Curl Library

  At the heart of our shampoo formulations is an understanding of shampoo’s role in nurturing your hair. Regular, proper cleansing with a sulfate-free shampoo allows moisture to penetrate the hair, which is essential for proper hydration and hair health!  Original Moxie shampoos are sulfate-free & extremely gentle. They tone the hair & scalp, promote a healthy pH, and maintain the integrity of the scalp’s outer mantle. We offer 2 shampoo options – a no-foam shampoo and a clarifying shampoo. Not sure which one would suit your hair the best? Join us as we dive into the unique features of each shampoo so you can find your perfect match!   Get Clean No-Foam Shampoo Get Clean is our top pick for normal to dry hair. Its sulfate-free formula removes dirt and excess oil without disturbing your scalp’s natural balance! It’s especially beneficial for curly hair that struggles with moisture retention or for anyone with scalp issues such as dandruff or itchiness. The star ingredient in Get Clean, Organic Turmeric, has the unique ability to calm inflammation, combat bacteria, and regulate sebum production in the scalp! The active component of the root, Curcumin, possesses anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties, and works effectively to correct scalp conditions like dandruff. Karanja Oil, pressed from the seeds of the Pongam Tree, also contributes anti-bacterial benefits and provides effective relief from skin conditions such as dandruff while toning and cleansing the scalp. Additionally, Get Clean’s cream-based formula offers excellent slip, making detangling a breeze. You can effortlessly soften and loosen tangles with your fingers during shampooing, simplifying your styling routine afterward. Original Moxie Founder, Rachel Blistein, attributes the remission of her lifelong Seborrheic Dermatitis to the benefits of this product.   Triple Threat Detox Shampoo Build-up happens no matter how perfect you are at caring for your hair! Gradual build-up often occurs because small amounts of minerals are present in most municipal water systems. Additionally, pollutants in the air, like dust, dirt, and chemicals, can also accumulate on our skin and hair, leading to build-up over time. Minerals can block water from entering your hair, affecting how your hair feels and how your styling products perform. To combat build-up, we recommend Triple Threat Detox Shampoo. Its powerful formula cleanses, clarifies, and chelates – a process that removes minerals and heavy metals from your hair and rinses them down the drain where they belong! Like all of our products, Triple Threat is ultra-concentrated, meaning a little goes a long way. It’s curl and color-friendly, meaning it’s safe to use on any hair type. Its foamy lather is gentle, and its minty, fresh scent leaves your scalp feeling invigorated. If you have city water, your mineral build-up is likely gradual. You can use a chelating shampoo every 3rd wash. If you have hard water, or low porosity hair that is especially prone to build-up, you can technically use a chelating shampoo every time you wash. If you have dry and/or high-porosity hair, we recommend using Get Clean as your regular shampoo and using Triple Threat every 3rd wash. If you have oily hair, you can use Triple Threat as your regular shampoo.   If you’re unsure which Moxie products are right for you, take our Hair Type Quiz for personalized product recommendations.

