Yarok Haircare

"Yarok" means "green" in Hebrew. It is by far the healthiest hair care I have ever had the pleasure of using. Founded by Mordechai Alvow, a full range of hair care makes a "positive impact on hair and scalp health with the least negative impact on the natural environment."

Each YAROK formula is a powerful blend of organic and all-natural botanicals that are consciously sourced and responsibly harvested. YAROK uses primarily "certified organic" ingredients. Very few hair care companies can say that every one of their products meet 100% of all vegan requirements. Even fewer can claim that their entire hair care line is free of alcohol, paraben, sulfates and cruelty to animals, and that they work beautifully, too. Yarok can say all of the above.

In fact, Yarok is has a sustainable salon and Beauty Kitchen in NYC. The labels are 80% FiberStone ®, the most environmentally friendly non-paper material available that's waterproof. Yarok =donates 3% of its annual profits to The Pachamama Alliance, a non-proift that protects over 10 million acres of rainforests in the Amazon. So basically, there is not one thing not to like about this fabulous brand.

Even better, the products are AMAZING! The Feed Your Volume Shampoo and Conditioner are fantastic for even the toughest hair. I have fine hair, my husband and daughter have thick hair, and it works perfectly for all of us. All of the styling products smell amazing (like fresh lemons). The leave-in conditioner Feed Your Ends, is great for detangling and the Feed Your Roots Mousse gives my hair fabulous body. I have to say my favorite of the styling products is definitely the Feed Your Hold Hairspray. I use this after working out, and my hair stays in place (not crunchy, but natural) and it looks so shiny. The treatments consist of Feed Your Sunshine (for before and after swimming) and Feed Your Youth (a must for dry, winter flaking scalp). My dad has psoriasis and I passed on Feed Your Youth for him to try. He is addicted now and no more embarassing flakes. Feed Your Shine, is a heavenly, herbal blend that leaves hair shiny, never greasy. I use it to tame the morning flyaways on both my daughter and my hair.

I feel so good using this brand. It is safe, and most importantly is works to give me healthy, beautiful hair.

B.I.C. Bands

It seems that I am always running around these days. I am frantic to get my holiday things done before my daughter is home again full-time for her vacation. To add to the fun, I have taken up exercising again. That means my wavy hair goes haywire. I sometimes have mere minutes to grab something to tame my Rosanna Dana hair and get out the door. I choose BIC Bands. They actually stay in (no slipping) and keep my hair looking cute and tame. I can even exercise in them!

BIC Bands were started as a fundraiser by Sandy for her run with Team In Training. She was looking for a way to raise the necessary funds to run her first half marathon. She donated the profits to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. OVER $1000 was raised through the sale of B.I.C. Bands!
Sandy now makes B.I.C. Bands to give back to people in need.

B.I.C. Bands~ Because I Can Bands ~We raise funds because we can…for those who can’t so that one day they will!

Each month they donate from the sale of every band to a different charity.
How amazing is that?! My daughter loves her B.I.C. Band (which Sandy kindly made smaller-sized for my little one). It is is literally the only hair accessory she ever walks out of school still wearing at the end of the day. No more slipping, or frustration, and you are helping to give back. Everyone wins with B.I.C. Bands.

They also make a fabulous stocking stuffer (just saying).

Janet Waddell Haircare

Summer does a number on my hair. I spend most of my time either swimming or gardening and I get scorched ends from the sun and chlorine. My usual haircare routine was not cutting it. Then an angel came and lead me to Janet Waddell. Janet Waddell ran the LA Vidal Sassoon Salon and worked with renowned stylist John Barrett, as his Education Director and Senior Stylist in his Bergdorf Goodman location. Allure Magazine named her best haircutter NYC and Esquire Magazine credited her as best Men’s hair expert. She (thankfully) decided to launch her own salon and fabulous haircare line. The secret to the line: Emu Oil. Emu Oil that is naturally sourced; a magical potion used by Australian Aborigines for over 2,000 years.

Her shampoo is aptly named gorgeous. It is Paraben free and uses 100% natural and botanical ingredients. I am wild about the scent (a delicious citrus, I describe as a a fizzy orange lime). Usually shampoos feel like they are stripping my hair, but this shampoo gives me body, shine and a softness beyond compare.

The conditioner is called flawless. The Emu Oil makes it ultra-moisturizing and the added grapeseed has powerful antioxidant effects. Like the shampoo, the delicious scent is the perfect summertime pick-me-up. What baffles me is how she got a conditioner to work just as well on thick lush hair as on my own fine hair. It is not too heavy, leaves the right amount of moisture and leaves no greasy residue.

