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Essential Oil In Shampoo and Conditioner to Protect and Nourish Your Hair
You know how much I love essential oils and clean products. Combine the two? Even better… Before jumping into the content, I just want to quickly introduce myself - I’m Liv, a holistic lifestyle coach and aromatherapist who focuses on essential oil uses and safety. I use essential oils incongruence with most of my personal care products and hair care is no exception. Because of essential oils, my hair is longer, thicker, and healthier than ever! How I got my hair to be long, thick, and healthy? Keep reading! If you follow me on Instagram or TikTok or read my blog, you already know how much I LOVE Plaine Products. Their Citrus Lavender Shampoo and Conditioner is no exception! Not only do the citrus and lavender essential oils make your hair smell amazing, but they also help your hair grow strong and healthy. All Plaine Products are made with natural ingredients such as aloe, which, in my experience, has certainly strengthened my hair! It also provides UV protection - perfect for the summer months and long days outdoors. Benefits of Lavender Essential Oil Reduces Itchiness A dry scalp can cause itchiness and flakes. Lavender helps to nourish your scalp and keep your hair moisturized. May Prevent or Get Rid of Lice Lavender is a well-known remedy for ridding your hair of lice and preventing them in the first place! Improves Scalp Health Lavender has natural antimicrobial properties, preventing bacteria and fungi from forming and improving the health of your scalp! Promotes Hair Growth Lavender oil has been shown to stimulate hair growth and helps hair to grow thicker and faster than normal. Benefits of Citrus Essential Oil Promotes a Healthy, Natural Shine Citrus oils help clean and unclog your hair follicles for increased moisture and shine! Strengthens Hair The stimulating properties in citrus oils help to encourage growth and promote strong, healthy hair. Purify the Scalp Citrus oils clean and deodorize to purify the scalp and keep your hair smelling amaaazing. Plaine Products Citrus Lavender Shampoo + Conditioner If you’re looking for a new shampoo and conditioner for strong and healthy hair, give Plaine Products a try. Not only are their products great for your hair, but they’re also great for the environment. Plaine Products uses all-natural ingredients and sustainable packaging and even has a handy refill and recycling program! If you’re looking to improve your hair care routine or make the switch to something sustainable, I HIGHLY recommend Plaine Products! To learn more about essential oil uses and safety, follow me at @LivHolistic on Instagram and TikTok or check out my blog at www.liv-holistic.com.
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Sustainable Spring Cleaning Tips
The sun is shining and the weather is warming up, which means it’s time for spring cleaning! Spring cleaning can sometimes mean creating waste- whether it be from the stuff you’re getting rid of or the supplies you use to clean. But we’re here to help you do it differently! Read on for some of our favorite sustainable spring cleaning tips. Declutter Sustainably In need of some decluttering? Go for it! But try thinking about donating your used items in a different way. Up to 90% of clothing donations to Goodwill, Salvation Army, and other charities end up with textile recyclers or in a landfill, and not with people who actually need clothing. So instead of dropping your stuff off at a big box donation store, try to keep it local. In addition to donating to local stores or shelters, try posting your items in a neighborhood Buy Nothing group, planning a clothing swap with neighbors and friends, or selling your clothes on resale sites like Poshmark, Depop, or ThredUp. This will ensure that your used items go to those who actually need them, instead of into the trash. Clean Sustainably Send less waste to the landfill by creating your own cleaning supplies! Try using an old cloth towel instead of paper towels, and old newspaper to wipe down your mirrors. You can even save old socks to use as dusting mitts! Take it a step further by making your own cleaning solution. Here’s our favorite recipe: 1 cup distilled water 1 cup white vinegar 2 tbsp liquid castile soap 5 drops of tea tree oil Upcycle Your Items While you work on getting your place nice and clean, you may come across some items that you don’t use anymore. Instead of throwing them away, try to find creative ways to upcycle them into something you’ll use! An empty iPhone box could become a desk organizer, old books could be turned into decorative floating shelves, and jars/bottles can be used as planters and vases. The opportunities are endless! Air It Out Want to get rid of some smells? Instead of choosing expensive and unsafe air fresheners and chemicals, simply open up some windows and doors! Studies have shown that indoor air can be significantly more polluted than outdoor air, so make sure to crack open some windows and take a deep breath! Cheers to a sustainable spring clean! Let us know your favorite cleaning hacks over on our Instagram post!