2A? 4C? Who cares! Let your hair speak for itself.Based on over four years of research and 1,000+ heads of hair, our diagnostic system goes beyond curl pattern to consider all of your hair’s unique characteristics.  Together, these attributes create an accurate picture of how your hair looks, feels, and behaves – in a word, its “Personality”!  We launched our Hair Type Quiz to help our clients take the guesswork out of shopping by easily determining what products will work for them based on several attributes: curl pattern, porosity, texture, curl shape, scalp condition, and styling preference. In this blog post, we’ll dive into each part of the quiz to give you the inside scoop on our system.   Curl Pattern: Quite simply, this is the average number of curls per inch that occur along the length of your hair. This can range from perfectly straight with zero curls per inch to tightly curled with over 10 curls per inch.  The tightness of your curl pattern determines how quickly your sebum travels from your follicles to distribute along the hair shaft. The tighter your curl pattern, the more difficult it is for your natural oils to coat the hair. Straight to wavy hair has less than 1 curl per inch. Loose curls have 1-2 curls per inch. Tight curls have 2-3 curls per inch. Very tight curls have more than 3 curls per inch.   Porosity:    Porosity refers to the degree to which your hair is able to absorb moisture and product. It is determined by the thickness and condition of your cuticle, the outermost layer of the hair.  Medium to low porosity hair has a tightly sealed cuticle which is more resistant to moisture absorption and loss. Medium to high porosity hair has a more open cuticle which allows moisture and product to pass easily into and out of the hair shaft. Watch this video that shows one way we assess porosity at our salon. Try it at home! Isolate a single piece of hair, and with your free hand, pinch the tip of the hair and carefully push back towards the root.  Do you feel any bumps or roughness? Hair with high porosity has a very open cuticle and can have a detectable roughness/bumpiness between the fingers.  Does your hair shaft feel extremely smooth? Listen closely as you move your fingers toward the scalp. Very smooth hair shafts may produce an audible squeak. This is a sign of low porosity hair.  Medium porosity hair doesn’t squeak or feel noticeably bumpy. If you’re having trouble figuring it out, chances are the hair is medium porosity or just very fine. Very fine hair can be difficult to assess with this method.   Texture: Texture is a function of strand diameter or the average width of your individual strands of hair. Strand diameter can range from less than 60 microns to 80 microns in diameter and determines whether your hair is Fine, Medium, or Coarse in texture. NOTE: It is a myth that medium-textured hair is the width of a sewing thread, which starts at 127 microns. Texture makes a big impact on how the hair responds to various ingredients and how it feels to the touch. Is your hair fine, medium, coarse, or somewhere in between? At the Original Moxie Salon, we use a Texture Guide to determine the average width of our client’s individual hair strands. This is nearly impossible to accurately assess by touch or visual inspection, so we developed a guide based on real strands of hair for use at our salon. If you can’t visit us at our salon, here’s what to look for at home: Fine Hair: Individual hairs are very soft – almost undetectable between the fingers. Medium Hair: Individual hairs are easy to feel between the fingers and are somewhat soft. Coarse Hair  – Individual hairs feel hard and substantial between the fingers.   Curl Shape: The three-dimensional appearance of a curl or wave. ‘S’ Curls resemble a repeating wave pattern that can range from very loose to very tight. Spiral Curls are helical and coil around a central axis.  Unlike Spiral or ‘S’ Curls, Single Strand™ Curls prefer not to group together in ‘families.’ Instead, individual hairs may be either ‘S’ or spiral-shaped and tend to stand apart from one another. Curl Shape is one of the major drivers of your Hair Type Personality, as it predicts how your hair looks and behaves over time. S Curls: By far the most common curl shape. Clear curl ‘families’ that group in a repeating wave pattern. May be loose or very tight. Spiral Curls: Clear curl ‘families’ that coil in a helix around a central axis. May be loose or very tight. Single Strand Curls: The rarest curl shape. Independent strands that stand out from one another, do not easily group, and can be ‘s’ or spiral-shaped.   Scalp Condition: The appearance and mobility of your scalp can tell us a lot about your hair! Ideally, your scalp should be supple enough to move easily over your skull and be free of visible flaking or redness. Not one of the lucky few with a ‘perfect’ scalp? That’s ok! We offer a range of solutions to help get you there.   Styling Preference: OK – so this has nothing to do with your hair type, but it does help us understand your lifestyle and product needs. Whether you like to keep it simple, pump up the volume, or mix it up with occasional heat styling, we’ve got you covered. Want to learn more? Take the Quiz to find out your Hair Type Personality and get a customized styling regimen just for you! Local clients can enjoy Free Hair Assessments at the Original Moxie Salon! This in-depth hair assessment provides an accurate understanding of curl pattern, porosity, texture, curl shape, and scalp mobility along with customized hair care recommendations. You can book that service online at originalmoxiesalon.com or by calling 734-340-4022.

