It should be interesting to note that while Regis Corporation and the broader salon market continue to decrease by as much as 20% over the last couple of years, many experts estimate that the Organic Salon market is growing by as much as 26% over the same couple of years!  This is not surprising to analysts that follow the organic market as they watch companies like Whole Foods increase their sales, impressively with consistent quarter-over-quarter growth, of 43% over the last couple years.

Why isn’t the salon industry becoming more organic?

Why would any reasonable business person assume that such a overwhelming shift in consumer sentiment for organic food and organic personal products not also effect consumer choices in professional salon services?  How could any reasonable business person look at the overwhelming data above and not clearly conclude that shifting toward organic professional salon products is better for their salon business and will better meet the demands of their clients?  The answer is that there are several multi-billion dollar enterprises that are still trying to figure out how to completely abandon hundreds of products and brands, along with their sales and education infrastructure, which they know are out-dated, inherently less safe, and non-organic.

Don’t expect your big-beauty sales representative to come into your salon and talk to you about the benefits of their organic line.  Doing so would invalidate everything other product they sell to you.  Don’t be so foolish to believe, even for a moment, that your sales representative is more concerned about your salon taking advantage of the organic movement than they are in the future sales of their own non-organic products.  You’re going to have to look elsewhere.

Small business rarely does well competing against their larger competitors on the basis of price or quality because of the scales of economy typically enjoy.  Therefore, small businesses must compete on innovation, creativity, image, and personalized service which is exactly how salons become successful.  There very rarely comes a time when an opportunity presents such an incredible chance for salons to better meet the fundamental demands of their clients.  This is one of those times.

Other benefits of changing your salon to an Organic Salon

In addition to the clear an undeniable business benefits of offering organic alternatives for your salon services, there are other less tangible benefits which are still significant and worth of consideration:

• Organic products present less of a health risk to you, your staff, and your clients.  These benefits are detailed in many articles throughout our website.
• Marketing organic salon services enhances the overall image of your salon as you continue to position your image as one of a socially responsible, environmentally friendly, client focused, local salon.
• The atmosphere of your salon will be considerably improved as you replace the unpleasant odor or ammonia and other chemical fumes with the mild scents of flowers, citrus, and other organic ingredients.
• Your clients will appreciate your concern for their health and well-being.

What to do now

If you’ve read this article and believe that aligning your salon business as an organic salon makes good business and personal sense, then please give us a call.  Our toll-free phone number is 1 (888) 213-4744 and you should ask for one of our Salon Advisors.  We have packages for new salons where we offer up to %40 off to get you started with a 100% money back guarantee (less shipping) for the first 30 days.  We make trying our products risk free for you so that you can evaluate them, as well as the impact they will have on your business, easy and convenient.  We do this because we know how significant the impact will be and how much you’ll love the way our products perform.  We can’t wait to partner with you and have you on board!

My days of dipping my locks into any old color pool are about to be numbered…

The Treatment:

Karine believes in organic hair color, courtesy of Organic Color Systems, so I’m intrigued to see whether this really is any different to the usual colors I have slathered on in the past. The organic colors use naturally derived ingredients and have been featured in the likes of Tatler and Vogue.

I’m also set to have a scalp treatment to lock color in with seaweed, fennel seeds, aloe vera and chamomile. So I’m hoping that- for once – my locks will look sleek and chic.

What’s Involved?

I take one look at my colorist, Candace Redden’s, great hair and I know I’m in good hands. She’s sporting ashen blonde locks a la Gwen Stefani that I’ve always dreamed of having, but after a consulation with her, I realise I’m destined to be a brunette for a while yet. She whips out a chart and starts matching my skin tone to colors. She then brings me a chart of hair colors, telling me a medium, warmer brown will suit my coloring. In no time her magic mixture is done and she’s covered my hair in brown colorant.

After a stint under a heater then some cold air, I’m whisked downstairs where the color is washed out. Next is my scalp soothing treatment, Scalp Soothe Plus. This makes my scalp tingle and is combined with a head massage to make sure the product is absorbed properly. Then my head is covered with a hot towel for a few minutes (this feels amazing), before everything’s washed out and I’m sent upstairs to see the results.

Candace consults with me on what style I’d like to accompany my sleek new color. I’m not the most adventurous when it comes to scissors and my hair, so I opt for a shaping trim.

The Verdict

As someone who has colored their hair for years, organic color is a real revelation for me. It just feels so much better post-application. My scalp, which in the past has reacted to other colors, feels great and my hair feels silkier than usual. My colleagues tell me my locks look glossy and that the color is a natural fit. All in all, I’m in love with my new color and fresh-feeling scalp.

Read the full article here.

Like leading London salon Karine Jackson Hair & Beauty, Paul has introduced an exceptional new range of organic colour from Herb UK, which uses naturally derived ingredients that are kind and nurturing to the hair.

Developed over 5 years, Organic Colour Systems features natural extracts, including aloe vera, comfrey, orange and grapefruit, and doesn’t contain ammonia, allowing the hair to retain its natural moisture and protein balance. Because of its natural base, it closes the cuticle down when shampooing and applying conditioner giving it a natural feel and shine. Where natural ingredients cannot match the effectiveness of chemical alternatives, manufacturer Herb UK utilises precise minimum quantities of only the finest grade chemical additives.

