Organic Hairstylist, Joe Murray, talks about organic salons and dyeing your hair during pregnancy
Joe Murray is a leading name in the all-natural haircare movement and the owner of Hale Organic Salon—a revolutionary salon that prides itself in using safer, natural products and maintains a “clean air” environment. Hale Organic Salon has been featured prominently in major magazines, including New York Magazine and InStyle.
A personal friend of Nine Naturals founder Grace (the two were recently featured together in a TV special about green haircare), Joe sat down with Grace for an in-depth discussion about haircare, coloring and more during pregnancy at his salon.
How long have you been a hairstylist and what led you down the path of focusing on natural and organic products?
I’ve been a hairstylist for 30 years. I have always had sensitivities to chemicals but they got worse as I got older. My ‘aha’ moment was over ten years ago when I was doing hair and makeup for two bridal parties in the same day. It was a rainy day out and so we were indoors with all the windows and doors shut. After a whole day of work working with hairspray in a confined space, I came down with a severe allergic reaction - I had a fever and felt nauseous. The symptoms didn’t go away until I went home and was able to wash all the product off of me. That’s when I decided I needed to look for a cleaner, healthier work environment.
What sets apart Hale Organic Salon from other traditional hair salons?
We have a clean air salon, meaning that we don’t use any products with ammonia. If we have to use aerosol hairspray, we have a separate room to contain airborne irritants. We also seek out the cleanest, most natural and organic hair products possible to use on our clients.
What are the biggest concerns that pregnant women have when they come to see you?
Pregnant women are concerned about the health of their unborn baby, but they also want to look good. They feel conflicted between their vanity and their baby and feel guilty that they are being a bad mom. Women don’t believe they have options, but I believe they can still have great results with safer products that won’t put their health or their babies’ health at risk.
Should women dye their hair during pregnancy?
If the dye comes in contact with the skin or scalp, that is where the risk of absorption of chemicals comes from. For women who highlight their hair, they should be able to continue to do so since the dye doesn’t touch their scalp. They might still be concerned with the air environment of the salon though where they can breathe in toxic fumes, which is why they should look for a clean air salon like Hale.
For women who want to do single process and dye all their hair, we make sure to get the color as close to the scalp as possible, without touching the scalp. This is a lot of work for a hairstylist but we are happy to do it to make sure our clients feel safe.
What is the biggest challenge for you in running a green salon?
Finding employees who share the same values and ideals.
What is your favorite Nine Naturals product?
The Nine Naturals Restorative Mandarin + Ginger Conditioner!
Nine Naturals products are currently for sale at Hale Organic Salon.
Things We’ve Read: Week of May 12
Mother Accuses Doctors of Forcing a C-Section and Files Suit (NYT): How do you feel? A lawsuit about csections vs. vaginalbirth and who’s in control in the delivery room.
Chinese couples rush to get pregnant before dreaded Year of the Sheep (Washington Post): Chinese couples are opting to have kids before 2015, the year of the Sheep.
Acid Reflux & Heartburn During Pregnancy: 5 Ways to Treat It (CafeMom): 5 ways to treat acid reflux and heartburn.
Yoga Keeps Expectant Moms Stress At Bay (MNT): Studies have show Yoga to relieve stress among pregnant women.
Nail Salon Lamps May Increase Skin Cancer Risk (NYT): Worried about UV light at the nail salon? Lather up with sunscreen before applying those lovely 5-free colors! (or just opt for some old-fashioned air drying)
The Straight Story on Hair Straightening During Pregnancy
As all moms and moms-to-be know, there are so many things to consider during your pregnancy. From avoiding certain foods to keeping an eye on medicine you might otherwise take without hesitation, being pregnant often means staying on high alert. Unfortunately, here’s one more item to add to your “beware” list: hair straightening.
While many women enjoy getting their hair straightened using a method called Keratin Straightening (otherwise known as the “Brazilian Blowout”), it is wise to consult your doctor before booking your next appointment at the salon. Most physicians will tell you to avoid it altogether or during the first trimester at least. Simply put, the harsh chemicals used in straightening serums may be absorbed through your scalp during treatments and passed along to your growing baby.
