When Should I Use An Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse?

Hair can become limp, dull, and heavy due to buildup of residues from shampoos, conditioners, and hair styling products. An Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) Hair Rinse can help remove some of the buildup when used after shampooing. An apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse can also help detangle hair, reduce frizz, restore body and shine, stimulate and sooth the scalp, reduce hair and scalp buildup, unclog hair follicles, decrease dandruff, and reduce excess shedding. An ACV rinse is especially helpful for people who are new to using shampoo bars.

How do I know if I need to use an apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse?

Whether or not you need to use an apple cider vinegar (ACV) rinse depends on many factors.

• Your water: If your hair does not seem to be adjusting to the shampoo bars, it may be due to your water. Hard water makes it more difficult to rinse natural shampoo from your hair, and San Francisco has hard water. An ACV rinse will help to balance out hard water and provide slip to the hair to make your final rinse more effective.

• Hair length: Some men and women with short hair have found that they do not need to rinse with vinegar, simply because their hair is short and easier to rinse.

• Tangles: ACV rinses help to close down the hair cuticle and therefore help reduce hair tangles.

• Residue & Buildup: If your hair has residue buildup from products, shampoo, or conditioner, spot cleaning your hair with a small amount of baking soda mixed into your shampoo will remove unwanted buildup. It’s important to follow this clarifying treatment with an ACV rinse to restore a slightly acidic pH to hair and scalp.

Below you will find a simple ACV recipe and Instructions for getting started with this at home. If you are reluctant to try this at home, just ask me for a demo at your next appointment and I’ll be happy to walk you through all the steps. I also have an ACV concentrates for sale in the salon or can create a custom blend just for you with pure, medicinal grade essential oils. Click here if you would like to order from me instead of making your own.

ACV & Essential Oil Concentrate Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar

• 1 glass bottle

• 5 to 10 drops of skin safe essential oils of your choice.

Directions

1. Add essential oils of your choice to vinegar. Store mixture in a glass bottle.

2. The mixture can be used right away or allowed to sit for a couple of days to steep.

3. When ready to make your hair rinse, shake the Essential Oil & ACV Concentrate and then dilute 1 to 2 tablespoon of your concentrate with 1 cup of water in a plastic squeeze bottle.

4. Apply dilution to wet hair after rinsing out your shampoo. Manipulate hair for 1-2 minutes with ACV rinse.

5. Rinse hair with fresh, cool water.

6. At this point, you may choose whether or not to use a conditioner based on how your hair feels.

What is the best way to apply my ACV rinse?

While you can use any container to mix up your ACV Dilution, I prefer to use a plastic squirt top bottle. Pouring a cold rinse on your hair is invigorating, but if you prefer a warmer rinse, make it right before you step in the shower using warm tap water.

How Often Can I Use The Vinegar Hair Rinse?

Since everyone's hair is unique you should use your own judgment as you experiment with ACV rinses. You will need to find a dilution and a frequency that works best for your hair type. Remember: dry hair likes less vinegar and oily hair likes more. Start with 1 or 2 rinses per week and adjust from there.

Do I need to refrigerate my ACV concentrate?

No, you do not need to refrigerate an ACV concentrate.

*A Note About Essential Oils

There are many wonderful essential oils for hair, but please proceed with caution when using them. Essential oils are strong concentrates and may cause skin irritation if not used correctly. Lavender is one of the few essential oils that can be used directly on the skin. Since some essential oils are stronger than others, it’s important to be be knowledgeable about the amount of essential oils that you add to your ACV concentrate. High quality essential oils are expensive, so start with a few that feel right for you.

Shampoo Bars Are Here!

Every person has unique skin and hair, so finding an organic shampoo that works for your specific hair and scalp can be difficult. When looking for an organic shampoo, many things come into play: How does it feel? How does it smell? What are the ingredients? Where’s it made? Do you trust the manufacturer? What’s the environmental impact? Etc, etc.

As your go-to organic hair care expert, I am proud to provide you with gentle and organic hair care options. I’m excited to share my signature Organic Hair Detox & Treatment with you this month. It includes a hair and scalp detox, followed by a nourishing organic hair treatment and blowdry or natural style.

Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve Co. has a variety of nourishing organic shampoo bars for all hair types. These bars feel and smell amazing. They are 100% organic without emulsifiers, synthetics, or plastic packaging; so they are healthy for the whole family while remaining gentle on your hair and the environment (all their soaps and shampoos are biodegradable). What makes Chagrin Valley’s Shampoo Bars even more amazing is how great they are at removing buildup from the hair while simultaneously nourishing the scalp and stimulating hair growth. To learn more about why you should consider switching to a shampoo bar, check out Chagrin Valley’s blog here.

Book your Organic Hair Detox & Treatment today and learn first hand how to take care of your hair in an economical way at home.

Want to learn more? Let’s chat about the chemistry of hair care at your next appointment.

Going Natural With A Big Chop Haircut

“Short natural hair styles” is one of the most common google searches for women who are ready to embrace their natural hair texture. 

A natural hair journey often begins with a big chop followed by a series of short hair styles. This can be a fun and playful time for women who are embracing their natural hair texture. Short hairstyles are beautiful, flattering and sexy. They are easy to maintain, fun to wear, versatile and professional. Schedule a complementary consultation to discuss what short hair style is right for you.

One of many short hair options is the beloved TWA (Teeny Weeny Afro), this style is a staple for women wearing their hair natural. The TWA is a short hairstyle that it fun and versatile. Check out the video to see some fun TWA styling options.

