Tag Archives: Haircare

5 Natural Ingredients to Use During Pregnancy

While pregnant or breastfeeding, it becomes especially important to be mindful of what goes in and on your body. Studies have shown that common chemicals in everyday personal care products, such as shampoo, makeup and moisturizers, are associated with developmental, reproductive and behavioral disorders, hormone disruption and cancer. Nine Naturals believes in creating products that are not only high-performing, but also completely safe and natural. Some of our favorite natural ingredients include:

VITAMIN E: Isolated from vegetable oils, Vitamin E is an important vitamin required for the proper function of many organs and an antioxidant, meaning it helps to slow down processes that damage cells. This is important for pregnant women because it can help prevent complications in late pregnancy due to high blood pressure, PMS, painful periods, hot flashes associated with breast cancer, and breast cysts. The moisturizing properties of Vitamin E for skin is well known but it also does wonders for your hair! When ingested or applied topically on hair, Vitamin E is effective for hair growth by improving blood circulation in the scalp, prevent premature greying by slowing down the overall aging process, giving hair a lustrous shine by promoting natural strength and shine, and preventing split ends by countering damage done by heat. Find Vitamin E used in all Nine Naturals products.

ARGAN OIL: Not all women get pregnancy glow. Some often experience dry skin, especially around the belly, breasts, and hips as the skin swells and grows. High in vitamin E, antioxidants, and linolenic acid, argan oil is a super-effective moisturizer that has been shown to prevent and treat stretch marks by maintaining elasticity and preventing moisture-loss. On top of improving your body’s immunity to diseases such as breast and colorectal cancer, argan oil is good for treating under eye circles, burns, wrinkles, brittle nails, arthritis, and rheumatism pain. Argan oil in Nine Naturals Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner gives lackluster postpartum hair a boost by adding shine and hydrating roots.

BROCCOLI SEED OIL: Broccoli seed oil is high in vitamin C, Vitamin B, and erucic acid, which is a light oil composed of many different omega-9 and omega-6 oils. This means that it helps eliminate free radicals that can contribute to cancer, prevent hair loss while promoting thicker healthier hair, and soothe redness and inflammation. Best part? Broccoli seed oil is a natural substitute for silicone--often found in cosmetic products, particularly in leave-on skincare and haircare products, such as Nine Naturals Vanilla + Geranium Regenerative Belly Butter. This natural emollient hydrates hair and skin without leaving a greasy film and adds a protective layer that traps in moisture, and keeping skin and hair hydrated all day long!

CAPUAÇU BUTTER: Found in the rain forests of South America, Cupuacu butter has a natural hazelnut aroma, is rich in phytosterols, polyphenols, and fatty acids, and is a good natural substitute for lanolin. This means that it can be used to effectively treat dry, damaged skin, combat free radicals in tissues, and protect and moisturize skin. Treating skin with cupuacu butter also allows skin to attract 240% more water, fight inflammation, and improve elasticity--making it the perfect ingredient for stretch-mark fighting belly butters! Plus, it also absorbs UV rays, adding natural sun protection. This is why Nine Naturals uses cupuacu butter in its Unscented Moisturizing Body Cream.

COCONUT OIL: Coconut oil, used in all Nine Naturals products, is a fatty acid that is easily metabolized by the body, making it an excellent replacement for butter and oils, and helps regulate blood sugar levels while providing stable energy. During pregnancy and breastfeeding, much-needed lauric, caprylic, and capric acid in coconut oil passes from mother to child. These acids are known to have antiviral, antibacterial, and antiparasiticidal properties that support immune system in mommy and baby. On skin, this holy grail ingredient prevents stretch marks and alleviates itchiness on belly and breasts.It’s also a natural, moisturizing, and gentle cleanser. Use to remove makeup from skin, tame frizzy hair, and soothe cracked lips.

Adding these simple and natural ingredients to your beauty routine will go a long way in helping detoxify your pregnancy. Read labels carefully and opt for brands that provide full ingredient transparency. The Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep Database is also great place to get more information about companies with high safety ratings.

