jujuorganics

What We Love Right Now

Summer's Here. These are Must Haves from juju!

1.    Naturally Bug-Free Patios

and roof decks and city yards and decks...

The Garden Candle by Amazon Lights rocks 100% renewable Palm Wax with amazonian andiroba oil with rosemary and thyme...check out these numbers: a steal at $13 and burns for 28 hours...that's at least 4 deck parties!

2. Bronze Goddesses

be one now: safely and organically

Lavera's Glow & Go at juju spa & organics.  Vegan, organic and guaranteed lovely.

3. Beach Hair

what's sexier that Bardot-ish tousled beach hair?

Get it at juju salon & organics.  Hurry, it get's bought up in bunches.

 

4. Smooth, Supply Tanned Limbs...

...seal your tanned limbs with 100% organic oils from Skin & Bones

Drink (up the sun) Responsibly!

Love, juju

 

 

7 Reasons Why Double-Duty Organic Products Rule!

Ok. So I'm not talking about the cheap shampoo and conditioner product that men think they need.  I won't even go into what the ingredients may be in such a product.....

Here's a helpful list of tips and suggested uses for double duty products.  The list that can help you simplify your organic product retinue and keep your whole body healthy and fabulous! Beauty Product Streamlining ("BPS") is fun and easy.  And here's why:

1. An all-in-one BPS is great for travel, choose a smaller container and receive a bonus: TSA approved;

2. Look to an oil.  An oil that combines a hardy carrier oil with beneficial essential oils can triple duty for hair, body and face; My newest favorite, hands down is Skin and Bones Hair, Face and Body Oil.

3. Don't think "Shampoo and Conditioner."  Try thinking only Conditioner.  Back burner your shampoo for a few days and rely only on your conditioner.  Many good quality organic conditioners actually contain ingredients that will remove excess oils, build-up and dirt.  Your shiny new hair will thank you;

4. Soap bars that cleanse and exfoliate.  Genius!  Great for cleansing, cellular turnover, ingrowns and tired sallow skin.  Try John Master's Ginseng and Citrus exfoliating and cleansing bar. 

5. Sometimes, a fabulous pomade can double as an even better dry elbow or rough heel salve.  I swear that I always rub the leftover pomade from styling my hair onto my upper arms and elbows.  Try Sevi's Blue Yarrow Hair Pomade made with pure organic castor oil and comfrey.

6. And the opposite is true.  Try a emollient body butter on your fly-aways or to provide lift and texture to your 'do.  Woodsprite's Get Whipped Shea Butter in Grapefruit Mint does the trick!

7. Back to oils, my favorite.  Ditch the Pthalate laced, allergy inducing, eye-watering department store perfumes.  Instead, slather on a rich, healing and aromatic oil.  Dr. Alkaitis's Organic Nourishing Oil leaves your skin glowing and deliciously scented.  A great unisex "parfum" that is green and totally modern!

Fabricated!

Recently, a friend shared quite a story.  Beth, a mom, a friend, a beauty and an inventor with safety on her mind, developed "Noblo."  Noblo is a simple tethering device that keeps beach umbrellas "put." No more impaling umbrellas sailing through the air on an otherwise peaceful, yet windy, day at the beach.  

In her quest to seek a manufacturer who could make her Noblo with sustainable fabric, she discovered an ugly truth.  A contact at a manufacturing plant informed her that some supposedly eco-fabrics made out of recycled plastic bottles, were in fact, made from unused plastic bottles - fresh from the bottle-making plant.  What?!  Was this an ugly truth, an ugly un-truth or just downright fabricated?

Ok, I thought, why haven't we heard of this before?  This is the ultimate in green washing.  Is this a sickening hoax?  Surely some simple google-sleuthing would shed some light...nothing yet.  I'll keep looking. 

In the meantime, google-sleuthing did give me some invaluable insight into innovative recycled-product fabrics.  Coffee grinds, marble, corn - you name it...textile companies around the globe are combining used or grown goods for fabrics. 

Super Textile, a Taiwan fabric developer and manufacturer, believes "garments made from recycled materials will eventually gain popularity as petroleum resources become scarcer and the cost of production comes down."  This statement alone, relieves my stress of knowing that creating fabric from unused plastic bottles is possible or even happening.  If it is, it can't last forever, such is the fate of something made from a non-renewable resource. 

Interesting.

Natural Beauty 101

Missed our latest workshop? What a shame!  On October 4th, national health and beauty expert Jolene Hart, graced juju organics with a bounty of natural beauty tips.  Of course we all know to avoid SLSs and parabens, but Ms. Hart drew deeper and provided us with the why's what's and how's of combining good diet and de-stressors to really bring out the best in our own Natural Beauty! 

