It leaves your hair with a lovely lemon scent, and is also great for treating oily hair.

5. Best for Sensitive Scalps—Baby Shampoo by Erbaviva ($18.00)

Our scalps can be very sensitive to product, especially when exposed to pollutants and the drying agents of winter. This light, ultra mild shampoo from natural experts Erbaviva offers up a USDA organic cleansing made with gentle, nourishing lavender and chamomile oils.

6. Best for Volume—Rahua ($32.00)

Containing both organic and 100% natural ingredients, this product best serves fine, damaged hair to add a healthy bounce. Containing quinoa, coconut and shea butter, it is formulate to cleanse with minimal sudsing, leaving hair stripped of oil and bacteria but replenished with moisturizing agents.

7. Best Treatment for Dry Scalp and Hair—Neem Oil by Dr. Haushcka ($29.95)

Sure, this isn’t a shampoo. But a good scalp and hair treatment can leave your hair feeling like you just invested in a spa day. This oil from natural skincare experts Dr. Haushcka contains neem leaf and chamomile extracts for a dry, itchy scalp.

It also adds shine to your hair while encouraging healthy hair growth. Massage this into your hair and scalp to strength brittle or damaged hair. Your hair will feel light and silky for days to come.

photo credit: eflon via photopin cc

For further reading:

7 Tips to Combat Dry Hair

Why Vinegar Is So Great for Your Hair

The post A Sulfate Free Shampoo for All Tress Types: 7 Best Shampoos for Dry to Oily Hair appeared first on EcoSalon.

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.

The post EcoSalon’s 2013 Eco-Beauty Approved Guide Part 3: 11 Hair Care Products appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnWith a name like Organix, you might assume that the brand in question is organic… right?

You would be wrong.

The popular drug and big box store line of hair, bath and body products may share six of seven letters with the word “organic,” but its products surprisingly don’t contain any qualifying ingredients.

Owned by Florida-based Vogue International, Organix offers more than 70 personal care products featuring trendy, exotic-sounding ingredients like “pomegranate green tea,” “awapuhi ginger,” “acai berry avocado,” and “Moroccan argan oil.” At prices that easily compete with non-natural competitors, and distribution across major drugstores and superstores nationwide, Organix is viewed as a budget-friendly option for shoppers that desire conscience-friendly products, but don’t have the funds for more expensive all-natural brands.

But how much of the brand’s green marketing is real, and how much is just greenwashing? This week’s Behind The Label takes a look at the good, bad, and questionable.

The Good

On its FAQ page, Organix claims that all of its products are free from sulfates and parabens, those vilified groups of compounds that are said to be toxic and carcinogenic. Sulfate compounds like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are generally added to products like shampoo and body wash as a foaming and degreasing agent, while parabens like ethyparaben, butylparaben, methylparaben, and propylparaben are commonly present as a preservative to prevent the growth of microbes in cosmetic products. Both groups of compounds are suspect: some sulfates are said to release 1,4-dioxane, a known carcinogen, while parabens have been linked to cancer, endocrine disruption, reproductive toxicity, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and skin irritation. While U.S. regulatory bodies maintain that the small amounts of sulfates and parabens in mass-market personal care products are unlikely to cause significant harm, products that are free from these ingredients are seen as safer for consumers.

Organix also says that it stands against animal testing, and that it carefully monitors all ingredients used in its products. PETA  included Organix on its most recent list of companies that do not test on animals.

Plus, Organix products are said to be sold in environmentally preferable packaging, with recycled materials and eco-friendly inks, though there was little online data to support that claim.

The Bad

Organix’s tagline is: “Beauty, pure and simple.” But how pure and simple are we talking about?

According to the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetics database, the brand’s Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo lists the following ingredients:

Deionized Water, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium C 14 16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamidopropyl Hydroxysultaine, Dimethicone Copolyol (Silica), Cocamide DEA, Glycol Distearate, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil (Argan), Cacao (Theobroma Cacao) Extract (Cocoa Butter), Parfum, Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut), Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado), Aloe Vera (Aloe Barbadensis) Extract (Aloe Leaf), Panthenol, Polyquaternium 11, DMDM Hydantoin, Cetyl Alcohol, Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride, PEG 23M, Red 40, Yellow 5

Yikes. After water, the top three ingredients – Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Sodium C 14 16 Olefin Sulfonate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine – are synthetic surfactants used for their cleansing and foaming properties. Note that “Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil” is ninth on the list, a sure sign that it is not a prominent ingredient in the formula.

