Information about hair styling solutions
Q: My hair is very fine and has no body, and I've always struggled with it. I have tried different types of shampoo, moose, etc. I saw your product on Dirty Jobs the other day and I was thinking I might give you a try to see if your products can fix my lifeless hair. I have a few questions before I commit to the process...
1. After I complete the detox process, do I use the Hair Wash on my hair daily like I would any other Hair Wash?
2. Since my hair loses body and curl very easily I tend to use hair spray. Is that bad to do with your product?
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A: When most folks follow all of the instructions outlined in our excellent, detailed and highly informative Hair Wash instructions article (and their hair is not terribly damaged from chemical hair treatments), they experience good results in using our Hair Wash and transitioning away from the conventional synthetic hair care products. Keep in mind that making the transition to truly natural hair cleansing usually takes a few weeks and does require a commitment -- a strong desire to go organic.
Our recommended Hair Wash product formulas for fine, straight and/or thin hair (and oily hair) are our Fragrance-free and/or our Cool Mint formulas. (FYI, we also always recommend our Fragrance-free products for more sensitive individuals.)
Please note that following our Hair Wash instructions exactly is essential for best results. It is important to note that our Hair Wash products are not compatible with conventional hair styling and conditioning- type products -- sprays, mousses, gels, conditioners, etc. (Our Hair Wash instructions article explains polymer coating agent problem in detail.)
Unfortunately, the very products -- synthetic petrochemical vinyl and/or acrylate, or bio-plastic polymer coating agents -- that you use to glue your hair in place are the same products that buildup on the hair and that weigh fine hair down. These polymers are also difficult to remove completely.
We highly recommend finding a Master Stylist (they usually do charge more for a cut, but their finished hair style is healthier for you, AND you can save money because you don't need to buy all of the plastic styling/glue products to hold your hair in place) who is open-minded and who can give you a natural cut that works WITH your hair and that will not require styling glues to hold it in place. Going organic with your hair care really is better for you and our planet!
Have Fine, Thin, AND Dry Hair?
A suggestion for someone who has a combination of hair types
Q: Your information recommends different hair wash products for fine, thin hair and different products for dry hair. But what hair wash do you recommend for someone (me) who has both fine, thin and dry hair?
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A: We would recommend either our Fragrance-free or our Cool Mint Hair Wash for the hair type that you describe.
Please do be sure to read through all of our web site's excellent, detailed Hair Wash instructions article to learn more about our Hair Wash and how it works and, in particular, about speeding the detox, the periodic deep cleansing treatment, and conditioning the hair and scalp.
Q: Your information recommends different hair wash products for fine, thin hair and different products for dry hair. But what hair wash do you recommend for someone (me) who has both fine, thin and dry hair?
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A: We would recommend either our Fragrance-free or our Cool Mint Hair Wash for the hair type that you describe.
Please do be sure to read through all of our web site's excellent, detailed Hair Wash instructions article to learn more about our Hair Wash and how it works and, in particular, about speeding the detox, the periodic deep cleansing treatment, and conditioning the hair and scalp.
Some Problems Don't Have Immediate Solutions
Information about styling agents
Q: I don't see any conditioner, gel or hairspray on your site. Can you suggest some? Even though you have a good Hair Wash don't most people still want to use these items? And most women curl and spray their hair to keep the style...
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A: We have found no completely natural and/or USDA certified organic styling products. Conventional and so-called "natural" hair styling products are not compatible with our Hair Wash. The vast majority of liquid shampoo products, specialty conditioners and styling aids (sold in "health" food stores, discount stores, drug stores, grocery stores, on the internet and through other retail outlets) that are labeled as "natural" are not really even truly natural (let alone truly certified organic). Such surfactant/detergent products do not meet the USDA definition of "natural" (because of the chemical-intensive manufacturing process used to produce them) or even the dictionary definition of the word "natural." What this means is that you have been using conventional detergent products with added oleochemical fatty acid emollients and/or other thickeners and synthetic coating agents (soy, wheat or other "protein" polymers, or polymers or PVP co-polymers, acrylates, silicones, dimethicones, carbomers, etc.) and you have plastic polymer build-up on your hair that you will need to remove. Using these styling aids with our hair wash will end up being counter-productive because you will be using our products to remove the build-up, only to put it all back onto your hair when you use the styling aids.
Q: I don't see any conditioner, gel or hairspray on your site. Can you suggest some? Even though you have a good Hair Wash don't most people still want to use these items? And most women curl and spray their hair to keep the style...
