Remember those old Herbal Essences commercials?
They made natural hair care sexy and beautiful. Their ingredient list is long and scientific sounding though, which makes us wonder if it is all that natural. Most of them turn out to be manipulated natural ingredients. Either way, these days, being “green” is so trendy you can’t walk down a hair care aisle without all sorts of plants, and all natural ingredients screaming at you from the bottles. Salons are developing their own natural hair care lines and paying special attention to their clients. I’m a little wary about buying hair products that might not be safe, for my hair or the world. So instead of diving right in, I sat down with Rebecca from Bubbles Salon in Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, PA to talk with her about some products we conscious chicks can use without fear.
BG: So, tell me some of your favorite hair products?
Beka: Bubbles Salon makes our own line, Cibu which contains “Spring Roll” . The whole line is sulfate free, paraben free (possible cancer causing agents) and is made with natural ingredients. We test our products on our own stylists, not on animals. The packaging is made from 85 percent post consumer materials and is made in the USA, meaning we cut down on carbon emissions to distribute our products. My other fave is Purology, also made with natural ingredients. It’s 100 percent vegan and most of the packaging is completely recyclable with your regular plastics. Both of these lines are also color safe which is a plus.
BG: Do you find that these work just as well as their less friendly products?
Beka: Absolutely! Over the years, I’ve actually found that these products work better than conventional drugstore brands or less enviro friendly brands. All products use plant derivatives in the formulas. By using products that don’t break these valuable plants down, you end up with a more concentrated product that is much kinder and beneficial to your hair. Think about eating the space eggs from the convenience store as opposed to cooking your own in the morning…real is definitely more satisfying.
BG: Are there any hair stylist secrets that our fellow concerned citizens might find interesting?
Beka: Beer….jojoba oil, avocados and white vinegar.
BG: Beer?!? Really?!? How does that work?
Beka: Beer acts as a shine enhancer. Being a home brewer really got me thinking about this one as well. Normally, with certain beers you want to rip a lot of the proteins out to get a clear beer…not the case with dark beers such as stout, which is the perfect one to use. First you want to clarify to remove any buildup. If you don’t have a clarifying shampoo, take your regular shampoo and in your hand add one teaspoon each of lemon juice and white vinegar. Lather well and rinse. Get your beer pour it over your hair, massage it in, leave it in for a couple minutes and rinse well with cold water. Viola! (Check out a list of vegan friendly beers over at barnivore.com)
BG: I’ve seen Jojoba in shampoo, how does that work? And the avocado?
Beka: Jojoba and avocado can be used as a weekly or monthly mask. Clarify first, then mash up one avocado and two teaspoons of jojoba oil and apply from mids to ends. Leave it on for 15 minutes and rinse well with cold water. You’ll end up with shiny, supple, fabulous strands!
BG: Do you do anything in your personal life to be a sustainably conscious person?
Beka: Of course! Shop and buy locally whenever possible! Carpool whenever possible, and definitely get a reusable water bottle. Think about how many times you buy a bottle of water for 4 dollars from where ever you buy them from and add it up. It really adds up. And I always recycle. I commend Philadelphia’s local government for installing the solar powered Big Bellies…fantastic.
BG: you have a fantastic sense of style, what are some of your favorite local shops?
Beka: Thank you! Buffalo Exchange is fantastic, as well as Circle Thrift in Fishtown. You can completely transform any dull outfit with new accessories and these stores hit it on the mark. Decently priced and fashion forward, they have a way of selecting interesting items to resell. My favorite local shops are Villian Arts a local tattoo art clothing line available only online and select Tattoo Cons right now and Smak Parlour a local shop focusing on handmade, short run pieces with the fashionista in mind.
Some other great eco-friendly places to shop and get beautiful around Philadelphia:
Immortal Uncommon Resale
125 S 18th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Greene Street Consignment
Several shops in the area
greenestreetconsignment.com
Tierra Mia
328 S 17th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
tierramiaorganicnailspa.com
About our stealthy guest blogger: Beth is the sole owner and member of The Z is Silent, a project to start an all inclusive arts space in Philadelphia. She envisions a completely modular space where artists can present visual, performing and any other kind of art in a space they themselves can help design and work with instead of in. However, Beth has no money. So, instead she fills her time writing nonsensical and whimsical musings for blogs like Chic Vegan and her own Atoms of Minutiae and being an office drone. She lives with her lovely boyfriend, his mustache, a cat and a dog.
Def gonna have to try the avacado and jojoba mask.
Re: The Buffalo Exchange-there are two locations in my home state, but sadly not where I currently live. This is such a great concept and an easy way to recycle your old outfits and score new ones. I miss it!