For instance, Organic Colour Systems has the lowest possible percentage of PPDs in order to significantly reduce the risk of allergic reaction. Pharmaceutical grade peroxide, meanwhile, further reduces any chance of skin irritation or burning on the hair.
After having completed the necessary strand test required for all colour treatments 24 hours prior to applying the colorant, Cheshire Mums Magazine’s Sandra Harris, tested the organic colour treatment at Paul Barlow’s salon:

“Since my first pregnancy I have avoided semi-permanent colours that have to be applied to hair and scalp, in favour of highlights that only come into contact with the hair. Needless to say that I was excited at the prospect of covering my slowly emerging grey hair, by opting for a semi-permanent organic colour with highlights,” Sandra says.

“The first thing that surprised me, when walking into Paul Barlow’s salon, was the complete lack of promotional material on the walls or shelves.”

It quickly emerged that Paul is a no-nonsense hairdresser. With over 35 years of experience, he does not think much of make belief and is more concerned with the actual results he achieves by using organic, very low chemical containing alternatives, compared to conventional salon treatments.

“We started offering Herb UK, organic colour treatments just over 2 years ago, after the incidents of customer complaints, regarding scalp irritations and adverse reactions to conventional treatments, just seemed to keep increasing,’ Paul recalled. When Paul’s daughter Claire, a Wella trained colourist and stylist with over 13 years experience, who has worked in the salon for the past 6 years, showed me the colour chart, I was spoiled for choice. The vast array of colours and shades matched those of conventional salon treatments, and with Claire’s expert advice we quickly agreed on the best shades for me. As Claire began to apply the foils and colour for my new highlights she explained, that initially she did not share her Dad’s interest in the organic range: “I was accustomed to the products I used during my training and therefore reluctant to try out a different range of products. But after trying the Herb UK range for myself, I was utterly convinced that the products were worth taking on board. They perform equally as well as conventional, more chemical containing hair colorants, and also last between 6-8 weeks.”

When quizzed about the differences between the regular hair colorants and the organic system, Claire enthusiastically listed a whole range of benefits to both clients and salon: ‘There is a noticeable difference to me and our staff, when working with the Herb UK product range. There are no nasty smells as the products contain no ammonia , and as a typical hair colour application takes between 30-45 mins, it means we are always close to the product, usually breathing in any potentially harmful ingredients. With Herb UK colorants, all you can smell is a pleasant fruity scent. Many customers comment on that. We are not dealing with clumpy, peculiar-smelling henna-type products.’
The environmental benefits are also considerable as Claire continued to point out.

“The Herb UK salon system comes with overall less packaging and is designed to be extremely economical, which means that we can reduce the salon’s carbon footprint significantly. Whilst we order our conventional colouring products on average once a week, this is only necessary every two to three weeks with the organic colour system range. And that is despite an equal customer uptake in both treatments.”

This was something I had admittedly not thought about, prior to my conversation with Claire, and whilst she finished applying the rest of my hair colour, before leaving it under heat for 10 minutes, I was already very impressed by the many obvious advantages this organic treatment has to offer. Another 20 minutes that were required to let the product set without heat, were easily spent by talking to Paul. He feels so confident about the organic colour treatment, that he does not push the product at all:

“Clients have many different reasons for wanting a more natural colour treatment and therefore ask us for it. You will see for yourself,” he said, with a confident smile. “For me, it is like going back to basics! That is what hair needs, and it works! We just expect too much of modern hair care products these days. Products have to de-frizz, smooth, straighten, give shine and so on. Of course, many high tech hair cosmetics deliver all that, but it comes at a price and takes its toll on the hair. With organic hair colour, that uses the minimum amount of chemicals necessary, you avoid all that and achieve a healthy glossy look, because you care for the hair naturally at the same time.”

Whilst listening to Paul I started to think, that he actually has a point, and that his decision to not capitalize on the green and organic trend by over-marketing this treatment, is something rare and refreshing, and clearly works for him.

After the foils were taken out and my hair was rinsed and washed, with Organic Care Systems shampoo and conditioner, I was eager to let Claire dry and style my hair, so I could finally see the result. To my amazement she skilfully managed to straighten and smooth my usually wavy and frizzy hair just by using a blow dryer and brush. No additional straightening serum or iron were needed to leave me with a super sleek and glossy look. I was really pleased with the colour results too. I will definitely make my next colour treatment an Organic one again!

Read the entire article.

We don’t expect everyone to give up their cars or vacations abroad, but there are a number of small ways that we can all help to minimize waste and cost, which benefit both our planet and our wallets!

Here are our top 10 tips for beginning to be a “Green”, eco-friendly, environmentally conscious, salon:

1. We recommend to all our salons that they should wash out the color, activator, and care bottles for recycling. With Organic Color Systems there is no ammonia being flushed back into the water supply, whch is another benefit.

2. Use full loads when washing towels and set to wash overnight for cheaper electricity rates. If you need to replace your washing machine, look for one with a favorable Energy Star rating, which means that it is energy- efficient.

3.Try to minimise water use. Don’t leave taps running unnecessarily and fix any dripping taps. Plus consider water- saving aerators and cistern water-saving devices.

4. Check and maintain electrical equipment to make sure everything is working correctly and efficiently.

5. Use eco-friendly stationery. There is a vast choice of recycled paper on the market today, plus the performance of vegetable-based inks has improved significantly over the past few years.

6. Investigate alternative options from the electricity and gas suppliers. Several now offer ‘eco’ tarifs.

7. Remove plastic cups from your water cooler and replace them with glasses, which are much nicer to drink from as well!

8. Investigate whether your water cooler can be plumbed into your water supply in the kitchen, to avoid the need for refill bottles of water. This saves on the plastic and the fuel used to deliver them to your salon.