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A: We have found no completely natural and/or USDA certified organic styling products. Conventional and so-called "natural" hair styling products are not compatible with our Hair Wash. The vast majority of liquid shampoo products, specialty conditioners and styling aids (sold in "health" food stores, discount stores, drug stores, grocery stores, on the internet and through other retail outlets) that are labeled as "natural" are not really even truly natural (let alone truly certified organic). Such surfactant/detergent products do not meet the USDA definition of "natural" (because of the chemical-intensive manufacturing process used to produce them) or even the dictionary definition of the word "natural." What this means is that you have been using conventional detergent products with added oleochemical fatty acid emollients and/or other thickeners and synthetic coating agents (soy, wheat or other "protein" polymers, or polymers or PVP co-polymers, acrylates, silicones, dimethicones, carbomers, etc.) and you have plastic polymer build-up on your hair that you will need to remove. Using these styling aids with our hair wash will end up being counter-productive because you will be using our products to remove the build-up, only to put it all back onto your hair when you use the styling aids.
Henna: A Safe Alternative to Chemical Hair Dyes
Information about henna hair coloring products
Q: What henna do you offer and which color would be best for my hair if I just want to make the gray a little darker but not completely like it used to be, but don't want the gray looking yellowish or another icky color.
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A: We don't make the henna that we offer in our stores. We offer the Light Mountain Brand, and we are not experts in the use of henna. We suggest contacting the henna's manufacturer, Lotus Brands, for their expert advice on the use of their henna coloring product to cover the gray on different hair types (and on chemically-treated hair if this is the case). The company also provides another product line for use if you'd like to color your hair but don't have gray hair.
Q: What henna do you offer and which color would be best for my hair if I just want to make the gray a little darker but not completely like it used to be, but don't want the gray looking yellowish or another icky color.
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A: We don't make the henna that we offer in our stores. We offer the Light Mountain Brand, and we are not experts in the use of henna. We suggest contacting the henna's manufacturer, Lotus Brands, for their expert advice on the use of their henna coloring product to cover the gray on different hair types (and on chemically-treated hair if this is the case). The company also provides another product line for use if you'd like to color your hair but don't have gray hair.
A Simple Solution to Sticky Swimming Problems
Info about washing chlorine and/or salt out of your hair after swimming
Q: I love your Pure Earth Hair Wash! I am going with my family to the Caribbean in a few weeks and I was wondering if you had any special guidance for hair washing during extreme exposure to sun, chlorinated pools and salt water. Pools tend to make my hair "sticky". Should I wash more frequently, use an additional wash or switch products while I am there?
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A: Our recommendation is to apply a light coating of one of our 100% Organic Body Cremes to the hair (yes, the hair will be oily) BEFORE swimming. This will put a light barrier on the hair (it is a barrier cream) to help protect the hair from the harsh effects of pool chemicals, or salt and sun. Alternatively, our Anointing Body Oil may be used also, although the Body Cremes are more protective products as they are heavier barrier moisturizers. After swimming, wash the hair normally with our Hair Wash, or follow the instructions in number five (speeding the detox) in our Hair Wash instructions article by washing with one of our Body Washes and a vinegar/water rinse as step one, and following with the Pure Earth Hair Wash as step two.
Of course, the added benefit of following this protocol, in lieu of using rubber bathing caps, is that, in addition to simplifying your toiletries packing for travel, you will have the Hair Wash to cleanse your hair, you will be able to feel refreshed and have fun using one of our delightful organic Body Washes (Cool Mint is especially lively!) to wash the pool chemicals and/or salt/sand off your body, and you will have a yummy, rich moisturizer to protect and soothe your skin from the effects of sun/sand/chemicals. Perhaps best of all, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you won't be contaminating the ocean with synthetic toxic chemicals.
Q: I love your Pure Earth Hair Wash! I am going with my family to the Caribbean in a few weeks and I was wondering if you had any special guidance for hair washing during extreme exposure to sun, chlorinated pools and salt water. Pools tend to make my hair "sticky". Should I wash more frequently, use an additional wash or switch products while I am there?
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A: Our recommendation is to apply a light coating of one of our 100% Organic Body Cremes to the hair (yes, the hair will be oily) BEFORE swimming. This will put a light barrier on the hair (it is a barrier cream) to help protect the hair from the harsh effects of pool chemicals, or salt and sun. Alternatively, our Anointing Body Oil may be used also, although the Body Cremes are more protective products as they are heavier barrier moisturizers. After swimming, wash the hair normally with our Hair Wash, or follow the instructions in number five (speeding the detox) in our Hair Wash instructions article by washing with one of our Body Washes and a vinegar/water rinse as step one, and following with the Pure Earth Hair Wash as step two.
