Tangled Hair--It's a Thing of the Past

Information about using the Hair Wash with your kids

Q:  I am currently using the Pure Earth Hair Wash on my five-year-old daughter's hair. Her hair is very fragile and breaks easily. The one problem I have is that after I wash her hair it is so knotted that she cries when I brush it out. So I have two questions for you.  What can I do to strengthen her hair--is there another product I should be using?  And do you have something to help with the tangles?
 

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A:  Many people have found that when they massage a dilute vinegar and water  combination (50%v/50%w or even 25v/75w) through the entire scalp and all of their hair for about one minute (after rinsing the mud out of the hair with plain water first), and then rinse the hair again with plain water, provide a nice detangling effect for their hair. Be sure to read number five in the instructions (link below) for more details about this special rinse and about our deep cleansing treatment that we recommend everyone do at least once per month, or more as desired.

Finally, for more extensive information about conditioning the hair, Hair Wash tips, etc., we highly recommend that you please read through all of our excellent, detailed Hair Wash instructions article from our web site.

Good to the Last Drop!!

Information about how to get all of your Hair Wash out of the bottle

Q: I have the large bottle of Hair Wash, and it seems like halfway through the product becomes difficult to get out. I always shake the bottle before each use. Last time I used a knife to cut the bottle in half, scooped the product out and transferred it to a plastic container. It's kind of a hassle. Do you have any other suggestions or feedback from other customers regarding this issue?
 

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A: Here's our insider tip: we usually store our Hair Wash bottles upside down in the bathroom -- with the cap closed, of course! When the bottle is stored upside down we usually don't have any problems getting the product out of the bottle. In addition, on occasion if the mud Hair Wash is a thicker batch, we may gently tap the top of the cap of the bottle on the bathtub shelf while holding the bottle upside down to move the product forward to the top of the bottle for easier dispensing -- voila!

As you are aware, our products are certified organic to the USDA National Organic Program standard and, as our products are certified organic products, we do not use any strong and toxic chemical preservatives as they are not permitted under the organic regs (and we strongly agree with the NOP that toxic synthetic preservatives are to be avoided). Our Hair Wash is formulated with gentle organic herbal extracts and/or organic essential oils that are beneficial for hair and scalp, and that also help to keep the product stable and fresh in the bottle when used according to our instructions. Our Hair Wash was formulated to be used out of a bottle, NOT out of a jar or tub into which one would dip one's fingers. Dipping one's fingers into the Hair Wash product creates potential opportunities for contamination. In the future we ask that you, please, do not transfer your Hair Wash to a plastic tub or jar! Please, just use the Hair Wash out of the bottle as recommended.

What Should I Do If My Skin (and Body) Is Really Sensitive??

Information for Hair Wash users with sensitive skin 

Q: I am an extremely sensitive person, very sensitive to odors so I am in need of a fragrance free hair product. I have been experiencing terrible itching on my head this winter. So I am wondering if your Fragrance-free Hair Wash may help me.

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A: Regarding your email inquiry, we suggest that you read through all of our excellent, detailed Hair Wash instructions article to learn more about our unique hair cleansing product.

In addition, we suggest that, to begin your transition away from chemical detergent-based products, you might want to try washing your hair with our Organic Fragrance-free Gentle Bath Gel and a dilute vinegar and water rinse for 3-4 days. (See numbers 4, 5 and 6 in the article mentioned above and, in particular, note the instruction and vinegar rinse recipe in number 5. The dilute vinegar rinse can be soothing for some irritated and/or itching scalps.) After washing your hair this way for a few days, you then might wish to start using our Fragrance-free Hair Wash -- being sure to follow the Hair Wash detox protocol as outlined in the Hair Wash instructions article.

We'd like to point out that, as you stated that you are a more sensitive individual, you should be aware that both our Organic Fragrance-free Gentle Bath Gel and our Fragrance-free Hair Wash are available in trial sizes for your personal use in gauging your scalp's and skin's compatibility with our products. Sensitive individuals should always do a patch test first of only one new product at one time and then wait 24-36 hours before using any new products. Note that we only recommend our Fragrance-free products for sensitive individuals.

