Celebrating Women-Owned Products at Scisters Salon

We feel that every month is women’s month here in the salon. However, we particularly love this time of year as we get to highlight some of our most favorite woman-owned products in the apothecary!

Here at Scisters we have some requirements of our brands that we ALWAYS insist. Those are: zero waste, cruelty free, and environmentally friendly. In addition, there are extra conditions we strive for whenever possible. Those are: vegan, locally made (and sourced) and lastly women and/or BIPOC owned!

Here we have highlighted five of our favorite women-owned companies at the salon:

1. Dip - Sustainable Hair Care

Owner: Kate Assaraf

Her story: “Kate Assaraf's entrepreneurial journey is a classic example of an unusual humanitarian commitment and an inspiring corporate pursuit going hand in hand. The real meaning of corporate social responsibility is epitomized in the case of Kate Assaraf and her product, Dip sustainable hair care.” - International Business Times

We know that we’ve highlighted Kate and her fabulous bar shampoos and conditioners multiple times on this blog, but honestly, we can’t get enough. Kate has won NUMEROUS awards including Best Hair Care 2022 and Woman of Courage 2020. Keep rockin’ it Kate!

2. Root and Splendor - Natural Home and Body

Owner: Kristin Fracassi

Her story: “Just as the quality of the soil at the root of the plant impacts how well it grows and flourishes, we believe our bodies and minds are similar. Whether it’s physical, emotional, spiritual, relational - what you put into and feed your roots matters.  Here from our healthy roots is where we grow and experience splendor.  Each and every ingredient in our products is natural, eco-friendly and safe for people and planet - all working together to create the best atmosphere to grow healthy and experience splendor.” - Root and Splendor Website

We honestly could yabber on and on with our love for Kirstin and her amazing laundry products. Not only do we carry the laundry detergent and stain remover in our apothecary, but we also offer them in bulk! Bring your bottles to us and score a big win for your wallet and the environment.

3. No Tox Life - Vegan Bath, Body and Home

Owners: Sandee Ferman & Callie Milford, Mother-Daughter Team

Their Story: After Sandee headed to her local grocery store one day and reading the "natural" shampoo ingredients, she realized that it was full of harsh, drying detergents that were causing her scalp issues. The idea of No Tox Life was born - helping people switch to a truly non-toxic lifestyle.

Sandee’s daughter Callie Milford is the co-founder and creative director of No Tox Life. She designs & formulates new products (along with Sandee), and directs the look of the brand, as well as managing sales to the hundreds of independent grocery stores, zero waste stores and lifestyle stores carrying the line.

There are few products in the apothecary that we (and our guests) gush over more than No Tox Life’s Shower Steamers! So much so, we have a hard time keeping them on the shelves; ESPECIALLY in the winter and during the holidays. So if you’re a eucalyptus lover, plan accordingly and grab ‘em while we have ‘em!

4. Embers and Blooms - Soy Wax Candles

Owner: Katherine Olenski

Her Story: “As a hairstylist, its my passion to spread joy to others in a simple way, reminding them that life is beautiful.  So when I had to take a step back from that to protect my guests from Covid-19, I had to find a way to express that passion. I was spending my days pouring candles for friends and taking time to tend to my garden.  I would pick a bunch of blooms, light a homemade candle, and savor the moment.  But as we know, fresh flowers die after they bloom, so I decided to give them an extended life by combining the two.  The combination of a handpoured candle made with only the cleanest ingredients and adorned with hand pressed flowers was too breath taking not to share with the world, so Embers & Blooms was born. “ - Embers and Blooms Website

We are SO lucky to have Katherine as both a stylist AND a supplier in the salon. That means we get to celebrate her twice as much this month and we couldn’t be more proud to do so.

5. Marley’s Monsters - Reusable Home Goods

Owner: Sarah Dooley

Her Story: “It all started in 2013, when our founder and President, Sarah Dooley, was on maternity leave from her career as an interior designer, and waiting for the arrival of her first baby, Marley. Before Marley’s birth, Sarah dusted off her sewing machine and got to work creating her first monster out of fabric scraps she had collected. It had been years since she had made anything, but with hard work, dedication, and trial and error, Sarah eventually went on to launch her own business, Marley’s Monsters, all centered around reusability and sustainability.” - Marley’s Monsters Website

We are incredibly honored to be able to carry quite a few marleys products on our apothecary shelves. From bento bags to sponges and unpaper towels. We just love her, her message and every single product we’ve used.