(Spoiler Alert: It’s a Mindset, not a Method) Whether your hair is curly or straight, tangles are just a part of life. Removing them can sometimes feel like a scene from Mission Impossible! We’re here to tell you that if you do it right, it shouldn’t feel that intense, difficult, or, well, impossible. If all of your detangling efforts happen on wash day, you’re doing it wrong. Here’s how to cultivate a tangle-minimization mindset so that you can spend your wash day pampering and not torturing your hair.   PART I – PREVENTION Get Regular Trims This won’t make your hair grow faster, but it will help minimize tangles by reducing split ends and ‘orphan’ hairs that are shorter than surrounding hair strands. These areas of breakage cause friction that breed ‘fairy knots’ – extremely tiny tangles that are very difficult to remove without cutting. Call the Original Moxie Salon at 734-340-4022 to book your next trim.   Detox, Detox, Detox Mineral build-up on the hair is one of the main culprits when it comes to tangling. Hard water and chlorine deposit microscopic particles onto the hair that dry and roughen the hair. Again, anything that increases friction on the surface of the hair will lead to tangling. To combat hard water, you must use a chelating shampoo or treatment that contains specific ingredients that bind with and remove minerals from the hair. If your exposure is frequent, we recommend a chelating shampoo such as Triple Threat combined with Professional Moisture Detox Treatments. If it’s gradual and/or seasonal, you can get by with seasonal Moisture Detoxes. Use our store finder to find a Moisture Detox provider near you!   Wear That Bonnet! When we lay our heads down to sleep, and then roll around, sweat, drool, etc, it’s like Tangle-palooza for your hair strands. To prevent tangles at night, we strongly recommend that you wear a satin bonnet or, at the very least, use a satin pillowcase.   Beware The Necklace! Sad, but true. That cute chain on your neck can be death to the delicate hairs at your nape. The tiny mechanics of a metal clasp are just right for snatching and slashing any hairs that are unfortunate enough to come their way. What can you do? Try this clever hack from Cosmopolitan that uses an aquarium tube to protect your hair from snags.   Beware The Rubberband! Rubberbands (yes, even the kind that says non-snag) will cause breakage and breakage causes what? That’s right. Tangles. Instead, use a satin scrunchie or puff cuff to put your hair up   PART II – REMOVAL All of these steps will reduce, but not totally eliminate tangles, and that’s half the battle. But despite your best efforts, tangles will show themselves, particularly in tightly coiled hair. The coiled structure of the hair means that shed hairs almost knot themselves onto the remaining hairs of the same curl family.   Here are some simple tips for damage-free detangling: To remove the ones that crop up, we recommend a gentle, progressive process that starts with your shampoo. Get Clean No-Foam Shampoo is cream-based and slippery, allowing you to soften and loosen tangles with your fingers before you even begin your styling routine.   Next, SATURATE your hair with water and conditioner so that your hair literally squishes when you squeeze it (you can see and hear what that’s like in this video). Once your hair is thoroughly saturated with conditioner, continue the detangling process by pulling your fingers through your hair in small sections, working from roots to tips. Do not avoid the roots!   We see waaaay too many heads that are detangled only from the first inch down. This can lead to severe matting at the scalp. These are incredibly time-consuming to remove and can lead to serious breakage and loss of length. Really get in there so that your fingers come into contact with your scalp on each pass. If you find that a detangling brush works better for you at this stage, by all means, go for it. Just remember to use one that does not snap or pull your hair.   After rinsing out your conditioner, broadcast your moisturizer or all-in-one while still in the shower. For very thick and tightly-curled hair, you can loosely braid your hair in four to six large sections to keep tangles from reasserting themselves. Then pop a shower cap on your head to keep all the hydration in place.   If the previous steps have taken care of all your tangles, congratulations! You are done and ready to move on with the rest of your styling. For those with more tangle-prone hair, you may need to finish up with a comb or brush. There are many great detangling brush and comb options out there and they work differently on different hair types. Experiment until you find one that works for you. No matter what tool you use, always start from the bottom and work your way up so that you do not further tighten existing knots.     With a prevention mindset and a ‘progress’ approach, you can get your detangling done in under 15 minutes, making this one mission very much accomplished!