With so much attention on protecting our skin from the sun, we sometimes neglect the damage that the sun's rays can have on our hair. The combination of heat, sweat, and humidity can seriously flatten and fry our locks. Here are our top three natural and pregnancy-safe beauty fixes to keep your hair happy and healthy this summer:

Problem: Fried Hair

Solution: Salt water from the ocean and chlorine from the pool can leave hair dry and brittle hair. To restore shine and lustrous texture back to your hair, use an all-natural deep conditioner in your hair, such as Nine Naturals Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner, to tame your tresses.

For a little extra hydration, add a small amount of coconut oil and leave on for 20 min before washing out or work into an overnight hair treatment. Snipping off the damaged ends will help get your hair back to its normal, healthy texture.

Problem: Flat Hair

Solution: When fine or straight hair meets humidity, it can become limp. To add some va-va-voom, avoid using deep conditioner on roots, instead focusing only on the ends. Another must-avoid is heavy styling products, such as mouse or hairspray. This may seem counter-intuitive but product-buildup at the roots in conjunction with humid weather seriously flattens hair. Try blow drying hair upside down!

Problem: Frizzy Hair

Solution: To fight frizz, rub a tiny bit of natural conditioner into your hands and work it through your strands. Not only will this help smooth hair, it will also slightly weighing down the top layer to prevent further frizzing. Layered hair can lead to puffiness in the summer weather so don't be afraid to ask your hairstylist for a blunter cut to help hold down the ends.

10 Questions Everyone Needs to Stop Asking Pregnant Women: Jessica Ciencin Henriquez, a guest blogger on HuffPo implores readers to heed her advice and mind the boundaries of pregnant women by canning it on certain questions, like "Was it planned?" Good Grief.

The Unnatural Mom: We love this honest perspective and think it's a true tribute to every mom's freedom to do things her way. Krista ("kinfante") discusses her decisions about what aspects of her pregnancy decisions she wanted to be "natural" and why the "unnatural" paths might inappropriately judged.

Hair Tips: Organic vs. Natural: From the hair community Bangstyle, Audrey Adrine discusses the important misunderstandings about organic haircare.

An Herbal Approach to the Cold & Flu Season: Mothering's Amy Paolinelli and Melanie Mayo actually speak in the context of helping children through their colds and flus, but we think this is a great article for pregnant women who want to keep it all-natural when they're feeling under the whether - think peppermint, elder, garlic and more ...

Braids are Back!: Refinery29 tells us that we can channel Little House on the Prairie again when we're doing our hair in the morning. Per observations at NYC's recent Fashion Week and R29's spot-on expertise in style, braids are popular this fall - tight, loose, high, hanging ... And this link has 10 great examples.

Joe Murray is a leading name in the all-natural haircare movement and the owner of Hale Organic Salon—a revolutionary salon that prides itself in using safer, natural products and maintains a "clean air" environment. Hale Organic Salon has been featured prominently in major magazines, including New York Magazine and InStyle.

A personal friend of Nine Naturals founder Grace (the two were recently featured together in a TV special about green haircare), Joe sat down with Grace for an in-depth discussion about haircare, coloring and more during pregnancy at his salon.

How long have you been a hairstylist and what led you down the path of focusing on natural and organic products?

I've been a hairstylist for 30 years. I have always had sensitivities to chemicals but they got worse as I got older. My 'aha' moment was over ten years ago when I was doing hair and makeup for two bridal parties in the same day. It was a rainy day out and so we were indoors with all the windows and doors shut. After a whole day of work working with hairspray in a confined space, I came down with a severe allergic reaction - I had a fever and felt nauseous. The symptoms didn't go away until I went home and was able to wash all the product off of me. That's when I decided I needed to look for a cleaner, healthier work environment.

What sets apart Hale Organic Salon from other traditional hair salons?

We have a clean air salon, meaning that we don't use any products with ammonia. If we have to use aerosol hairspray, we have a separate room to contain airborne irritants. We also seek out the cleanest, most natural and organic hair products possible to use on our clients.

What are the biggest concerns that pregnant women have when they come to see you?

Pregnant women are concerned about the health of their unborn baby, but they also want to look good. They feel conflicted between their vanity and their baby and feel guilty that they are being a bad mom. Women don't believe they have options, but I believe they can still have great results with safer products that won't put their health or their babies' health at risk.

Should women dye their hair during pregnancy?

