http://www.care2.com/greenliving/5-best-natural-products-for-beautiful-hair.html
5 Best Natural Products for Beautiful Hair
Terri Bly, Green Options
While the debate continues as to whether or not you can get the same “performance” from organic and natural makeup as you can from synthetics, the jury has rendered their verdict when it comes to hair care: natural products create healthy hair. Long gone are the days when natural shampoos left hair feeling stringy, and their conditioning counterparts produced dry, heavy locks. Top brands are using organic ingredients that nourish and heal the hair, rather than relying on silicones to coat strands and create false shine. When using the best natural and organic hair care products, your hair not only looks healthier, it actually is healthier.
Our panelists received a long list of natural serums, shampoos, and conditioners to choose from. Most are composed primarily of organic ingredients, and all are absent of harsh detergents, synthetic fragrance, parabens, silicones, and petrochemicals. Although it was clear many hair care brands have won the hearts of our green beauty experts, a few managed to rise to the top.
Best Hair Treatment
Rare El’ements El’Serum
Created by veteran stylists and owners of Amato Salon in Beverly Hills, Rare El’ements is making a huge splash in the high-end hair care universe. Their El’Serum was a top pick by our specialists for its ability to revive, nourish and heal damaged locks, leaving your hair noticeably softer and shinier.
Best Shampoo (Two Winners)
Rare El’ements Color Preserving Shampoo
Once again, Rare El’ements received rave reviews from our panelists. Impressed by its ability to perform as well, if not better, than the high-end commercial brands, the green beauty experts who voted for this shampoo did so without even listing a second choice. Perfect for all hair types, and safe for colored hair, Rare El’ements Shampoo is sure to be your new favorite shampoo, too.
John Masters Organics
While no one John Masters Shampoo was the clear favorite, it was obvious this hugely popular line of hair care delivers when it comes to leaving hair feeling clean, healthy, and revitalized.
Best Conditioner (Two Winners)
Rare El’ements Essential Conditioner
Noticing any themes here? Yes, Rare El’ements Conditioner is as amazing as the serum and shampoo. Thick, creamy and highly concentrated, just a small amount of this incredible conditioner does the trick, and does it well.
John Masters Organics
It appears that the companies making the best shampoos are doing a stellar job with the apres shampooing as well! In particular, John Masters conditioners were praised by our panel for their invigorating aromas.
Green Options Media is a network of environmentally-focused blogs providing users with the information needed to make sustainable choices. Written by experienced professionals, Green Options Media’s blogs engage visitors with authoritative content, compelling discussions, and actionable advice. We invite anyone with questions, or simply curiosity, to add their voices to the community, and share their approaches to achieving abundance.
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11 comments
add your comment »OK, so i feel I should add a couple more clarifiying points. This was part of a series I wrote for FeelgoodStyle.com. I didn't realize it would be posted here at Care2.com. This wasn't meant to be a study or an article all on its own about natural/organic hair care options. It was done in several parts, and was meant to mirror glam mag's "best of" issues, with just a few winners in each categories, as chosen by a panel of experts I selected. It was called "The Emerald Awards," and I encourage you to find it at FeelgoodStyle.com where you can read about the panel of experts, the process I went through to ID the winners, and which products won in each category.
If you'd like some other really fabulous options at lower price points, consider these: Max Green Alchemy ($15), BeeCeuticals, or Logona Gingko Repair ($14). You can find great repair serums from Intelligent Nutrients & Desert Essence...or consider Jojoba or Coconut Oil.
You can buy most of these products at Natureofbeauty.com, SaffronRouge.com, and SkinBotanica.com.
I wish I could write a whole piece on this for Care2.com, since you all seem very interested in learning more about natural and organic hair care options!!
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The title of this article is extremely misleading. Only a few select products were compared and voted on by a "panel." A few people I assume, and who selected the products to be compared?
I was hoping for some real information about the best natural products. Some really good ones weren't even on your list. Disappointing article, but a great plug for Rare Elements!
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Teri i would like more information on the shampoos you mentioned ..
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I have to say I agree with Terri, Rare Elements is highly concentrated and goes a long way. I am a strong believer in the nourishing power that nature provides and I personally love that Rare El'ements gives its consumers access to rare ingredients that aren't so readily available. I've been using the products for 5 months now and I have to say the results and the fact that these products still perform without the use of toxic ingredients, are well worth every penny.I have to say I agree with Terri, Rare Elements is highly concentrated and goes a long way. I am a strong believer in the nourishing power that nature provides and I personally love that Rare El'ements gives its consumers access to rare ingredients that aren't so readily available. I've been using the products for 5 months now and I have to say the results and the fact that these products still perform without the use of toxic ingredients, are well worth every penny.
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I should add that the more expensive options are also HIGHLY concentrated. So while they seem expensive, it takes a very tiny amount to get the performance you usually need much more product to achieve with less expensive brands.
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I wrote the article, so I can at least answer some of the questions above. Here is the list they were given:
Treatments -
Rare El'ements El'Serum, Intelligent Nutrients Hair & Scalp Treatment Oil. John Masters Shine On, Giovanni (any), Dr. Hauschka Neem Hair Oil, Hamadi Healing Serum, suki conditioning oil, Desert Essence Jojoba Oil
Shampoo:
Rare El'ements El'Serum, Max Green Alchemy, Living Nature Nourishing OR Balancing Shampoo, suki, Hamadi (any or all)
John Masters (any or all), Giovanni, Burt's Bees
Intelligent Nutrients, Lavera, Jason's Tea Tree, Dr. Hauschka, Red Flower, Arcona
Conditioner:
Rare El'ements, Max Green, Living Nature, suki, Hamadi,
john Masters, Giovanni, Intelligent Nutrients (any), Lavera
DR. Hauschka, Red Flower, Arcona
They were asked to choose their favorite product, not which was the most sustainable, nor were they asked to consider carbon footprint. The products were chosen based on ingredients & performance only. I think it'd be a great story to write about the various sustainability issues for each product line! If anyone wants to work with me on that, feel free to contact me.
THe panelists were green beauty experts, from popular green beauty beauty bloggers to magazine editors to celebrity makeup artists who work only with natural and organic products. Their responses really were consistent in that those two brands consistently rated at the top. Other brands they loved: Hamadi, Intelligent Nutrients, and Beeceutic
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I agree with the comments regarding the expense of these products and the article's failure to provide details about this study and other desirable options.
In addition, I'd like to point out that these products, albeit organic, are not necessarily green or sustainable. The Rare El'Ements Shampoo, for example, contains "rare ingredients" from Italy, Japan, and Africa. A truly "green option" involves a holistic set of considerations for environmental sustainability, including a product's carbon footprint. The Rare El'Ements ingredients may be natural and organic, but they are being shipped from around the world just to make Americans feel more righteous about their expensive hair care.
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Wow, $34 for shampoo. I think there might be some other, good options out there.
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Not vegan (some of the products contain emu oil) and expensive but organic...long hair lovers is doing miracles for my hair! Stimulates hair growth and makes my hair softer than it has been in years!
http://www.longhairlovers.com/
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I agree with Laura! Where are the comparisons and options? Some products may work differently for different people, as well.
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