Know someone who is hair obsessed? Then they’ll likely have one (or more) of these haircare items on their holiday wish list.
L’Oreal Glycolic Gloss Shine Trio Set is a shampoo, conditioner, and treatment trio powered by an up to 17% Glycolic Acid Gloss Complex that penetrates deeply into the hair fiber to improve hair quality and seal cuticles with a lasting glossy effect. Perfect for dull, porous hair, this three-step routine transforms your hair, leaving it two times shinier and 88% smoother for up to 10 washes.
The Dreame AirStyle Pro 7-in-1 Hair Styler & High Speed Dryer has seven snap-on attachments to transform your look effortlessly. From sleek straight styles to voluminous curls, this all-in-one tool adapts to every hair type, giving you salon-quality results at home.
The Shark Glam Hot Tool Air Styling & Drying System is where your holiday glow-up starts. It’s designed with innovative heat-controlled ceramic and powerful airflow that will let you unlock smooth silky finishes, glossy blowouts, and ultra-high-shine styles without heat damage on wet and dry hair. Whether you’re prepping for festive gatherings or gifting glam to someone special, this is the gift that will transform anyone’s hair routine and have everyone asking what tool they used.
The Phillips OneBlade does it all. Trim, edge, and shave any length of hair on the face, body, and below-the-belt. It’s the multitasker you didn’t know you needed until you had it.
The new Dyson Airwrap multi-styler and dryer is the most powerful Dyson Airwrap multi-styler for supercharged styling. That means better curling, faster drying, and straighter styles without damage from heat.
Designme Dream Mane is a deep hydration and shine limited-edition holiday kit. It features the complete GLOSS.ME hydration and shine collection in mini sizes, and is designed to moisturize, smooth frizz, boost shine, and make hair more manageable.
Olaplex’s Full-On Shine Set defies expectations by delivering smoother, stronger, shinier hair in just one use. This collection, featuring No.0.5 Scalp Longevity Treatment, No.3 Hair Perfector, No.4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo, No.5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner, and full sizes of No.6 Bond Smoother and OLAPLEX No.7 Bonding Oil, works together to repair, cleanse, and style for sleek softness, frizz control, and luminous shine.
The Curlsmith Curl Discovery Kit is a collection of four mini bestsellers, for all curl types, that cleanses, conditions, and provides definition and hold. It includes Essential Moisture Shampoo, Essential Moisture Conditioner, Weightless Air-Dry Leave-in Conditioning Cream, and Curl Defining Styling Hair Souffle Gel.
You’ve probably heard of using a gua sha to help tone your face and neck – but did you know there’s a similar tool to help with hair loss? Also known as a jade comb or head gua sha, this tool has become the perfect complement to a relaxing daily hair care ritual for many. It’s essential for relieving tension and stimulating hair growth directly from the scalp. While we first heard about this tool a few years ago, it’s now gaining serious traction in the beauty world. Following the widespread success of the facial gua sha and driven by a growing concern about seasonal hair loss (especially with the arrival of autumn), this tool is on our radar.
It has a number of both health advantages and beauty perks. Aesthetic technician Ruth López, a cranial massage specialist at Madrid aesthetics clinic The Secret Lab, explains: “Treatments focused on the scalp aim to activate your head’s ‘meridians’… they have a toning effect for your scalp but they also contribute to your overall well-being. [Head] massage tools stimulate energetic points and promote lymphatic drainage, which helps to reduce inflammation in the face, neck and head.”
But, to make sure that you use the head gua sha correctly, let’s get into exactly what head meridians are and how they’re key for both your hair health and your face, too..
What are head meridians – and why is knowing what they are key to beauty?
Head meridians – channels through which the body’s energy flows – are closely related to acupuncture
Sunny Cho of The Holistic Skin Care explains that in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), meridians – channels through which the body’s energy flows – are closely related to acupuncture, a therapy that stimulates energy points across the body to treat ailments.
Sunny uses an interesting analogy to illustrate the point: meridians are like train lines, while the energy points are the stops the train makes. Each meridian represents an internal organ, so by using gua sha to gently press these lines, we can activate circulation and calm the nervous system.
A gua sha comb helps promote skin oxygenation, stronger and shinier hair and a reduction in hair loss
A similar comparison is offered by TCM expert Estefanía Mata de las Heras. She explains that meridians are an invisible plumbing system, and the “pegs” connecting these pipes are the energy points.
The head contains eight meridians, divided into upper, lower and extraordinary paths. Targeting them can be highly effective for treating headaches, migraines, tension and even intestinal discomfort, depending on the patient’s ailment.