Check out her beauty blog, Beauty is Wellness, and see for yourself what a difference a natural approach to beauty makes!  Here's an easy recipe from Jolene for at home beauty...great for facial re-hydration and a luminescent glow!

Oatmeal & Raw Honey Mask

1 cup organic oatmeal

1 cup filtered warm water

1/2 cup raw honey (go raw or miss out on natural enzymes that hydrate and gently exfoliate)

Combine the oatmeal and warm water in a small bowl and allow the oatmeal to absorb the water. Add the honey and mix well. Apply the mask to a clean face, leave on for 30 minutes and rinse with warm water. This mask is moisturizing, soothing and exfoliating-and great for dry skin!

Enjoy.

juju

When An Oil Spill Is Good For The Environment And Your Skin!

No, you don't have to worry about the long-term environmental effects of 100% organic oils on your hair, face or body.  I know it's trite word-play on a not so trite current event, but this year's headlines provide me the perfect platform to herald the virtues of incorporating organic oils into your daily beauty regime. 

For Hair:  Look to Ayurvedic oils and herbs like Sesame, Neem, Sunflower, Coconut, and Meadowfoam for lustre, shine, and a good slip for the all important scalp massage. Brahmi, Bringraj, Jatamansi are therapeutic herbs, long-revered for their ability to fortify the nervous system and thus, the entire follicle and scalp environment.  Organic scalp and hair oils smell terrific too, as they are usually scented with pure steam distilled essential oils of Hibiscus, Rose, Rosemary, Ylang-Ylang, Peppermint and Basil.

Hair oils are renowned for their ability to deter thinning hair and hair loss, defend against premature graying, strengthen and nourish the hair shaft, and provide an immediate improvement to hair's texture.

For Face and Body: Many people are scared of putting oils on their face.  They falsely believe it will lead to break-outs, or it will be too heavy and greasy.  Not true. In fact, many oils including aloe, erand, neem, sariva, and sandalwood actually help clear up congestion because they contain natural anti-bacterial qualities that sooth, heal and calm the skin.

Face and body oils stimulate skin functions, necessary for its elastic retention. Quality oils will moisturize and quickly absorb into the skin.

I love using oils like virgin cold pressed organic Jojoba, St. John's Wort and Andean Mountain Rose Hip seed.  Other oils of good merit include apricot, almond, borage, black currant seed, evening primrose, rose hip seed, sea buckthorn, comfrey, and carrot seed.

Oils go a long long way.  Use them sparingly for beautiful results.  Bonus? Find a product that is a multi-tasker - one that you can use on both your face and body.

Summer Focus, "Happier"

 

Recently, after my client Joan had her hair done at juju, I invited her to join me for a trip to nearby Garland of Letters.  Garland of Letters, you ask? Well, THE place for Inspirational literature: New Thought, Spirituality, Self-Help- generally for seekers of self knowledge of any and all disposition.  Garland of Letters has been offering Philadelphians everything from yoga to incense for the last 30 years. In a word, "bliss."  Joan, a fellow soul-mate/soul-seeker needed no convincing - we were off!

Happier, by Tal Ben-Shahar, Ph.D., fell from the shelf as I wished for guidance. "Oh! I gave this book to a few friends for Christmas last year." My friend assured me this was more than just happenstance. 'Learn the Secrets to Daily Joy and Lasting Fulfillment...' it promises.  Sold.

Once again, I am reminded, as I chapter through Ben-Shahar's pages, that "Happiness depends upon ourselves" (Aristotle).  As suggested, I've committed to a gratitude journal, my meditation practice and exercises to simplify and de-stress my life.

Grey Gardens to Graceful Gardens

                                                                                   

OK, so maybe not Grey Gardens. But if any passers-by had stumbled upon our small, city garden, surely "over-grown garden" would more than likely come to mind; overgrown with weeds and last fall's foliage, that is. One of the best decisions of 2010 was to enlist the help of Philadelphia's green guru, Grace Wicks, of Graceful Gardens . Grace, with the aid of her experienced assistant Bernie, skillfully tamed our ornery weed population while bending the out-of-control shrubs and vines to her whimsical way. Make no mistake, Grace is very serious about what she does, and she does it all with a smile on her face that reveals a true passion for what she does best. A snip here, a cut here, some more color over there, and four hours later the garden was brimming with delightful beds of flowers and grasses that rejuvenated our once grey block of land into a green sanctuary. The addition of edible flowers and vegetables was just what we needed and our little Japanese maple has never seemed so happy being the center of attention amidst a charming, little rock garden. If only "Big Edie" & "Little Edie" Beale had known someone like Grace Wicks in 1975, history would have been rewritten; instead, these eccentric socialites would have squandered their fortune surrounded by beautiful landscapes and greenery...hehe.