9. Switch off all appliances when not in use and don’t leave TVs and monitors on stand-by overnight.

10. Encourage your staff to ca-pool, use public transport or walk / cycle to work.

Your efforts will most certainly be appreciated by both the environment and your clients.

Status Quo Range

The products are formulated from certified organic extracts and organic oils to maintain the natural balance and condition of the hair, while protecting it from UV damage. They are gentle enough for everyday use.

Status Quo shampoo is formulated with the latest natural ingredients for a mild, gentle wash. It is suitable for daily use.

Status Quo conditioner helps to maintain the hair’s natural protein and moisture balance and provides protection against UV damage.

Protect Leave-In Conditioner is a protein and moisture-based spray-on, leave-in conditioner, which has been designed to protect the hair from the damaging effects of the environment, sun, sea, chlorine and hairdryers. It is ideal for areas of high humidity and built-up areas with high pollution levels.

Aqua Boost Range

This range is designed to soften hair. It works by softening the hair’s inner protein, allowing it to have the natural stretch we need. This in turn will release the cuticle, allowing it to open more easily. It is ideal for hair that is low in moisture.

Aqua Boost Shampoo is rich in natural moisturisers and conditioners, to care for dry hair.

Aqua Boost Reconstructor is an intense moisturising treatment formulated from a range of organic ingredients, aloe vera extract, wheat protein, vitamin B5 and natural sunflower seed extract to nourish your hair, leaving it soft and smooth. It will release very hard hair and can be used before coloring or perming. It is very beneficial to use it before coloring grey hair, as it allows the cuticle to open more quickly, ensuring better penetration of the color pigments.

Aqua Boost Conditioner is a highly effective conditioner designed for dry hair, leaving it nourished, smooth and protected from UV damage.

Power Build Range

This range is designed to reconstruct hair by adding proteins and moisturisers to the inner structure of the hair. It is ideal for hair that is low in protein or protein and moisture. It is formulated from certified organic extracts, natural sunflower oil, wheat protein and vitamin B5 to add strength and volume to the hair. The hair is left smooth, strengthened and naturally protected from UV damage.

Power Build Shampoo is designed for fine, weak or limp hair and adds body and strength to hair.

Power Build Conditioner is a superb conditioner. It leaves hair strengthened, full of volume, smooth and protected from UV damage.

Power Build Reconstructor is an intense volumising treatment to lift fine, limp, colored or bleached hair.

Revamp Treatment is a highly concentrated treatment for chemically damaged or weak, fine, limp hair. It has been formulated to strengthen hair and reduce breakage.

Soothe Plus Range

This range calms, cleanses and rebalances irritated and sensitive scalps naturally. The products have been designed specifically for people with highly sensitive or irritated scalps. They are packed full of botanical and certified organic ingredients to provide a calming and soothing effect. The extremely mild shampoo is also fantastic for use as a body wash.

Soothe Plus Shampoo is formulated from botanical extracts and certified organic ingredients to cleanse highly sensitive, irritated scalps and hair. Ideal as a body wash, it may also reduce soreness and tenderness of the skin. It is pH balanced and perfume-free.

Soothe Plus Treatment has been designed to reduce irritation and inflammation of the scalp and skin. This spray-on treatment provides a cooling and soothing effect. It is naturally preserved and perfume-free.

Soothe Plus Conditioner is formulated from botanical extracts and certified organic ingredients to leave highly sensitive scalps and hair with the correct pH balance and in superb condition. It is perfume-free.

Organic Control Systems

no plastic Styling is the first range of styling products, which are completely plastic free. Bonds made with traditional plastic-based products tend to be brittle and break under vigorous movement. This causes the style to lose shape and require re-styling or touching up to maintain a freshly styled look over the course of a day.

The unique formula of naturally-derived ingredients used in Organic Control Systems allows the hair to move, while maintaining its natural look and feel. The result is:

• exceptional curl memory
• dynamic curl retention
• anti-frizz
• lustrous shine.

The complete range is suitable for all hair types.

Hairspray: Contains a natural blend of proteins and conditioners, which protect the hair after the styling process, as well as adding body and shine.

Spray Gel: Contains natural proteins, conditioners and UV filters, which do not damage or dry the hair. They provide protection during and after the styling process.

Glaze: Contains a unique blend of plant proteins and conditioners, which provide the hair with hold, body and shine. The gentle alcohol-free formulation increases the conditioning effects and does not damage the hair, even if used regularly.

Volume Mousse: Gives hair great hold, body and shine, while the carefully chosen ingredients provide protection and anti-humidifiers.

Spray Gloss: This unique naturally-based product provides anti-frizz and high shine. The exceptional, lightweight formula includes calendula oil for increased shine and green tea extracts as an anti-oxidant.

Gloss Serum: This concentrated serum provides hair with high shine and anti-frizz benefits. It provides a concentrated solution for frizzy hair, providing shine and manageability.

Organic Connect Systems

The Organic Connect range has been launched as a result of demand for certain products by our customers.

Our company objective has always been to manufacture hair products, which are as natural as possible. This ethos equally applies to the Organic Connect range, which comprises a selection of highly effective products. However, due to the nature of some of the ingredients used in them, we feel that these products do not fully fit into the Organic Care Systems and Organic Control Systems ranges.

As new ingredients become available and we are able to reformulate these products, we will move them out of the Organic Connect range into Organic Care Systems or Organic Control Systems. In the meantime, however, we hope they will provide a solution to some of your hairdressing needs.

