The Salon Movement

Moving Salons Forward Sustainably

Sneaky Ingredients To Watch Out For

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Anything you put on your skin absorbs into your body so don’t you want to make sure you’re putting on the best? Even some sustainable beauty products labelled “natural” aren’t as natural as they advertise. The list is long (sadly) but here are some of the most common questionable ingredients which often make their way into beauty products. If you see any of these, put that bottle back on the shelf and walk away!
 
Phthalates
 
Phthalates are all too commonly seen in beauty products yet should be avoided at all costs. Studies have shown some correlation between phthalates and endocrine disorders which can possibly lead to certain cancers.
 
Unfortunately, some manufacturers disguise their use of phthalates by using the term “fragrance”. Make sure the products you’re buying have transparent ingredient lists so you know exactly what’s in them and what that “fragrance” really is. Which brings us to our next sneaky ingredient…
 
Fragrance
 
As we’ve just told you, “fragrance” can be an evil term. Some products smell amazing and that’s because of the natural herbs or essential oils added. However, other products smell amazing due to chemicals like phthalates being added.
 
Once you use products that have a true natural scent, you’ll start to notice the difference. Until then, watch for “added fragrance” and other indecipherable names on chemical labels. Fragrance can also be an irritant so also try buying fragrance-free.
 
Alcohol
 
Alcohol is added to a lot of skin care products because it makes your skin feel cool and fresh temporarily. But after just a few uses, alcohol can lead to irritation and excess sensitivity of the skin.
 
Watch out for alcohol-based ingredients, and look for terms like methanol, isopropyl and ethanol. These are scientific names for different types of alcohol.
 
Colours
 
Other than to make it look fun, there’s no reason to add dyes or colours to any product. Colours listed with numbers such as “Red 3” and “Yellow 5” are especially dangerous and can lead to behavioural issues in kids, as well as skin irritation.
 
BPA
 
OK, so BPA (or Bisphenol-A) won’t actually be on the product’s ingredient list but it’s quite likely to be in the packaging. Even if you’re buying sustainable beauty products with only organic ingredients, if it’s packaged in plastic containing BPA, it may cause you problems anyway as the packaging can leech into the liquids.
 
BPA is linked to hormonal imbalances, not to mention the damage it can do to the earth. Look for earth-friendly packaging on everything you buy.
 
What Next?
 
Luckily, many cosmetic companies are coming around and taking unnatural, dangerous ingredients out of their products, including the sneaky ones. It may take a little research but look for transparent companies, ones who are open about what’s on their ingredient list and what those unrecognizable terms on their labels really mean.
 
We use and recommend Davines products to everyone for both home and salon use. It’s a fantastic company that cares about the earth and your body. If you’re not sure where to start, please read our previous blog post, Davines products your salon MUST carry.
 
Be part of the movement by partnering with The Salon Movement. We’ll help make sure you’re using the very best sustainable products and are a part of a committed team of professionals who make a difference. Join now.

How To Celebrate Earth Month

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April is EARTH MONTH! The Salon Movement and its awesome partners are already committed to living as green and eco-friendly as possible and this is the perfect time to get the rest of you on board to helping the earth — and yourself — be a lot healthier.

Start A Challenge

Challenge your family, friends or colleagues this April to see who can be the most sustainable. At the end of the month, find out who has the lowest hydro bill, who reduced their food waste the most, who produced the least amount of garbage — or ALL the above! A challenge with a small prize will motivate people to do their best and learn some good habits that stick with them far past April.

Use Alternate Forms of Transportation

It’s the start of spring and most people are excited to shed their boots and parkas and get outside. It’s not too hot or too cold so walking and biking are ideal at this time of year. Commit to using your car as little as possible during April. If biking or walking is not an option for your commute, try using transit or carpooling if it’s available to you.

Go Veggie

April is the perfect time to start a garden and grow all sorts of wonderful fruits and vegetables. You get some fresh air and relaxation time while being productive. This month is usually the start of community markets where you can get some great local produce. Support your local farmers and learn some new tips and tricks you can put towards your own garden.

Take that wonderful crop of veggies you bought and/or grew and find recipes to use them all. Commit to trying at least one vegetable a week that you have either never tried before, or you thought you didn’t like and find a way to love it.

Try using vegetables as the base of all your meals this month. We’re not saying you have to cut out meat completely but try to incorporate as many meat-free meals as possible. This will greatly help your health and the earth’s sustainability.

