Why I don't do razor cuts

Good quality tools are important, but a tool doesn’t a master make. A master of her craft employs the most appropriate tools to achieve her masterpiece.

I’ve taken razor cutting classes from the best of the best, and I’ve learned that razor cutting is fun to watch, style, and photograph, but has its limitations and often looks flat when clients try to style their hair at home.

The one haircut that is best done with a razor is a highly texturized shag with long wispy edges (think 1970s). These haircuts photograph well because they are very textured and can withstand lots of plumping product, which looks great on camera. But these styles fall flat without styling products, and wear out quickly because they lack supportive foundations and often suffer from over texturizing.

The precision haircuts and curly haircuts that I do are never done with razors, because the sawing motion of a razor weakens the shape, and results in broken and distressed curls. My haircuts are responsive to the natural texture of the hair I am working with, the hair density, and the unique growth patterns, so that the final style is versatile and flattering, with minimal styling effort.

Henna Used By Ancient Civilizations For Health & Beauty

The use of henna, as documented in the Ebers Papyrus (one of the oldest know medical records dating to c. 1550 BCE) is consistent with what we know about henna today.

Henna plants produce the highest levels of lawsone (dye content) in hot climates with iron-bearing soils. Henna plants have differing levels of lawsone in different climates and with different soil conditions. This means that even in optimal growing climates, the henna leaf harvests will be affected by climatic changes as well as changes in soil composition.

Henna has been used for its health benefits, beautification, and to track women’s fertility over millennia. With regular use, henna hair coloring can improve scalp and hair health. With anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal properties, henna is effective against ringworm and other fungal scalp issues.

“Since artisanal herbal hair color is made from pure plant pigments. From season to season, these plants are affected by climate change and soil conditions. My hair color formulations are regularly reviewed and adjusted to produce more consistent color results year over year.” - Jaiya

Going Grey After The Pandemic

The pandemic has given me time to truly see myself - without makeup, artificial hair color, or pretense. It has inspired me to embrace my natural grey hair in the winter and play with herbal dyes in the summer. Wearing my hair short allows for an easy grow out of natural plant dyes and frequent changing up of my hair style.

I believe that a great haircut will always out-perform artificial hair color when it comes to style. To me grey hair is just as beautiful as any other color of hair when it is sculpted into a beautiful style that embraces it’s texture and enhances facial features and bone structure. Salt and pepper hair gives natural dimension to hair, making it appear fuller, while patchy grey and white streaks may provide areas of intrigue and versatility in a hairstyle, in very similar ways to artificial highlights. Shorter hair styles show off natural color variations in greying hair. People who embrace their natural hair color with a shorter hair styles enjoy a lower maintenance lifestyle while looking more put together on a regular basis.

When you decide to embrace your grey hair, you may be surprised to discover that it works better with your skin tone than artificial color. Transitioning to your natural color can be a bit scary at first, but I am her to accompany you on the journey, and promise to help you feel beautiful all along the way. Remember your hair doesn’t define you, it is only the frame that surrounds your beautiful face. While your hair may change over time, it’s important to remember that your haircut can either enhance or distract from your natural beauty, it doesn’t define it.

Grey hair often grows in with a slightly different texture than pigmented hair. The change of texture may be a result of shrinkage, loss of elasticity, and dryness that may benefit from treatments, different styling products or a new hair style. Please ask me about ways to support your changing hair texture and what products are best for your specific hair type during your next appointment, or visit my affiliate partners to learn more about healthy and organic products that I have personally researched and tested.

How To Cover Gray and Eliminate brassy hair

Most hair is prone to becoming “brassy” or orange/copper when artificial hair colors fade. This is because all oxidative dyes (both permanent, and demi-permanent colors alike) remove or “lift out” some of the natural pigments from the cortex of the hair in the process of depositing artificial color there. This is especially problematic for folks who are trying to blend or cover grey hair to match a natural color.