Hair loss affects around 50% of women at some point in their lives
The hair and skincare benefits of a gua sha comb & cranial massage
Experts at Conscious Botanist say incorporating a head gua sha promotes skin oxygenation, results in stronger and shinier hair and helps reduce hair loss.
As an aesthetic technician, López notes the beauty advantages of cranial massages include:
Glow and radiance: By stimulating blood circulation, it increases oxygenation, promoting skin that looks noticeably more luminous and healthy.
Minimised puffiness: Massage is excellent for reducing facial swelling and under-eye bags, as the massage action promotes the drainage of accumulated fluids and toxins.
Smoother expression: Simply by releasing tension in your muscles, the tool can help soften the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, especially across the forehead and around the eyes.
Incorporating a head gua sha into your routine promotes skin oxygenation, results in stronger and shinier hair and helps reduce hair loss
How to use a gua sha comb
To supercharge your gua sha comb’s cooling and decongestant effects, simply keep it in the fridge. Use it periodically during your evening downtime – even while you’re relaxing on the sofa watching television.
You’ll be amazed at how fast stimulating your head’s meridians and acupuncture points makes you feel better, instantly softens your facial expression and helps you to relax.
October 16, 2024 — For Ona Diaz-Santin, hair care is more than a profession. Much of her childhood was spent in salons owned and staffed by her great-grandmother, grandmother and mother, where her love for hair styling and self-care developed.
For years, the stigmas surrounding curly hair both within and outside her own community made Ona inclined to wear her hair straight during much of her early life, until on the day of her high school graduation, her blow dryer broke, leaving her with no option but to sport her natural curls.
“Everyone was like ‘Oh my God, you permed your hair?’ and I [thought] wow – people think I have straight hair.”
As an Afro-Latina with textured curls, hair holds a deep personal meaning for Ona. A term often thrown around in the Latinx community to describe curly and textured hair is “pelo malo,” which translates to “bad hair.” It’s often made to emphasize the antiquated perception that natural hair is unprofessional, unclean and overall undesirable. Thus, many Latinx people with textured hair straighten their curls with heat or chemical treatments.
Ona has worked extensively to master curly hair care. For the past seven years, she’s been the owner of 5 Salon and Spa in Fort Lee, New Jersey and has been refining her skill in the styling industry for nearly three decades. Dubbed “The Hair Saint” by her regulars, Ona’s clientele ranges from celebrities like Diana-Maria Rivas and Dr. Oz to now-adults in her community whose hair she’s been cutting since they were children.
“I don’t take it lightly. They can go anywhere else around the world, and they choose to come here,” she says.
While Ona’s specialty is curly hair, she has built up an eclectic mix of talented stylists, manicurists, masseuses and more with the intention of creating an inclusive, empowering space where anyone can feel pampered and beautiful.
The three-generation legacy of hardworking women that Ona comes from, combined with her industry expertise and personal experience, has made her a well-known figure in her own community and beyond. Her mission of empowerment through natural beauty drives her to continue her work and encourages her to look toward the more inclusive future she aims to help create.
“I get glimpses of my daughter, and I’m like, wow, she is strongI think that’s what’s been passed down. That’s important because I got to pass the torch down at some point.”
Regardless of hair type, Ona and her team at 5 Salon and Spa welcome all – and in the true tradition of a Dominican peluqueria, you’ll be greeted with a big smile, celebrity chisme and, of course, a cafecito.
Keep up with Ona and 5 Salon and Spa on their website and her Instagram, @_thehairsaint.
Transracial adoptive and foster parents in Prince George’s County, Maryland, learned from trained professionals how to care for and style their kids’ hair, as part of a workshop hosted Saturday by the Center for Adoption Support and Education.
D.C.-area adoptive parents of transracial families had the opportunity to get hands-on lessons from stylists with Styles 4 Kidz in Prince George’s County, Maryland on April 13, 2024.
(WTOP/Grace Newton)
WTOP/Grace Newton
D.C.-area adoptive parents of transracial families had the opportunity to get hands-on lessons from stylists with Styles 4 Kidz in Prince George’s County, Maryland on April 13, 2024.
(WTOP/Grace Newton)
WTOP/Grace Newton
D.C.-area adoptive parents of transracial families had the opportunity to get hands-on lessons from stylists with Styles 4 Kidz in Prince George’s County, Maryland on April 13, 2024.
(WTOP/Grace Newton)
WTOP/Grace Newton
D.C.-area adoptive parents of transracial families had the opportunity to get hands-on lessons from stylists with Styles 4 Kidz in Prince George’s County, Maryland on April 13, 2024.