The range comprises the following products:

Silver Shampoo: This is a gentle shampoo for use on pre-lightened hair and white / grey hair. It is an excellent product to use after lightening or highlighting hair, in order to maintain a clean, clear colour. It is also ideal for more mature clients with grey / white hair. The violet tones in this shampoo reduce unwanted orange / yellow in hair. This protein and moisture-based shampoo is pH balanced to keep the cuticle closed, enhancing shine.

Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner: This is a very rich, moisturising conditioner for dry, brittle hair. It is designed to leave hair silky soft with a deep natural shine. This product is ideal for clients with dry hair and is particularly suitable for use in warm climates. Hydrate Leave-In Conditioner imparts moisture into the cuticle, giving the hair greater flexibility, shine and lustre.

Finale Hairspray: Finale Hairspray is a firm hold hairspray, which is gentle on the hair. While Organic Control Systems Hairspray provides a soft, natural hold, Finale Hairspray caters for clients who like a strong hold to their finished look and is especially good for hair-up styles. The unique blend of conditioners leaves the hair shiny, with natural looking hold.

Thermal 2 Twenty: Thermal 2 Twenty is a revolutionary new styling product, designed to protect hair up to temperatures of 220° C.

Regular use of thermal styling appliances such as straighteners, tongs, etc. subject the hair to high temperatures, which can damage the hair by removing moisture.

The hair is left dry, brittle and fragile, often causing the hair to break. In addition, the proteins in hair can become unstable and the hair’s structure can be affected. Hair, therefore, requires protection from such damaging effects of heat. Thermal 2 Twenty is designed to prevent such damage from occurring.

Thermal 2 Twenty has been designed to offer protection from heat caused by styling appliances and works up to 220° C, which exceeds many competitive products on the market.

Thermal styling raises the cuticle of the hair, which can create friction during combing. Thermal 2 Twenty improves the smoothness of the hair’s surface and reduces friction, which allows for easier combing.

Furthermore, it protects against significant loss of hair strength caused by heat. Finally, Thermal 2 Twenty also offers mild hold properties. For more intense conditioning, leave Thermal 2 Twenty on the hair for five minutes before styling. Overall, hair is protected from considerable damage, is easier to comb and dry or straighten. Hair is left smooth, straight and glossy.

Place your order now

If you are a salon professional who is genuinely concerned about providing the most organic, healthiest, and most highly effective products and services possible, than please call 1-888-213-4744 to place your order now.

Perms were all the trend in the 1980′s.  Now, with all their former popularity, excitement, and opportunity of their past; THE PERM IS BACK! However, today’s trends require perms to be more natural and produce loser, sexier, waves with minimal styling effort.  Organic Curl Systems is the ideal straightener, relaxer, perm product to revitalize your perm business in a safer, gentler, and more natural way that will yield consistently beautiful results.

Organic Curl Systems is a revolutionary perming product which is completely free from ammonia and thioglycolates. Instead, it contains Cysteamin HCL, which is a far gentler ingredient. The neutraliser system contains plant amino acids, which soothe and condition the scalp. The hair is left with a natural feel and shine.

Organic Curl Systems works between pH 4.5 and 6.5, depending on how much activator is added and leaves the hair around its natural pH level, so it is undamaged by the perming process. Organic Curl Systems is suitable for all hair types, even damaged hair.

All the best ingredients

The ingredients contained in Organic Curl Systems have been carefully selected to create a product which is as natural as possible, while doing the job it is intended for.

The neutraliser is rich in wheat and soy protein, which are natural hair conditioners and moisturisers. The wheat protein also increases protein levels and strengthens the hair.

Organic Curl Systems is suitable for all perming and relaxing techniques, including weave wind, root lift and traditional perms, as well as straightening and relaxing.

Although they are all unique constructs in their own ways, these movements share some common principles like that of being good, fair, and thoughtful human beings and extending a sense of common respect to all living things on this planet. Although you may think this has no place in business and little place in your salon, you may be well advised to think differently. Recent consumer studies clearly show that more and more women are making consumer driven decisions everyday and your 10 next best clients may be passing your salon by if you’re not careful.

First, we should review some basic terms…

vegan or Veganism

Veganism is a philosophy and lifestyle whose adherents seek to exclude the use of animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. Vegans endeavor not to use or consume animal products of any kind. The most common reasons for becoming a vegan are human health, ethical commitment or moral conviction concerning animal rights or welfare, the environment, and spiritual or religious concerns

Organic Products

Organic products are made in a way that limits the use of synthetic ingredients especially those considered to be toxic or carcinogenic like ammonia, resorcinol, parabens, and potassium hydroxide . For the vast majority of human history, products can be described as organic; only during the 20th century was a large supply of new synthetic chemicals introduced to humans through the products they consume. This more recent style of production is referred to as “conventional.” Under organic production, the use of conventional non-organic ingredients is greatly restricted and saved as a last resort.

Cruelty Free

The cruelty-free movement has developed from veganism into a philosophy of life that aims to avoid all the products of cruelty to humans or animals. Products avoided include those that contain part of a dead animal or materials obtained from an animal by means of cruelty (such as keeping the animal in a confined space or separating mother from child etc.). Also avoided are products of child slavery and sweatshop labor.

Fair Trade

Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that aims to help producers in developing countries obtain better trading conditions and promote sustainability. The movement advocates the payment of a higher price to producers as well as social and environmental standards. It focuses in particular on exports from developing countries to developed countries. The underlying concept is to recognize the moral obligation to pay workers a fair wage for their efforts.