Organix’s Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Conditioner has a similarly long list of ingredients. Though free from sulfates and parabens, the item does contain methylisothiazolinone – a controversial preservative that is commonly used in place of parabens but is suspected of causing immunotoxicity and skin toxicity. The United States, Japan, and many European countries have concluded that methylisothiazolinone is safe at maximum concentrations of 0.01 percent, but Canada has banned its use in cosmetics.

The Questionable

Organic shampoo, at your local drugstore, for about the same price as Pantene Pro-V and Garnier Fructis? If it sounds too good to be true, it is.

The funny thing about Organix is that the company never actually claims to include organic ingredients. There aren’t any stamps from the USDA on its packaging, nor are there organic claims on its ingredient list. There’s just that name, which so obviously implies organic even if the rest of the branding doesn’t.

It’s this kind of misleading labeling that has created a sense of distrust and confusion in the natural and organic personal care space. In June 2011, the Center for Environmental Health decided to take action, waging a lawsuit against 26 companies that use the label “organic” on products that list few or no organic ingredients. Organix’ Hydrating Teatree Mint Conditioner was listed among the offenders, along with products from Kiss My Face, Jason, Aubrey Organics, and Nature’s Baby. Eleven of the companies ultimately agreed to comply with clearer labeling restrictions; Vogue International/Organix was not one of them.

For consumers seeking a product that is free from sulfates, parabens, and animal testing, Organix is a decent budget option. But those seeking truly chemical-free products should educate themselves on ingredients and never take “natural” or “organic” claims at face value. Until a strict regulation scheme is in place regarding the use of misleading language on product packaging, the onus lies on us, the consumers, to be ardent questioners and readers of labels.

Images: Organix, Jessica Marati

The post Behind The Label: Organix’s Misleading Labeling appeared first on EcoSalon.

7 ways to moisturize your hair in the dry, winter months.

It doesn’t matter if we are raven-haired, red-headed, blonde or brunette. It doesn’t matter if our hair is thin, thick, textured or kinky. During the dry winter months, we might as well hook our heads up to outlets for all the static electricity we produce. The cold, dry temperatures of winter can siphon the moisture from our skin and hair like a sponge. So how best to fight back against winter?

Stop washing your hair every day
We live in a world where most people make best friends with anti-bacterial wipes. Dirt is the enemy. But so is washing your hair too much. Over-washing can strip important oils from your scalp, resulting in dry, over-stimulated tresses. Plus, what’s better for dry hair then your own, natural oils? At the least, try to skip a daily washing.

And when you do wash, consider a homemade shampoo like this one from beauty expert Narine Nikogosian: Combine one tablespoon of dried jasmine with one teaspoon of honey with two eggs yolks. Boil the dried jasmine with one cup of water for five minutes. Steep for ten minutes, then strain. Blend the jasmine, honey and egg yolks. Apply to your hair, and then rinse with cold water.

Install a water filter on your showerhead
Municipal waters contain drying chemicals that can strip your hair of its essential oils. Chlorine and other chemicals used to clean our water supplies can wreak havoc on our hair. Anyone who has spent a significant amount of time in a swimming pool knows that hair follicles will eventually make hair like a Brillo pad if not properly rinsed. Here’s more information on shower filters.

Wash your hair backwards
Horst Rechelbacher, founder of Aveda and Intelligent Nutrients, is also famous for this hair care tip. First, apply half a teaspoon of your favorite oil to your scalp and work it through. You can use jojoba, olive, or sweet almond oil. Second, apply your conditioner and let it sit for a few minutes. Third, use a small amount of shampoo to wash out your hair. Finally, if your hair feels tangled, put a little remaining oil on your fingers and comb through your hair. The oil treatment helps loosen and attract dirt which the shampoo then washes away.

The avocado: not just for salads
The avocado is a triumph of moisturizers, oils and vitamins. But before you add some to your salad, you might want to consider treating your tresses to a homemade avocado mask. Take one small avocado, mash it together with one tablespoon of honey and one tablespoon of olive oil. You can even blend them together. Apply to damp hair for at least 30 minutes, then rinse. This recipe works on all hair types.

Rinse with olive oil
You can give yourself a fancy “hot oil” salon treatment with a mere tablespoon of organic olive oil. First, rinse your hair with warm water. Then work the olive oil through your tresses with your fingers. Let it sit for twenty minutes. Then rinse with cool water, following up with a bit of shampooing if your hair feels too oily.