(WTOP/Grace Newton)
WTOP/Grace Newton
D.C.-area adoptive parents of transracial families had the opportunity to get hands-on lessons from stylists with Styles 4 Kidz in Prince George’s County, Maryland on April 13, 2024.
(WTOP/Grace Newton)
WTOP/Grace Newton
D.C.-area adoptive parents of transracial families had the opportunity to get hands-on lessons from stylists with Styles 4 Kidz in Prince George’s County, Maryland on April 13, 2024.
(WTOP/Grace Newton)
WTOP/Grace Newton
Parents of transracial adoptive and foster families in Prince George’s County, Maryland, learned from trained professionals how to care for and style their kids’ hair as part of a workshop hosted Saturday by the Center for Adoption Support and Education (CASE).
Parents received hands-on lessons from stylists with Styles 4 Kidz, an Illinois-based salon dedicated to providing education and services for kids with textured hair in transracial or biracial foster care or adoptive families.
Styles 4 Kidz owner Tamekia Swint founded the salon 14 years ago after meeting a white adoptive mom in her community with two African American daughters.
“She had no idea what to do with her kid’s hair,” CASE Training Institute Director Dawn Wilson said. “She was desperately in need of help with their hair, so I started helping her.”
Now, Styles 4 Kidz travels around the country, offering free haircare workshops for parents in similar situations.
The workshop was held in the student center at Prince George’s County Community College.
Each family received their own bag of products and tools, as well as a mannequin head. One stylist stood at the front of the room to lead the lesson while others bounced around to different tables, assisting the parents.
“We know that a high number of foster and adoptive families are transracial, or interracial. And we really want to make sure that those families can support their children in a way that helps them feel good about themselves and helps promote their own self-identity,” Wilson said.
Parents got trained on several basic hairstyles including ponytails with twists, free-standing braids and Bantu knots, as well as basic hands-on instruction on styling and moisturizing.
“We create a better space at home where hair is no longer a battle,” Styles 4 Kidz salon manager Christy James said.
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Harsh cold weather can do a number of your hair….should you add CBD to your healthy hair routine?
Winter is tough on the hair. Like skin, it can often feel dry in the wintertime. This is mainly due to the lack of humidity leaving it slightly damaged. Curly-haired folks are more likely to suffer since it takes longer for natural, moisturizing oils to travel down the hair shaft. Add in hats, snags and everything else and your help needs a little extra help. There are several things you can do, but can CBD help with winter hair care?
There are some basic tip to help not only your hair, but your body. Drinking healthy fluids, sleep, and good habits are year round benefits. But in winter, you might need to adjust a few other things. Hair care is a huge business, and there are cbd products, but it’s important to find something to truly. help your hair and scalp health. Read the labels and reviews to make sure you get solid results.
Photo by Element5 Digital via Unsplash
The body naturally produces cannabinoids to help it stay healthy. CBD products are thought to help balance healthy hair. Hair has receptors which respond to CBD when it touches them, and some experts believe this is what can help hair and keep it strong. The antioxidants in CBD may help give you a healthy scalp. CBD also has anti-inflammatory properties, which could help soothe inflammatory scalp conditions that may affect hair growth, such as eczema and psoriasis.
A CBD hair mask can rehydrate the hair in the winter and give it more bounce and luster. It can will help replenish lost nutrients through the use of too many heat tools, heater blasts, and dry air.
Humidifiers help rehydrate the air to keep your locks looking lustrous.
Trimming hair every four to eight weeks is a good way to maintain hair health and keep locks looking fresh. Taking a half inch off reduces the chances of developing dry, split ends.
Avoid a hot shower. the water pulls moisture from your hair, making it brittle and vulnerable to breaking. Instead, wash the hair with lukewarm water followed with a cool rinse.
Wet hair outside when it is cold can make you feel chilled and uncomfortable. But it will not give you a cold. But it can cause hair to freeze and break, since wet hair is more vulnerable to damage.
It’s a common misconception that keeping your hair in its best condition is only achieved with the most expensive products, and routine salon visits. In fact, it’s actually what you do to manage your hair at home that has the biggest impact on your long-term hair health, and it’s why people have been turning to at-home hair hacks to get the outcome they want, at a fraction of the salon price.
Similar to an ongoing skincare routine, investing in a scientifically backed system will produce results that transform your hair, not just maintain it. But before we get into it, let’s chat about the importance of hair health because after regular colouring, styling and exposure to the elements, damage to your hair strands is likely the culprit for lacklustre shine and gloss.
