Search Results: Evelyn
Kanye West
Hey, have you seen Kanye West’s latest music video for “Coldest Winter?” Creepy video, but what a curlicious main character! Check out that mane of curls! Looks even better in slow motion…
We’re a month into the new year—how have you held up with those resolutions? Still striving to flaunt your curls? Reduce your carbon footprint? Both?
Alan and Natalie Mandarano of Nurture Salon in Portland, Oregon, are an example of a successful resolution to better the world we live in and leave you feeling beautiful in the process. Since 2003, this couple and the team have done just that.
Customers are offered tea and a heated neck wrap as soon as they walk through the door. Soothing aromatherapy adds to relaxing atmosphere, and the facility leaves small carbon footprint.
Alan Mandarano
“Nurture has a strong intention to heal and to be part of the solution on our planet and people feel good about supporting that,” Alan said. “It’s about more than outer beauty; it’s an inner feeling of bliss and dare we say, love, that we are going for as well. One more person feeling good about themselves has a positive ripple effect on our entire planet, yes?”
The salon engages in numerous “green” practices like recycling, composting, using environmentally friendly cleaning products, energy efficient lighting and shopping locally when possible.
“As time goes on, we have gotten better and better at ‘greening’ up our salon,” Alan said. “We save our hair clippings for Matter of Trust—an oil spill cleanup organization.”
Check NaturallyCurly’s salon recommendations area to find a curl salon near you. We’re not yet classifying salons by their eco-friendliness, but hope to soon.
The hair is recycled into special mats that naturally attract the spilled oil.
Nurture is involved in other organizations that promote the environment as well as charity. Used makeup and hair products are donated to the Sunshine Pantry, a food pantry in their area.
And the hair dye used—Organic Color Systems—is ammonia-free.
On the high-tech side, the salon has one ultra cool Freestylist Free-Floating Dryer. It hangs from the ceiling, uses less electricity than other dryers, but dries the hair faster. It also last longer, so you don’t have to toss numerous dryers in the trash.
The lights in Nurture are also special—SpectraLights—LED lights that last for more than 20 years and are completely recyclable.
Natalie Mandarano
While Nurture was created to be “green”, the birth of the Mandarano’s son, Guy, sparked them to step up their game.
“We bought the Prius as soon as we found out we were pregnant and we switched to Organic Color Systems right after he was born,” Alan said.
During Natalie’s pregnancy, she wore gloves and tried not to breathe in the ammonia of hair dyes.
“It became a bit of an obsession to do our part to ensure that there is a planet for him that can sustain his health and well being,” Alan said. “We wanted to make sure he has clean air and nature to enjoy for his lifetime and for his children’s children’s lifetimes.”
And as far as styling naturally curly hair goes, Alan and the whole team follow the same guidelines to ensure a healthy but beautiful cut.
“For curls, it’s VERY important to cut WITH the curl and not against it, Alan said. “Remember that curl is ROUND and you want to cut in a way that honors that.”
Nurture uses the Alan Benfield Bush technique—it takes into account the your personal growth patterns, head shape, hair texture (fine, medium, coarse”>, facial shape and desired style shape.
“We don’t as a rule recommend razoring or using texture shears,” Alan said.
And while Alan, Natalie and the whole Nurture team are certainly excellent and passionate about what they do, they are in no way an exception. All stylists can find small ways to make their salons eco-friendly.
They’re even available for consulting if you need help!
They suggest:
- contacting your city to get information on recycling programs.
- Become a member of groups like Matter of Trust.
- Change all of your light bulbs to longer-lasting energy efficient bulbs-that’s an easy one!
- Shop local, walk instead of drive whenever possible and take public transportation, even occasionally.
- Compost. Remember: reduce, reuse and recycle!
The Mandaranos strive to be environmentally responsible even in their home.
“We enjoy raising our son with love and careful guidance and want him to grow up with a sense of responsibility for not only himself but for his planet as well.”
