Halloween Hair: Dos and Don'ts

[caption id="attachment_7440" align="alignleft" width="300"] Halloween Hair doesn't have to scare you![/caption] You know what's scarier than your Halloween costume?  Damages hair from Halloween abuse! Halloween is a night to go wild with costumes, hair and makeup, but here's some dos and don'ts to keep your hair feeling soft and looking great post Halloween hair.

Avoid Temporary Hair Dye

At Morrocco Method, we're always reminding you the dangers of permanent hair color, but even temporary hair color you find at the grocery store (or a salon!) has chemicals like ceteareth-20, dmdm hydantoin, methylparaben, and propylparaben.  Temporary spray-in hair color also provides the chance of inhalation, forcing these toxic chemicals into your lungs--not how you want to start your Halloween Eve. [caption id="attachment_7443" align="alignright" width="255"] Achieve amazing color without the chemicals![/caption]

Try Non-Toxic, Organic Chalk

One of the safest ways to color your hair is using chalk! Using non-toxic, organic chalk that can be easily washed out is a natural and creative alternative to chemical hair color. Simply spray the strands you'd like to color with Diamond Crystal Mist to wet the hair (and keep it conditioned!) and apply the chalk directly to the strand--let sit for a couple mins and then brush any excess chalk from your hair.  When you're ready to remove, just brush with your Boar Bristle Brush to remove as much chalk as possible and then take your brush with you into the shower and rinse your hair, scalp, and hairbrush. [caption id="attachment_7444" align="alignleft" width="300"] MM offer's the safest styling products for Halloween Hair[/caption]

Get Your Style On!

Morrocco Method offer's a variety of amazing styling tools to help you achieve your look.  From our aloe-based Blood of the Dragon Gel which offers a light to medium hold, to our Spike-IT Wax for extreme hold, MM offers the finest in safe, natural, and chemical-free styling products.  So why not grab yourself a Styling Dragon Pomade and create the hair-raising look you want!  Have a happy Halloween this week and stay safe!

5 Ways to Prevent Excess Hair Shedding in Autumn

Did you know your hair responds to sunlight just like a plant? In the spring and summer, your hair flourishes, because sunlight triggers hair growth hormones. Autumn brings changes.

[caption id="attachment_7393" align="alignright" width="300"] Hair shedding in Autumn is as natural as leaves falling.[/caption]

As the days grow shorter and colder, the roots of your hair go into dormancy and your hair begins to fall with the autumn leaves. For a period of 4-6 weeks, you might see hair shedding increase. Do not panic! It's a natural shedding of the thinner summer hair in favor of your "winter coat."

Along with using your Morrocco Method Shampoos and Conditioners, these tips will help you to avoid excess hair shedding this autumn.

1. Massage Your Scalp Daily

Protect your hair by practicing daily scalp massage to stimulate your sebaceous oil glands and increasing blood circulation to the scalp. Morrocco Method's Scalp Massager is the perfect tool for this as it is 100% natural rubber that won't irritate or accidentally scratch the scalp like fingernails and plastics. Here's how to use it.

2. Deep Condition Weekly

Weekly deep conditioning is the key to ensure your scalp and hair remain healthy and moisturized in the colder months ahead. Deep conditioning weekly helps to prevent itching, irritation, and excess hair shedding throughout the changing season.  MM offers several deep conditioning treatments to alternate between weekly.  Rotate:  Leaving in Morrocco Method's Chi Instant Hair Conditioner or Pearl Essence Creme Rinse for 15 minutes, doing a Neutral (Colorless) Henna treatment, and a Euro Natural Oil overnight leave-in.

3. Lunar Cut Monthly

Trim your hair using Morrocco Method's Lunar Hair Chart for hair cutting. Trimming the ends of your hair removes damaged, split ends and helps to invigorate the hair and scalp--shocking the entire growth system. Cutting monthly, in conjunction with your Lunar Goal, (Lengthen, Strengthen, Thicken, Root Work, Beautify) will help to remove damaged ends that cause tangling, breakage, and weak hair.

4. Eat Well Always

It's the harvest season, so take advantage of the bounty of nature! Eat foods for healthy hair growth, which will lessen hair shedding. Some superfoods in season this autumn: apples, brussels sprouts, parsnips, pears, rutabagas, cauliflower, squash, pumpkin, sweet potato, turnips, pomegranates, dates, kiwi, and most citruses.

5. Don't Stress Often

Stress can cause increased hair shedding, which will make you stress out even more! But do not worry—take a deep breath, do calming exercises, indulge in aromatherapy, have a good laugh, some herbal tea, and give a loved one a hug.

Greenwashing: Are Your Products Really Green?

Since the late 1980's companies have been using "greenwashing" to fool consumers into believing the company is more "natural" than they really are.   The Merrian-Webster dictionary defines greenwashing as:

expressions of environmentalist concerns, especially as a cover for products, policies, or activities

In fact, Greenpeace has an entire website dedicated to greenwashing and different companies who use this technique to fool consumers.  As they explain on their site, "green is the new black" and has become an important buzzword for many companies—whether they practice green business or not. These days it is becoming more and more difficult to determine just how "green" and "natural" a company really is so we have come up with a couple tips to help you make sure you're getting the truth behind your products.

1.  Look at the WHOLE Company

Once you find a product or company you think might be the real deal, take a deeper look into their company as a whole.

Visit the website, read any educational materials and try to locate any "company standards."  Are the claims made through their product (or advertisement) substantiated somewhere in their public information?  If not, beware.  You will find that all of Morrocco Method's company standards subscribe to being environmentally conscious as well as chemical free and plant-based.

2.  Read Your Ingredient Lists

Once you have found a product you think is "green" take a deeper look into their ingredients.  Not only are chemicals damaging for your body, but they also harm the environment.  Do they mention how their products are made and processed?  Do they list ALL the ingredients on the website?  You will find Morrocco Method Ingredient Lists are complete with all ingredient information.

3. What Are Others Saying

Google the company and words like "environment" and "ingredients" to find any information from 3^rd parties about the company.  The Environmental Working Group's SkinDeep Database is a great resource to start.  Usually if a company isn't listed on this website, they have chosen not to have their ingredients and company inspected. As a consumer, money is a powerful tool—the companies that receive our money should also be those you can stand behind.  Morrocco Method will always continue to offer the finest in environmentally conscious and chemical free products. To learn more about greenwashing and to do your part in stopping businesses from pretending to green, visit Greenpeace's StopGreenwash.org.