As always, if you have any women owned and sustainable products you love, tell us! We’re always on the hunt to support our sisters. Local and around the world!

5 winter skincare tips from local dermatologist Sama Carley

Have you used Naim skincare yet? It’s the amazing zero waste and refillable line that we carry in the apothecary. We asked founder and local dermatologist Sama Carley for her advice on caring for our skin in these cold dry months. Here’s what she said;

1. Use a heavy moisturizer twice daily

Make sure it’s non comedogenic

Avoid thinner or runny lotions that have more preservatives and alcohol which can lead to drier skin. Recommended brands include CeraVe or Vanicream face and body creams that come in large tubs to reduce waste and simplify regimens. For simpler and more plant based, coconut oil can be great for some people but some do break out with this! Always trial a test spot and wait a few days to make sure you don't react. Avoid all other oils/natural moisturizers as many of them do clog pores (Shea butter is notorious for this). The trick with moisturizers is they must be applied within 30 SECONDS after washing face and applying toners/actives. The longer you wait after water contact, the more the evaporation dries out your skin. Seal it all in ASAP!

2. Ease up on the actives!

Dry and irritated skin in winter does not handle actives as well.

Decide what you want to work on the most and focus on 1 actives product. If anti-aging is a focus, utilize just a retinol or adapalene product. If texture is an issue, products with alpha hydroxy acids will do the trick! Try the Naim Exfoliating AHA Serum nightly. Is inflammation, rosacea, or acne a problem? Try a gentle beta hydroxy acid toner with sulfur to reduce inflammation and breakouts (like the Naim Balancing Facial Toner with salicylic acid and sulfur). Is pigment irregularity an issue? Vitamin C products that are stabilized by ferulic offer help with this, and can also help with aging and sun damage. The Naim Pigment Correction Serum used nightly is a great tried and true option.

3. Double cleansing is key

to fully remove irritants and toxins built up throughout the day and all the heavy moisturizer for a clean face, break up your cleansing routine.

This is not only for people with dry skin, but those with oily skin will be surprised what a difference double cleansing with an oil does! Start first by using a dedicated oil to dissolve away all impurities - we love the Naim Botanical Cleansing Oil because of the anti aging effects of the rosehip oil and the relaxing scent. Follow this with your favorite cleanser, we recommend either the Naim pH balancing cleanser or any gentle fragrance free bar soap. This step will saponify and wash away the oil after the oil has pulled away and dissolved impurities. 

4. Weekly Masks

for brightening effects to fight off that dull winter skin tone and smooth out texture!

The Naim Resveratrol Pumpkin Peel is a decadent treat for a self care night at home. You'll see instantly more supple and brighter, smoother skin after 10 to 15 mins of this mask! You can also reduce waste by making your own more gentle moisturizing mask at home.

5. SPF, SPF, SPF!

Although the shorter and darker days can leave us glum, the UV rays are still persistent this time of year.

Not only that, but if you suffer from pigment irregularity, the visible light from indoor lights can also worsen this issue. Mineral sunscreens with at least SPF 40 to 50 every day is a must! Steer clear of chemical sunscreens, and ideally find a mineral sunscreens that is tinted. The iron oxide used to tint sunscreen helps protect from damage visible light - imperative especially for those of us with skin of color. Some of our favorites include: ILIA Skin Tint, Josie Maran mineral tinted sunscreen, CeraVa mineral 50 tinted sunscreen, Neutrogena Sheer tint mineral. Although tempting, avoid homemade SPF and other "natural" alternatives. SPF is technically a topical medication and should be treated as such. Be sure to get enough vitamin D from fresh, healthy, varied foods in your diet and remember vitamin D needs fats to be absorbed well! 