And that’s what Nurture Salon is all about. Taking care of yourself, but also your world in the process. It’s never too late to make good on that New Year’s resolution.
“The best thing we can do is to be well ourselves and choose wisely in any given moment,” Alan said. “No one is perfect, but we can strive for excellence.”
Keep your hair healthy during chilly winter weather.
It seems like just the other day, people were sporting flip-flops and shorts. No, literally—it was only last week. The weather here in Texas, at least, changes drastically, and now everyone’s bustling around in scarves and peacoats.
But no matter where you’re located on the map (except maybe Hawaii”>, the colder winter months always mean paying extra attention to our coily tresses. The dry air, the cold wind—it can all affect the health and appearance of your hair. Just like you would battle the frizzies during humid summer months, you want to prevent any damage to your hair from Thanksgiving to Valentines Day.
So NaturallyCurly.com asked stylists skillful in all things curly to provide some quick but useful tips to maintain healthy hair, even when you’re “dashing through the snow.”
Stacy Hill, Southern Accents Salon & Spa in Augusta, Georgia
1. Winter hair thrives on moisture. You can’t have too much.
2. Honey is awesome when used in conjunction with a conditioner fortified with olive oil, and avocado oil. (If you are worried about the hair being too oily after the deep condition, do a topper, which is a light shampoo.”>
3. Trim off what is dead so you are not choking the life out of your hair. When ends are split and frayed, nutrients don’t know where to go.
4. Drying shampoos that contain too much protein and not enough natural oils are not what winter calls for.
5. Be ingredient-conscious and not hung up on brands. Natural oils are so important: jojoba, rosemary and lavender—these oils keep the scalp in good condition as well as the hair.
Cindy Herrera, Ystylo Cindy Gallery of Salons in Austin, Texas
1. No towel after shower (EVER”>. Always start with wet, wet hair.
2. Wide-toothed comb is your friend; do not use your hands.
3. Scrunch with a liquid-y gel to ensure equal distribution of the product.
4. Listen for hair to squish, to make sure there’s enough product in the hair. Remember, most curly hair is dry so don’t be afraid of product.
5. Also don’t be afraid of the diffuser. As long as it has prongs, it is designed to bring out the best of your curly hair. Set it on high heat, low speed. This may take a while but if you are patient you’ll love the way your curls look.
Bonus tip from Genevieve Rosemary, owner of Lather A Salon in greater Denver (a place where people know a thing or two about dry, cold weather!”>:
To battle the dryness, it is essential that curlies stick to a strict deep-conditioning regimen. Deep condition, at the very least, once a week (twice if you already tend to be very dry”> with a conditioner that provides moisture only! Not one that is protein rich, as too much protein can cause more frizz. A few great ones to try are: DevaCurl Heaven In Hair or Bumble and bumble Curl Conscious Nourishing Masque. You can’t control the weather, but you can deep condition, adjust your product routine, and do your best to keep the dry frizzies away.
Joseph and Zack Borkovic
Joseph Borkovic wasn’t always in the organic hair care business. In fact, about eleven years ago, he was homeless.
But a series of circumstances and an innocent question from his then three-year-old son Zach started what is now a successful and Earth-friendly business.
“Dad, does what we put in the water hurt other fish and animals?”
Zach was concerned about dolphins, and how they may be harmed.
After a trip to the library for some research, they found that when we wash our hair and body, harmful chemicals in products like shampoo are washed down the drain in our showers and sinks. These chemicals eventually end up in the oceans, and pose a threat to marine life.
As people with curly hair, we now realize that harsh chemicals and artificial ingredients don’t do much to give our hair the moisture and health it needs. This usually means we turn to organic or more natural hair care products.
Through positive thinking, hard work, and great ideas, that’s exactly what Joseph and Zach are now able to provide.
Their business, called Organic Trader Canada, creates organic and environmentally safe hair and body products.
