Juju Thoughts & Organics

or, am I a broken record, behind the chair, client after client, espousing the virtues (and believe me there’s many) of Organic Apple Cider Vinegar and what it can do for your hair. Really! So, as you may or may not know, our organic salon in Philadelphia, juju, is a busy busy place - lots of heads of hair and lots of problems with said hair. My favorite comeback to “it’s itchy,” “I’ve noticed a scaly patch,” “why does this color look pink in certain lighting,” and even, “my hair is ’smelly’” is: rinse once a week with an organic apple cider vinegar.

It clarifies, it balances Ph, it stops color fading, it removes whatever mineral/chemical sludge is in your water supply (yuck), it soothes, softens and tones every tired tress, really! Curls are bouncier, highlights re-freshened and on and on.

Our organic favorites at juju are Miessence Clarifying Hair Rinse and John Masters Herbal Cider Hair Rinse. These are the real thing, with organic burdock, lemon and nettle thrown in for extra conditioning. But you can make your own!

Here’s How: Add 1 to 2 tbls. of certified organic apple cider vinegar to a cup of warm water. In the shower, shampoo hair and rinse thoroughly. Apply your OACV mixture to wet hair and work through…it will feel straw-like and squeek a little, but rest assured, you know it’s working. After a minute or three, rinse and apply your organic conditioner….rinse and remove yourself from the shower!

Let me know if your curls are spiraling in perfect double-helixes and if your scalp is soothed!

Even though it’s almost the end of January, this photo reminds me of my New Year’s resolutions. I made three:

1. Subscribe to and read the entire New York Times (only on weekends, because let’s be real);

2. Do some kind of formal exercise at least once a week;

3. Finally get around to joining a CSA.

The lavender in the shop window was purchased at a farmer’s market near the salon, and the person who sold it to me told me it was grown at their farm out in West Chester, PA. The lavendar is so lovely and dried now, but it was first purchased for my Bastille Day window, at the height of summer. There was a whole French theme: we put all the products we sell that contain lavendar in the window, as well as all the ones from France. We put up a Marie Antoinette-style mannequin head, some Being & Nothingness, and Simone de Beauvoir (but no naked pics).

But that was summer, months ago. Back to my resolution.

I equate the CSA with bushels and bushels of kale: stir-fried kale, kale omelettes, pickled kale, peanut butter and jelly kale, kale kale kale. This explains why I’m 41 and still haven’t managed to join a CSA. My gorgeous client Bronwyn poisoned me against the CSA two growing seasons ago, when she would come in for her appointments and complain that, once again, her house was full of kale and collard greens that she couldn’t get rid of.

But I normally shop at Whole Foods, and I can’t help but wonder where all the produce is coming from. I need to start paying more attention to the source of my food. I want to support local growers. Here in the northeast, though, what are they growing in the depth of winter? I’m guessing it’s kale.

Recipes welcome.

Welcome to the home of Juju Salon, Spa, & Organics blog. Look forward to news and information about all things green and exciting events at the Salon & Spa right here!