How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?? It's Up to You!!

Q: I was wondering, I just started using your Hair Wash and I am in the middle of detox. I wanted to know if after the detox period do I have to wash my hair everyday or once a week or how often is recommended?

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A: Generally, for most people, the more frequently one washes their hair in the beginning days of starting in with the Hair Wash "mud," the more quickly the detox progresses. As everyone's hair is different -- longer, shorter, thicker, finer -- and because so many folks may have used many different plastic polymer styling and conditioning products, or chemically-treated their hair, the detox period can vary widely -- a few days to several weeks. Typically, the more natural a person's hair and the fewer conventional-type products used, the quicker the detox.  After the detox period is over, please feel free to use the Pure Earth Hair Wash as often as you feel the need to have clean hair. I.e., simply wash your hair whenever it feels dirty. 

What's the Shelf Life of Mud??

Q: I recently found four 16oz bottles of your Hair Wash that I must have stacked away four years ago and forgot about them, are they still usable?

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A: We'd recommend disposing of those old products. (tree/shrubbery compost?) For optimal results when using organic herbal hair care products, we suggest purchasing enough product that one can comfortably use up within six to twelve months when purchasing products directly from our web site.

What to Do about Flakes

Q: I've been using the Hair Wash for well over a month and have just started noticing white flakes on my hair line above my forehead. It does not itch. Is this left over residue? Am I using the product incorrectly?

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A: Regarding your question, we have three thoughts:

1. You are still detoxing and this flakiness may be polymers coming off your hair and scalp. It is normal to experience some flakiness while you are detoxing.

or

2. You have a dry scalp and might wish to consider doing the conditioning oil treatment described in our Hair Wash instructions perhaps once or twice per month, or try massaging a drop or two of one of our Super Emollient Moisturizers into your scalp after washing if your hair is not too thin or fine. You could also use an organic apple cider vinegar/water (1 part vinegar, 2 parts water) rinse a few times per week or after each washing to help balance your flaking scalp.

To read about the recommended conditioning with our Super Emollient Moisturizer treatment, see paragraph two in number six in the Hair Wash instructions article:  http://www.terressentials.com/hairhelp.html 

or

3. You may need to try out a different hair wash flavor. Sometimes the organic citrus waxes found in the Left Coast Lemon and Lavender Garden flavors are too heavy for certain hair types. Try the Cool Mint or Fragrance-Free, as these contain no citrus waxes. If you are already using the Cool Mint or Fragrance-Free, maybe you need more moisture. Try the Sultry Spice, Lavender Garden, or Left Coast Lemon.

See number 2 of our Hair Wash Instructions for more info about which flavor to choose for your hair type.

Henna Facts: Useful and Educational!!

Q: I was interested in trying your hair wash, until I discovered it isn't recommended for color-treated hair. I saw where you recommend henna hair dyes, so I did a little searching, since I've never used henna. I learned through a website that:

There is no such plant as "blonde henna", "brown henna" or "black henna". The plant, henna, lawsonia inermis, has only one dye molecule, and that molecule is red-orange.

Chemicals, metallic salts or other dye plants must be added to henna to make any color other than red. These mixes are termed compound hennas.

To be honest, that sounds pretty gross. I'm not a redhead, and have no desire to go red. My natural color is an blah, muddy brown with a whole lotta gray. I went blonde for many years, and recently went back to a medium chestnut brown. Is there a natural henna product that will duplicate that color without all the icky stuff added? Is it safe to use henna after having done chemical coloring in the past?

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A: One of the oldest and most well-established companies that we have found, Lotus Brands, produces reliable and consistent 100% pure botanical and henna powder blends of hair coloring products. Two well-regarded products made by Lotus Brands are their "Light Mountain" or "Color the Gray."

The beauty of using 100% natural plant powder blends to dye hair is that the plant dyes gradually wash out without the problems with "roots." Another big plus is that the plant powders are not damaging to the hair, non-toxic to humans and wildlife, sustainable/renewable agricultural crops, and not harmful to the environment and our waterways when they are washed down the drain. In addition, pure plant dyes are totally
compatible with our Hair Wash!

The information that you found was not accurate. Just as there are hundreds if not thousands of plant dyes that can dye wool (the hair of animals), or silk or cotton fibers, there are many plants that can be used to dye human hair darker colors in many various colors. So, too, as there are many varieties of apples, there are many varieties of henna that produce varying shades of brighter reds to brownish reds. When henna powders are mixed with other pure botanical plant dye powders, one can achieve many unique and rich and natural shades: bright red, dark red, auburn, copper, light, medium and dark browns, chestnuts, burgundies, mahogany, and even black. The Lotus company blends henna
plant powder with other botanical plant powders such as indigo and black walnut shells to get a wide range of colors.

When mixing the Lotus Brands plant powders at home, instead of using just plain water, one can mix their henna with coffee, black tea, chamomile tea, lemon juice, or other herbs or spices for even greater variation and penetration of color.

(However, it is true that there really is only simple botanical method of minimally lightening the hair when sitting in the sun -- applying lemon juice or rhubarb.)

To view the Lotus Brands products and to get the company's contact info for your hair coloring inquiries, take a look at the following useful links:

http://www.light-mountain-hair-color.com/
http://www.lotuspress.com/ltmtn.htm

We do offer their hair colorings in our store and you can order them when you place an order through our web site by requesting a particular coloring brand and color in the comment box of our shopping cart's order page, before submitting your order.

If you have any questions about the henna and its application on previously chemically-treated hair, we do suggest contacting Lotus Brands as they are the henna/botanical hair coloring experts.

Our Hair Wash isn't (coco)Nutty

Q:  I'm preparing my first Hair Wash order but have to double-check something before I order.  Does your shampoo contain any coconut or its derived products?  I'm allergic to coconut.

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A:  Regarding your question about coconut oil, our Hair wash is a non-sudsing product and, as a non-foaming product, it does not contain any surfactants/detergents or soap.  Our Pure Earth Hair Wash does not contain any coconut oil or coconut oil derivatives.

We highly recommend that, before you purchase our Hair Wash, you take a few minutes to read through all of our excellent and detailed Hair wash instructions article from our web site so that you will have a better understanding of how our unique Hair Wash works, to read about the detox protocol, read tips for speeding the detox period and selecting the proper formula for your hair type, and to view good information about what to expect when using the Hair Wash for the first time.