12 Tips to Help Your Clothes Last Longer

Once we bring clothing (whether it’s new or previously loved) into our home, there are certain things we can do to help extend the life of the clothes. Clothes, especially fast fashion items (made in higher volumes and lower quality), tend to fade quickly and lose their shape at a fast rate. Whether it’s the money you are spending on new clothing or the time you are spending sifting through secondhand clothing racks to find gems, it’s in your best interest to extend the life of your clothes as much as possible.

Helping our clothes last longer is not just beneficial to our finances and time, though. Did you know it also helps the environment? According to Forbes, the fashion industry is a major global polluter, contributing up to 10% of the world’s carbon emissions. The less you buy and the longer you keep your current clothes, the more you’re helping the environment. In addition, when clothes get ruined or when we get bored with them, we tend to ditch or donate the items. Unfortunately, 85% of textiles end up in landfill each year (World Economic Forum).

The better we care for our clothing, the longer it can stay in use and circulation. Therefore, the less waste we contribute to our time, money, and the environment. Here are twelve tips to help extend the life of your clothes:

1. Clean your washing machine monthly

It is important to clean your machine about once a month. Soap, residue, and minerals build up in our machines over time, significantly reducing the machine’s ability to clean properly. Cleaning the tub, drawers and doors, rubber gaskets, and draining and cleaning the filter are all important steps.

2. Use less detergent

Overuse of detergent can break down the fabric over time. Don’t be afraid to take an extra moment to measure how much laundry soap you are using, and for most brands, you can cut the recommended measurement in half. With Root and Splendor laundry soap, you only need 1 Tablespoon (1/2 fl oz) of laundry soap per load.

3. Don’t use unnecessary laundry products

The use of additional products, likely containing synthetic and toxic ingredients, can significantly reduce the quality of clothing by breaking down the fibers at a high rate and building up unnecessary residue. Products such as bleach, synthetic fabric softener, and scent beadlets can reduce the quality of your clothes and their overall lifespan. Ditch these products, as they are not typically necessary to clean clothes.

4. Don’t overload the machine

A perfect load of laundry is around 15 pounds of clothes. This is considered a full load. Overloading your machine causes too much friction between clothes but also prevents the machine and laundry detergent from working at their maximum efficiency in cleaning the clothes.

5. Lower the temperature

Avoid hot water cycles, when possible, as hotter water (and hot dry cycles) break down the fabric. As a general rule, save hotter cycles for items worn close to the skin, like bedding, towels, socks, and underwear. Other types of laundry can have the temperature reduced and be washed at cooler temperatures.

6. Remove stains! Check and stain remove again (before drying)

One of the biggest culprits for clothes needing to be thrown out is stains, but permanent stains can be avoided. For best results, treat your stains with a stain remover as quickly as possible. Don’t be afraid to carry your Root and Splendor stain remover along with you. This natural formula is powerfully effective at removing all stain types. The quicker you treat the stain, the more likely you will be able to get it out. After the wash cycle and before drying, check your clothes. If the stain doesn’t come out, treat the stain again. The toughest stains may need a couple of treatments.

7. Follow the directions on the label

We are not textile experts, and no one expects you to be either. It is best to read the directions on your clothing label. These directions are intended to help your clothing last longer, and taking any shortcuts could significantly reduce the life of that item.

8. Sort

Sorting laundry is not just an old-fashioned method of doing laundry, but it is actually beneficial in helping preserve fabrics. There are many types of sorting you can do, but the main two are:

Colors - Sorting colors is a simple and easy trick – darks go in one load and lights in another. (We even like to separate the bright fabrics out, as well). Due to the rise of fast fashion and various cheap dyes that companies use in their clothing, sorting the clothing will easily avoid noticeable bleeding of colors, which then damages other items in the wash.

Fabric types - Sorting out by type of fabric can help extend the life of your fabric. For instance, sorting towels with towels, linens with linens, and athletics with like items will help prevent items from being damaged in the wash.

9. Zip up! Button up!

Zippers and buttons can cause teeny snags in clothing that, although you may not notice it with your eyes right away, will worsen over time until finally, there is a small growing whole. Zip up and button up those jeans, jackets, sweatshirts, and more.

10. Inside-out clothing

Another quick tip is to take your t-shirts (with graphics) and dark clothing and turn them inside out. This practice can help reduce fading of clothes and reduce piling.