Of course, the added benefit of following this protocol, in lieu of using rubber bathing caps, is that, in addition to simplifying your toiletries packing for travel, you will have the Hair Wash to cleanse your hair, you will be able to feel refreshed and have fun using one of our delightful organic Body Washes (Cool Mint is especially lively!) to wash the pool chemicals and/or salt/sand off your body, and you will have a yummy, rich moisturizer to protect and soothe your skin from the effects of sun/sand/chemicals. Perhaps best of all, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing that you won't be contaminating the ocean with synthetic toxic chemicals.
Snowflakes falling from the sky--or your hair??
Dandruff problem
Q: I have been using your Lavender Pure Earth Hair Wash for several months now, and I have recently discovered dandruff on my scalp! It's itchy and I can see white flakes on top of my head. Will frequent washing help cure this? I don't have any of your body oils, so I can't use them to moisturize. This has been going on for a couple of weeks and I thought it would have gone away by now. Can you give some advice asap as this is gross and embarrassing!
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A: Our recommendation for you is to follow number 6 and 5 (in order) in our excellent detailed Hair Wash instructions article. In addition, we also recommend switching over to either our Fragrance-free and/or our Cool Mint Hair Wash for a week or so. It is possible that, after you do the Body Wash/vinegar rinse deep cleanse, going forward, you may find it to be beneficial to alternate your Hair Wash between the Lavender and the Fragrance-free and/or our Cool Mint Hair Washes to minimize build-up of natural sebum and/or citrus wax.
Lastly, we would recommend that you do the Body Wash/vinegar rinse deep cleanse once or twice per month, or as often as desired to refresh and balance your hair and scalp.
Q: I have been using your Lavender Pure Earth Hair Wash for several months now, and I have recently discovered dandruff on my scalp! It's itchy and I can see white flakes on top of my head. Will frequent washing help cure this? I don't have any of your body oils, so I can't use them to moisturize. This has been going on for a couple of weeks and I thought it would have gone away by now. Can you give some advice asap as this is gross and embarrassing!
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A: Our recommendation for you is to follow number 6 and 5 (in order) in our excellent detailed Hair Wash instructions article. In addition, we also recommend switching over to either our Fragrance-free and/or our Cool Mint Hair Wash for a week or so. It is possible that, after you do the Body Wash/vinegar rinse deep cleanse, going forward, you may find it to be beneficial to alternate your Hair Wash between the Lavender and the Fragrance-free and/or our Cool Mint Hair Washes to minimize build-up of natural sebum and/or citrus wax.
Lastly, we would recommend that you do the Body Wash/vinegar rinse deep cleanse once or twice per month, or as often as desired to refresh and balance your hair and scalp.
Using Our Hair Wash with Hard Water?? No Problem!!
Info about TE hair wash and hard water/vinegar rinse concerns
Q: I was wondering if there is an issue with your Hair Wash and hard water. I have been told that with some shampoos, specifically castile type, a vinegar rinse is necessary.
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A: Please read the following excellent, detailed article (link below) about our Hair Wash to learn more about what it is and the unique way that it works. It contains much detailed and useful information about our very different hair cleanser. We highly recommend reading it more than once to gain maximum insight into the Pure Earth Hair Wash and how to make the transition away from conventional shampoo products, and the conventional hair cleansing, conditioning and styling methods! Information about using a vinegar rinse is provided in question #5 on the hair help section of our website.
As our Hair Wash is NOT a shampoo -- it contains no soap or detergents -- hard water quality is not really an issue.
Vinegar rinses can be healthy and delightful additions to a non-toxic hair cleansing regime and some folks find them refreshing, balancing and detangling; however, a vinegar rinse is not an absolute necessity when using our Pure Earth Hair Wash.
Q: I was wondering if there is an issue with your Hair Wash and hard water. I have been told that with some shampoos, specifically castile type, a vinegar rinse is necessary.
---
A: Please read the following excellent, detailed article (link below) about our Hair Wash to learn more about what it is and the unique way that it works. It contains much detailed and useful information about our very different hair cleanser. We highly recommend reading it more than once to gain maximum insight into the Pure Earth Hair Wash and how to make the transition away from conventional shampoo products, and the conventional hair cleansing, conditioning and styling methods! Information about using a vinegar rinse is provided in question #5 on the hair help section of our website.
As our Hair Wash is NOT a shampoo -- it contains no soap or detergents -- hard water quality is not really an issue.
Vinegar rinses can be healthy and delightful additions to a non-toxic hair cleansing regime and some folks find them refreshing, balancing and detangling; however, a vinegar rinse is not an absolute necessity when using our Pure Earth Hair Wash.
Truth: It will get better!!
Info about how hair should feel after detox
Q: Thank you for providing so much detail on how the clay hair wash should be used. My question is related to what kind of result we should expect to see at the end of detox, which is not specified on the Hair Help page.