Hair health isn’t just about drinking enough water, regularly washing your hair or getting enough vitamins and minerals like biotin, Vitamin E or Vitamin A. It’s also about making sure you are selecting the right products for damaged hair. A breakthrough range in this space is L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair. This unique range from trusted haircare experts L’Oréal Paris, contains a high concentration of citric acid — scientifically proven to penetrate the hair cortex to repair broken bonds.
1. Ditch the In-Salon Bonder
Hair bonding treatments changed the world when they entered the salon, but the latest game changer gives salon-worthy results at home. Containing a pre-shampoo treatment, shampoo, conditioner and leave-in serum, the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair range is a scientifically-backed four step process that aims to replicate the same bonding power you get in a salon chair, for a fraction of the price. Investing in clinical research with both scientists and hairdressers, the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair range has proven to increase hair strength by as much as 98% when used together.
2. Brush Your Hair From the Bottom, Up
Instead of buying a top of the range brush, consider changing the way you brush your hair by starting at the bottom and working your way up. Choose a wide-toothed brush that spreads oils from your roots down to the ends, minimising breakage. Before brushing, apply a small amount of L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Hair Repair Leave-In Serum. This product will help to reduce frizz and, when brushed through the ends of your hair, will leave it feeling stronger and visibly healthy.
3. Reduce Heat Styling
Frequently styling your hair with heat tools like hairdryers, straighteners and curling wands breaks down the keratin in your hair and causes breakage. While you can reduce the amount of times you style your hair with heat by trying heatless curls, upstyles or ponytails, another hair hack is to lean into the natural shape of your hair from time to time too. Use a well balanced conditioner to support your hair’s natural shape, such as the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair Conditioner.
4. Adjust Your Water
You might want to keep your body well clear of a cold shower, but your hair will thank you for a cold rinse at the end of a wash. Cold water helps seal the hair cuticle, helping to maintain that glossy shine and smooth finish. Consider investing in a water filter for your shower to combat the effects of hard water, which can create a barrier that prevents moisture-rich products from getting in.
5. Up-cycle Your Hair Care
Fabulous hair doesn’t need to cost the earth, and the proof of that is introducing into your routine some products that you can find in your home right now. Think about drying your hair with old t-shirts instead of towels – they are softer and often just as absorbent – or reusing cleaned mascara wands to tame those flyaways. By looking at ways that you can transform your at home hair care, you’ll find that you need to do less damage repair in the salon chair.
The Biggest Bang For Your Buck
All things considered, if you’re after a way to get salon-worthy results without the price tag, go for the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Bond Repair range. The scientifically backed range employs the biggest hair hack of them all – citric acid. Used within the pre-shampoo, shampoo, conditioner and leave-in serum products, citric acid is a game changer as the molecules are small enough to penetrate even the finest strands, transforming your hair for a lasting result.
Tracee Ellis Ross‘s brand Pattern Beauty is continuing to blow up the textured hair-care category — this time quite literally, with the launch of its inaugural hair tool, a blow-dryer created with the “curl-conscious consumer” at top of mind.
The tool, which retails for $189, features four attachments: a diffuser, a brush, a wide-tooth comb (inspired by the brand’s existing wide-tooth comb) and a nozzle. It also includes a professional-grade engine, three heat settings, two speed settings and a cool-shot button. Per a press release, its focus is on quick-drying hair while minimizing frizz, reducing damage and preserving the curl pattern.
A hair dryer specifically designed for coily, curly and tight textured hair has been a goal since Pattern Beauty’s launch three years ago, harkening back to Ellis Ross’s own past frustrations with hot tools that damaged her hair and curl pattern. The tool’s careful development took time; as Ellis Ross put it during a press event celebrating the launch on Monday, “Little did I know, it takes two years to make something that plugs into a wall.”
Photo: Courtesy of Pattern Beauty
“One of the biggest things is that I had a negative relationship with heat and I really longed to reframe [that],” said Ellis Ross of the inspiration behind the tool. Every aspect of the dryer was intentional, from precise temperature settings to gentle, curl-minded attachments. Ellis Ross believes in purpose-driven product development, “not just innovation for innovation’s sake,” she says.
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The tool was designed to be lightweight but still feel substantial, and a portable size that’s not so small it can’t also pack the power of a pro-grade motor. Each of the attachments clicks on and stays in place unless the release buttons are pressed, a touch that came from Ellis Ross’s own frustration of having other tools’ combs break or fall off while in use.
The celebrity CEO and founder is also particularly proud of marrying form and function with the blow-dryer — and the fact that the the entire device, including its electrical cord, is a beautiful, creamy brown hue (dubbed “carmella” by the brand).