If the dye comes in contact with the skin or scalp, that is where the risk of absorption of chemicals comes from. For women who highlight their hair, they should be able to continue to do so since the dye doesn't touch their scalp. They might still be concerned with the air environment of the salon though where they can breathe in toxic fumes, which is why they should look for a clean air salon like Hale.

For women who want to do single process and dye all their hair, we make sure to get the color as close to the scalp as possible, without touching the scalp. This is a lot of work for a hairstylist but we are happy to do it to make sure our clients feel safe.

What is the biggest challenge for you in running a green salon?

Finding employees who share the same values and ideals.

What is your favorite Nine Naturals product?

The Nine Naturals Restorative Mandarin + Ginger Conditioner!

Nine Naturals products are currently for sale at Hale Organic Salon.

Such an honor for Nine Naturals and our founder, Grace, to be featured with our favorite green hairstylist, Joe Murray of Hale - Organic Salon on CUNY TV about green haircare! Check out the segment!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=tGdYcAHH2P4#t=667s

Most of us associate pregnancy with a spike in hormones and the symptoms they bring about. Irritability, morning sickness, constipation – pregnant women can expect to encounter such annoyances, burdening that nine-month path to baby.

Yet the increase in estrogen experienced during pregnancy does provide one sparkling asset: a thick, rich head of hair. Typically, around 90% of your hair is in a growth phase, while the other 10% is in a resting phase and eventually falls out. During pregnancy though, the heightened hormone levels in your body prolong the growth phase, meaning less of your hair is in resting phase at any given point in time and fewer hairs fall out.

Fast-forward to baby’s arrival. Nine months of hormones and hair aplenty have come to an end. For better or worse, so will the impressive growth in your hair. Your body will recommence its cycle of regular hair loss. One in every two women will experience “excessive shedding of hair” post-pregnancy.[1] This can linger for up to six months after baby’s delivery. Such hair loss can be quite dramatic, especially after a shower where you may see your shower drain covered with hairs. Not to worry, such hair loss is temporary.

Taking care of your hair during and after pregnancy

Proper hair maintenance can help to moderate the hormonal effects on your locks. Here are a few tips:

1. Embrace your thicker hair: Take advantage of your luscious, thick hair and use it to your advantage - a great hairstyle can help keep you feeling beautiful even while the rest of your body is changing.
2. Use gentle, pregnancy safe haircare products: As a rule of thumb, shampoo your hair using products with natural, plant-based surfactants, which are much less harsh than sulfate-laden shampoos (same chemical used for car washes!). Nine Naturals Citrus + Mint Nourishing Shampoo uses natural, coconut-derived soaps, which are gentle on your locks, yet still cleansing.
3. Keep your hair moisturized: Since fewer hairs shed during pregnancy and more old hairs stay put, your hair may tend to be more dry. Always follow a shampoo with a generous conditioning session. Try Nine Naturals Citrus + Mint Nourishing Conditioner, which uses moisturizing plant-based emollients like broccoli seed oil and shea butter and natural hair strengthening ingredients like vitamin B5 and flax seed oil.
4. Avoid coloring your hair: Be weary of coloring your hair during pregnancy to not only avoid unnecessary exposure to harmful chemicals, but also uncertain outcomes to your pregnancy hair. While it may not be a proven fact, some hairstylists claim that their customers’ hair has responded differently to coloring treatments during pregnancy. Harsh chemical treatments can also damage hair, making it more brittle and dry.

A careful pregnancy haircare regimen will ensure that once your hair does start to fall out post-pregnancy, the hair your left with will be in a healthy condition.

Dealing with postpartum hair loss

If you experience postpartum hair loss, make sure to be gentle with your hair so not to damage the hair that remains. You’ll notice a lot of fly-aways as the old hairs are shed and new hairs grow in their place. Here are some postpartum haircare tips:

1. Experiment with new hairstyles and accessories: New hairstyles and hair accessories are creative ways to keep the fly-aways at bay. Fun braids or barrettes and headbands may do the trick.
2. Leave-in conditioner can help manage fly-aways: Use a small dab of Nine Naturals Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner as a leave-in conditioner to weigh down the little sprouts of hair.
3. Dry shampoo between hair washes: Try an organic dry shampoo between hair washes so you don’t have to worry about managing your hair with the new baby in tow and to reduce harsh overstyling.