The PRODUCT Blog - Pure Ingredients for Gorgeous Hair

Kid Tested, Mother Approved

Another appreciative mother has extolled the benefits of LIL PRODUCT, hair pomade for young people!

This time the good news comes from the blog "for those passionate about beauty and fitness" - BeFlossy. Contributor Stephanie writes about both her curly-haired daughter's and her own responses to LIL PRODUCT in her guest review.  Though a bit dubious at first, Stephanie was super pleased with the results, sharing that after using LIL PRODUCT her little girl's hair held its curls, was shinier, and was soft and completely 'crunch-free' - for days after the first application!  And when it was time for a hair brushing she got another pleasant surprise - no tangles!  There are 'before' and 'after' photos in Stephanie's review - but here's an 'after,' apparently taken following a full day at the beach:

With its 100% natural, organic ingredients, LIL PRODUCT really does nourish, style, shine and protect - and we thank Stephanie, her darling daughter and BeFlossy for giving it a whirl! 

Boos & Ghouls

Decorations, costumes, treats - the potential for a sasquatch-sized carbon footprint at Halloween is huge.  But help is no more than a mouse click away ...  here are some of the web standouts with advice on greening your fright fest: 

Planet Green put together a series of articles with ideas for how to shrink your environmental impact this year - and grow your creativity in the process!  Contributor Leslie Billera shares some alternatives to the usual confectionary suspects that don't take the fun (or deliciousness) out of the occasion ...  And Blythe Copeland has some inspired tips for making costumes and decorations, my favorite being the spooky skeleton made of socks whose partners have gone missing.  

Another great source for DIY innovation is Jenn Savedge on MNN.com - she provides instructions for how to construct some fun costumes on the fly, or in a time crunch.  And if the party's at your house this year, she also has fantastic ideas for Halloween games that will keep everyone involved and entertained, as well as help channel some of that treat-induced energy. 

Hope everyone enjoys a spirited and safe Halloween!  

Natural Wonders

Welcome to the weekend! 

Great news - PRODUCT and LIL PRODUCT recently received another glowing online review!  Ashley, on her blog Blessed Barnharts, wrote about her hair styling experiences with PRODUCT and described how her young son loves using LIL PRODUCT to groom his hair before going to preschool (though his mom actually does most of the styling - he's just happy with the results!).  Many thanks to Ashley for her interest in our all-natural, organic pomades, and for sharing their goodness with her audience.

Also wanted to spread the word that another beautiful documentary series is starting on PBS this Sunday night.  The premiere episode of a 12-hour documentary about the United States National Park system will begin an exploration of the stunning and majestic public places that the US has preserved as part of its national heritage.  It promises to be gorgeous and awe-inspiring - an enriching program that will highlight the natural wonders that exist in our part of the world.  Could be a soothing way to zen out before next work week begins ... 

Not-So-Secret Ingredients

The foundation of PRODUCT's effectiveness is the proven benefits of its ingredients - each one serves a purpose, with nothing superfluous included.  PRODUCT's main component, Shea Butter, for example, is rich in essential fatty acids that protect and revitalize hair (and skin!), is highly emollient, easily absorbed, and non-comedogenic (a fancy technical term that means it's not irritating and won't clog your pores).  Shea butter is our base ingredient because it's such a personal care powerhouse.

Another of our ingredients, Aloe Vera, has an abundance of assets as well.  Though we use a different form of the succulent in PRODUCT's recipe, it turns out that Aloe gel (specifically, stabilized gel from the center of the plant) is incredibly effective for soothing gums and teeth, and also obliterates cavity-causing bacteria.  We included Aloe in PRODUCT because its calming properties pacify stressed strands, but weren't even aware that it's prowess extended to dental care!  We came across this juicy bit of health info in last week's Daily Beauty newsletter, courtesy of New Beauty Magazine. 

Just goes to show there's a natural alternative for just about every synthetic, chemically composed product out there ...

A Family Affair

We were delighted to hear from Karissa, the eco-passionate author of the blog Prissy Green, that she reviewed PRODUCT at the beginning of this month!

In her review, Karissa described how her significant other, Craig, has taken a liking to PRODUCT pomade for hair.  Specifically, she wrote that it was the "FIRST one that he actually tried, put away, then got back out of the drawer himself and has been using for several weeks."  Love it!