“A lot of product ideas originally came from my son, and he would tell me his ideas about the Earth and products to help the Earth and dolphins,” Joseph said. “I would just listen and write everything down. It is so important to give children a voice, to allow their own authentic voice to come out into a safe and sacred space.”
There are multiple brands created by the company: Professional Organics Salon & Spa (exclusively for salons and spas”>, Earth Spirit Organics (for health stores and health practitioners”> and Organic Pet Spa (for pets and horse products”>.
Of the chemicals most of us initially lookout for, these products contain no Sodium Laurel Sulfates or mineral oils. Even the packaging used at Organic Trader is “green”. The labels are biodegradable and completely made with wind power, Joseph said.
While they personally use all of their creations, Joseph’s favorite product is the Shea Butter Lotion, which fairly purchases shea butter from a small village near the African country of Burkina. The product manager for the lotion is actually from the village, and Joseph would love to visit in the future.
“Social justice issues feel good,” he said.
Joseph promised his son they would one day swim with the dolphins they love so much. And about eleven years later, they took a trip to Hawaii, and did.
Joseph and Zach have documented their incredible story on a DVD titled “The Promise”, which is available for free from their website.
What began as a father-son duo has now grown; Organic Trader is a team of seven people working to produce unique products.
Zach is 14 years old now, an honors student in school, though his dad joked that girls have been his latest discovery. The same boy who posed the question that started it all is still involved in the company. His favorite product is the Earth Spirit Shampoo.
“Look after Nature and the Earth,” Zach said. “It’s just natural to love and be loved in return.”
Most of their business comes from “micro-private labels” – very small stores or salons can start with just 2-4 cases of products, with no surcharges. This is rare, Joseph said, as companies only allow people to use create their own “brand” of the product for very large and expensive orders of product. Organic Trader is enabling the small businesses of its customers.
“No one else in North America offers this micro-private label program,” he said. “Customers LOVE it, that they get to have their own name & logo right on the bottle!” he said.
And even though Organic Trader is based in Canada, 30%-40% of the orders are from the U.S.
Among the most popular products is the styling eco-creme and hair eco-gel, he said. They contain no alcohol, PVP (what shredded vinyl records are made of!”>. The gel formulas are plant based.
Ask anyone if they believe in reducing the harm we do to the Earth. No one will say no. But frankly, it can be quite easy to reach for the cheap (though harmful”> products. Joseph doesn’t believe in compromising.
“Do we really want to put a price on health, save a dollar and damage ourselves and our environment and ecological resources?” Joseph asked.
“Life and Nature will always trump economic interests,” he said.
He argues that the while these harmful products are still being produced, it is ultimately up to the consumer to decide what to purchase.
“Every dollar that we spend, is a vote for or against, the Earth,” he said. “Let’s spend wisely.”
While Organic Trader Canada and all things environmentalist are certainly major parts of his life, he enjoys other things.
“No matter what, making time for the things that are important to me and my family,” he said. “So live, really live and love – be honest, always stay within your own integrity.”
If there’s any doubt that doing our best to maintain our naturally curly hair is the right thing to do, Joseph’s philosophy will surely help you.
“Always stay true to yourself – follow your heart!”
NaturallyCurly is pleased to introduce our new writer, Evelyn Ngugi. Evelyn is a freshman at the University of Texas at Austin planning to study Multimedia Journalism, and is working as an intern at NaturallyCurly.com. When she’s not in class, you can find her … on Facebook. But when she does roam around campus, she’s usually making videos and trying to be part of the whole Austin scene. She recently decided to explore the whole “naturally curly” concept, and as someone who has chemically straightened her hair since childhood, she’s trying to learn and formulate her own thoughts and opinions. She’s already decided that only a huge Afro will capture her newfound free spirit and automatically solidify her “cool”, but the question she asks is “how do I get there?” She will write regular articles on NaturallyCurly.com that attempt to answer that question, in both educational and humorous ways.