Sooth your scalp
An irritated, dry scalp can throw your hair out of balance. Organic stylist and expert Felicia Howe recommends Simply Organic Scalp Spa Treatment ($23.99) to tame your irritated head. As Felicia Shares, “I’ve been using this all season, it’s been saving my hair and scalp. It’s amazing.”  This professional-grade product contains olive leaf extracts.

It’s all about serums
Sometimes you need a serum to act like the really great sequel to your favorite conditioner. Serums can leave your hair extremely hydrated while giving you the fresh out of a spa smell. Basically, a serum delivers the goods to your hair in a concentrated punch. So you want to make sure you use one that has clean, green ingredients.

Yarok Hair Care offers a serum entitled Feed Your Youth ($25) containing hydrating Yarrow and avocado. John Masters Organics has their Dry Hair Nourishment and Defrizzer ($16.00) which combines certified organic jojoba, lavender and rosemary. Both can be used in a “set it and forget it” fashion where you work the ingredients into your hair in the evening, only to be washed out in the morning.

Image:Erintaylormurphy, hulagway, wordridden, [g] [e] [r] [y]

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It’s the tail end of back-to-school season, and that means it’s time for brand new books and pencils and backpacks…and the school year’s first autumnal infestation of head lice.

Lice can happen to anyone, but they are frequently found on the one kid in class whose well-intentioned but misguided parents will turn their backs on medically approved treatments and choose to handle  the outbreak holistically (“holistic” from the Latin, meaning does not work.) These clueless hippies will douse their poor child’s head with a host of loosey-goosey new age remedies that will do nothing to kill the parasites that have made a home in the kid’s hairdo. Why do I care? Because this unfortunate child will go back to school where he or she will inevitably sit next to my daughter, exposing her to a head full of vermin.

I have seen it happen time and again: the school nurse finds lice on a child’s head and sends her home to parents who distrust medicine and think that all pharmaceutical companies are as evil as their corporate cousin, Big Tobacco. These parents opt for nature-based home remedies to get rid of lice and nits – they try cat shampoo and Listerine, minced garlic and lavender extract. They wave burning sage around their kid’s head and rub her down with a mixture of coconut oil and ylang ylang – it is the Lillith Fair of parasite removal.

Tea tree oil is the best known holistic lice remedy and I’m here to tell you it doesn’t work. Tea tree oil does not kill lice – it doesn’t even distract lice. But holistic-minded parents will try it night after night, along with camphor oil, onion juice and apple slices. And each day their child will go back into school with an army of tiny insects still marching resolutely through her hair.

Lice are not the result of poor hygiene or parental negligence. There is no shame in having lice, only in refusing to treat them in an effective manner. The American Academy of Pediatrics (an organization not known for its callous disregard of children) recommends low-toxicity medicated shampoos for the treatment of lice. It very clearly does not advocate trying to vibe lice into submission with positive thoughts and a home remedy made of cloves and baby aspirin.

Olive oil is another natural remedy that parents turn to without much success. Unfortunately, olive oil – while an exceedingly good choice for salad dressing – is no match for an invasion of ectoparasites. White vinegar is another holistic treatment, and it too is an appropriate topping for a head of lettuce, not a head full of lice.

I understand that there are downsides to using strong chemicals so close to your child’s brain. But there is also a downside to being known as the girl who had lice for seven whole months while her mom futzed around with patchouli oil and organic mayonnaise.

The simple fact is, it behooves parents to keep their children’s lice from spreading to other children. Of course, if your kid has a nasty infestation of head lice, harsh chemicals are not your only option. There’s always home schooling…

Image: edenpictures

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Some of us like to shower. And some of us have long hair. This often leaves us with a dire dilemma. How long is too long to get all the shampoo out? How much water does it take to get clean hair? It’s enough to make you hang up your brush, take to the woods, and live a life of transcendental solitude with fulfilled souls and really stringy hair.

I just threw a Google on how much water we waste washing our hair. (You failed me this time, Google. This time.) But it doesn’t take a Google to know we use up more moisture lathering and rinsing. And we do advocate a good hair washing if a green girl wants it. But are there ways to make it a little less wasteful?

