A new year is the perfect time to detoxify and get in great shape – and your hair shouldn’t be an exception. Here are a few all-natural products to help get you started.
Castile Hair & Body Wash by Four Cow Farm
Traditionally, Castile soaps made from olive oil were popular with European royalty for their natural aroma and moisturising properties. Now, Australian brand Four Cow Farm has reimagined a hair and body wash that blends cold-pressed extra virgin olive oil and organic Roman camomile essential oil. Entirely free of preservatives and artificial foaming agents, the Castile Hair & Body Wash (Dh135) soothes and protects sensitive skin and damaged hair. The moisturising properties of the olive oil means it does not need to be followed with a conditioner, while camomile possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Four Cow Farm is a 100 per cent organic skin- and haircare line from Queensland, Australia. The family-owned brand specialises in baby-care products, as well as balms, oils and calendula-infused creams for expectant mothers.
Four Cow Farm products are available in Abu Dhabi at Db Babies, Bodytree Studio, Nest for Kids, Rosewood Hotel and Organic Foods & Café, and in Dubai at Baby Souk, MumzWorld, Caboodle and Milk & Honey.
Rahua Elixir
If dry hair is your biggest source of despair, look to Rahua Elixir (Dh1,075). Made from organic gardenia enfleurage extracts, the oil-based formula revives the strength and shine of your strands. For best results, apply two drops daily into the ends of your hair, ideally after trimming any damaged split ends.
Rahua is known for using sustainably grown ingredients, which are not only ethically sourced but also promise better results than beauty products loaded with chemicals. A favourite among celebrities such as Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez and Johnny Depp, the Rahua collection also features shampoos, conditioners, finishing cream, hair wax, hairspray and dry shampoo. The company has also partnered with women from Amazonian nations such as Waorani, Achuar, Quichua, Quechua and Shuar, and its haircare range is created using 100 per cent natural, gluten-free and plant-derived products from the Amazon rainforest.
Rahua products are available at Harvey Nichols, Bloomingdale's, Sofitel JBR and Carita Salons in Dubai, and at House of Faser and Plethora Hair Lab in Abu Dhabi.
Ila shampoo and conditioner
The United Kingdom-based Ila brand creates skincare and hair products created from the purest sources and containing only natural ingredients such as pink rock crystal salts from Kashmir, Damask rose petals from the Himalayas, argan oil from the Atlas Mountains, frankincense from Oman, and honey and royal jelly from the Cotswolds. Ila’s Shampoo for Revitalising Hair (Dh80), for instance, is made with the natural oils of ylang-ylang and rose geranium, as well as quillaja – an ancient cleanser also known as the soapbark tree. The brand’s Conditioner for Nourishing Hair (Dh80) blends the deeply moisturising jojoba oil and softening apricot oil, which is produced by a women’s cooperative in the Hunza region of northern Pakistan.
Ila founder Denise Leicester was a former nurse who spent close to five years in Dubai nursing one of the UAE’s rulers. The brand has several high-profile fans, including Natalie Portman, Gwyneth Paltrow and Donna Karan.
Ila products and treatments are available in Abu Dhabi at Chi, the Spa at the Shangri-La Hotel, Qaryat Al Beri; in Dubai at the Natural Elements Spa at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, the Balance Wellness Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road and Palazzo Versace Dubai; and in Sharjah at Dalouk Spa at the royal-family-run Sharjah Ladies Club.
pmunyal@thenational.ae