Ethical Consumerism

Ethical consumerism is the intentional purchase of products and services that the customer considers to be made ethically. This may mean with minimal harm to or exploitation of humans, animals and/or the natural environment. Ethical consumerism is practiced through ‘positive buying’ in that ethical products are favoured, or ‘moral boycott’, that is purchasing avoidance. The rise in ethical consumerism and “green brands” that identify themselves as ethical, has led to a rise in ethic-based decisions in the mass market, enabled by increased understanding and information about businesses practices.

Whether capturing a segment of the ethical consumer market, which studies show is one of the fastest growing markets in North America, or simply instilling a feel-good atmosphere in your salon, knowing your products will be very important. Like so much man-made merchandise, hair products can be loaded with animal products hiding behind the guise of long, unpronounceable names. Luckily, we’ve put together a list of chemicals to avoid and a few hair care suggestions to ensure that everyday is a good hair day in your salon.

Let’s evaluate these concepts in terms of the products your salon uses…

Permanent Hair Color

Ammonia is one of the more toxic chemicals used in hair products today. It has an infamous reputation for causing illness and ailments in stylists and clients alike. While some of our competitors claim to have eliminated ammonia from their hair color products, they simply have shifted the ammonia from the color itself to another product used with the color such as the “oiln delivery system” or post shampoo. Organic Color Systems is very proud that none of our products contain any ammonia.

Animal testing has unfortunately become a standard practice in the hair, beauty, and cosmetics industry. Many companies, despite their pledges, promises, and representations of not testing on animals, have actually been caught doing so on mass scales. For example, L’Oreal, one of the world’s largest beauty manufactures, has a long history of performing unspeakable tests on animals in their relentless pursuit of profit. Please find links to demonstrate the outrage against L’Oreal for the inhumane and unimaginable treatment of innocent and defenseless animals that it has been conducting for so many years. Organic Color Systems is proud that none of our products have or will ever be tested on any animals regardless of the profit potential.

Naturewatch Campaign to Boycott L’Oreal

PETA’s Caring Consumer/Cruelty Free Database on L’Oreal Animal Testing

L’Oreal Still Testing on Animals

Finally, while many companies are switching their production resources to China, India, and third world countries to save labor costs and pay employees an unfairly low wage for their hard work, Organic Color Systems is proud to be manufactured in England where our employees enjoy a comfortable and fair wage for their excellent work in manufacturing, researching, and developing our fabulous product line.

Shampoo

The next time you’re lathering up your client at the shampoo bowl, check the back of the bottle for Hydrolyzed Animal Protein, which is mostly derived from cows, pigs, and chickens. In shampoo, it’s used to add gloss or reduce split ends. Luckily, all of Organic Color Systems line are vegan products and we do not contain any ingredients derived from animals or animal byproducts. While we do have some synthetic ingredients, most of our ingredients are naturally derived from plants. Organic Color Systems uses the highest amount of Certified Organic Ingredients, with the lowest amount of synthetic ingredients, while still maintaining the exceptional, superior performance our product line is known for.

conditioner

Conditioner provides your client’s hair with the strength to be healthy and voluminous as it closes the cuticle and protects the hair shaft—but can also be full of animal derivatives. Stearic Acid, sometimes derived from cows, sheep, dogs, and cats can be found in conditioner. The same goes for steroids, often derived from animal glands and also used in hair conditioners. We believe that the most ethical conditioner available on the market today is Organic Color Systems’ Status Quo, Power Builder, and Aqu Boost conditioner and treatment products.

styling products

The styling finishing touches give your styles a little extra oomph for your clients. But from hairspray to mouse, finishing products are often not vegan. For a 100% vegan line, which maximizes the amount of certified organic ingredients while minimizing the amount of synthetic ingredients while still maintaining exceptional professional performance, we recommend Organic Color Systems’ Care line.

Summary

In building your salon’s culture, ethos, and image; an owner or manager must consider the social, environmental, and toxic impact that it will most certainly be judged by in our age of the ever informed, conscious, ethical, and considerate consumer. People will pay a premium for good service that they feel good about. There is a very finite limit to the premium that your client’s will pay for good service they feel badly about. It is as important to your financial best interest, as it is to your well-being, to provide great service that people feel great about and enjoy the premiums for doing so while you enjoy long standing relationships with many loyal clients for years to come. After all, didn’t most of us decide tinwork behind the chair because we loved to interact and surround ourselves with other good people? In the salon industry YOU CAN DO WELL BY DOING GOOD!

Now more than ever we want to produce work that is unique and can’t be duplicated at home or in another salon. This can often be done in a simple, time efficient manner that gives us a chance to be creative, makes our clients know that we care, and gives us a chance to charge more while providing our clients with a sense of value.

Melanie Nickels from Raw Hair in Naples, Florida, has been creating her art with Organic Color Systems for the last seven years and the color process pictured below is a great example of taking a regular “retouch” service and making it special. This took Melanie about an additional twenty minutes and created a beautiful, customized result that her client adored.

The client was a natural level four with 10% grey. Her retouch formula was equal parts of 6GD and 4MO with 30 volume Hairmonics Turbo Activator. She then used two separate Balayage formula’s. They are: 1. Naturlite Lightening Powder with 10 volume cream activator and 2. Equal parts 6CR and 4FR with 20 volume cream activator.  She processed for 15 minutes under heat and 15 minutes at room temperature to create this beautiful, customized look!

Remember, adding your special touch to each and every color service can be a key part to creating a strong, profitable, and resilient color business. Please use the above formula and technique as an inspiration for your own creative magic.