Do you struggle to achieve curl definition? Do you find that, while some products make your hair softer, they don’t necessarily help your curl to ‘pop’? The good news is this: it’s not your hair and it’s easy to fix.   Check out the label of some of the products in your bathroom and you’ll see that most leave-in conditioners list glycerin right up near the top of the list of ingredients.   Why? Because glycerin (when mixed with water) is a powerful and inexpensive humectant (an ingredient that attracts moisture to the hair). Why would that be a bad thing, you ask?    For some hair types, it’s a godsend because that intake of water into the hair swells the hair shaft and lifts the cuticle, thereby activating curl and making the hair appear fuller. However, for other types, this same action will make hair frizzy and work against, not with, your natural curl pattern by creating less affinity and more friction between the individual strands.   So which hair types, you might ask, like glycerin and which do not? Unfortunately, because hair types are so complex, it’s hard to give a definitive answer.  Some hair types will respond well to a simple water-based glycerin mixture, like Oasis Hydrating Primer, but not to a cream that contains both a high percentage of glycerin and oil (this describes the majority of curly hair products).    Tight, low porosity curls generally fall into the former category, but definitely benefit from an oil-based oil or butter, like Shape Shifter, Everyday Leave-in, or Lux Locks,  to further enhance definition, sheen, and moisture retention.    High porosity, S-curls generally see more frizz and less definition with any humectant, including Oasis. Fine, wavy to curly hair, however, thrives on glycerin-based moisturizers.    The bottom line? Read ingredients and, when in doubt, sample before you commit. Curls are not one-size-fits-all, so if a moisturizer for ‘your hair type’ doesn’t work for you, just leave it behind and move on!   Need help finding the right moisturizer? Take our Hair Type Quiz to find your perfect product matches!

It is a glorious time to be curly! But can all these texture-friendly products and trending curl care methods be too much of a good thing? Have you found that your waves or curls have started to respond negatively to all of your well-meaning attention? Instead of hair nirvana, have you found yourself burdened with a simultaneous feeling of dryness and oiliness, dullness, and flaking? Chances are, you’ve got a case of the Build-Up Blues.   What is build-up?  Simply put, build-up is a gradual accumulation of products on the hair strands. Accumulated build-up prevents the necessary moisture, oils, and other nutrients to penetrate your hair, resulting in dry, dull, flat hair.   What causes build-up?  Occlusive Ingredients If a product contains an excessive amount of occlusive ingredients (that create a strong barrier around the hair shaft), it can be difficult to remove with regular washing. These ingredients are not necessarily harmful in and of themselves but can become so if used excessively. With the notable exception of heat stylers, which need strong film-formers and occlusive ingredients to protect the hair, products should not contain ingredients primarily composed of occlusive agents such as petroleum derivatives, lanolin, or heavy silicones.   Excessive/Incompatible Products No matter how great the ingredients, if a product doesn’t moisturize your hair on Day 1, re-applying it throughout the week will not improve the situation. In fact, it will dry your hair out and weigh it down with a coating that remains on the outside of the hair shaft rather than penetrating to the interior of the hair where moisture is needed.   Hard Water Well or hard water will deposit minerals on the outside of the hair which blocks moisture and product from penetrating the hair shaft. Hair that’s been washed with hard water generally feels grainy and waxy but also straw-like and dry.   Co-washing Although co-washing is viewed by many as a gentle alternative to washing with harsh shampoos, it does not completely remove most leave-ins, gels, and oils. Over time, this will lead to build-up and dryness.   How to Beat Build Up:   Embrace the Cleanse Regular cleansing with a sulfate-free shampoo, such as Triple Threat or Get Clean will remove excess product without stripping natural oils.   