The genius hair balm is my secret weapon. Whether I am going straight or curly, it makes it happen without weighing it down, without a greasy or oily look. My husband, daughter and I all use it to style and we really do think Janet Waddell is a genius for creating this.

I love that the whole line is Paraben free and uses natural and botanical ingredients. Now I am planning my visit to her salon in NYC because I cannot get enough of Janet Waddell...she has saved my summer hair.

Just Combing Through

If any of you have children with long hair, curly hair, hair in general...then you know how hard it is to get a brush through those baby locks. Young children have beautiful hair but it can be a bear to comb. I try to use natural products to care for my daughter, and detangler is no exception. I found Babo Botanicals while doing research to find a pleasant-smelling, effective detangler. Babo Botanicals is the first-ever nature-based line of children's products that specifically targets different types of hair, scalp and skin needs of children. Founded by Kate Solomon, a hair care industry veteran, after having her own child. She realized children have different hair care needs, and the line has something for everyone from dry,tangled, or unruly hair, to extra-sensitive, lice prevention and cradle cap. Solomon worked with botanists at an organic farm in upstate New York to create the Babo Botanicals line. The line is named after her sons "security bunny", Babo (how cute is that?!). The formulas are all 100% plant-based. The products are all:
*sulfate and tear free
*free of artificial fragrances and colors
*free of parabens, phthalates and chemical preservatives
*Formaldehyde-free
*Silicone and alcohol free
*1,4-dioxane free
*allergy nute oils and mineral oil free
*Vegan-soy and dairy free
*Biodegradable
*color-safe (so mom's can use them too)
*Allergy, dermatologist and clinically tested
*Hypoallergenic
*All packaging is recyclable

We got to try two of the conditioning sprays and loved them! The Berry Primrose Instantly Smooth Detangler smells like fresh-picked berries. It is a blend of Certified Organic Nutri-Soothe™ rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants combined with Chamomile, Watercress, Kudzu and Calendula. It really does the trick with keeping away frizz and is perfect for getting the tangles right out. My daughter actually lets us brush her hair now. I even use it on my curly hair and to liven up dry hair and it works beautifully.

The Cucumber Aloe Vera UV Sport Conditioning Spray has plant-based conditioners that help combat UV damage and dryness, and UV Filter Wild Pansey helps resist effects of chlorine, salt and sun while organic Aloe Vera and Cucumber revitalize and replenish moisture. We use this before swim lessons and after and even to protect our tresses on the beach. I love the fresh cucumber scent of this one. This is especially helpful for mommies who want to protect colored hair.

We are huge fans of this line. The scents are kid-friendly and fun (no boring old lavender here), and the formulas are safe. Take a peek a the bottles of product in your bathroom...and make the switch to something safe, and good for your child and your family!

Intelligent Nutrients

Living an organic lifestyle can be easy. You have to take a close look at all of the aspects of your life, including what you use on your hair and body. I admit, that we in this Product Mommy household are not always organically perfect, but we are trying. I again refer to No More Dirty Looks, which really changed the way I take care of myself. Like any girl, I like to look good and feel good. One of the first items I unloaded in what I like to call my "organic clean-up" was my toxic shampoo. So I needed to find a replacement. I went searching and found Intelligent Nutrients. Intelligent Nutrients makes hair care, body care, skin care and even supplements. All of the products are sustainable and chemical-free. They always evaluate the toxicity of the their items, and no pesticides are used, and they are pioneering plant stem-cell technology. I was thrilled, and decided I wanted to try out some products.

The Harmonic Shampoo is non-toxic and color-safe and has a wonderful minty aroma. Formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. Ideal for use on every hair type, this invigorating shampoo rids hair of build-up, revealing hair in its cleanest, purest form. It definitely made my hair feel clean without the tons of sudsing (which is actually a bad thing) that I am used to. I was especially in love with scent.

The Harmonic Conditioner is equally as minty and was nice and creamy without being heavy. I loved that it is color-safe and also formulated without sulfates, parabens, silicones, ethoxylates, PEG, phthalates, and synthetic fragrances. I felt safe enough to use it to get tangles out of my daughter's fine hair (and it did not weigh it down at all!).

The Certified Organic Hand Sanitizer is chemical-free so it gets rid of the bad germs, without total overkill. It does contain organic Alcohol Denat. It has a nice, pleasant scent, and I felt safe using it on my little one after a trip out.

My favorite product was the Certified Organic Lip Delivery Nutrition. It is 100% free of petrolatum, mineral oil and lead. Because Intelligent Nutrients realizes most people ingest whatever is on their lips, it is packed full of healthy oils and nutritious ingredients. It tastes minty and goes on smooth. This is my daytime balm. I love it!

I really have enjoyed every product from Intelligent Nutrients that I have tried, and I want to try more. Being organic never felt so good!