The root cause of excessive warmth in artificially dyed hair comes from the hair’s underlying pigment or undertone (see illustration). All permanent and demi-permanent hair coloring products on the market that combine an artificial dye with a developer (hydrogen preoxide) utilize a chemical reaction to drive small color molecules under the cuticle of the hair and deep into the cortex (center shaft) of the hair where the dyes swell and “stick” during the “processing” time. The faster the coloring process, the more unstable the dye color results and the more likely the color will change and fade over time. During the oxidative dying process, natural melanin pigments are removed from the hair and replaced with artificial pigments. This increases the hair’s porosity and makes the hair prone to color fading over time - revealing the hair’s warm or “brassy” undertone. The darker the hair the more orange/red the undertone. Fine hair is especially prone to becoming brassy after artificial hair coloring.

For folks who experience a lot of undesirable warmth or “brassiness” from artificial color (but don’t have a lot of white/grey hair), I recommend trying my Artisanal Herbal Hair Color: a natural plant dye that preserves all the natural pigments in your hair, effectively blends grey hair with natural hair colors, strengthens and seals the hair’s cuticle, and preserves the hair’s natural dimension, color variation and reflection. I have created a bespoke range of non-oxidative, herbal hair colors that are designed to stain and seal the cuticle of the hair, providing natural color protection and a permanent color change to silver and white hair.

Herbal hair color is the ultimate way to take care of hair naturally, using the healing and protective properties of nature. The more often it is applied, the healthier the hair becomes. It doesn’t go “brassy” and provides optimum grey blending and conditioning benefits to hair.

Are Parabens Hiding In your Beauty Products?

Paraben preservatives have long history of use in personal care products because they prevent the build-up of mold, fungus and bacteria in leave-in and rinse off products, effectively extending the shelf life of these products beyond 6+ months. To avoid parabens, it’s important to read labels and avoid ingredients ending in the word “paraben” including: methylparaben, ethylparaben, butylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben and propylparaben. Parabens are easily absorbed through the skin, can affect reproductive function, and increase the risk of cancer in both men and women. Please see https://www.ewg.org/what-are-parabens for more detailed information.

As consumers have become more aware of the risks associated with paraben exposure, manufacturers have started to replace paraben preservatives with other chemical preservatives like the following:

Today, most of the hair care products used in hair salons, schools, gyms, and homes are owned by global beauty conglomerates - such as L’Oreal (Garnier, Fructis, Kérastase, Redken, Matrix, Pureology), Unilever (TRESemmé, Dove), Estée Lauder (Aveda, Bumble & Bumble), Procter & Gamble (Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essenses), Johnson & Johnson (Neutrogena, Aveeno, Rogaine), Hankel (Deva Curl, Schwarzkopf), Coty (Wella, Nioxin, Sassoon, Clairol), Avon, Colgate-Palmolive, & Revlon. Each time a beauty brand is acquired or relabeled, it goes through a value engineering process to make it is less expensive to produce. Each new formulation is designed to increase the profit margin and extend the products’ shelf life. The net result is to reduce the quality of ingredients by replacing natural (and more expensive ingredients) with cheaper synthetic and chemical ingredients.

When you visit The Organic Stylist, you to can relax knowing that I only use 100% clean, organic, and natural products, to give you healthy, eco-friendly hair care solutions, free of harsh chemicals and toxic ingredients. Schedule a consultation to learn more and get all your questions answered before your service.

What Is Better Than A Co-wash?

If you answer yes to any of the following questions, Innersense Hydrating Cream Hair Bath and Conditioner may be a better choice for you than a co-wash or a 2-in-1 like Hairstory.

  1. Do you use a 2-in-1 shampoo?

  2. Are your curls dry or coarse?

  3. Do you struggle with curl separation and frizz?

  4. Do you prefer to co-wash between shampoos?

  5. Is your hair dry or damaged from chemical or color treatments?

  6. Do you like products with heavy butters, oils or silicones?

  7. Are you looking for a gentle cleansing shampoo that doesn’t leave your hair feeling dry?

Still not sure? Book a Curly Haircut and request Innersense Hydrating Cream Hairbath & Conditioner to try it for yourself.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

It’s February 1st, and I’m excited to finally be able to say “Happy New Year, And Welcome Back!”

These last 2-months have been the hardest yet, but I’m happy to still be here, and as always, eager to provide you with a safe, calm and caring environment to receive excellent hair care services.

As you make preparations to visit the salon, please keep in mind that we must both continue to exercise extreme caution when working together. As part of my social circle, you are one of many clients that I will be seeing in the coming weeks. My risk of exposure increases with each client visit and the amount of time we spend together, so please do your part to protect me, as I do my part to protect you.