11. Don’t overwash your clothes

Many of us have the tendency to wash our clothes after every use, but you can actually get multiple uses out of your clothes. For instance, jeans can last 4-6 wears, and wool items prefer to be brushed, not cleaned. If the item is dirty, smells bad, or is stained, toss it in your dirty hamper (stain remove first), but otherwise, try to get a couple more wears out of it. The more you wash your clothes, the more the colors fade and the fit or elasticity changes in shape, especially with lower quality and fast fashion clothing items.

12. Fold or hang your clothes right away

Stuffing your clothes or leaving them piled in a basket is tough on your clothes. When possible, fold or hang your clothes at your earliest convenience as they come out of the dryer. This takes some extra time upfront, but it is worth the effort to help your clothes last longer.

We hope these twelve simple tips have been helpful. We have more control over the lifespan of our clothes than we realize, whether they are brand-new items or secondhand clothes. If we all take some extra time to properly take care of our clothes, the overall waste of our resources (time, money, and environment) will be reduced.

Written by Kristin Fracassi, Founder and Owner of Root and Splendor

For more information on natural and safer for people and planet laundry essentials, visit www.rootandsplendor.com

5 Sustainable Valentine's Day Gift Ideas

We know Valentine’s Day can be a bit …. controversial. Is it a day to celebrate our undying love? A commercial holiday sold to us by Hallmark? The jury is still up for debate.

Regardless, if you find yourself in a situation where a gift would in fact be appreciated, don’t assume that it needs to be filled with single use plastic on a one way track to the landfill. In fact, quite the opposite!

We have complied a helpful list of 5 sustainable gift ideas that not only your lover will appreciate, but also mama earth!

1. Scisters Salon Gift Certificate

Scisters Salon Gift Certificates are offered in any amount and never expire! Call or stop in to purchase.

Quick, easy and ALWAYS appreciated. Scisters Salon Gift Certificates can be used either in the salon OR the apothecary so this is a perfect gift for anyone in the family. The best part? Since we print our gift certificates on recycled paper, there is no shame in this thoughtful gift.

2. A Sustainable Read for Your Book Lover

Regardless of whether your babes is an eco warrior or just dipping their toe into the low waste world, we offer multiple options of sustainable reads here in the salon. The Zero Waste Home written by Bea Johnson is a personal favorite and an award winning option that guides you through transitioning all aspects of your home through sustainable swaps. This easy to read beauty is not only a page turner, but pretty enough for that coffee table vignette.

3. Award Winning Shampoo and Conditioner Bars by Dip

See our assortment in the apothecary

These shampoo and conditioners bars are nothing short of amazing. They have essentially accomplished the sustainable beauty TRIFECTA. Dips bars are great for ALL hair textures (and genders), sustainably sourced and packaged, and small business owned. And because of that, Dip has won numerous hair care awards including BEST HAIR CARE for 2022. That is a huge accomplishment and we are totally not shocked in the least. These wonders are great in anyones shower.

4. Embers and Blooms Candle

Is there a limit to the amount of candles one person can own? We believe that limit does not exist. Especially when the candles are toxin free, soy based and have INSANE burn times. No really, the 16 oz candle has a 70 HOUR BURN TIME! These hand poured hunnies are created by one of our own stylists Katherine and man, oh man, is there anything she can’t do?

5. Love Blend Loose Tea

Mountain Rose Love Blend Tea is available by the oz!

Lastly, when all else fails, nothing is better to sooth those wintertime dulls than a cup of hunka hunka burnin’ love tea. This certified organic love blend is a mixture of damiana leaf, roasted cacao nibs, orange peel, rose petals, cinnamon chips and vanilla. We know there is no such thing as an ACTUAL love potion, but if there was, we’re pretty sure it was taste something like this.

*Bonus: Two Toads Together Plantable Card

View our plantable card options here!

Is this, or is this not, THE most adorable thing you have ever seen?? These plantable cards handmade by The Bower Studio have seeds built right in to the card! So once your lover has swoon over the adorable poem you have written them on the inside, right into the garden she goes! I mean, do we even need a holiday for an excuse to buy one of these? We think not.