While keratin is a protein that is found naturally in your hair, its mixture with formaldehyde makes for a toxic combination. Once applied, the mixture fills in the gaps in each hair shaft, which the stylist “seals” with a very hot flat iron. At this high temperature, liquid formaldehyde converts to gas vapors. The negatives here are plentiful. Formaldehyde is a known carcinogen. It has also been known to cause irritation of the skin, eyes, nose and lungs, as well as dizziness. Even short-term exposure can cause asthma-like symptoms, while long-term exposure can cause permanent central nervous system damage and ongoing pulmonary problems. As a result, the treatment has actually been banned in several countries including Canada and the European Union. Needless to say, gaseous formaldehyde could also pose a risk to your growing baby.
Fortunately, there are some healthier alternatives:
Professional Blowout: Though it may not last as long as a keratin treatment (days versus months), a professional blowout is both a fun way to treat yourself and achieve the sleek, straight look of a straightening treatment - without the risk of chemical exposure. Be sure to go to a salon that is well-ventilated and uses natural products, like our favorite salon Hale Organic Salon in NYC. Book your appointment early in the day when the air is more clear and minimizes exposure to chemicals.
Flat Irons: When in doubt, do it yourself! Keeping a flat iron at home is the easiest way to smooth out your hair in the most convenient way possible. Try the Rusk Professional Str8 Iron, it features plates infused with ceramic and tourmaline, which provide instant and precise heat for optimal straightening results.
Embrace Your Natural ‘Do: Whether you have stick straight hair or tightly curled tresses, chemical-free hair is best for you and your baby. So embrace your natural hair texture, and get creative with fun hairstyles. We’re pretty sure your hair will also thank you for the break from all the chemical treatments.
And remember! Healthy hair is easy to style hair! Taking care of your tresses by using safe, high performance hair products during pregnancy, such as Nine Naturals Nourishing Citrus + Mint Shampoo & Conditioner, will make the flat ironing process easier and your hairstyle longer lasting. To keep hair healthy in between stylings, use a deep conditioner once or twice a week, like Nine Naturals Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner.
Wondering about rules of dyeing your hair while pregnant? Read our article on the safety of dyeing hair during pregnancy.
The Tribeca Citizen’s “Your Neighbor, the Entrepreneur: Grace Lee”
Who’s answering these questions?
Grace Lee, CEO and Founder of Nine Naturals.
Elevator pitch?
Nine Naturals creates safe, 100% plant-based, high-performing haircare and skincare products for women during pregnancy and beyond. We want to help women look beautiful while ensuring a safe, healthy start for their children.
Intriguing! Tell us more.
The average woman uses 12 beauty products a day—a routine that exposes her to as many as 168 different ingredients! Some of these commonly found ingredients, like parabens and phthalates, can be absorbed into the bloodstream and have been associated with diseases and health concerns such as cancer, endocrine disruption and behavioral disorders. Pregnancy is the stage when babies are most vulnerable to environmental toxin exposure. Women should still be able to use luxurious beauty products without risking their health or the health of their new baby.
When was it founded? Where did the idea come from?
I started Nine Naturals in business school at the University of Chicago where I won the school’s business competition. I was originally inspired by my pregnant friends searching for safe beauty products to use. Many of the products that claimed to be natural still contained harmful ingredients, and many natural products simply didn’t perform well. The shampoos didn’t lather well and the body products didn’t do much for their skin. When I developed the line, I focused on using natural, pure ingredients but also maintaining a high standard for beauty and performance.
Why “Nine Naturals” (as a name)?
“Nine” for the nine months of pregnancy! And “Naturals” because we only use plant-based ingredients in our formulations.
Who else was involved?
I have an amazing team of people, including my business partner, Amanda, as well as a seasoned chemist and manufacturer in California, a Harvard-educated dermatologist, and a highly talented New York packaging designer. And of course, my family has been very involved—my husband and my 21-month-old daughter, Charlotte, help test all of the products before they go to market.
How big is Nine Naturals now?
We are a fast-growing beauty start-up with a direct-to-consumer distribution through our company’s e-commerce site. We have a beauty product lineup of six different products (shampoo, conditioner, deep conditioner, body wash, belly butter and body cream), with more to come soon—including a sunblock and lip balm! Thanks to strong celebrity referrals, great PR and high customer re-order rates, we’re barely able to keep up our production to meet demand for our products. (#humblebrag)
Where is it headquartered?
Our office and showroom are at 189 Franklin. Come stop by! We love having people over to sample and buy products.
Does living in Tribeca inspire the company in any way?