Please do note, too, that our Hair Wash product is not compatible with conventional shampoos, conditioners, styling products, etc. In addition, please also note that we are not medical professionals and, thus, cannot offer you medical advice about your irritated scalp condition. We will share, however, that many folks have reported skin and scalp problems after using hair coloring products, hair straightening products and hair waving products. Such products typically contain strong and toxic chemicals that can cause scalp irritation and/or itching. We highly recommend foregoing the use of all such synthetic chemical hair treatment products if one has any scalp irritation.

Each Hair Wash "Flavor" is Different!?!?

Information about levels of moisturizing in Hair Washes

Q: Which of your hair washes are moisturizing? My hair gets dry sometimes and I don't know what to do about it.

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A: Our Hair Washes are formulated for different hair types and the different "flavors" actually do have different effects for different hair types. For example, most people cannot use our Left Coast Lemon version as it is our most moisturizing version that is designed for very thick, kinky, curly and/or frizzy hair. The lemon formula contains a good amount of organic citrus waxes (in the various organic citrus oils) and, while these are excellent for helping to smooth and control kinky or curly hair, they are too heavy for fine hair and may build up on finer or thinner hair. Our Lavender is our medium moisturizing formula that works well for thick, coarse or damaged hair, and our Spice is our lightest moisturizing formula that can be used by those with thicker, normal hair that may occasionally be a little dry or rough. Our Mint and Fragrance-free versions have no moisturizing components and are the best formulas for those with fine, thin, straight or oily hair.

Please Try Our Hair Wash, Even if You're Sensitive to Chemicals!!

Info for chemically-sensitive people

Q: I am very excited to try your hair wash. I have chemical sensitivities, but I am also irritated by most essential oils. So I would like to begin with the Fragrance-free Hair Wash. I have thick, wavy hair that is 50% gray - and your product descriptions do not recommend the fragrance free wash for this type of hair. Can you recommend a regimen for me, to help my type of hair work with the Fragrance-free Hair Wash?

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A: As your hair is not chemically-processed, it is most likely that you CAN use the Fragrance-free Hair Wash. We highly recommend that you read through all of the instructions in our excellent, detailed Hair Wash instructions article and, in particular, read and follow numbers five and six in the article. The article is most important for folks to gain an understanding of how the unique Pure Earth Hair Wash works, the detox process, what to expect during the detox, tips, etc.

The Fragrance-free Hair Wash does not have any moisturizing factor, so it's possible that, with your thick wavy hair, you might feel the need to use a touch of one of our organic Body Oils or Body Cremes for a little smoothing and conditioning.

Stop!! Don't Use That!!

Information about using other hair products with the Hair Wash

Q: I purchased the hair wash and am beginning the detox process. I see it says not to use with any other hair products - is that during the detox period only or permanently? I usually use mousse to give my hair volume at the roots and give the curls some definition. What do I use now? I don't see where you offer any hair products besides shampoo.

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A: About your question, the styling products that you describe are synthetic chemical glue-like polymer products that are made and/or reacted with petrochemicals. These types of products are not healthy for you or the environment in their manufacturing, their use, and when they are washed down your bathtub drain into our waterways.

In addition, such plastic-type products are not compatible with our Hair Wash. For more information about hair product polymers and our Hair Wash, please the excellent, detailed article about our Hair Wash -- how it works, what to expect, the detox protocol, etc.

Want More Information about Henna??

More information about henna hair coloring

Q: You mention organic henna colorants on your web site but don't offer them. Which do you recommend?

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A: The Light Mountain brand of pure botanical and henna hair colorings that we offer in our store is an excellent nontoxic hair coloring option. We have searched for nearly twenty years and still have not found a reliable source for an authentic USDA certified organic 100% pure botanical henna powder product...yet. The Light Mountain brand is the best completely natural hair coloring product that we have found. While Light Mountain hennas do not contain synthetic chemicals and are pure botanical products, the line is not certified organic. The Light Mountain hair coloring product is a box that contains simple combinations of ground plant powders that you can mix with organic lemon juice or water, and/or other organic herbs and spices (if desired) for unique coloring effects on different hair types.

For specific questions about the Light Mountain henna hair coloring product, we suggest directing your questions to the manufacturer, Lotus Brands.

By the way, the Light Mountain product is easy to use and gives excellent results for many different hair types. It can also be a fun and creative experience as well. Just follow the instructions and experiment!

PS - We recommend washing the henna out of your hair while in the shower as it can be messy and requires a bit of patience to remove the botanical plant material from one's hair.