Photo: Nadine Ijewere for Pattern Beauty
Alongside the new tool, Pattern Beauty is also entering the heat-care product category via a new Heat Protectant mist and lightweight Shine Spray (meant to be used on either heat-styled or air-dried hair).
Photo: Courtesy of Pattern Beauty
The Pattern Beauty Blow Dryer is available exclusively on PatternBeauty.com, retailing for $189; both styling products are also already available for purchase for $20 each.
Please note: Occasionally, we use affiliate links on our site. In no way do either affect our editorial decision-making.
These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Monday.
How brands are finding new customers As independent brands look to establish themselves in an oversaturated market, they are looking to word-of-mouth, trunk shows and small networking events to build their customer base, in lieu of traditional advertising. Le Majordome, a Zurich-based shoe brand that opened a store in Midtown last fall, has relied heavily on encouraging the stores next door to refer their customers to them and hosts happy hour events for all their retail neighbors to help with brand recognition. {Business of Fashion}
Max Mara’s trend-free world For Harper’s Bazaar, Rachel Tashjian invites readers into the label-less and trend-free universe of Max Mara. Citing the brand’s unique connections with powerful figures, such as Angelina Jolie, Meghan Markle and Nancy Pelosi, Tashjian emphasizes the significance of the brand’s commitment to understatement and “to putting the woman before the clothes.” Ian Griffiths, Max Mara’s creative director, says, “There is a sea of ideas out there, which is overwhelming. And I always think of Max Mara as being a rock in the sea. It represents lasting value. It’s clinging to something with meaning.” {Harper’s Bazaar}
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Christopher John Rogers and Dries Van Noten in conversation For The New York Times, designers Christopher John Rogers and Dries Van Noten spoke for the first time via video call about their respective brands, unique use of color, design process and more. On staying inspired, Rogers asks, “When you feel like you want to take your work in a divergent direction from what is expected of you, how do you cope with that?” In response, Van Noten shares, “I try really to start with a blank page in front of me for every collection […] We always say if it sold very well last season, everybody has it, so we have to surprise them with something else.” {The New York Times}
The beauty industry needs to talk about Hijabi hair care For Allure, Hajar Mohammad discusses the lack of representation in the beauty industry for Hijabi hair. She brings up common concerns such as “hijab alopecia,” which describes hair loss from the friction of one’s hijab. “When your hair is in a bun for most of the day and rubbing against the fabric of your hijab, it’s inevitable to have hair concerns like thinning, a receding hairline, and breakage,” Mohammad says. When it comes to brand marketing, she shares that brands like Briogeo and Dae have been receptive to open dialogue about how to include Hibjabi influencers in their campaigns, and says even these small steps can have positive impacts. {Allure}
This week I got my keratin-tip hair extensions removed, and wow, I wasn’t prepared. These days, we’re so used to instant satisfaction that a slow process like growing out a bad haircut feels like an eternal struggle. In my quest to achieve mermaid-length hair minus yards of split-ends, I have looked into probably every product that claims to help hair growth. Rosemary oil? Done it. Hair growth shampoos? Why not. Avoid heat? Haha, sure.
If you’ve ever struggled with restoring your edges, excessive shedding, or thinness, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about the alleged miracle hair growth properties of castor oil. A quick search on YouTube yields dozens of positive testimonials that show brows restored to Cara Delevingne’s status and edges even Alicia Keys would envy. But is there any scientific evidence to back castor oil’s growth stimulation claim? If you’ve noticed significant growth after using castor oil, you’re not alone.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Nikki Hill is a board-certified dermatologist and hair restoration expert.
More From ELLE
Bridgette Hill is a certified trichologist, colorist, and scalp therapist.
What is castor oil and what are its benefits?
Castor oil, also known as Ricinus communis, is nutrient-rich vegetable oil from castor beans. Although it originates in tropical east Africa, it is widely used in India and the West Indies for cosmetic and medicinal purposes. Castor oil is usually clear or pale yellow unless derived through roasting or boiling, known as black castor oil.
Down to a molecular level, castor oil is a long-chained fatty acid. “Fatty acids provide essential proteins and nutrients to hair follicles and prevent hair follicle inflammation,” says Bridgette Hill.
Aside from being anti-inflammatory, castor oil has a few other noteworthy properties. “Some benefits of using castor oil include increased gloss or shine of the hair, increased hair shaft flexibility by coating the hair shaft, [and] providing antimicrobial properties,” says Dr. Hill.
Does castor oil stimulate hair growth?
