Oscars nominee Lupita Nyong'o talks natural beauty

This year's Oscar it girl Lupita Nyong'o talked about discovering her natural beauty at a recent Essence video shoot.

The 31-year-old actress is nominated for her supporting role as Patsey in 12 Years A Slave. Born in Mexico and raised in Kenya, Nyong'o earned her award-winning role a few weeks shy of graduating from the Yale School of Drama.

On her natural hair:

"At the age of 19, I just got really fed up of always going to the salon, and it taking so much effort to look presentable before you leave the house," she said. "I just one day decided to cut it off. And I cut it all off."

On her skin:

"I don't wear makeup when I'm not working on the red carpet," she said, "except for a night out here and there."

Esperanza Spalding shines in eco-fashion at Grammys

Musician Esperanza Spalding, a longtime eco-fashion supporter, didn't disappoint Sunday night at the 2013 Grammys when she wore a Eden Diodati gown and Natalie Frigo and Red Earth Trading Company jewelry.

Eden Diodati, dedicated to using sustainable fabrics and practicing fair trade, adorned Spalding in a golden multi-colored gown with sleeves. Natalie Frigo uses recycled metals, conflict-free diamonds, and sustainably sourced gemstones in the rings like Spalding wore. The Red Earth Trading Company hires rural artisans in underdeveloped countries to create 100% handmade jewelry while Maiyet, the company responsible for her heels, practices the same economic philosophy with shoes.

Image: nydailynews.com.

Spalding, who famously beat Justin Bieber in the Best New Artist category in 2011, took home two more Grammys. She wasn't the only one wearing a designer with eco-fashion ties. Kat Dennings of 2 Broke Girls donned a Vivienne Westwood dress. Last year, the designer lent her skills to making organic cotton tees to raise funds for climate refugees.

Image: nydailynews.com.

Mary J. Blige likes eco-beauty products

While flipping through my June 2012 issue of Essence, I noticed this month's cover girl, songstress Mary J. Blige, recommended eco-beauty products, some I even used and know are relatively affordable. 

I use my Dr. Bronner's castile soap every day to wash my face. It's the natural acne and blemish cleanser. Carol's Daughter products have done wonders for my hair because it's all-natural and comes in so many varieties. If I want brightening white teeth, I use Tom's of Maine to get the look and feel of an eco-friendly toothpaste. And with summer upon us, every complexion should use SPF 30 products. 

Check out her beauty must-haves below:

Pregnant women & hair dyes: eco-friendly products reduce risks

Kourtney Kardashian, Drew Barrymore & Snooki
wearing dyed hair while with child. Image: people.com.

When Kourtney Kardashian and Snooki were caught with dyed hair, the celeb media circle went into a frenzy. A miniscule issue, but they're pregnant. People even created a poll asking readers about the issue but failed to mention the eco-options women have now.


Since hair dyes unfortunately contain strong toxins like P-Phenylenediamine (PPD) and "methyl" chemicals, it is recommended people with certain health conditions like pregnancy should try to live without undyed hair.

But does a glam girl really have to sacrifice her beauty routine for health? The answer is no. Because of the rise in eco-beauty, there are plenty of eco-friendly, non-toxic hair dyes like EcoColors and Advanced Cosmetic Technologies. Popular natural dyes are making a bigger splash on the scene like henna and lemon juice. 

An issue is many major hair salons still don't use naturally based hair dyes, but an online directory can lead you to local green salons, which are sprouting like wildflowers across the country.

Check this earlier entry about a town with several eco-beauty hair salons opening within a year.

Oscars 2012: the eco-fashion/eco-beauty highlights

The 84th annual Academy Awards took place tonight, and some celebs decided to take the eco-fashion/eco-beauty route this year.

1. Actress Missi Pyle, who stars in the Best Motion Picture winner, The Artist, wore a pastel aqua gown made from peace silk where cruelty-free silkworms finish their life cycles before producing silk. Recycled zippers, recycled polyester, and natural mineral dyes also made an appearance in the gown, which was created by rising fashion designer and Green Carpet Challenge winner, Valentina Delfino.