1.  It’s 100% ammonia free.

2.  Certified Organic Ingredients
Organic Color Systems is the only permanent color line available today with certified organically grown ingredients.  These include aloe vera, organge, grapefruit, palm oil, natural soya, comfrey, wheat, coconut, vitamin C, vitamin E, and corn.  It is as natural as possible, while still allowing you to obtain exceptionally professional results.

3.  It maintains the integrity of hair
Ammonia blows open the cuticle taking the hair into the 10.5 – 12 range on the pH scale.  We use a moisturizing oil base with a small amount of ethanolamine to swell and open the cuticle to a pH level of 9.   We are able to close the cuticle back down with our Organic Care line returning the hair to it’s isometric point of 5.5, which is the ideal pH of hair.

4.  It is unique and proprietary
We commend other color lines that have removed ammonia from their formulas as it is an extremely harsh chemical and no longer needs to be in hair color.  Unfortunately, the vast majority have replaced it with ethanolamine which poses no health concerns as long as the amount used is reasonable.  However, because they are only replacing the ammonia with ethanolamine and with no other alkaline base, they are using a very high percentage and consequently have not decreased the pH level that the hair is taken to, so the same amount of damage is occuring.

5.  Complimentary products that maintain and even restore the hair’s integrity
Our treatments are reconstructors and they work inside the hair shaft rather than applying a high percentage of silicone to the outside of the hair shaft.  Although that gives the hair shine and a silky feel, it is entirely cosmetic and eventually becomes detrimental as it builds up on the hair shaft and does not allow color to penetrate.  By doing a wet stretch test you can determine exactly what the hair may be lacking before any color or perm service allowing you to prepare the canvas before creating your work of art.

6. Lowest percentage of ppds.
Eliminating ammonia allows us to use a much lower percentage of ppds since ammonia breaks down the natural pigments in the hair when mixed with peroxide.  Therefore, ammoniated colors require a lot more pigment – otherwise it would all wash out at the shampoo bowl.

7. Lowest Percentage of Ethanolamine
This color line contains about half as much ethanolamine as any other non-ammonia color line (8% or more).  We use it as a pH adjustor and it is organically derived from coconut.

8. Pharmaceutical Grade Activators
All permanent hair colors contain oxidative pigments which means that they have to come into contact with oxygen in order to materialize.  Peroxide is simply H2O2.  water with an additional oxygen molecule that can be split off easily to activate the pigments.  Our peroxide is pharmaceutical grade which means it is the same peroxide found in eye drops, and therefore gentler then industrial grade peroxide.

Myth: If products are at a Salon by a professional and licensed cosmetologist, they must be safe.

Fact: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has no authority to require companies to assess ingredients or products for safety. FDA does not review or approve the vast majority of salon products or ingredients before they go on the market. The agency conducts pre-market reviews only for certain color additives and active ingredients in cosmetics classified as over-the-counter drugs.

Myth: The salon and cosmetics industry effectively polices itself, making sure all ingredients meet a strict standard of safety.

Fact: There is no industry recognized national safety panel for Salon products in the United States. In its more than 30-year history, the industry’s safety panel (the Cosmetic Ingredient Review, or CIR) has assessed fewer than 20 percent of cosmetics ingredients and found only a handful of ingredients or chemical groups to be unsafe. Its recommendations are not binding on companies.

Myth: The government prohibits dangerous chemicals in professional salon products, and companies wouldn’t risk using them.

Fact: Cosmetics companies may use any ingredient or raw material, except for color additives and a few prohibited substances (such as vinyl chloride and cow parts), without government review or approval.

• More than 500 products sold in the U.S. contain ingredients banned in cosmetics in Japan, Canada or the European Union.7
• Nearly 100 products contain ingredients considered unsafe by the International Fragrance Association.8
• A wide range of nanomaterials whose safety is in question may be common in personal care products. 9
• 22% of all personal care products may be contaminated with the cancer-causing impurity 1,4-dioxane, including many children’s products. 10,11
• 60% of sunscreens contain the potential hormone disruptor oxybenzone that readily penetrates the skin and contaminates the bodies of 97% of Americans.12,13
• 61% of tested lipstick brands contain residues of lead. 14

Myth: Salon ingredients are applied to the scalp and rarely get into the body. When they do, levels are too low to matter.

Fact: People are exposed by breathing in fumes and absorbing chemicals into pores.  Biomonitoring studies have found cosmetics ingredients – like phthalate plasticizers, paraben preservatives, the pesticide triclosan, synthetic musks, and sunscreens – inside the bodily fluids of men, women, children and even the cord blood of newborn babies.  Many of these chemicals are potential hormone disruptors that may increase cancer risk.  Products commonly contain penetration enhancers to drive ingredients deeper into the hair. Studies find health problems in people exposed to common fragrance and sunscreen ingredients, including elevated risk for sperm damage, feminization of the male reproductive system, and low birth weight in girls.

Myth:  The FDA would promptly recall any product that injures people.

Fact:  The FDA has no authority to require recalls of harmful salon products or cosmetics.  Furthermore, manufacturers are not required to report cosmetics-related injuries to the agency.  The FDA relies on companies to report injuries voluntarily.

Myth: Consumers can read ingredient labels and avoid products with hazardous chemicals.

Fact: Federal law allows companies to leave many chemicals off labels, including nanomaterials, contaminants, and components of fragrance.  Professional salon products are not required to list ingredients by any Federal law in the United States. For those few that do list their ingredients, tests have revealed an average of 14 hidden compounds per formulation, including potential hormone disruptors and diethyl phthalate, a compound linked to sperm damage.

This list of Myths and Facts was derived from and enhanced from The Story of Cosmetics Myths and Facts.  Further reference materials can be found there.