Alas, my very own Graceful Gardens is where I want to be. I reach for my cup of coffee, step through the french doors, and I'm there...once again.

juju's Natural Tips For Thinnning Hair

   This eco-diva would be a millionaire if I had a nickel for every time I'm asked if it's normal to have thinning hair?  "Does it look thin?" "What do you think?" "Is this normal?" "Have you seen this before?" "Does it look thinner than last time you cut my hair?" 

The questions are all the same, asked by women, usually over the age of 30 or 35, who are all wondering, what happened to their once-thick mane?  Often, hair loss can be hormonally related, i.e. women who underwent childbirth (20-45%), or by underlying health problems like diabetes, lupus or hyper-thyroidism.  Sometimes a stressful period in one's life can affect hair growth and loss. As can prescription drugs, nutritional deficiencies and plain old genetics. Female patterned balding goes around the whole top of the head -- it's diffuse -- and it's not flattering!

Here's what I advise: 

1. Get to the root of the problem.  Go see a reputable dermatologist. Go see your doctor. Get blood tests done.  Have a pull test done!  You need to rule out any serious underlying medical condition.  At this point, weigh all of the information you're receiving from your doctor before committing to any kind of prescription hair-growth regime.

2. Incorporate Scalp Manipulation daily.  Your scalp and hair follicles need good blood circulation for optimal hair growth.  Learn to gently massage your entire scalp, with a good organic scalp and hair oil - try Morocco Method's Euro Oil or Aromabliss's Vamakesi Oil.

3. Rid your bath of any shampoo or conditioner that contains sodium lauryl sulfates.  Research has proven a link between SLS's and hair loss. We all know that SLSs cause the suds in soaps.  SLSs are caustic cleaners - excellent for degreasing a car engine but capable of corroding our hair follicles! SLSs also can impair the ability to grow hair. Word to the wise: Never buy or use a shampoo or conditioner that contains SLSs.

4. Take a good quality Omega-3 supplement daily.  Omega-3's are known to play a vital role in hair health. As are iron and B-12.  Try Nordic Natural's Omega Radiance for Optimum Skin and Hair Health.

5. Consider taking the Demodex Folliculorum information out there seriously.  What? Never heard of these microscopic mites?  Chances are, you may have them.  As our age and sebum levels increase, the mite infestation increases.  The folks at Nioxin have taken the relationship between Demodex infestation and hair loss very seriously. But I'm not a fan of Nioxin or any other products of that ilk.  Sea Buckthorn Oil, however, is known to wipe out this mite. My advice:  How about an organic shampoo filled with Sea Buckthorn Oil from Sevi! The best and a top seller at our salon!

Tell me what works for you!  Give these hints a try and enjoy the scalp massage!

Take it Easy....even if it's Organic!

I mean, take it easy when it comes to shampooing your hair.  Real life snippet:  I noticed how silky, soft and strong my client's hair had become.  We had been working together for over a year.  What was once bleached out, dry and weak had transformed into beautiful tresses. Of course we new the non-ammonia, organic color we'd been using on her hair had helped in this amazing transformation.  But it was the client who credited her only shampooing once a week to the change.  I knew it worked!  She had taken my advice, early on, and nixed the daily shampooing routine.

Most shampoos, hand soaps, dish washing liquids, toothpastes, etc. contain a soluble detergent and surfactant known as Sodium Lauryl(laureth) Sulfate, or sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), It is an
inexpensive, synthetic ingredient and a known irritant.  This synthetic detergent can also be found in floor cleaners and other household cleaning products - it is very strong and effective in cleaning and de-greasing.

Our hair, especially colored hair, cannot withstand the effects of such a "tough" cleansing agent. This chemical literally strips hair of its color.  Conventional shampoos mask the harsh effects of this ingredient by putting additional (synthetic) chemicals in the products to act as conditioners and fragrances.

Remember this: Hair, in general, and our scalps, need only small amounts of shampoos and detergents.  It is well known in the industry that hair can actually be cleansed by only using a conditioner (creme rinse) and forgoing the shampoo altogether.  I advise all of my clients to cut back on shampooing and/or water down their shampoos, to lessen the harsh effects of these cleansing agents.

See what changes you can make with this simple omission!

Why I do what I do...Some thoughts...

You know
I love what I do, creatively and professionally and I wanted to work in an environment that reflected how I lived my life: healthy, concern for the environment, sustainability, education, learning, cruetly-free, and responsibility.  When it comes to hair and body care, I wanted products that are pure and organic, products that me and my clients demanded. Organic hydrating conditioners, sulfate-free shampoos, paraben-free cleansers, non-toxic soy candles, pomades and texturizers made from pure plants and essential oils and vegan lip balms. My businesses are dedicated to procuring products from companies who utilize,  respect and promote organic harvesting and growing. And, of course, all of our products are cruelty-free.