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Join Us in Asking the USPS To Go Electric
It's no secret global climate change is here and we need to be doing all we can to cut carbon emissions. In addition to other steps , Plaine Products chooses to use the US Postal Service (USPS) to deliver our packages to your door because they are already coming into your neighborhood each day. So, unlike other e-commerce deliveries, our packages aren't creating unique delivery trips. However, those deliveries do still create carbon emissions, which we dooffset . But what would be even better than offsets? Never having those emissions in the first place. Which is why we need your help.The USPS is in the midst of upgrading one of the largest civilian fleets in the world. They currently own more than 231,000 vehicles. However, instead of following the Biden administration's directive to move towards electric vehicles, the USPS, under the leadership of Trump appointee Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, recently finalized a contract to replace the 165,000 aging postal trucks with 90% gas-burning trucks and only 10% electric vehicles. The contract is worth up to $6 billion over 10 years and would be the Postal Service’s first large-scale vehicle purchase in three decades. Lawsuit Against USPS In response, attorneys general from 16 states and the District of Columbia, along with five environmental groups and the United Auto Workers, launched a legal challenge against the USPS at the end of April, claiming that it violated the law when it ordered thousands of new mail trucks powered by gasoline instead of electricity. According to a press release from theCenter for Biological Diversity , one of the plaintiffs, "The lawsuit says the Postal Service sidestepped mandatory environmental reviews that needed to be completed before the agency made a purchasing decision. Instead, the Postal Service released a draft environmental impact statement for its plan six months after it had already signed the contract with Oshkosh, in violation of the National Environmental Policy Act."The lawsuit also points out that the gas versions of the next-gen vehicle weren't much better for the climate than their roughly 30-year-old predecessors. While the 14.7MPG without air conditioning beats the earlier models' 8.2MPG, that fuel economy drops to just 8.6MPG with air conditioning turned on. Actions you can take to help push the USPS to reduce carbon emissions While we wait for the courts to make their decision on whether or not to block the contract there are some actions you can take:Send a Message to the USPS. Earthjustice, another plaintiff, currently has an easyonline option to send a letter to USPS reminding them that, "This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity that we cannot afford to lose to status quo bias and faulty analysis. Please revisit your analysis and give a fully electric postal fleet the fair consideration it deserves."Contact Your Elected Officials. The Build Back Better Act, currently stalled in Congress, includes about $6 billion to help the Postal Service pay for electric vehicles and charging stations. Urge yourRepresentatives andSenators to get this done and make sure this part of the Act survives. Congressional offices keep tallies of the issues they receive calls and emails about so help keep this on their radar.Spread the word . There are countless high-priority issues right now that deserve our attention, the only thing about this one is that it's an easy fix. By canceling its existing contract and moving to electric vehicles the USPS could cut its emissions in half and reduce pollution going into our communities.
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#ProgressWithPlaine: Celebrating individual action for the planet!
Will buying one reusable bottle save the planet? No. But, together, we’ve already eliminated 400,000 plastic bottles from the waste stream! While we know that corporations and policy makers ultimately move the levers necessary for stopping climate change, we’d like to celebrate the power and ability for each of us to be changemakers. After all, it is only through the collective power of individual action that we have seen, and will see, the change we need at the systemic level. That’s why we’ve launched our #ProgressWithPlaine campaign! The ripple effect of inspiration is incomparable and we want to highlight all the ways in which individuals are taking action for the planet. Earth Day 2022 We kicked off our #ProgressWithPlaine campaign on Earth Day (April 22) this year. Earlier that month, we announced that we were donating our plastic-free Hand Sanitizers in support of Earth Day events across the country. We’re thrilled to have been a part of so many amazing events - here are just a few highlights: Miami Beach, FL. Clean Miami Beach hosted an epic beach clean-up with 101 volunteers! They picked up 464lbs of litter, including 236 plastic bottles. Boulder, CO. Ocean First Institute held their virtual Spring Microplastics Pollution Monitoring Program with a research symposium with students and teachers. Grand Haven, MI. Aldea Coffee hosted a beach clean-up and picked up over 400lbs of trash (wearing thrifted clothing). Los Angeles, CA. A leadership development training for students to “Plant their Dreams.” Rosemead, CA. Rosemead High’s Ecology club planted succulents and organized a school-wide recycling event. Mt. Airy, NC. Members of the Surry Sunrise Rotary Club cleaned up 38 bags of litter in Mt. Airy. Chattanooga, TN. Danelle picked up a huge bag of trash from just a one-block radius around her house. Share your #ProgressWithPlaine! Whether it’s switching to reusable bathroom products, organizing a beach clean-up or climate strike, getting involved with your local government, or educating your community about the climate crisis, our collective efforts ARE helping to create large-scale change. Post how you’re taking action using the hashtag #ProgressWithPlaine and visit our landing page to receive a special coupon as a thank you for all you’re doing for the planet. And be sure to check out how others are making #ProgressWithPlaine here!