Image: people.com.

2. One of the people behind GCC, Eco-Age creative director Livia Firth wore a cherry red Valentino gown made from silk and recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic deriving from plastic soft drink bottles.

Image: people.com. 

3. Three-time Oscar winner, Meryl Streep, who won Best Actress for her role in The Iron Lady, wore a glittery gold gown, the first Lanvin gown made from fabrics considered to be eco-friendly by GCC.

Image: people.com.

4. Actress Viola Davis, nominated for Best Actress in The Help, wore her natural hair minus the chemical relaxer or straightening treatment, both, when overdone, can be damaging to the hair. Davis also wore an eco-friendly pink Valentino gown at the BAFTA awards earlier this month.

Image: people.com.

Argan oil seeps into major beauty products

Some major companies have injected argan oil, the popular natural beauty resource on the scene, into their brand new product lines. 

The rich oil originally from a variety of tree grown in Morocco contains fatty acids which strengthens the hair and softens the skin. 

Below are a few products hoping to generate sales with the guarantee of improving beauty through argan oil.

Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine promises to soothe the frizz and condition the hair with the addition of argan oil. 

L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Lipcolour in Sea Fleur 630 retails around $8.95, and the argan oil keeps your kissable smile moisturized for hours.

Dove Nourishing Oil Care focuses on giving hair extra attention with the argan oil repairing damage from root to tip.

Eco-friendly sleep cap

Some of us have to cover our tresses at night before falling asleep to ensure the health of our hair.  

Eco-Exquisite, an Atlanta-based company, makes an eco-friendly sleep cap made from natural fibers deriving from plants. They absorb the same amount of carbon dioxide they emit as well as biodegrade. 

Another beauty product that never crossed my mind to be eco-friendly, but it's good to realize there is a green version. 

Even the packaging is made from a plastic called biaxially oriented polypropylene (BOPP) that doesn't contain chemicals and is recyclable.

Pantene launches natureFUSION line

Jumping on the eco-friendly bandwagon, haircare giant Pantene released its new natureFUSION Pro-V Moisture Balance and Smooth Vitality shampoos and conditioners with natural ingredients like aloe vera and cassia.

Though the products contain relatively low-level chemicals, there are still a few like methylchloroisothiazolinone and methylisothiazolinone, both of which received a ranking of 6 out of 10 in toxicity by the Environmental Working Group's Skin Deep Cosmetics Database. 

The natural (or what's considered natural by industry standards) products are to help hair maintain shine and strength and protect against damage. 

Neutrogena, Garnier release eco-friendly lines

Today, I started noticing commercials for Neutrogena's new eco-friendly line of facial cleansers sans sulfates, parabens, and phthalates. 

Neutrogena Naturals has more vitamins and minerals, amino and fatty acids, and antioxidants. Even the folding cartons are made from 100% recycled paper and  65% post-consumer recyclable content. 

Last week, while doing research for my eco-beauty salon article, I found Garnier recently released its "greenest" line of products with shampoos and conditioners without silicone, parabens, and dyes and infused with acerola berry antioxidant. 

The bottle also uses 50% post-consumer recycled plastic bottles. And their commercials are coming to a television near you soon.

These new lines add to the number of widely available and relatively affordable products that use natural ingredients and show environmental support.

Rise of eco-beauty salons in rural town

Image: redding.com. Hairstylist Stephanie Davis gives
Brianna Griffith of Palo Cedro low- and highlights
with ammonia-free, hypoallergenic hair color at
the "O" All Organic Salon & Spa in Palo Cedro, Calif.

This week, I freelanced a story for the Redding Record Searchlight in Redding, Calif., so I was glad to be able to produce an eco-beauty story on the rise of salons wanting to use more natural, organic products and trying to reduce their carbon footprints. 

They use soy-based waxes for waxing instead of petroleum-based waxes because it derives from a non-renewable resource. One recycles cut hair to oil spill cleanups. One only uses products from the United States. 