Rinse & Repeat Conditioners aren’t designed to be left in the hair (unless it’s labeled as a leave-in conditioner). Be sure to rinse your conditioner out to leave your hair receptive and open to the moisturizing leave-ins you apply during your styling routine.   Find the Right Product Hair isn’t one-size-fits-all. Given the number of products on the market, the search for the right product can be overwhelming. We wanted to help, so we created a diagnostic hair typing system that goes beyond curl pattern to consider all of your hair’s unique characteristics. Together, these attributes create an accurate picture of how your hair looks, feels, and behaves (in a word, its “Personality”) and allows us to prescribe the optimal products for your unique Hair Type Personality. Visit originalmoxie.com to take our science-based quiz and to unlock your personalized product recommendations or visit the Original Moxie Salon to experience this unique hair assessment with one of our multi-textural experts.   Simplify The majority of your product application should occur on freshly washed and conditioned hair. You should not have to repeat a full product application day after day. The right product combination will keep your hair moisturized and defined until the next Wash Day. If you need to refresh mid-cycle, selectively re-wet, rather than re-styling all of your hair, and defer to gels or oils rather than re-applying your moisturizer.   Detox Even a clarifying shampoo may not be sufficient to remove heavy build-up. While DIY methods abound, we strongly recommend leaving this job to professionals. Many of the at-home treatments to remove build-up can wind up further damaging the hair. For chronic or severe build-up, we offer two detoxes at our Flagship Salon: the Moisture Detox and Scalp Detox.   Are you concerned that you might have the Build-Up Blues? The good news is that there is a cure. Once build-up is removed, moisture can penetrate the hair shaft, the hair becomes softer, curls pop, and frizz abates. Et voila! Happy feeling restored.

What's a Sealer?  An oil or water-based styling product that smooths the hair shaft and creates a smooth, pliable, protective barrier around the hair. We consider this an optional step for most hair types. Sealers are the final step in your product application, going on after all other styling products have been applied.   Sealers: are primarily surface-acting help to combat frizz add shine seal in moisture   In general, Sealers are lighter and more malleable than Definers and, because they tend to be oil-based, can provide a soft, pliable finish and no hard cast. For some hair types, this is preferable to the rigid feel of a traditional gel and may offer the same level of frizz control and moisture retention. Take our Hair Type Quiz to learn about your hair type and find the sealer(s) we recommend for you.

Whether you’re wavy or tightly coiled, the way in which you apply your moisturizer can make all the difference between a so-so or fabulous hair day.  Most of us know that we should apply product in sections in order to achieve even distribution and results.  But how do you determine the ‘right’ size for your section?  The next time you style your hair, try this simple method and, we promise, you’ll be amazed at the results: Section off the crown of your hair, leaving the lower layer all the way around the base of your head exposed. From that lower layer of hair, create one more section, leaving the front-most portion by your ear loose and separated from the rest of your hair. If needed, spritz this section with water, even if you just stepped out of the shower. Before you apply your moisturizer, your hair should be saturated with water, but not sopping wet. Keep it that way by misting as needed as you work your way through the sections. Rake a nourishing moisturizer through that large, loose section. Not sure which Moxie moisturizer is right for you? Take our Hair Type Quiz to get personalized product recommendations. Your moisturizer should melt into your hair, giving you a feeling of ‘oneness’ between hair and product. Anything less means your moisturizer is not penetrating into your hair shaft and cannot plump, pop, and set the curl. You know you’ve applied enough of the right moisturizer