For hair services we had a single process hair color done at the upscale John Masters in Manhattan, N.Y., which also sells its own Organics line of hair products. We had highlights and toning done at Mode Organic Salon in Seattle, which uses Organic Color Systems and Kevin Murphy products. At $150 and $136, respectively, they were in line with mid-to-higher-priced salons in their areas.

Both salons had a more pleasant smell than the typical hair salon. Our John Masters tester, who was pregnant and sensitive to odors, appreciated scents of citrus, vinegar and molasses instead of ammonia. Both shops’ services left our hair feeling healthy rather than fried, so we didn’t feel the need to douse it with conditioner the way we often have to after using conventional hair dyes.

The highlights looked much more natural than others we’ve had in the past. The John Masters stylist warned that the color, which he was careful to describe as “low in chemicals,” might not fully cover our gray hairs, but it did the trick and looks as natural as other salon color we’ve had. The salons told us the color should last as long as conventional treatments and they both still look good after several washings.

Mode owner Jeff Carling says the salon uses a sustainable cleaning service and sends its hair clippings to the nonprofit Matter of Trust, which converts hair scraps to material used in cleaning oil spills. John Masters says it offsets the salon’s energy usage by making wind-power purchases. Another nice touch is a garden with an earth-friendly ambiance where customers can sit while their hair color takes.

Read the entire article here.

Congratulations to the team of Mode Salon!

We have always been concerned about the toxins and dangerous chemicals in professional salon products but we are increasingly becoming concerned about the continual lack of awareness among salon professionals.  As noted in a previous post regarding the apparent false advertising and labeling of L’Oreal’s Inoa hair color line, we are very concerned about that “Big Beauty” companies are perpetuating this problem by Greenwashing their products to take advantage of otherwise well intentioned professionals.

There is nothing that the Food and Drug Administration can legally do about it.

But that may begin to change as two Democratic lawmakers — Reps. Jan Schakowsky from Illinois and Edward Markey from Massachusetts — introduced the Safe Cosmetics Act of 2010 today. If passed, it will be the first meaningful effort to give the FDA the teeth, tools and mandate to protect consumers from harmful products that are used by almost everyone.

Under the current absence of oversight, it’s legal for cosmetics companies to use virtually any ingredient with no pre-market safety assessment.

This has bothered many of FDA’s risk experts and toxicologists, who say they’re eager to have the authority to delve into the litany of potentially hazardous chemicals in these products.

“This law is absolutely needed and the authority it will give FDA is even more crucial now as many manufacturers are using nano-sized chemicals such as titanium dioxide in their cosmetic and health products,” an FDA risk assessor told AOL News at the Institute of Food Technologists annual meeting in Chicago this week.

Some of what the legislation calls for includes:

• Ingredients linked to cancer and birth defects being phased out of personal care products.
• Health-based safety standards for all ingredients in cosmetics that includes protections for children and other vulnerable populations.
• Required listing on product labels of all chemical ingredients in personal care products, including fragrances and contaminants.
• Worker access to information about hazardous chemicals they may encounter in the manufacturing of personal care products.
• Adequate funding and support of the FDA Office of Cosmetics and Colors to pay for this oversight of the cosmetics industry.

Andrew Schneider
Senior Public Health Correspondent
Full Article on AOL News

Over the past year, Britney’s hair has gone through various hair colors, including recently being seen as a brunette just weeks before this photo was taken according to Style List.  Such frequent and involved color treatments using traditional ammoniated color will damage and fry hair.  Add extensions, and frequent intense styling, and even the most well-cared for hair will appear to be over processed and damaged.  Had Britney used Organic Color Systems, she would have been able to change her color frequently, be more fade resistant, and achieve the look she was looking for without continually damaging her hair’s cuticle or cortex and not sacrificing her hair’s integrity.  With the structural integrity of her hair maintained, it would respond favorably to frequent styles, extensions, and the demanding beauty requirements celebrities regularly endure.

In short, by eliminating ammonia and other damaging and dangerous chemicals from her hair coloring process, Britney Spears would be able to achieve the stunning look she needs to continue to entertain us all and not have to sacrifice the structural integrity of her hair, her personal health, or the health of her stylist.  Moreover, her hair would be well prepared to hold up to frequent intense styling as well as extensions or other techniques required to continue to make her look like the beautiful entertainer we have all come to know and love.  Maybe it’s time we send her stylist some samples.

Now, just a few months later, INOA salons are coming to a rude awakening – the INOA line is not ammonia free and is clearly labeled as containing ammonia hydroxide.  Imagine seeing a new client who is a cancer survivor, a chemotherapy patient, or simply allergic to ammonia and then assuring them that the professional hair color product you use is ammonia free.  What could you possibly tell them after their treatment in which you unknowingly applied ammonia hydroxide to their scalp?  Would they sympathize with you if you told them that you bought the marketing hype but failed to read the ingredients label?  Salon professionals are licensed professionals and as such have an obligation and duty of care when dealing with the trust a client places in their hands to provide them with a safe and positive treatment.  It stands to reason that a minimum level of care begins with knowing the chemicals being applied to their scalp.

What is exceptional is that salon professionals everywhere are using this product without reading the ingredient labels of the products in the line.  The ingredients label for INOA Post shampoo, recommended for post-color shampoo with INOA’s “no ammonia” line clearly contains ammonia hydroxide as indicated in their ingredients list on the left (simply click the photo for a close-up view).  While one side of the bottle indicates its contents as “Innovative No Ammonia” the other sides lists ammonia hydroxide on its legally required and government regulated ingredients label.