“No studies exist showing castor oil can increase hair growth >1cm/month, which is the FDA standard of hair growth,” says Dr. Hill. “However, I have patients tell me different all the time. Additionally, 90% of castor oil is made up of the fatty acid ricinoleic acid. [It] is known to stimulate the Prostaglandin E2 receptor, leading to blood vessel dilation. When applied to the scalp, increased blood vessel dilation increases the flow of oxygen-rich and nutrient-rich blood to the powerhouse of your follicle, the dermal papilla, or the root of the hair.”
Bridgette Hill agrees that castor oil indirectly promotes hair growth. “Because of the nutrients in castor oil, it protects the hair follicle from outside cellular and tissue invaders that destroy the health and vitality of the hair follicle.”
Is castor oil safe to use on the eyelashes and eyebrows?
The short answer: yes to the eyebrows, but be cautious with the eyelashes. “If there isn’t an allergy to castor oil after patch testing, it is safe to use on the eyebrows,” says Dr. Hill. “There is no safety data about castor oil and eye health, so I would be cautious and speak with an ophthalmologist about applying castor oil in close proximity to the eye.”
How should castor oil be applied to your hair and scalp?
Although castor oil is widely used, it is not meant for everyone. Therefore, the importance of a patch test comes into play again before applying it to your scalp. “Apply a small amount behind the ear or the inner upper arm for a week,” says Dr. Hill.
Once you determine that castor oil is compatible with your scalp, Bridgette Hill has a few suggestions for each hair type:
Fine to medium straight hair: Castor oil can be used as a deep treatment to protect the very ends of your hair fiber, the last 2-3 inches of hair. Use it as a pre-shampoo treatment to help keep the tangles away. Be sure not to overuse—shampoo out and style as desired.
Medium to thick straight/wavy hair: Apply throughout the entire head for an intense pre-shampoo treatment. Add heat or steam for deeper penetration into the hair cuticle.
Wavy to loose curls: I suggest mixing drops of castor oil into conditioners during these hot and humid summer months.
Curly to tightly coiled: I suggest using castor oil as needed throughout your regimen, [as a] pre-shampoo, added treatment, or as a weekly moisturizer. It is essential to perform a proper monthly detox shampoo when using heavy oils like castor oil.
What is the best type of castor oil to use?
Both of our hair experts recommend cold-pressed castor oil.
“Cold-pressed castor oil can be used on the hair shaft. However, black castor oil should be applied only to the scalp,” explains Dr. Hill. “If black castor oil is applied to the hair, a cuticle-sealing technique should be used afterward. Both forms will provide sufficient components of ricinoleic acid.”
When should you avoid castor oil?
It is best to avoid using castor oil on your hair if you’re suffering from dandruff. Both of our experts say it can make the condition worse.
Castor Oil Picks
Now Foods Castor Oil
Credit: Courtesy
Dr. Nikki Hill recommends that people invest in “cold-pressed, heat-free, lighter-colored” castor oils. This is one of her favorites.
Bomba Curls Dominican Forbidden Oil
Credit: Courtesy
Bomba Curls was born from founder Lulu Cordero’s efforts to improve her traction-based alopecia with Dominican beauty secrets. Coffee seed oil stimulates the scalp’s blood circulation, black cumin seed oil provides antihistamines to treat hair loss, and castor oil provides nutrient-rich moisture.
Tropic Isle Living Jamaican Black Castor Oil
Now 32% Off
Credit: Courtesy
This oil gets its name from its syrupy color, which results from the ash residue when the Jamaican castor beans are roasted. This ash is what many users attribute to helping with hair growth (although this information is not scientifically vetted).
Bondi Boost Lash + Brow Serum
Credit: Courtesy
Speed up your lash growth with this formula made of natural ingredients, including Jamaican black castor oil. The addition of JBC strengthens brittle, weak hair and encourages growth..
Sky Organics Castor Oil USDA Organic Cold-Pressed
Credit: Courtesy
Did you know that pesticides can creep their way into your hair oils? Be sure to purchase an organic castor oil to avoid them, especially if you plan to use it around the sensitive eye area.
PHILIP KINGSLEY Elasticizer, Deep Conditioning Treatment
Credit: Courtesy
Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslett, and Georgia May Jagger are all fans of this deep-conditioning pre-poo product. It uses castor oil and hydrolyzed elastin to moisturize and restore manageability.
SheaMoisture Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo and Conditioner
Now 20% Off
Credit: Courtesy
Curly and coily hair types love that this pair gives their hair great slip.
Reviewers with dry, color-treated, and permed hair claim this sulfate-free set revitalized their strands.