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Sustainable Mother’s Day Gifts
Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and we’ve got the sustainable gift ideas you’ve been looking for. From repurposing what you already have to creating memorable experiences, these sustainable Mother's Day gifts are perfect for the eco-minded mom in your life. Give An Old Memento New Life Mother’s Day is a chance to let the mother figure in your life know how much you love and appreciate them. One of our favorite ways to do that sustainably is to give an old memory new life! You could make a scrapbook of your old photos, sew old baby clothes together into a cozy blanket, or edit together your favorite home movies into a sentimental highlight reel. Get creative! Donate To Her Favorite Cause Let your mom know you care about what’s important to her. If she has a favorite charity or cause, consider making a donation in her name. This one is a win-win-win: a gift for her, a gift for a cause close to her heart, and zero negative impact on the planet! You could even consider donating to one of our nonprofit partners, Beyond Plastics ! A donation to Beyond Plastics will help them protect moms and babies of all species from the dangers of plastic pollution and they'll send the person you've chosen to honor an adorable e-card to let her know you care. Dedicate a Tree In Her Name This one’s for the nature-loving mamas out there! We love the idea of dedicating a tree in her name. Not only is it a unique way to express your love, but it will continue to positively impact the planet for years to come. Check out The Trees Remember to dedicate a tree in her name! Sustainable Self Care Mother’s Day is the perfect opportunity to treat your mom to a little self-care! Give her an at-home facial with our Facial Care Trio set, or go all-in with our Day At The Spa set. Not only will your mom feel relaxed and rejuvenated, but all of the products come plastic-free, so she’ll feel good knowing she’s protecting the planet at the same time. While all of these sustainable Mother's Day gifts are sure to bring a smile to her face, don’t forget that the most important gift you can give your mom is time. Take the day to slow down, enjoy some quality time, and let her know how thankful you are to have her. Happy Mother’s Day!
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How to Care for Gray Hair
Wondering how to care for gray hair? Looking for tips as your hair transitions to gray? We've asked our resident hair stylist, Krysia, to share with us a bit more about gray hair and how to take care of it.The Science behind gray hair The age and pattern in which your hair turns gray is mostly due to genes you've inherited from your parents. While stress and some medical conditions can contribute to hair going gray, it's mostly genetics. What is the science behind hair turning gray? Hair follicles contain pigment cells called melanin which give your hair its color. As we age, these cells start to die resulting in new hair strands that lack pigment and can be ash(salt & pepper), silver, gray or bright white in color. Society and unrealistic beauty standards Society tells us to fight the aging process at all costs. The anti-aging beauty industry is an estimated $58.5 billion dollar market. There are countless products out today geared to help us fight wrinkles, lift, tighten, smooth, tuck, dye and hide our gray hair. However, during the pandemic when many salons were shut down, people opted to stop dying their hair and go natural. Now more than ever, we are seeing men and women embracing the aging process and going against these unrealistic beauty standards. Gray tones have even recently become a trendy fashion color. People of all ages are dyeing their hair gray on purpose-bleaching and toning their hair silvery platinum, rich titanium, or steely dark gray. There is even a movement of gray hair advocates across social media who encourage you to put down the dye and rock your gray. So you've decided to embrace the gray? Growing out your gray roots gracefully can feel a bit daunting. Luckily, there are a few ways to grow out gray hair gracefully. During the grow-out period, there will most likely be a "line of demarcation” or the line where the gray hair ends and the dyed hair begins. To soften this harsh line, you can ask your stylist for a transitional color, adding some hi-and low-lites. This puts just a bit of the hair color back into the roots, and a bit of a lighter shade into the ends-creating a blended, multi-toned look. Platinum highlights are another way that can help blend grey hair and add a bit of blonde pigment to brighten your gray. You can also opt for a daily temporary root touch-up to use during the grow-out period. Lastly, if you’re feeling daring and ready for a big change, you can cut the dyed hair off for a fresh, gray, shorter do. How to care for your gray hair Because