There are two ultraviolet light rays you need to protect yourself against: UVA and UVB. UVA rays, or long-wave rays account for about 95% of the ultraviolet light that hits the Earth’s surface. These rays are the same strength year-round and can pierce glass, clothing, fabric, and much more. The UVA rays go through the epidermis or top layer of the skin and enter the dermis which is composed of collagen and elastin fibers. UVA rays contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin which in turn leads to aging of the skin, not to mention it can significantly contribute to skin cancer.

The melanin or pigment in the skin is what is responsible for the tan you get from being out in the sun.  When you get a tan, your body is actually responding to the ultraviolet rays by darkening in order to protect itself from further damage. UVB rays are the main rays responsible for tans, sunburns, and skin reddening. These rays damage the more superficial layer of the skin or epidermis. When the sun is closer to the earth’s surface, we receive more UVB rays. Therefore, in the summer months these rays are much stronger and more plentiful. UVB rays mimic the melanocyte cells to create more melanin which in turn can cause freckles, hyper pigmentation, age spots, and a myriad of other discoloration.  UVB rays are also the main contributor to skin cancer.

So you may be asking, what I can do to protect myself? When we talk about SPF protection, people assume that the SPF number indicates the amount of protection they are receiving. This is not necessarily true. The SPF number is saying how long it will take for the UVB rays to burn or redden the skin when using it.  For example, a person who will normally burn in 20 minutes without protection will be able to be exposed for 300 minutes without burning when using an SPF 15 (Minutes to burn without sunscreen x SPF number). An SPF provides that extra time by blocking a certain percentage of ultraviolet rays. A sunscreen with SPF 50 protects against 98% of UVB rays, a SPF 30 protects against 97% of UVB rays, and a SPF 15 protects against 93% of UVB rays.

It is important that when deciding on a sunscreen you make sure it has high-quality protection for both UVB and UVA rays. Both have very damaging affects for skin and health. Most sunscreens offer good protection from the UVB rays but inadequate protection from UVA.  When purchasing, make sure the sunscreen offers full spectrum protection. These include additional ingredients for UVA protection such as zinc oxide, titanium dioxide, mexoryl, oxybenzone, and avobenzone, to name just a few.

Some people believe that many of the chemical ingredients that protect against UVA rays, such as avobenzone, mexoryl, and oxybenzone, may actually be more harmful than helpful. Therefore, many are turning towards more organic means for protection. If you decide to purchase a more natural sunscreen, be sure to look for one with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide in order to receive adequate UVA protection.

Some other skin protecting measures to keep in mind during the summer include:  Applying sunscreen 30 minutes before heading outside, reapplying every hour, wearing eye protection and hats, buying waterproof/water resistant sunscreen to ensure protection even when sweating or swimming, and making certain you apply to the typically neglected area (ears, feet, neck). Additionally, it is vital to the long term health of your skin to apply sunscreen even if you are not “laying out” to tan. If you follow these rules this summer you can ensure protection for your skin and health while still enjoying the outdoors.

Authored By:  Rachel Levinsky, Licensed Esthetician

In the United States, most hair dyes do not go through the rigorous safety testing that other cosmetic color additives do before hitting store shelves. Many conventional hair dye formulas contain chemicals like ammonia, which irritates the skin and lungs, and p-Phenylenediamine (PPD), which is linked to problems with the immune and nervous systems, and some studies have connected conventional hair dyes to a variety of diffferent cancers.

With raised awareness of the health concerns related to conventional hair dyes, many women are searching for safer alternatives that still provide shiny, glossy, and long-lasting results. Jolene Eyre interviews Sidney Hollwager, a celebrated stylist who uses organic hair dyes at Salon Vagabond at the Aviary in Atlanta, to get the lowdown on organic hair color options.

“From this research it is not possible to say whether parabens actually caused these tumors, but they may certainly be associated with the overall rise in breast cancer cases,” says Philip Harvey, an editor of the Journal of Applied Toxicology, which published the research.

The new research was led by molecular biologist Philippa Darbre, at the University of Reading.  ”One would expect tumors to occur evenly, with 20 per cent arising in each of the five areas of the breast,” Darbre told New Scientist.

Previously published studies have shown that parabens are able to be absorbed through the skin and to bind to the body’s estrogen-receptors,
where they can encourage cancer cell growth.

Although this research focused on underarm deodorant containing parabens and their relationship to breast cancer, which has a close proximity to breast tissue, the implications of hair products that are applied to the scalp may be critical.

Journal reference: Journal of Applied Toxicology (vol 24, p5)

Organic skin care can be of benefit to your skin as well as obtaining results. Natural ingredients can be very effective at improving the condition of your skin. Organic skin care products can be rich in vitamins, antioxidants, micronutrients, and OPCs (Proanthocyanidins). OPCs have antioxidants and play a role in the stabilization of collagen and maintenance of elastin. These are still just a small amount of the beneficial ingredients that can be found in these skin care products. It is important to recognize when purchasing Organic skin care the differences in how “Organic” the products are. If the product says “100% organic” then it is comprised entirely of organic ingredients.  If the label says “organic” it means the products has about 95% organic ingredients.  If the label states it has “organic ingredients” it could have as little as 2% to 75%. Making this distinction can help to make a well educated decision when it comes to Organic Skin Care.

In an industry when there are so many choices we as consumers need to make the conscious decision to choose wellness and health over the easy choices. Organic skin care allows us to care for our skin while making a positive decision about our health. After all what we use on our skin ultimately becomes part of us.

Authoured by: Rachel Levinsky, Esthetician