Founded in 1978, the renowned Minneapolis-based company has trademarked use of the Art and Science of Pure Flower and Plant Essences in creating some of the finest hair/skin care products available.  To summarize their mission statement: Beauty is as beauty does–it does not qualify as beauty if it hurts any of the diverse life forms that the best beauty artist of all, Nature, created.

So, assuming you’re new to the brand, where do you begin?  What should you try first?

Since most of us wash our hair on a regular basis—and are often dissatisfied with our current shampoos and conditioners—let me recommend one of my personal favorites from the plethora from which to choose (starting with a personal favorite): Black Malva.  This gentle cleanser smells terrific, and works with its companion conditioner to help maintain color in between salon visits.

Since I regularly dye my hair an inky shade of black, I love how the key ingredients (black malva, black tea and aloe—all of which are certified organic) work to discourage the brassy reddish tones that love to wreak havoc on my color’s overall cool undertone.  Don’t worry if your own hue doesn’t match mine; while Black Malva yields the best results on deeper brunette shades, gals (and guys!) with lighter brown/honey blonde hair should try the Clove formula.  Extremely pale blondes benefit from Blue Malva (also works well on grey); try Camomile if you’ve got highlights.  Last, but certainly not least, Madder Root suits auburn, red or chestnut shades.

All of these formulas are available on Aveda.com, where a 1-liter bottle costs $26.50. Unfortunately the conditioners are only sold as a $17.00 8.5-oz tube, but since experts caution against over-zealous use on hair that is already colored, if you supplement your regular routine with the appropriate hue, you’ll find you can stretch the value of the $43.50 you’ve spent!  (Speaking from my own experience, I bought the 1-liter bottle of shampoo sometime in November and have about ¾ remaining.  Obviously the conditioner doesn’t last as long, but I have plenty of that left as well.)

Moving right along—there’s plenty more to see here—allow me to give a special shout-out to the Brilliant line.  While the entire collection could, arguably, be touted as Aveda’s pièce de résistance, my two favorites are the Damage Control pre-styling spray and the Spray-On Shine.

I use the former while my hair is still damp; the latter works wonders after blow-drying/flat-ironing—avoid that whole [unattractive] I-just-washed-with-yesterday’s-bacon-leftovers look by not spraying too much!  An 8.5 fl. oz bottle of Brilliant Damage Control will set you back an additional $15, with 3.4 fl oz of Spray-On Shine eating up $20.

However, if you spend at least $80, Aveda.com will ship your new regimen for free—and offer you a free sample of 2 of the top-rated hair care products.

I realize how quickly the cost of such specialty items can add up–and that most of us are on a budget—but again, because these Aveda products really last, the overall value-to-initial-cost ratio does, in fact, favor value.

Jen #2

It’s made from the following ingredients (biodegradable, non-toxic and no petroleum):

Biodegradable Surfacent (coconut dea)
Natural Soybean Esters
Biodegradable di Basic Esters
Antioxidant
Lemongrass Essential Oil 

It’s non-carcinogenic (which means it hasn’t been shown to cause cancer) and it smells great! I think you’re all wondering, “Does this stuff really work?”

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Well, yes, it does work, but it does take more time than a harsh, acetone-based nail polish remover. The secret is to soak a cotton ball with the remover and let it rest on your nails for a minute. Then, the polish comes right off. I was pretty impressed that it could get all my toenail polish off – even the bits in the corners.

I doubt most nail salons will ever use removers like this because they’re always in a hurry to get you out the door and get a new customer in. But, I hope higher-end salons will pick up the trend. And, I will certainly be using this on my own nails at home!

Hamadi Honey Soymilk Hair Wash

OK, so when I’m choosing a new beauty product, I have to admit I’m often influenced by what I see recommended in beauty magazines, as well as celebrity endorsements. That’s why Hamadi Hair Care first caught my attention. But, before I buy, my more practical side takes over and I start my research. This is what I discovered…

Hamadi is an all-natural hair care line developed by hair stylist Jamal Hammadi, creator of glamorous hairstyles for celebrities and supermodels. His line is 100% organic and made with organic essential oils and plant extracts. And they’re sulfate free, paraben free and biodegradable.

The first Hamadi products I decided to try was the Eco-Pack Style Duo, which includes two travel-size products, Honey Soymilk Hair Wash and Shea Leave In. The shampoo works great for fine, thin hair or anyone who wants volume, which describes me perfectly. The leave in is a conditioning styling cream that adds body and shine to fine hair or extra softening for damaged hair.

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If you’ve never used natural hair care before, the first thing you need to know is that they are super-concentrated. That means a little goes a long way. So, a nickel-size amount of shampoo and a dime-size amount of leave in was plenty for me, but I do have short hair.

Also, if you haven’t used sulfate-free products before, you have to remember that these products don’t really lather. However, that doesn’t mean they aren’t working. The shampoo cleanses just as good as a chemical-packed shampoo and yet is so much better for you hair. You do need to rinse well, however, to make sure you aren’t leaving any residue in your hair. After using it for a few days, my fine hair feels great. It wasn’t heavy at all. And my hair does seem to be fuller.

Hamadi Shea Leave In

The leave in was great for shine and smoothing down those new hairs and breakage that tend to stick straight up. However, the first time I used it, I applied a little too much and it looked greasy. Just a dab is all you need. If you have long hair, I would recommend using this leave in on your ends and then very lightly smoothing over the top for shine.

Both products are fragrance free, which means the natural ingredients are what you’ll smell. The shampoo contains ylang ylang and guaiac essential oils and smells somewhat woodsy. The leave in contains lemongrass, verbana, ylang ylang, and rosemary essential oils, as well as shea butter, leaving you with a rich, soothing scent.

Are you ready to try Hamadi for yourself? Then, enter our Hamadi Eco-Pack Giveaway and you could win the Hamadi Honey Soy Milk Hair Wash 4oz and Shea Leave In 4 oz (a $40 value).

To enter, just add a comment below and tell us what shampoo and conditioners you are currently using. Make sure to leave an e-mail address, so we can contact you if you win (don’t worry, we won’t use your info for anything else).

For a second entry, follow My Beauty Bunny on Facebook (either our page or through Networked Blogs – see the Networked Blogs widget on the right side of the page to quickly add us. Leave a comment below with your Facebook name after you’ve added us.

You must be a U.S. citizen, age 18 or older to win. Up to two entries per person please. Contest ends midnight (PST), 6/9/09.

Contest is now closed.

Organoderm Body Lotion

Finally, I’ve found a body lotion that softens without leaving a greasy film. Organoderm’s Body Lotion is a creamy, yet lightweight product takes care of my dry, scaly skin fast. It smells great, like sweet oranges, without being overpowering. And I love that it actually feels cooling when you apply it, which is great on a hot day or after a hot shower.

Of course, I also love that this lotion contains USDA certified organic ingredients, like aloe, shea butter, olive oil, jojoba oil, shea butter, coconut oil, apricot oil, sweet orange oil, cucumber extract, and watercress extract. In fact, Organoderm makes sure their products are formulated with only the highest quality ingredients that are developed by a plastic surgeon and clinically tested.

All of these natural oils make it last long too. It only takes a small amount to smooth over your entire body, which means this 8.5 oz bottle is going to last me a while.

But that’s not all, all of their products are free of harmful chemicals, bisphenol, dioxin, paraben, sulfate, fragrance, and artificial color. Something I can definitely feel good about.