of its lack of pigment and tendency to be coarse in texture, it is so important to add hydration to gray hair. A nourishing, sulfate and paraben-free shampoo and conditioner such as the Plaine Products Citrus Lavender line will help keep hair hydrated, soft, and manageable. Try shampooing every other day or 3 times a week to avoid drying. Plaine Products Beauty Oil is a deeply moisturizing blend of premium oils packed with antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Beauty Oil is a very beneficial product for gray hair and can be used on damp or dry hair to add shine, tame frizz, define curls, and moisturize scalp and hair. It can also be used on beard hair to moisturize and soften. If your hair is overly dry, try adding a few drops of Beauty Oil to Citrus Lavender Conditioner to create a deep conditioning treatment. Apply to hair, concentrating on dry hair ends, put on a shower cap to contain heat, and let sit for 10 minutes before rinsing clean. Another great way to add shine and luster to dull gray hair is by opting for a clear gloss treatment at the salon. What's with the purple shampoo? Environmental factors such as minerals in water, pollution in the air, and dullness due to heat styling can turn white or grey hair a yellowish/orange tone. Remember the color wheel theory from art class? Yellow is the opposite of purple, so products that contain violet pigment are used to neutralize unwanted yellow and brassy undertones in grey hair. Gray-haired clients should keep a brightening shampoo and/or conditioner in their hair care lineup to battle brassiness. Once a week, a purple shampoo can be used to control and tone down those unwanted yellow tones. Always follow the manufacturer's directions for application and remember not to leave the purple shampoo in for too long or you could end up with purple hair! And until Plaine Products has its own purple shampoo, Krysia's pick is Amika Bust Your Brass Shampoo. It's Sulfate/Paraben/Mineral Oil-free, vegan, cruelty-free, and recyclable.
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Why Our Products Are Palm Oil-Free
Palm oil is the most widely consumed vegetable oil on the planet…but it shouldn’t be. The oil is admittedly very useful and can be found in cosmetics, packaging, food products, detergents, and more. But the harvesting of this oil is destroying essential habitats and contributing to climate change, which goes against everything we stand for here at Plaine Products. Read on to learn more about the effects of palm oil and why all of our products are palm oil-free. What is Palm Oil? Palm oil is a type of vegetable oil that comes from the palm fruit, which grows on a specific type of tree called the African oil palm. These trees are originally from Africa but were introduced to Indonesia and Malaysia by the Dutch. Now, Indonesia and Malaysia make up over 85% of the global supply. What is Palm Oil Used For? Palm Oil has several uses because of its many chemical and physical characteristics. For example, it is resistant to oxidation, so can increase the shelf-life of products. It’s also semi-solid when at room temperature, which is why you’ll find it in a lot of food spreads, like butter. You can even use it to give fried foods a crispy texture due to its stability at high temperatures. Palm oil is used in many cosmetic and personal care products because of its creamy texture and ability to improve the product’s stability and shelf-life. Why Is It Bad? Palm oil is made from palm trees, and the cultivation of those trees requires large swaths of land. Because of this, palm oil continues to be a major driver of deforestation, destroying the habitats of many endangered species like the Orangutan, the Sumatran rhino, and more. On top of destroying habitats, cutting down these trees also emits carbon dioxide. The trees are grown in carbon rich soil and act as “carbon sinks,” keeping that carbon out of the atmosphere. When the trees are removed, the carbon is released and exacerbates the climate change crisis. The cultivation of these trees has also been linked to child labor, exploitation, and other human rights abuses. What Can We Use Instead? While it is possible to farm palm oil more sustainably, that requires a gargantuan effort between governments, consumers, producers, and global markets. In the meantime, many brands have chosen to use alternative ingredients in their products to avoid the negative effects of palm oil. At Plaine Products, we do everything we can to ensure we are leaving the smallest footprint possible. When formulating our products, we knew we wanted to keep our ethical ingredients palm oil free. Instead, we use coconut oil. Coconut oil holds many similar characteristics to palm oil and is great for making our products ultra-moisturizing for your skin and hair. The best part? It is far more sustainable to produce coconut oil, making it the obvious choice for our brand.