when you start to see the hair grouping together in families or ‘ribbons’. Apply a defining product, like Hold Up Defining Serum, to that same section. This will lock in and set your natural texture. Now here’s the important part: working in much smaller sections (of no more than 1″ at a time), rake the product through again and, as those ribbons appear within that smaller section, take each one, wrap it one time around your index finger and pull through, smoothing all the way down to the end of the ribbon. The individual ribbons should be very small – no more than 1/8″ in width. Give it a small flick/tug before releasing to set the wave or curl. If you see the hair start to lose definition right away, your ribbon is probably too large. Separate it further until the ribbon stays together on its own. Repeat this throughout your hair, working around the perimiter in a crown pattern until all of your hair has been ribboned and defined. We recommend diffuse drying your curls or using a hood dryer to set. Using a diffuser helps to distribute heat evenly, which helps to maintain curl formation and reduce frizz. A hood dryer is another excellent option, as it provides consistent heat that helps to lock in moisture while drying your curls uniformly. Because this method meets your texture where it lives, rather than clumping it in overly large groupings, the definition is much more long-lasting. You’re also training your hair to form into it’s natural growth pattern, which means definition occurs more naturally each time you do it. For the volume-challenged, this also maximizes lift and fullness. Try it for yourself (or schedule a Styling Tutorial at our shop in Ypsilanti)!  We promise you won’t be disappointed.

  Build-up happens! Whether you use a leave-in or not, dust, pollutants, and minerals will accumulate on the hair over time. Science tells us that effectively removing build-up and debris requires a clean-rinsing SURFace ACTing AgeNT – or a Surfactant. That’s where shampoo comes in!   Shampoo: A surfactant (surface active agent) that removes dirt, debris, & excess oil or product from the hair and scalp.   Regular, proper cleansing with a sulfate-free shampoo allows moisture to penetrate the hair. This is essential for proper hydration and hair health! Original Moxie shampoos are sulfate free & extremely gentle. They tone the hair & scalp, promote a healthy pH, and maintain the integrity of the scalp’s outer mantle.   Our Shampoos Get Clean! No-Foam Shampoo No-Poo Perfect for curly hair that needs help retaining moisture or for anyone with dry hair, or scalp issues such as dandruff or itchiness.   Triple Threat Detox Shampoo Cleansing, clarifying & chelating Activated Charcoal removes impurities from the hair while Salicylic Acid cleanses and calms the scalp for a holistic detoxifying experience.  

  Just like you, your hair needs a balanced diet to thrive! Conditioners, applied to clean, wet hair, are uniquely able to deliver targeted nutrients to the interior of the hair, where it needs it most. A good conditioner contains a high percentage of adsorbent and cationic ingredients that reinforce areas of damage and weakness and remain on the hair after rinsing. Conditioner: Rinse-out creams applied after shampooing to replenish moisture and nourish the hair. Conditioner also balances pH on the hair and scalp, helping to seal the cuticle, add shine, and foster a healthy scalp biome. If you plan to apply any leave-in stylers, you must fully rinse your conditioner after applying. This will allow your moisturizer to penetrate fully and prevent build-up that can dull and weigh the hair down.   Our Conditioners Our natural conditioners feed your hair from the inside out, giving it exactly what it needs and nothing that it doesn’t!   Featherweight Conditioner Tones the scalp Strengthens and volumizes the hair Weightless formula brings waves and curls to life Clean, natural finish   Intense Quench Deep Conditioner Packed with Amino Acids, Vitamin C, Biotin, Antioxidants, & Omega 3s Builds long-term moisture retention & healthier hair Balances pH & adds shine

  Pop your curls with this multi-action foam that moisturizes, strengthens, and volumizes in just one step! Join Original Moxie Curl Specialist Kyanna as she does both a wet and dry refresh on her curls with Pop Life.  