I am inspired every day by all the fabulous pregnant women and moms in Tribeca. I want every woman to feel confident and beautiful during her pregnancy.
Any company hangouts around here?
Naturally, I am quite particular about the beauty spots I frequent. I love Hale Organic Salon. It’s the one salon where you can avoid the nauseating smell of chemicals! Joe, the owner and my stylist, and I have become close friends and work together on a number of projects between our two businesses. (And Hale sells Nine Naturals products!) Beyond beauty, my team can normally be found at Kaffe 1668 on Beach for business meetings or picking up late afternoon cookies at Locanda Verde —their chocolate chip peanut butter cookie is unreal.
Any testimonials from locals?
“I used the Nine Naturals shampoo and conditioner throughout my pregnancy and—as a blonde with a little help—plan to keep using it post-baby since it has all the nourishing ingredients I need for healthy hair, with none of the sulfates or nasty stuff that strips it.” —Carolyn Pressly-Ryan
“I have been using the Belly Butter since the start of my second pregnancy. After trying several other brands during my first pregnancy, this is the only product I’ll use from now on! My belly always feels moisturized and the smell is just right—not too strong and a really pleasant scent.” —Holly Stein
Ten Green Resolutions for 2014!
A new year has begun! We turn over a new leaf and welcome another opportunity to break old habits and make real improvements in our lives. Many of us spent 2013 contemplating the switch to a green lifestyle, but didn’t know the best way to start.
Our list of 2014 green resolution tips will help you get started! Follow one, two, or all of our tips, and you’ll notice a great change in the New Year.
- Rely on Nine Naturals for a beautifully clean 2014! We are proud to carry 100% all-natural, 100% plant-based products that designed to help pregnant women feel beautiful without compromise. Every Nine Naturals product, from our rich Moisturizing Body Cream to our Mandarin + Ginger Restorative Conditioner, will spoil you and keep you, your baby and our environment safe. Check out our luxurious line today!
- Opt for chemical-free cleaning products. Did you know that using traditional cleaning chemicals can create indoor air that is two to three times more polluted than the air outside? In 2013, many organizations around the country, including the state of California, began pushing for regulation on chemicals in common household products. Find a list of eco-friendly cleaning alternatives (some of them right in your kitchen cabinet) in our Greening Your “Clean” Routine article.
- Get in on the green nursery trend. In 2014, expect a boom in the number of new parents considering a green sanctuary for their newborn. But as our popular article makes clear, green nurseries are much more than a trend. From the mattress to the crib to the cleaning products to the air filter, they provide an excellent way to secure a baby’s health during her important formative years.
- Vow to steer clear of chemicals at the hair salon. Chemical-heavy treatments like hair dyeing and chemical straightening can expose you to damaging chemicals and even carcinogens. We’ve published several articles on great alternatives to these harsh treatments.
- Line-dry your laundry. Take advantage of sunny days to let the heat dry your clothes naturally, which can seriously save on both energy and money. Find more tips on greening your laundry with our blogpost here.
- Don’t let product labels intimidate you! At first glance, they’re just so darn difficult to read. But toxic chemicals are a reality in any number of commonly used household and cosmetic products and it’s crucial to arm yourself with the knowledge to avoid them. Trust us - you can become a fast expert on deciphering an ingredient list! Check out How to Read a Label to get you started!
- Eat organic whenever possible. This resolution can significantly reduce how much you expose your body to harmful chemicals and pesticides through what you eat. But you don’t always have to make the organic choice. The Dirty Dozen are the foods you should always eat organic (like apples and peaches), while the Clean Fifteen (eggplant, kiwi) are fine to eat conventionally. The Environmental Working Group provides a handy list for both.
- Ditch the plastic water bottles. This might be the hardest resolution to keep, since plastic bottles are so convenient and widespread. But these bottles often harbor harmful chemicals like bisphenol-A and phthalates and are an albatross on global environmental health.
- Instead, choose stainless steel and glass over plastic. These materials do not include the toxic chemicals that plastic containers can. Have no choice but to use plastic, though? Remember this rhyme for your safety: “4, 5, and 2 — all the rest are bad for you!”
- Increase your environmental shopping consciousness. Lastly, do what you can to augment your mindfulness of Mother Earth whenever you shop. Examples of how to do it: buy in bulk, and choose the farmer’s market over the grocery store. Bone up on the many ways you can be a greener shopper with the help of our Green Tip article.