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Tips for Running a Successful Beach Cleanup
Want to run a beach cleanup but not sure where to start? Here are some tried and true tips for planning and running your own successful beach cleanup! Plan Survey your local beaches for trash. Check your local beaches for any heavily trash impacted areas. Areas with a stormwater drain or a sewage drain that lead to the beach or ocean most likely have lots of trash flow. Popular beaches that receive lots of visitors are also likely to have lots of trash. Make sure to set a time, date, and location and plan your event in advance. Gear You don’t need much to get started! Beach cleanups are as simple as just picking up trash with your hands. But if you are looking to update your beach cleaning gear, try out these recommendations below! Gloves: Gloves protect your hands from mysterious trash items. You can reuse your gardening gloves from home or purchase new ones as your designated beach cleaning gloves. Pro tip: Always bring hand sanitizer with you, even if wearing gloves. Trash grabber: If you’d like to invest in more specialized beach cleaning gear, try out trash grabbers. Large metal tongs are great because they are sturdy and don’t break as easily as other plastic grabbers, but you always want to find what works best for you. Buckets: Buckets are also a great tool to use during cleanups. Buckets can be rinsed and reused after each cleanup. Pro tip: add stickers to your bucket to easily identify your bucket during large cleanups and add some style to your beach cleaning efforts. Hanging Scale: Looking to quantify your impact? A hanging scale allows you to determine the weight of each of your cleanups. Data like this is a great tool to show people just how much trash you’ve picked up. For your volunteers: Have your volunteers bring their beach cleaning essentials: sunscreen, hat, water, and comfortable shoes! Make sure to check weather conditions to dress appropriately! Spread the Word Once everything is planned, start spreading the word! Tell your friends, family, and use your social circles. Social media is a great tool for creating beach cleanup events. Create a post and repost to your stories on FB and IG. Ask your friends and family to share to their circles as well. Resharing to your stories serves as great reminders to those who want to attend! Trash Sorting After you run your cleanup, take the time to sort through your trash (this is where the gloves come in handy). Sort the recycling into a separate bin, and designate what goes into the landfill. Try to find alternative uses for items that are still in good condition. For example, donate forgotten sand toys to neighborhood kids. Sorting through the trash also gives you the opportunity to take pictures and document what kind of trash you find. Pictures are great tools to help others visualize how big our trash problem is. Don’t forget to share your beach cleaning effort with us! Use #ProgresswithPlaine Happy beach cleaning!
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Our Newest Product: Hair + Body Wash!
Our goal at Plaine Products is to help you reduce the amount of plastic in your bathroom. Our newest product does just that! With the launch of our 2-in-1 Hair + Body Wash, we’re making it easy for you to stick to your plastic-free routine. Our Hair + Body Wash has been specially formulated to provide a luxurious cleanse for your scalp and body. This product features the premium aloe-based ingredients of our Shampoo and Body Wash, along with a few new ingredients that make it especially suitable for both your hair and body. This 2-in-1 product comes in a lovely Sage scent—the same scent as our Beauty Oil—that will leave you feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. What's In It? Bambusa Vulgaris Extract (bamboo) contains more than 70% organic silica, a protein found in skin tissue and crucial for thick, strong, smooth hair. It also promotes speedier hair growth and gives more elasticity to hair. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of bambusa vulgaris extract help to soothe the scalp and improve blood circulation. Hibiscus Sabdariffa Flower Extract offers anti-oxidant, nutritive, and emollient benefits to enhance skin’s tone and texture. It also acts as an exfoliant and hair growth promoter while preventing premature graying and dandruff. Apple Amino Acids create a foam that conditions hair and skin. It leaves the hair easy to comb, soft and shiny while retaining volume. Lauryl Glucoside is a sugar and coconut oil based replacement for Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) which are cosmetic detergents. Lauryl Glucoside cleans the hair without stripping or weighing the hair down. This ingredient helps the hair and body wash work for a wide range of hair types. Why Use Hair + Body Wash? Simplify your routine We’re big fans of “Less is More.” We use concentrated ingredients in all our products, so you can minimize bottles and maximize the life of your product. And now with our 2-in-1, you can embrace a minimalist routine in the shower, maximizing your contribution to our planet’s health. Great for Travel Our Hair + Body Wash helps you travel lightly, making it especially suitable for camping, van life, and more. The best part? The ingredients are biodegradable, so you can wash up outdoors without the guilt. Suitable for Low Maintenance Hair Types This product is great for those who typically have low-maintenance locks, or those looking for a minimalist lifestyle. You can even replace conditioner for those with fine hair. Shop our new 16oz Hair + Body Wash here or give it a try with our travel size version! What other new products would you like to see from Plaine Products? Let us know by connecting with us on social at @PlaineProducts!
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