Don’t Buy Anything You Don’t Need

Take this month to think about your footprint and budget. Buying items you don’t need leads to increased clutter and less satisfaction for what we have. Make a commitment this month to buy only what you absolutely need. And if you do need something, buy sustainably. Sustainable beauty products, sustainable fashion, and supporting local eco-friendly companies should always be your first choice when you need something new.

Commit To Something Green Outside

Grab a group of friends or family and head outside to appreciate the natural beauty and do some good for the earth. Pick up trash at your local park or beach, or plant some trees in an area that needs it. You’ll feel good and, of course, the earth will, too!

Find More Tips

Did you catch our Spring into Sustainability blog post last month? Be sure to take a read through to find out more ways to help you on your way to being more sustainable at home and at work.

Happy Earth Month!

Spring Into Sustainability!

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Spring is arriving next week and for most of us, it will be welcomed with open arms! It’s the perfect time of year to re-evaluate how eco-friendly you’re being in your life.

Here are a few easy ways you can change to be more eco in your home and work life this Spring:

Decrease Your Water Usage

At both your home and business, there are a lot of things you can do to reduce your water use. If you don’t have low flow toilets or shower heads, get those installed — they’re not as expensive as you may think. Don’t know where to look? We’re big advocates of the products that ECOHEADS offers.

Be mindful of water by only turning it on when it’s time to rinse your hair, teeth or dishes instead of letting it run. Install eco-friendly, water-conserving dishwashers and washing machines and only run full loads. And why not put some old buckets outside to collect rainwater to water your garden and indoor plants?

Reduce Your Energy Use

Switch to energy efficient appliances if possible especially with the ones you use the most. Assess your lighting and heating options, maybe it’s time to go with solar options. If this isn’t in the cards quite yet, there are other small steps you can take which will help. Turn off all lights and machines when they’re not in use, replace your light bulbs with LED or CFL bulbs, and wear a sweatshirt instead of cranking the heat.

Change Your Products

Eco-friendly products can be found everywhere these days. If you’re a DIYer, it can be as simple as mixing baking soda and vinegar to clean most of your surfaces!

Natural beauty products are better than ever, and you know that by supporting sustainable beauty, you’re doing good for your skin and the environment. If your salon isn’t already carrying Davines products, what are you waiting for?

Clear The Clutter

“Spring cleaning” time is here and this year, you’re not only going to give everything a good clean, you’re going to be ruthless in purging everything you don’t need. It may take some time but go through everything at home and at work and donate or recycle what you don’t need. Keeping old paperwork and unnecessary items can weigh us down mentally and emotionally.

Reduce and Recycle

So now that you’ve cleared away all your clutter, you certainly don’t need to add any more back in again. Set up a system that allows you to reduce your waste. Don’t print out emails, stay away from disposable products, and recycle everything you can’t re-use.

Shop Smartly

“Fast fashion”, a term used by fashion retailers to describe inexpensive designs that move quickly from the catwalk to stores to meet new trend, is popular these days. Think the stores that offer you shirts for only a few dollars but will only last you a few months. Clothing is becoming a huge environmental issue in the way it’s manufactured and sold. Instead, look for sustainable fashion when you can and know that you’re doing good for the earth while purchasing a quality piece.

This is the same for towels and sheets you use every day. Spending a little bit more money on Bamboo or other sustainable fabrics will last longer and be kinder to the earth.

Support local markets which carry produce from sustainable, chemical-free farmers. Switch to fair trade items when purchasing coffee, tea and chocolate whenever possible.

Start A Garden

Spring is the perfect time to start a garden even if it’s just a small container garden on your windowsill. Plants have many everyday uses besides looking pretty. In fact, growing plants that naturally purify the air will help you breathe easier. Aloe plants can be useful for small injuries, instead of turning to chemical-based creams to soothe those small burns or cuts.

Growing your own herbs and vegetables is a life changer. You’ll save money plus eating something YOU have grown tastes amazing!

Join The Movement!

If your salon hasn’t already become a part of The Movement, it’s time to make the leap. This will put you ahead of your competitors, and you can rest easy knowing you’re doing what’s best for everyone. Find out more now.

Davines Products Your Salon MUST Carry

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“By creating beauty sustainably, we encourage people to take care of themselves, of the environment in which they live & work, of the things they love.” — Davines.

If you haven’t already discovered the wonderful sustainable beauty line, Davines, we hope we’ll convince you to give them a try. The Salon Movement is proud to be a unified grassroots movement of sustainably-conscious Davines stylists and salon owners. Supporting Davines shows that you care about the earth, as well as your customer’s well-being.