According to your website, the mud hair wash will remove all the chemicals that create the fake healthy look. What will the detoxed hair look like? Will your hair wash product repair and strengthen the detoxed hair with long term use? If I don't have the fake smoothness or the fake shine, will I ever get a real shine or real smoothness? Will my hair get stronger and shed less? Or will I just get the miserable truth about how my naked hair really looks?
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A: The hair care industry phrase that you used in your email -- "repair and strengthen" -- is a phrase used to describe what a hair care product is advertised to do for one's hair. It is a common personal care industry romantic marketing phrase used to allude to the process of coating hair (that has been damaged/weakened by chemical processing) with plastic polymers to reinforce degraded and broken hair. Emotional and/or aesthetic adjectives such as "texturizing", "shine ingredients", "proteins", "volumizers", etc., are often used in place of the more accurate industrial/technological phrase "plastic polymer bonding agents" in an attempt to distance the customer's perception of the ingredients from what they actually are -- synthetic chemical plastics.
Your understanding of the hair detox is fairly accurate, although your comment about getting "the miserable truth about how my naked hair really looks" might be a little extreme. : ) If your hair has not been bleached, permed, straightened, dyed, or otherwise chemically- damaged, your hair is likely to have minimal damage from the shampoo detergents that you have used. The more natural one's hair (and the shorter one's hair), the shorter the detox transition, and the more likely it is that one will be satisfied with the look and feel of the hair without all of the synthetic plastic coating agents. As everyone's hair is different, widely so, and as an individual's hair care product choices and treatments vary greatly, it is not possible to predict each person's level of satisfaction with his or her hair after going through the detox. We'd like to share, however, that our Pure Earth Hair Wash line is definitely very popular with many thousands of happy, and long-term users.
An interesting opportunity that one may choose to experience after moving away from washing one's hair with detergent shampoo products is to not use any detergent shampoos, or conditioners, or styling products for a year or so and then, as an experiment, wash your hair with a conventional detergent shampoo. You will then get to experience how unnatural and, frankly, freaky the polymers feel on your hair. Feeling the polymer coating agents on your natural -- "naked" -- hair, after being away from them for a long time, is a truly bizarre feeling!
When one follows the instructions in our Hair Wash article on our web site, and takes care to be patient, most folks have a smooth transition and enjoy the hair washing experience, and the good results with their hair.
Q: Thank you for providing so much detail on how the clay hair wash should be used. My question is related to what kind of result we should expect to see at the end of detox, which is not specified on the Hair Help page.
According to your website, the mud hair wash will remove all the chemicals that create the fake healthy look. What will the detoxed hair look like? Will your hair wash product repair and strengthen the detoxed hair with long term use? If I don't have the fake smoothness or the fake shine, will I ever get a real shine or real smoothness? Will my hair get stronger and shed less? Or will I just get the miserable truth about how my naked hair really looks?
---
A: The hair care industry phrase that you used in your email -- "repair and strengthen" -- is a phrase used to describe what a hair care product is advertised to do for one's hair. It is a common personal care industry romantic marketing phrase used to allude to the process of coating hair (that has been damaged/weakened by chemical processing) with plastic polymers to reinforce degraded and broken hair. Emotional and/or aesthetic adjectives such as "texturizing", "shine ingredients", "proteins", "volumizers", etc., are often used in place of the more accurate industrial/technological phrase "plastic polymer bonding agents" in an attempt to distance the customer's perception of the ingredients from what they actually are -- synthetic chemical plastics.
Your understanding of the hair detox is fairly accurate, although your comment about getting "the miserable truth about how my naked hair really looks" might be a little extreme. : ) If your hair has not been bleached, permed, straightened, dyed, or otherwise chemically- damaged, your hair is likely to have minimal damage from the shampoo detergents that you have used. The more natural one's hair (and the shorter one's hair), the shorter the detox transition, and the more likely it is that one will be satisfied with the look and feel of the hair without all of the synthetic plastic coating agents. As everyone's hair is different, widely so, and as an individual's hair care product choices and treatments vary greatly, it is not possible to predict each person's level of satisfaction with his or her hair after going through the detox. We'd like to share, however, that our Pure Earth Hair Wash line is definitely very popular with many thousands of happy, and long-term users.
An interesting opportunity that one may choose to experience after moving away from washing one's hair with detergent shampoo products is to not use any detergent shampoos, or conditioners, or styling products for a year or so and then, as an experiment, wash your hair with a conventional detergent shampoo. You will then get to experience how unnatural and, frankly, freaky the polymers feel on your hair. Feeling the polymer coating agents on your natural -- "naked" -- hair, after being away from them for a long time, is a truly bizarre feeling!
When one follows the instructions in our Hair Wash article on our web site, and takes care to be patient, most folks have a smooth transition and enjoy the hair washing experience, and the good results with their hair.
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