Cue fireworks and the Rockette’s kick line – there is! Dry shampoo is an age-old product that can grab onto dirt and oils from your hair, all H20 free. It’s not a substitute for an actual hair washing, but it can help extend the times between lathering up. And consequently, it can save a little water along the way and let those natural oils build up.

Dry shampoo is easy to make at home. One of the best homemade recipes calls for one tablespoon of fine corn meal combined with one tablespoon of corn starch. This combination apparently works best for absorbing oils and grabbing dirt. You pour the mixture on top of your scalp and work it in with your fingers. Then use a comb or brush to run it through your locks. You can use less for short hair and more for long hair. Just be sure to use it in an area that is easy to sweep up, as powder under any circumstances can fly about.

Recently, I had the pleasure of checking out skinnyskinny’s Black Pepper and Rose Organic Dry Shampoo ($32.00). (And yes, this is their grammatical preference, not a typo!) This product contains certified organic ingredients and is 100 percent vegan. The packaging also gets high marks for eco-friendly biodegradable labels. Its ingredients read almost like a baked good – it is made with cornstarch, brown rice powder, white clay, horsetail powder, baking soda, orris root powder, and essential oils.

How does it work? I have long hair and work from home, which means that I try to extend my hair washings for as long as nature and politeness allows. So I was good and ready for a dry shampoo-ing when I picked up this product. It smells lovely and works like a perfume for your hair. Be careful how much you use – I went a little overboard and had a George Washington powdered wig moment. (Not to be confused with a Mary Todd Lincoln penchant for hats and temporary insanity.) But want to take a break between shampoos? This is a great product to check out.

FTC Compliance

Image: mike baird

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My life is ripe with babies. I have babies in Los Angeles, babies in Chicago, and babies in New York City. Not to mention, toddlers and pre-teens galore. No, I’m not Octo-Mom on speed, delivering progeny across an ungrateful nation – I’m in my late thirties and all my friends have babies. This means much embracing of the cuteness and chubby cheeks. This also means a lot of “what are the best natural products for my adorable baby?” Generally followed by “can you babysit Saturday night?”

Well, moms and sensitive-skinned adults, I found a great product. California Baby’s Calendula Shampoo and Bodywash is about as pure and sudsy as they get. It is great for the little ones, but also a fantastic product for those of use with sensitive skin. This product gets a rating of ONE from Skin Deep – this must be in capital letters because it is the first natural product I have reviewed to receive the highest of ratings from the Environmental Working Group cosmetic database.

Why is it so pure? It contains organic and sustainably grown ingredients – calendula has been known to soothe skin for centuries. It is free of fragrance, scent masking agents, sodium lauryl sulfate, and DEA. It is biodegradable and free of common allergens. And it is naturally tear-free without the use of numbing agents.

But enough of the PR ingredients list – how does it work? Very well, I’m happy to report! I considered offering the product to my friends to use on their babies. After I finished attacking Tokyo – (because that would be monstrous! Who tests on babies?) – I decided to shower up and let the suds roll into my own eyes. And yes, the product does not sting. It’s not pleasant to have soap in your eyes – I rubbed at them exactly like I was an infant – but stings there were none. It has a light, pleasant smell that comes off really minty in application.

All in all, this is a great shampoo/bodywash for babies and sensitive big kids like us. Just heed this one warning – this product is highly concentrated, so a little goes a long way. I did not read the instructions to use only a dime-sized amount and basically almost drowned in a monster explosion of suds. It was totally akin to Bobby Brady using the washing machine

For further reading:

7 Squeaky Clean Non-Toxic Bath Products for Babies and Kids

FTC Compliance

Image: chimothy27

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We brought you the goods on great green hair conditioners. Naturally, now we’re following up with the best eco-friendly, natural, organic shampoos! (Or should it be the other way around?)

But first, why do we want to go organic and nontoxic with our shampoos? One reason: it’s called sodium lauryl sulfate.

This chemical is what makes regular shampoos suds up. Among other things, it can lead to skin damage, permanent eye damage in children and even liver toxicity.

The news is not much better for sodium laureth sulfate (SLS). On the up side, SLS cannot be metabolized by the liver. But that just mean the other bad things about it hang out that much longer in your body.  And don’t forget, it is also used to degrease engines.

There are alternatives. Some natural shampoos use disodium laureth sulfosuccinate, which can be considered the lesser of two evils. (Skin Deep rates it only a moderate health hazard.)