Davines was founded, and continue to produce, in Parma, Italy, with development starting in the 1980s and products being ready to sell about a decade later. Davines truly believes in sustainability and is aiming to be the most beautiful and ethical company in the world.

We love every unique Davines product we use, and they truly do have something for everyone. If you’re looking to bring our your natural beauty, here are a few of their best-selling and award-winning products we think you should try:

Love Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner

The best-selling LOVE duo from Davines has won a few different awards, and rightfully so! This shampoo and conditioner set is the perfect fit for anyone with dry, unruly hair that is prone to frizz. The olive extracts and vitamin E gently cleanse and add a smoothing dose of moisture.

Nounou Shampoo And Conditioner

Nounou Shampoo is yet another award winner from the Davines line and, along with the matching conditioner, is a dream. It’s a life (and hair!) saver for anyone who has brittle, dehydrated hair. Fiaschetto tomato is incorporated into the formula to provide the antioxidants and vitamin C which nourish hair completely.

The Oi Line

Several products in the Oi line have won awards and anyone who has used it has little doubt why. This multi-use line of products is perfect for just about anyone. It has the best ingredients to use on a day-to-day basis, when hair is behaving nicely and has no issues. Roucou oil is the key ingredient in this amazing line to keep hair and skin hydrated and soft.

This Is A Sea Salt Spray

This Is A Sea Salt Spray should be re-named “This is an amazing product!” A best-seller for many reasons, this spray provides amazing texture and style to any hair type and it smells so good!

The sea salt in this spray naturally gives tresses the perfect beachy waves many want to achieve without having to head to the ocean.

Well-Being Conditioner

The Well-Being Conditioner is an excellent all-around moisturizer for hair. Made with echinacea plant, this conditioner contains natural antimicrobial products which works to keep hair healthy and nourished.

Nourishing Vegetarian Miracle Conditioner

The Nourishing Vegetarian Miracle Conditioner is THE product to use to put life and moisture back into dry, damaged hair. It invigorates from the scalp right down to the ends of your hair to provide intense moisture and prevent breakage.

Acai oil is the miracle ingredient which provides your hair the protective antioxidants and restorative benefits it needs. Grape phytoceuticals add an extra source of antioxidants as well as polyphenols to keep hair healthy and strong.

If your salon, or personal collection, doesn’t include Davines, that needs to change right now, not only for the sake of beauty but for sustainability.

Davines has some very exciting collections coming out involving coffee, tea and honey. We can’t wait for these products, and to see what other revolutionary, sustainable ideas Davines has for our future.

A Green-Inspired Holiday

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At a loss for what to buy friends and family over the holidays that they’ll cherish and won’t throw out after? We create so much trash around the holiday season from extra parties to gift wrapping and the unnecessary gifts themselves! Here at Salon Movement, we want consumers to vote with their dollar and also think about the kind of company and it’s ethics that they want to be supporting. Below is a small list of simple but thoughtful gifts that say “I care.”  

Abeego — In 2008, Toni Desrosiers decided to make a living, breathable food wrap that was entirely sustainable. This gave birth to Abeego!  You may have seen this incredible idea on Dragon’s Den or Buzzfeed but if you haven’t, it’s a food wrap made entirely of beeswax. You can reuse it, shape it, wash it and cut it to any size you need. These wraps are great stocking stuffers or part of a “green” centred gift.

Davines Products — As you know, we’re huge fans and supporters of Davines for a host of reasons. Ethical, sustainable and good for your body are just a few. Davines can be given as a whole gift or travel sizes can be popped into stockings too! With recyclable packaging and a large variety of hair and body care, there’s a little something for everyone.

An Outing — We don’t know about you but planning an event or outing with someone you want to give a gift to is even BETTER than a physical present. Going for a hike, paint night or an evening out on the town are all great ways to rekindle connection and create more memories. By planning and creating a special day or night with the one you care for shows how much you deeply care. Anyone can run to the store and grab a gift card but a unique event is much more thoughtful.

Jusu Body Products — Nothing says that you care about self-love more than gifting some beautiful non-toxic, organic body care products. Jusu Body is a line based out of Victoria, B.C. and they have a full range of amazing, pure, pulp-based lotions, scrubs, soaps and face care, too! Two of our personal favourites are the body lotions scented with essential oils and with no chemical fillers and the lip balms which are super creamy and nourishing.

We want you to have a “green” holiday and feel good about the purchases you’re making. This is not only going to force you to think about what you’re spending money on but also introduce new products to friends and family that may not be as familiar with the sustainable lifestyle! Happy Shopping!