Okay Black Jamaican Castor Oil Leave In Conditioner
Credit: Courtesy
Although this product works great for all hair types, it’s best suited for curly and coily textures since it’s formulated with heavier moisturizers like black castor oil and shea butter.
AG Care is redefining what it means to be a sustainable beauty brand that addresses the needs of modern consumers without sacrificing performance or the environment
Press Release –
Nov 8, 2022
LOS ANGELES, November 8, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– AG Care, creating the foundation of healthy hair through its naturally derived hair care since 1989, is excited to announce its reintroduction. Pairing thoughtfully redesigned, sustainable packaging with AG’s revitalized vision of vegan, salon-quality products, the brand is focusing on meaningful change. A major highlight includes relaunching its superfood-inspired hair collections at Ulta Beauty®, where AG is proud to be certified in all five pillars of Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty™.
Rooted in its belief that real beauty believes in better, AG reimagined its formulations and packaging, ensuring that each formula is vegan and, as always, cruelty-free without harmful sulfates, gluten, DEA, parabens, PABA and DMDMH. AG also elevated its packaging from a design and materiality perspective, offering products in aluminum or post-consumer regrind (PCR is recycled plastic that has been reclaimed from consumer use). All shampoos and conditioners are available in 1L refillable pouches, so consumers can reuse their aluminum and PCR bottles. The introduction of refillable pouches advances the brand’s goals to significantly reduce its environmental impact as refillable packaging uses 73% less plastic and cuts energy use by 62% compared to producing large plastic liter bottles.
“Care is in our name because it has driven our decisions since 1989,” says Karla Cheon, Chief Revenue Officer at AG Care. “Care for people and planet have always been at the core of what we do. We were clean before it was coined. We launched our first refill center in 1989. This brand renewal is about making sustainable choices easier and accessible to a wider audience. High-performance, naturally derived hair care in packaging people can feel good about.”
The brand’s products range from ingredient-led collections featuring organic apple cider vinegar to those formulated for specific hair types, like curls and color-treated hair, bringing to market performance-based products that are salon-approved and consumer-loved. AG Care uses a combination of science and nature, selecting the highest-quality, naturally derived ingredients to develop formulas that deliver purposeful results.
AG Care’s wide selection of shampoos, conditioners and styling products are available at ag.care and Ulta Beauty®, its largest national retail partner.
Since 2008, AG Care has partnered with One Girl Can by donating over $1.6 million CAD to fund education, mentorship and training for girls in Kenya. Started by AG Care co-founder Lotte Davis, One Girl Can’s goal is to help achieve gender parity and create generational change.
ABOUT AG CARE
Advanced Goodness since 1989, AG creates the foundation for healthy hair. Combining science and nature, AG selects the highest-quality ingredients to develop formulas that deliver purposeful results. Driven by care and sustainability, the collection is vegan and cruelty-free with refill pouches and aluminum packaging options. Founders John and Lotte Davis established a legacy of innovation through their vertically integrated manufacturing where everything is created on-site at their state-of-the-art facility in Vancouver, Canada. Giving back is the reward for their success. AG proudly supports One Girl Can, donating over $1.6 million to help girls in Kenya achieve gender parity. Real beauty believes in better. For more information, visit ag.care.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: For all media inquiries, including sample requests, please contact Sara Castillo at agcare@agencyguacamole.com // (310) 878-2560.
AG Care is a vertically integrated company that researches, formulates and bottles all the brand’s products at its FDA and Health Canada approved facility in Vancouver, Canada.
I begged my mom for two things one Christmas season when I was nine years old: a Barbie doll house and a “perm” — the colloquial term we used for relaxers. We did not understand then that there was a major difference between the two.
Though hesitant at first, as a mom with four daughters —I’m the youngest— she knew my pleading wouldn’t stop until my hair looked like one of the girls on the ‘Just For Me’ box.
Before that Christmas break was over, what once was a giant afro was bone-straight and down the length of my back like I’d never seen it before.
My hair is thick and coarse, so at the time, I assumed the chemical straightening cream had to stay in my hair for a longer length of time to really get the kinks and curls straighter.
So when my mom asked if my scalp was burning — yes, it was! — I pushed through and held out just a little bit longer to make sure it would really work.
Even at that young age, I thought beauty was pain and that having straight hair was more socially acceptable — though no one in my family ever told me that.
That belief was reaffirmed for me that Monday when I walked into school and people responded well to the length and straightness of my hair.
I got relaxers pretty regularly for the next six or seven years after that.
My mom, myself, our friends and family had never given any thought to how the application of these chemicals on our hair and scalp might be affecting our physical health.