Please carefully review the New Covid-19 Salon Protocols:

  1. Before your appointment, please self-assess for any Covid19 symptoms.
    If you don’t feel well, text me to get rescheduled.

  2. Please arrive on time to your appointment. If the door is locked, text me to be let inside.

  3. Only customers receiving services will be allowed inside the salon.

  4. You will be required to wear an ear-loop style face covering the entire time you are in the salon.

  5. Upon arrival, you will be asked to wash your hands.

  6. You must follow all written and verbal instructions while in the salon.

What I will be doing to protect you during your service:

  1. I will be wearing a fitted face covering during your entire service.

  2. Immediately before touching you, I will wash my hands.

  3. The service area and tools I use are disinfected between clients.

  4. Contactless checkout and online booking are available.

Thank you in advance for coming to the salon prepared, heathy, and aware of the CDC Covid-19 Prevention Protocols.
Together, let’s continue to do our very best to stop the spread of Covid-19 and keep our community safe and healthy. 

Covid-19 UPDATE: San Francisco Closes Hair Salons & Barbershops

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On December 4th, San Francisco Mayor Breed announced that San Francisco would voluntarily and preemptively shut down all non-essential businesses in San Francisco including hair salons and barber shops on December 6th at 10pm. The announcement came one day after Governor Gavin Newsom issued New Covid-19 Regional Guidance to close all non-essential indoor businesses for 3-weeks, including hair salons and barber shops, when the region’s remaining ICU capacity falls below 15%.

During the first 6-months that my business was shut down by local order, between mid-March and mid-September, I carefully analyzed my business and made safety modifications to my services and cleaning and disinfection protocols to protect myself and my guests from possible Covid-19 viral transmission. The sanitization and safety protocols I implemented, in combination with the natural cross ventilation of my space, makes my salon one of the safest salons in San Francisco to receive a haircut or color.

I’m very sad to I have to close my doors once again on December 6th. I anticipate reopening soon, and I look forward to sharing my space with you when the time is right.

Jan. 4, 2021 Update: Mayor London Breed has extended the San Francisco “Stay Home” order indefinitely. Please call or email me to discuss how I may support you and your hair care during these challenging times.

Artisanal Herbal Hair Color: A 100% Natural Alternative to Chemical Salon Color

I am thrilled to announce the launch of Artisanal Herbal Hair Color - a 100% organic and natural alternative to chemical color. Artisanal herbal color enhances natural highlights, restores a youthful glow, and protects the hair and scalp from environmental irritants and degradation. Learn More.

Welcome Back To The Salon

Wecome Back To The Salon!

I’m excited to welcome you back to the salon with renewed energy and a loving heart. As always, I’m here to provide you with great hair, technical excellence, and caring services. 

In order for me to feel safe while seeing you, please fill out this health questionnaire before your scheduled service. As you make preparations to visit the salon, please keep in mind that we must both exercise extreme caution when working together. As part of my social circle, you are one of many clients that I will be seeing in the coming months. My risk of exposure increases with each client visit and the amount of time we spend together. Please do your part to protect me, as I do my part to protect you.

Please carefully review the New Covid19 Salon Protocols:

  1. Before your appointment, please self-assess for any Covid19 symptoms.
    If you don’t feel well, text me to get rescheduled.

  2. Please arrive on time to your appointment, and text me to be let inside.

  3. Only customers receiving services will be allowed in the salon.

  4. You will be required to WEAR A FACE MASK with ear loops the entire time you are in the salon.

  5. Upon arrival, WASH YOUR HANDS and then come into my private room.

  6. You must follow all written and verbal instructions while in the salon.

What I will be doing to protect you during your service:

  1. I will be wearing a face mask during your entire service.

  2. Immediately before touching you, I will wash my hands.

  3. The service area and tools are always disinfected between clients.

  4. Contactless checkout and online booking are always available.

  5. To help keep you safe, I will provide verbal instructions and limit our time together.

Thank you in advance for coming to the salon prepared, heathy, and aware of the CDC Covid19 Prevention Protocols. Together, let’s continue to do our very best to stop the spread of COVID-19 and keep our community safe and healthy.