Better than that, there is decyl glucoside.  This is a mild sudsing agent certified for its eco-clean production. And some natural shampoos don’t use any sudsing ingredients at all – though this means they don’t foam up very well and if you’re accustomed to the foaming action of most shampoos, it can take some getting used to.

Confused? Not to worry. We went through quite a few natural and organic shampoos to sort out the best picks for your different hair types. And we point out the good and the bad.  So get ready to get lathered up!

And Our Top Pick Is”¦

Tasmanian Lavender Shampoo from Sea Chi Organics

Out of all the shampoos I sampled, this combined the best of everything. It had a fantastic scent that can best be described as “spicy lavender.”  It really foamed up in the shower and didn’t leave any build up. Best of all, if left my hair feeling silky and light.

Its ingredients read like a breakfast menu: seaweed extract, nettles, marshmallow root, comfrey root, calendula blossoms, oat straw, kombucha tea and more. It does not contain any solvents or sodium lauryl or sodium laureth sulfates. Bravo on the organic suds! And finally, it is great for all hair types.

Best for Normal Hair…

Lavender Rosemary Shampoo from John Masters Organics

This is another great product from John Masters Organics. It was a bit thick and heavy going on, so it is probably not best for every day use.

It is free of sodium lauryl sulfate, using decyl glucoside to get sudsy. It contains 13 other certified-organic ingredients and is cruelty-free.

Pampering Carrot Juice Shampoo from Yes to Carrots

This fun product has a fresh, light floral smell.  It lathered well, rinsed well and left my hair feeling light.

This paraben-free shampoo is blended with organic carrot, sweet potato and pumpkin, which act as potent antioxidants to cleanse and moisturize the hair. It also contains Dead Sea Mud (seriously), melon, orange and honey. However, it does contain some sodium laureth sulfate, so be warned.

Best for Dry Hair…

Teatree Mint Shampoo from Organix

Out of all the samples I tried, this is the best bang for your buck. It retails for about $6 and has a delicious mint smell that lingers. It left my hair feeling soft and clean, and there’s a good suds factor.

It has organic Australian tea tree oils, moisturizing milk proteins and micro-infused peppermint oils for hydration and balance. It is sulfate free, but does contain disodium laureth sulfosuccinate.

Burt’s Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit & Sugar Beet Shampoo

This smells exactly as you would imagine – sugary and grapefruity. It is pH-balanced, and sodium laury/laureth sulfate-, paraben- and phthalate-free. And it contains decyl glucoisde.

I found it rather hard to work through my hair and had to follow with conditioner. But it did leave my hair feeling clean and refreshed.

Best Clarifying Shampoos…

Why do we want an occasional rinse with a clarifying shampoo?  Well, to remove chlorine and mineral buildup. Use them once a week and you will notice a difference in your hair. Just be sure to follow with a great conditioner, as overuse can strip your hair of all the good oils.

Hair Detoxifier from Aveda

By far, this is the best product for the task at hand. It has a clean, camphor smell that perks you up. It is almost magical how clean and silky your hair will feel after use. (And trust me, it has to be magical to get me to use the term magical.)

It contains certified organic aloe and no synthetic reducing agents. And it suds with disodium laureth sulfosuccinate. Like all Aveda products, it is cruelty-free and contains 80% post-consumer packaging.

Clarifying Shampoo from Alba Botanica

This has a pleasant fruity scent that didn’t disappoint. My only complaint is that it is a bit thick, so leave some time to lather it out of your hair.

Alba Botanica’s shampoo is made with eucalyptus, which has antiseptic and cooling qualities. It is free of sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, artificial colors and of course there is no animal testing. It also contains 100% vegetarian ingredients.

Best Volumizing Shampoos…

Volumizing Shampoo from Nurture My Body

This product lathers sufficiently and left my hair feeling full and clean. It contains oat extract and honey to help strengthen the hair.

Nuture My Body’s product does not contain sodium laurel sulfate or any harsh detergents. It is supposed to be fragrance-free, but it smells more like light vitamins. Not bad, just not exactly fragrance-free. (Though it is free of the “fragrance” that is often used in non-organic brands which is nothing more than parabens.)

Big Body Shampoo from Kiss My Face

This product has a complex, fruity scent. Another great value, it is made with certified organic ingredients like floral water of rosemary, chamomile, lemon balm and more.

It contains no animal ingredients, sodium lauryl sulfate, artificial colors, or unnecessary chemicals.

Image: Meg Yarsh

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