On Oct. 17, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) published findings of the Sister Study, including data from over 33,000 women who were tracked for nearly 11 years.
The goal was to pinpoint risk factors for breast cancer and other health conditions, and researchers discovered something alarming.
Within that time frame, 378 women were diagnosed with uterine cancer, and those who used hair straighteners over four times in the previous year “were more than twice as likely to go on to develop uterine cancer compared to those who did not use the products.”
Around 60% of the women who reported using hair straightening products self-identified as Black, the press release states.
“Because Black women use hair straightening or relaxer products more frequently and tend to initiate use at earlier ages than other races and ethnicities, these findings may be even more relevant for them,” said Che-Jung Chang, an author on the study and a research fellow in the NIEHS Epidemiology Branch in the press release.
Though the study didn’t include specific brands, there are certain chemicals that may be contributing to the increased uterine cancer risk including:
Parabens
Bisphenol A
Metals
Formaldehyde
For other chemical-based hair products like highlights, bleach, hair dyes and perms, researchers didn’t find associations with uterine cancer.
Thankfully, women in my life like my older sister and best friend, who defied the ‘straight hair’ standard, showed me what embracing my natural hair could look like.
I began my natural hair journey at 16, and I haven’t relaxed my hair since.
Still, I wonder what these findings will mean for me, my loved ones and other Black women in the future.
COLUMBIA, Md., January 4, 2022 (Newswire.com)
– Join an upcoming Facebook live Meet & Greet for African American Women Over 40 facing hair insecurities. Come learn about Lov’n Ur Hair products and hear from client testimonies. To access the event, go to the Facebook page, Instagram @lovnurhair or visit lovnurhair.com website for details.
Lov’n Ur Hair revolutionizes hair growth solutions from the inside out. African American women over 40 often face hair-thinning insecurities that reduce confidence in their style options. Finding hair care solutions for women over 40 that address thinning, shedding, and lack of growth challenges can be overwhelming and stressful with so many products on the market. With over 20 years of experience in the hair care industry, the founder of Lov’n Ur Hair, Jordan “Kimberly” Leakey, understands these challenges and how to solve them. Having worked personally with over twenty thousand client experiences, Jordan knows healthy hair starts on the inside. Lack of nutrients to the body stunts hair growth. In the same way, the body requires a consistent diet and exercise to achieve fitness goals. Healthy hair requires proper nutrition and a holistic solution approach to yield expected growth results. The four-phase system provides a full solution.
For women over 40, now is the time to recalibrate and boost hair growth for new results. The use of the vitamins, the healthy hair growth serum, the Love Ur edges, and the luxury salon Keratin 5-1 System increases hair growth in 30 days.
Lov’n Ur Hair Contact: Jordan “Kimberly” Leakey IG: @lovnurhair Email: info@lovnurhair.com
A hair care system experience for those who expect positive returns from thoughtful investments
Press Release –
updated: Oct 5, 2021
COLUMBIA, Md., October 5, 2021 (Newswire.com)
– Lov’n Ur Hair introduces an all-natural hair growth system that offers health, growth, education and lasting results. Many women face challenges trying to explore different hair care styles that maintain healthy hair, sustain roots and edges with vibrance and strength. Finding hair care for edges and tresses that offer sustainable results can be overwhelming. Lov’n Ur Hair knows these challenges and how to solve them. Healthy relationships thrive from authentic pour-in and nurturing. The all-natural hair growth system teaches how to start and maintain a loving relationship in hair care with the use of blended natural ingredient products. This hair care system focuses on the root using the healthy hair growth serum to develop a strong foundation. Next, it expands the hair care regiment into a luxury salon Keratin shampoo and condition DUO, edge care treatment combined with vitamins that ensure a healthy experience and healthy results. Today’s consumer demands sustainable products with expected results. Products and services have to offer more than what is expected. Lov’n Ur Hair is driven by this expectation. Never settle for any relationship that doesn’t love you back. Live by that and love your hair with Lov’n Ur Hair products.
Lov’n Ur Hair is hosting a”Pop Up” event in Howard County, Maryland, on October 9-10, 2021, at the Columbia Mall during mall hours.
Additional “Pop Up” events will follow and be hosted in November and December. Stay connected and follow us on instagram @lovnurhair, on Facebook and visit us at lovnurhair.com. You will find more “Pop Up” upcoming event details on our social media channels. Commit to a new healthy relationship; show your hair some love with Lov’n Ur Hair.
Lov’n Ur Hair Contact: Jordan “Kimberly” Leakey IG: @lovnurhair Email: info@lovnurhair.com