Edges, baby hairs – oh my! Whatever you call them, we all have those small hairs around the perimeter of our faces. If you find that your hairline is thinning, you’re not alone. Here are 5 tips for growing happy and healthy edges:   Treat While You Tame Too often, edge control formulas contain alcohol that dries out the hair and can lead to breakage. Swoop is the solution to this problem. Unlike other edge controls on the market, Swoop is alcohol-free. It nourishes the hair and scalp while keeping any style in place. It’s enriched with pro-vitamin B5, beet sugar extract, and a custom blend of growth-enhancing essential oils that make it smell amazing (all while helping your hair and scalp)!   Give your hair a break! According to an article from the New York Times, traction alopecia is the most common form of hair loss in the Black community. It’s caused by the inflammation of follicles when hair is pulled too tightly. Hair loss can be caused by the tension that protective styles, such as braids and wigs, have on the hairline.     Rocking these styles can be done safely and won’t always be the direct cause of hair loss. Too much tension, however, can cause your scalp to become inflamed and your hair to break. Oftentimes, people keep using extensions to camouflage the hair loss, but it’s only continuing the cycle. That being said, give your hair a break! One tip is to ask your stylist to leave your edges out of the braids!   A less permanent form of damage, breakage can ensue when the delicate strands at the hairline are overstyled and manipulated.  Let your edges be natural (i.e. not slicked down and shaped with edge control) at least 70% of the time.  For those wanting to pamper their edges and support healthy growth, styled edges should be a special occasion, rather than an everyday look.     Scalp Care Strong and healthy hair starts at the root. Scalp Therapy is a natural treatment for dry and troubled scalps that nourishes growth and promotes health by supporting moisture and circulation. When paired with a scalp massage and a gentle styling regimen, it can help to reverse thinning edges.   Scalp Therapy is made with Australian Blue Cypress and Andiroba Oil, both ancient and powerful remedies for dryness and inflammation. It also has a cooling tingle you can use anytime to refresh your scalp and treat yourself.   Protect your edges while you sleep Friction is another cause of breakage. Wearing a bonnet or using a silk pillowcase are both great ways to decrease the friction that your hair encounters from your pillow while you’re sleeping.  They also help to minimize frizz and retain moisture. If you use a scarf to wrap your hair at night, be sure that it’s secured on your forehead and not your edges.    Deep condition! Regularly deep conditioning your hair promotes strong growth. We recommend using Intense Quench Deep Conditioner. It’s silicone-free and helps to heal your hair from the inside out. Keeping your hair hydrated is a key step in preventing breakage and Intense Quench™ does just that. 

Regardless of your age, skin sensitivity, or hair type, an itchy scalp can strike for a variety of reasons. Knowing how to identify the cause and treat the symptoms is essential for prevention and early intervention. When encountering any new or severe skin condition use common sense and seek medical advice if symptoms persist or worsen. The guidelines below are intended only to assist you in the prevention and treatment of mild symptoms. 1: Allergic Reaction While allergic reactions are surely the most common cause of scalp itch, with so many potential sources, it can be tricky to sort out the specific trigger. Any chemical treatment that comes into contact with the scalp is an obvious and easy-to-identify cause. If you notice soreness or itchiness immediately following a color, bleach, or perm application, apply a topical soothing agent like Scalp Therapy and explore other options for your next treatment. Pay attention to when in your wash cycle the itching peaks. If it’s closer to wash day, chances are it’s related to one of your leave-ins. If itching occurs randomly, it may be due to other allergens in your home or environment. Regardless of the cause, Scalp Therapy can provide relief with natural anti-inflammatory agents, such as Blue Cypress and Calendula that calm irritation plus a soothing essential oil formula that quells scalp itch and soreness on contact. 