Check out the story here.

Straightening hair becomes dangerous with Brazilian blowout

Image: stylelist.com. Actress Mary-Louise
Parker said the Brazilian blowout led to hair
loss. The treatment is being investigated for
involving dangerous chemicals.

News of the dangers associated with the Brazilian blowout hair straightening treatment has come under fire for containing formaldehyde, an EPA-classified carcinogen.

Women with curly, frizzy, or seemingly untameable hair seek ways to better straighten their hair with the constant ushering of new products and treatments on the market, so as the Brazilian blowout reached popularity in the past few years, some experienced symptoms like nosebleeds, eye irritation, and respiratory problems, according to a lawyer blog.

Earlier this week, 'Weeds' star Mary-Louise Parker, known for her waves, said the Brazilian blowout straightened her locks like never before but also made them fall out.

On another note, for black women, perms are still considered safe, but this week CNN reported braid extensions and weaves are leading to hair loss and making women more susceptible to diabetes. The extensions and weaves tightly set in pull the hair at its root, and sometimes the damage is irreversible.

Changing shampoos, conditioners, moisturizers, hairsprays, and other products to more natural choices can help repair damage. Look for ingredients you are familiar with like oils from fruits and flowers. 

Try taking vitamins B and C supplements and eating foods rich in those vitamins to fuel hair growth. 

Gluten-free hair products

Hydrolyzed wheat protein runs rampant in our beauty products, especially in our shampoos, conditioners, and moisturizers. 

For people with gluten sensitivities like me, any form of wheat in beauty products may create uneasiness.

Used for strengthening hair, hydrolyzed wheat protein is an agent derived from wheat that is partly turned into water through hydrolysis. 

But there are several organic and affordable choices that leave the hydrolyzed wheat protein out their products. 

ORGANIC GLUTEN-FREE SPLURGES

Sea Essence Shampoo (6.8 oz.), $17, morroccomethod.com

Burt's Bees Super Shiny Grapefruit Conditioner, $7.99, ulta.com

NuStyle Organic Detangler & Shine Booster, $9.95, aubrey-organics.com

DISCOUNT GLUTEN-FREE REGULARS

Garnier Fructis, $6, local drugstores

Pantene Pro-V Flat to Volume Shampoo & Conditioner, $7, local drugstores

Tresemme Tres Two Extra Hold Hairspray, $4, local drugstores

Hair growth tips for permed hair

Read my article on how to keep hair growth after a perm with the use of more natural products:

Hair Growth Tips for Permed Hair | eHow.com

Natural hairspray

Either you want your tight curls to stay curly or have your hair shine in the sun, whichever the case, you'll need hairspray. 

Hairspray, for many of us, is the daily uplifter for our hair, so why are we using hairsprays that don't do the job?

Most hairsprays as well as other products will not agree with your hair due to various possibilities, so you have to find the perfect product right for you. Since this venture can take time, you may want to try making your own hairspray.

Image: graur codrin/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One major ingredient in natural hairsprays is fruit. Orange, strawberry, and lemon are just a few that combined with your hair may result in a delicious scent.

• Pick one type of fruit that you makes your hair smell the best. From the use of other products, you may know which varieties work best for your hair.
• Use a reasonable proportion, for example, if you use an orange, use 2 to 4 oranges. 
• Chop the fruit in tiny pieces minus the rinds and peels and place them in a small pot of boiling water until everything is liquid. Or you can squeeze the fruit juice into a pan of 1.5 cups of water and simmer for an hour.

As natural product makers may know, there are certain ingredients that can brighten and strengthen your mane more than others. Adding two tablespoons of any of the following will help infuse the hairspray with vitamins.

aloe vera gel, $5.99, walgreens.com

• Aloe vera gel acts as natural cleanser between washes. 
• Glycerin will keep your strands moisturized. 
• Witch hazel or apple cider vinegar close cuticles, making hair less dull and giving hair more shine.  
• Beta carotene aids in hair growth.  
• Soy protein or wheat protein adds body and shine. 