You see, PRODUCT was developed by a man who had been disappointed by every hair styling pomade, gel, wax, paste, etc. that he tried.  And to hear Karissa tell it, Craig had much the same experience - his gel lost its hold in wet weather, other pomades left a mess on his pillow ... Hopefully he's found his styling soul mate with PRODUCT, thanks to his green-blogging sweetie!

So all you men out there, take heart, your hair styling woes could be a thing of the past.  In addition to providing simple, effective styling, PRODUCT is completely free of chemicals and composed entirely of natural ingredients that nourish and moisturize hair, improving its condition and texture. 

And for the ladies, the Prissy Green review also describes how Karissa herself has been using PRODUCT, with lovely results.  She wrote that it works perfectly to smooth the "baby hairs" along her hairline, and emphasized how a little bit of PRODUCT goes a long way - so our 1.5 ounce jar gives a lot of bang for your buck (no pun intended!). 

Our thanks go out to Prissy Green and all its readers who entered the giveaway - Good Luck!

Mercury Rising

Fun in the sun - it's one of the things that summer is all about.  Though the elements may seem friendlier to outdoor recreation than at other times of the year, that impression is far from reality.  In order to ensure summer good times don't devolve into the uncomfortable regret of sunburn, heat exhaustion, and dehydrated skin & body (or hair, for that matter!), precautions must be taken.  Attempting to orchestrate a carefree, protected, economical and eco-friendly summer can be like putting together a complex puzzle ...

First step to surviving the shower of UV rays is to cover up - with breathable clothing and a hat if you're more conservative or a broad spectrum sunblock if you'd like to make clothing minimal (or optional).  Luckily there are a number of 'green' sunscreens widely available - now more than ever before, and with new options constantly being developed.  Environmental Working Group issues an annual sunscreen report that can help you choose one that is healthy and effective.  Pssst - don't forget to apply your barrier of choice to the oft-neglected body parts - the part in your hair, tops of your ears and feet, and back of your neck!    

Also key:  hydration, hydration, hydration.  Heat will leave you parched - so can wind and saltwater - so hydrating from within and externally is essential.  Drink plenty of fluids and quench your skin's thirst with moisture-rich lotions, oils or butters.  Shea Butter, a main ingredient of PRODUCT, is a great natural option for protection and hydration, and can be used pretty much anywhere on the body without irritation.  A layer of moisturizer creates a buffer to help your skin and hair weather wind, sun, and surf with less damage - which will ensure that your summer nights are as enjoyable as the days.  

With exposure to the outdoors comes exposure to insects, which can be not only pesky but painful.  I remember well the toxic insect repellents and citronella candles of my youth, not to mention the barbaric bug zapper!  Now the possibilities for insect avoidance are more peaceable and less pesticidal.  Vanessa Vadim expertly and wittily shares her solutions to the mosquito issue in her Q&A column on Mother Nature Network.  As for bees and wasps, there's a kinder, gentler catch-and-release option in the organic 'trap' by Danish industrial designer Pernille Vea.  So now you can avoid attack and maintain good karma by setting the stingers free once you've retreated indoors.  

As past US President John F. Kennedy had to say about preparation:  The time to repair the roof is while the sun is shining.  The sun is shining - have a marvelous summer!

 

Hair of the Dog

The debate continues ... and no, I'm not referring to the dueling national security speeches given by President Obama and Cheney yesterday.  I'm talking about the 'no-poo' debate.  Can a person really, truly cut out shampooing and achieve healthy, manageable hair?  And does quitting the suds cold turkey actually lead to better-conditioned, more beautiful tresses?

I'm a sparse shampoo-er to begin with, and was nearing the end of an unwashed hair week earlier this month when I read an article on MNN in which the writer raved about her shampoo-free experience and the ravishing results.  I had a head-start, I thought, and was inspired by her enthusiasm - thus my personal no-poo experiment began.  I was thrilled at the possibility of improving the condition of my hair and forgoing the eco-sins of most shampoos - sodium-laureth sulfates, plastic packaging, etc. 

Sadly, my grand experiment ended ingloriously about a week later with unmanageable, heavy, slightly malodorous, dull strands that, I kid you not, would stand straight up from my head without assistance.  I was disappointed, but glad I'd given it a shot ...