DIY Salt Spay Recipe For Beachy Waves & Texture

As a professional hair stylist, I’m often one of the first to learn about a new beauty product launch. Today I received an announcement about the launch of an organic salt spray - wait, haven’t we seen this before? Salt spray is one hair product that I’ve been loathe to buy or stock because it’s basically salt water in a bottle with a little moisture and perfume. Now when a company that I love and trust tells me they are launching a salt spray for $26 a bottle I have to wonder to myself “what am I missing?”

After reviewing this new product, I thought “how hard could it possibly be to make my own salt spray?” I compared a few DIY recipes with my favorite organic salt sprays and realized very quickly that there isn’t much to it. So, using my professional knowledge and common sense, I came up with a perfectly serviceable DIY Salt Spray.

Step 1: Find yourself an 8oz spray bottle. You may reuse a bottle you already have or buy a reusable plastic or glass bottle. I recommend this 4oz two pack (affiliate link) on Amazon so you can have one salt spray at home and one on the go.

Step 2: Make your salt spray

1. Warm 1 cup of distilled water in glass measuring cup

2. Dissolve 2 tablespoons of Epsom Salt and 1 teaspoon Pink Himalayan Sea Salt into warm water

3. Optional additional ingredients:

   • Add 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite leave-in conditioner for extra moisture

   • Add 1/2 teaspoon of witch hazel for scalp and hair health

   • Add 1/2 teaspoon of honey or gel (dissolved in water) for a stickier tousled look

   • Add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil(s) for a signature scent.

4. Add solution to one 8oz spray bottle (affiliate link) or split into two 4oz bottles (affiliate link)

Step 3: If using optional ingredients, shake well before each use. Spray on damp or dry hair at crown and on ends and then scrunch to encourage waves and texture to form. This simple DIY Salt Spray is great for fine-medium hair that needs extra volume and texture.

Note: Since everyone’s hair and scalp is unique, feel free to play with and customize this basic recipe to meet your personal needs. If you want a little more texture, increase the salt content 1/2 tsp at a time. When making your own salt spray, start with a simple recipe, figure out what you want more of and then adjust. My basic recipe is clean, not too sticky, and enhances natural waves in fine to medium weight hair.

Not into making your own hair products? Book a haircut or treatment and let me introduce your hair to some of the cleanest beauty products available.

Words Of Wisdom From Stasia Savasuk

A must-watch Ted Talk for anyone who feels insecure, invisible or awkward about how they show up in the world.

Are You Thinking About Straightening Your Hair?

Please Read This… Then Learn To Love Your Curls

In a world driven by media, advertising, and sales, women are often lead to believe that we are not beautiful enough as we are. So we do many things to make ourselves look and feel more beautiful every day - from wearing makeup to changing the color and texture of our hair. 

Many women with curly, wavy, and frizzy hair have been straightening their hair for years with various types of chemical straighteners including “keratin straighteners,” without knowing that these products contain formaldehyde releasing ingredients such as: aldehyde, bonded aldehyde, formalin, formic aldehyde, methanediol, methanal, methyl aldehyde, methylene glycol, methylene oxide, morbicid acid, or preservatives that release formaldehyde, like: benzylhemiformal, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, quaternium-15. These substances release airborne formaldehyde when heated with a blowdryer or flat iron during the chemical straightening process and thereafter. In 2010 OSHA became aware of the issue and both Federal and State OSHA departments found that most manufacturers, importers, and distributors of straightening treatments are in violation of labeling and consumer warning laws. To see a side-by-side list of hair straighteners with formaldehyde in their products click here, and then scroll down.

When I’m asked about keratin straighteners I tell my guests that I don’t offer these services because even the “organic straighteners” contain formaldehyde releasing ingredients which put my health at risk. (formaldehyde is known to cause cancer). Instead, I encourage my guests to embrace their curls with a Curly Haircut that works with their natural hair texture and lifestyle.

If this information is new to you, I encourage you to read the Environmental Working Group (EWG) blog, learn more about smoothing treatments, and download EWG’s SkinDeep app – to learn more about other beauty products that you are using. EWG has created an extensive data base of products and ingredients to help us understand the potential health concerns associated with commonly used products.

The Origin of An Authentic Beauty Experience

The Organic Stylist (aka Jaiya)

The Organic Stylist was born out of my deep love for people and the planet and my fascination with the art and science of natural hair care. I created the Organic Stylist to provide an authentic beauty and hair care experience in harmony with nature. I draw inspiration from the beauty and efficiency of nature, the fluidity and grace of dance, and a wabi-wabi philosophy of celebrating the beauty of imperfections and impermanence. I pride myself on providing well-crafted and technically superior haircuts, and artisanal herbal hair color.

With a background in architecture, art, design, and sustainability, I take a holistic approach with my clients’ hair, health, and personal style. My services draw upon my artistic talents, my passion for science, and my dedication to improving my craft. My ability to envision a finished look while working on the finer details of a haircut allows me to create a hair style for you that is customized to your hair texture and density - and suits your lifestyle, personality, face shape and body type - so that you may present your best self to the world. I love learning and sharing my knowledge with my clients. My sense of justice, honesty, integrity, and transparency guide me in my daily work and business development. When you become my client, it is my intention to help you feel safe and at ease; to listen to you with compassion, to meet you where you are, to provide you with honest answers, and to help you feel seen and understood. I want you to leave my salon with a better understanding of how to take care of your hair and a little lighter than when you arrived.