After boiling 1.5 to 2 cups of fruit juice and water and gathering 2 tablespoons of nutrients, put the contents in a spray bottle and shake well. Spray onto hair.

Keep the bottle in the refrigerator. Because of the fruit, the shelf life is about one week.

Get your dream hair naturally

We all love our hair, but sometimes we don't show it the love it really needs. Split ends and dryness are not signs of love, but fixing these problems can help us maintain the healthy hair we always wanted. When our hair is healthy, we love it. 


With today's hectic schedules, we might ignore the cries for help, but taking the following steps will ensure health and growth and lead you to the hair of your dreams.

PRECONDITIONER
A preconditioner is a product that helps loosen the dirt and grease in your hair prior to shampooing. 

One natural preconditioner that can be found in any kitchen is lemon juice. When it is 100% lemon juice, you can pour any amount you feel would be enough to precondition your whole head and mix it with 1/3 water. You can spray or rub the solution onto your scalp and hair. This can be messy, so have a towel handy.

SHAMPOO

TRESemme Natural Shampoo, S4.49

Shampoo cleans our scalp. It is not meant to clean the grit in between your strands; water alone should do the job. 

For shampoo, castile soap can be used. Buy a brand that has all-natural ingredients like oils instead of a watered down version of the soap. Castile soap can be retailed up to $15 in stores.

If you're not willing to dish out the extra cash for this type of soap, another alternative is to use shampoos with mostly natural ingredients like jojoba oil. Some of these natural ingredients have been proven to aid in hair growth. Mainstream and inexpensive natural shampoos can be found in any beauty aisle.  

CONDITIONER
A conditioner is a product that is put in the hair after shampoo is washed out to detangle the strands. There are two types of conditioners: shower or regular conditioner and deep or leave-in conditioner. 

Suave Tropical Coconut Conditioner, $1

The regular conditioner is essential to detangling hair right after shampooing hair. You leave it in for about three minutes, then wash it out immediately. Since it's only left in the hair for a short amount of time, you still want one to contain mostly natural ingredients like flower extracts. 


After mildly drying your hair after the wash, you could use a deep conditioner. One natural conditioner that has ingredients and can be found in the kitchen is mayonnaise or yogurt. The thickness of mayonnaise and yogurt as well as the nutrients help remove any leftover residue in the hair. 

Also adding fruit pulp from cantaloupe, banana, mango, or other related fruits can help moisturize and soften your hair. 


Honey, molasses, and maple syrup can be put in your hair and wrapped with a shower cap as an intense conditioner.

MOISTURIZER
For those with dry, coarse hair, moisturizer is a must. Besides drinking several glasses of water a day, a moisturizing cream can bring faster moisture to your strands. Use moisturizers with oils from fruit, particularly olive, almond, and coconut. These oils as prominent ingredients in moisturizing creams have become popular as the main choice to keep your hair healthy.  


DAILY MAINTENANCE
To keep hair healthy every day, you just have to be aware of the products you're using. Some of these products may have ingredients that can be harsh on your hair and hurt your hair in the long term.  

Research questionable ingredients in your products and try to use products that are natural and you are familiar with. Unnecessary brushing and combing also takes strands away.

To see what's stopping you from enjoying the hair of your dreams, take this quiz.

Natural hair product: lemon juice

Because I wanted to use more natural beauty and hair products, I learned about the power of lemon juice. 

Lemon juice, which can be bought almost anywhere, is a good pre-conditioner. I massage the lemon juice into my scalp before washing my hair. I leave it in my hair with a shower cap for at least half an hour before shampooing. 

Lemon juice helps remove the dandruff and dirt from your scalp, so when you shampoo, you remove the last of the grime and add volume with the extra cleansing. 


Since it is acidic, lemon juice does sting a little, but it's a good sting when you know the dirt is being  uplifted from your scalp. Pure lemon juice is a better choice, but you can also mix it with a little water if the acidity bothers your scalp.