Then today I read another post on MNN, by their family blogger Jenn Savedge, that mirrored my experience in nearly every detail (I, too, was disturbed by the similarities between my dog's hair and my own toward the end of those two poo-free weeks!).  My lingering guilt is slighty assuaged ...

I have not ruled out the idea of another attempt to eschew shampoo, but for now I'm sticking to my minimal washings - and feeling a little less green, but a lot more human.

Mow Betta

Spring is the season of growth.  Even in Los Angeles, where it's pretty mild all year-through, spring and summer host a lot of botanical events.  Right now the bougainvillea is brightly blooming, and the sticky jacaranda blossoms are beginning to carpet the streets and sidewalks ...

Yes, things are growing - including grass.  Which means mowing.  It turns out that even lawn mowing is being transformed by the  "green revolution."  Here in California, there's a program run by the South Coast Air Quality Management District called "Mow Down Air Pollution" that gives people a "deep discount" on battery-electric, non-polluting mowers when they trade in their gas-powered stinky ones.  And as reported in The Daily Green earlier this month, if all goes according to the plans of three Vermont Representatives, the Greener Gardens Act will give everyone a 25% tax credit on all low-emission lawnmowers.  Congressman Peter Welch, one of the sponsors of the legislation, says he hopes the Act will "incentivize smart steps toward reducing our carbon footprint."

I wonder if the legislators would be willing to incentivize the most nature-friendly lawn grooming machine of all ... the goat.  In today's tough job market, it's good to be a goat!  Increasingly, goats are being hired to trim landscapes, devour weeds and, um, fertilize the soil.  MNN relayed that Google is the latest to jump on the goat bandwagon.  It already happened here in California, when goats were hired to clear Bunker Hill in Downtown Los Angeles.  I blogged about it, I thought it was so cute!

With such adorable options, who wouldn't want to try going green with their lawn care?

Pro-Market Economy

May is here!  Hard to believe we're in the 5th month of 2009 already, but it's arrived ... 

About a month ago, in an effort to save money, we decided to re-institute the routine of going to our local farmers' market for produce.  We had been 'regulars' at the Sunday setup in Hollywood, but somehow in the hectic activity of everyday life we just kind of shifted to the supermarket ... We are so happy we've come back!

Last week, MNN's newsletter listed the top ten farmers' markets that they described as "a new generation of paradigm-shifters" - and our Hollywood haunt was number one on the list!  They also featured an article about how best to shop the stands ... It's been really wonderful to get our fresh fruits and vegetables straight from the source, and the quality (and flavor!) is leaps and bounds better than at the grocery store ... Highly recommended!

Also, some news to share:  LIL PRODUCT is now available at our very chic and cozy West Hollywood salon retailer, Indo Studio.  Indo's owner and hairstylist, Janet, said clients were enthusiastic about the idea of a healthy, organic hair styling option for their young ones ... We hope it's as much of a hit with them as original PRODUCT!

Global Gratitude

 

It's time, again, to celebrate this amazing planet we call home - Earth Day is next week!

PRODUCT has a special place in its heart for the Earth, since every one of the five ingredients in our pomade is plant-derived ... We bring the Earth's bounty to your hair, and the results are gorgeous!

PRODUCT's main component is Certified Organic Shea Butter, derived from the nuts of the Karite tree, which grows in Africa.  Shea butter is a super-rich natural fat with excellent emollient properties that also offers protection from damaging UV rays.

We combined the conditioning power of Organic Shea Butter with soothing Aloe Vera, antioxidant natural source Vitamin E and White Beeswax collected from bees that pollinate in fields of wildflowers (not a pesticide in sight!) - then added a touch of Tangerine Essential Oil for an uplifting citrus scent.

And now the next generation can enjoy the benefits and safety of organic grooming and styling as well, with LIL PRODUCT pomade for young people.  Made with the same careful attention to quality and purity we adhered to when creating PRODUCT, LIL PRODUCT combines Organic Shea Butter, Organic Aloe Vera, natural source Vitamin E and pure White Beeswax, as well as Organic Chamomile to bring out beautiful natural highlights and a few drops of Organic Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil for a deliciously spicy natural fragrance.

Free of synthetics, parabens, and other harsh or harmful ingredients, LIL PRODUCT is a healthy way for kids & teens to develop their personal style!

Our connection to the Earth is in every jar of PRODUCT and LIL PRODUCT, and we look forward to next Wednesday's celebration of our incredible planet!