As a freshman in college, I’m stuck in that place where “mommy will pay for it” meets “oh my goodness, I can’t afford this.” The sudden urge to be economical can be also seen in this example: When my friends and I travel an hour by bus to a beauty supply store, but quickly put the hair products back on the shelves after we see the prices.
“Fifteen bucks for ten ounces of conditioner?!?” We wince and slowly back away from the shelf and leave the store.
As naturally curlies, we have a lot more to deal with in the hair department. We battle frizz and desire curl definition. And for me and for other 4bs, we especially crave moisture. There seems to be a product to remedy every problem — a magic potion to get me on the fast track to natural, healthy hair. For a price.
Frankly, I’m not willing to pay that price most of the time. Hair products are quickly becoming part of my shopping routine, and if I’m going to take the time (and money”> to keep my hair naturally curly and healthy, I don’t want to end up sitting in my dorm room staring at store receipts regretting having spent the money.
So what’s the solution to being thrifty and still looking good?
I just thought I’d share with you the basic products that make staying curly in college affordable.
Organic shea butter: My hair type — 4b — tends to be wiry, fragile and dry if I don’t moisturize my new growth properly. Abundantly available for sale online, my tightly packed 1-pound tub of shea butter cost about $7. I only need to apply a small amount to my new growth and scalp every couple of days, and it leaves my small curls soft and moisturized.
Coconut oil/spread: You can actually eat this stuff (if you wanted”>, so it definitely meets the all-natural requirement. For about $10 at Whole Foods, I can purchase a large jar of it. I know what you’re thinking: “Double digit price?! That’s not cheap, Evelyn!” But what makes this a steal (like the shea butter”> is that a little goes a long way. You want to work a small amount through a large section of hair. Plus, it stores very well. Seven months into freshman year, I still don’t think I’ll finish the entire container this school year.
Apple cider vinegar: I have yet to try this myself, but apple cider vinegar can be found at most food stores for under $5. Often used as a clarifying rinse, apple cider vinegar is an inexpensive way to “shampoo” natural 4b hair without drying it out like most popular store-bought brands tend to do. For easy application, buy a simple applicator bottle for 99 cents and mix 3 parts water with 1 part vinegar. Apply to the hair and scrub. Friends tell me it removes all buildup and cleans the hair, preparing it to soak up the moisture from your conditioning routine that follows. I’ll be SURE to try this when it comes time to wash my hair again!
While I try to be thrifty when I can, it’s important to remember that some products are worth the investment.
Oil from the tea tree is uber-beneficial to the scalp.
Tea tree oil: The bottle may be tiny, but its contents are precious. I often suffer from a VERY dry scalp. And no matter how much “grease” I used, my scalp would always be thirsting for more by the end of the day. Tea tree oil can be applied to the skin, nails, and hair because it usually contains aloe vera extract and other oils. It has an overall soothing effect on a dry scalp. A tiny 2 ounce bottle could run anywhere from $4 – $20, depending on the brand (of course, I gravitate towards the lower-priced options”>. Investing in tea tree oil now could prevent you from spending more money later on medicated shampoos and other remedies for a flaky, irritated scalp.
A really good conditioner: I still have yet to figure out exactly which one works best for me, but since detangling and extra moisture matter most, I wouldn’t mind spending a couple of extra bucks on the brand that would do the trick. Since my hair is currently in kinky twists, the detangling benefits of conditioner aren’t really as important for now. But when I take out the twists and see the new growth, a good conditioner will DEFINITELY be on my list of things to buy.
Overall, your daily hair routine shouldn’t break the bank. Every once in a while, a product to achieve a special look (like curl defining cream”> could be a well-deserved splurge. But for now, I’m still waiting for the day when I can walk into Sally’s and just pick up that $15 conditioner (and the shampoo to match!”> without balancing my checkbook in my head.
Until then, every cent counts.