2: Fungal Infection Fungi love to hang out in damp, dark places! Under the right conditions, your scalp can become an ideal habitat for these organisms, including Candida (Yeast) and Ringworm (Tinea capitis – it’s not a worm), leading to anything from a mild itch to sores and temporary hair loss depending on the cause. Avoid keeping damp hair in close contact with your scalp for extended periods of time (we’re talking to you, all of you night-washers and ponytail-wearers). Harsh shampoos, stress, pregnancy, chemotherapy, and dietary imbalances can all compromise the scalp’s acid mantle and open the door to fungal infections. Left untreated, fungal infections can progress to cause dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis. Other than lifestyle changes, treatment can and should include a gentle sulfate-free shampoo, such as Get Clean (normal to dry hair) or Triple Threat (normal to oily hair), an acidifying pH-balanced conditioner, such as Featherweight or Intense Quench, and a moisturizing lotion such as Scalp Therapy, which contains a host of potent anti-fungal botanical agents such as Tamanu, Neem, and Andiroba. 3: Psoriasis & Eczema These conditions are genetic, auto-immune conditions that are triggered by stress, allergies, and other environmental factors. Unlike mild fungal infections, symptoms are generally visible right away and may include red, rough patches, bumps, and peeling skin. Early intervention and vigilance are essential in symptom management. While a complete cure is rare, it is always helpful to pamper your scalp with regular massages to stimulate blood flow and lymphatic elimination. This will also help to lower your stress level, further reducing another potential trigger. With its cooling tingle, Scalp Therapy certainly makes the experience more of a pleasurable ritual, but you can always simply whip out your fingers and press, release, knead, and stroke your scalp. Always massage with the soft pads of your fingers and never with sharp nails, which can exacerbate inflammation. 4: Dryness If your itching is worse on wash day and gets better through the week, chances are it’s a dryness thing. Even a mild shampoo and gentle dryer can be challenging for naturally dry skin and scalps. To head off an itchy scalp, pre-treat with an oil such as Emollience Pre-Shampoo Treatment and apply Scalp Therapy directly to the scalp, massaging it after washing, but before detangling and styling.

Treatments: a reparative product intended to correct chronic or temporary imbalances in the hair or scalp. While all of our products are multi-action and formulated for hair health, our treatments are highly targeted and designed to deliver intensive restorative effects in a relatively short time. Our treatments are all highly concentrated and are intended to be in direct contact with the scalp. We encourage you to do a patch test if you may have ingredient sensitivities.   Scalp Therapy Scalp Therapy Complete Care Lotion is made for dry & troubled scalps! Just a few drops relieve dry, sore, and itchy scalp on contact. Pair Scalp Therapy with a gentle scalp massage and enjoy the pleasantly cooling sensation for a luxurious sensory indulgence.   Emollience In addition to being a sealer, Emollience is a restorative pre-poo treatment for dry hair. The oil-based formula was created to correct lipid deficiency by delivering highly penetrating oils to the inner cortex of the hair.   The Moisture Detox The Moisture Detox is a professional, multi-action restorative system that removes build-up, corrects damage, and balances moisture levels in the hair. Call our salon (734-340-4022) to book your Detox! With aromatherapeutic fragrances and natural, organic ingredients, our reparative treatments are as soothing for your senses as they are for your hair. Learn more at originalmoxie.com!

Why You Need It Between product buildup, hard water, air pollution, and even environmental allergens, everyone’s hair needs regular detoxing to remain balanced and healthy. Detoxing removes deposits, flushes away allergens, and restores the flow of nutrients and moisture, thereby restoring the flow of nutrients and moisture to the hair and scalp. This process, in turn, encourages healthy growth and can enhance curl activation and moisture retention.   What It Is While a regular shampoo removes surface debris and oil from the hair, it does not address mineral deposits or significant buildup. Detoxing products will contain ‘chelating’ ingredients, which bind to and flush away minerals, and clarifying ingredients, which quickly remove more persistent ingredients, like heavy waxes, fixatives, and occlusive emollients from the hair. A good detoxing product also addresses the scalp, to draw toxins from the skin and stimulate blood flow to the follicles.   When to DetoxFor buildup that happens gradually with the use of styling products, water from municipal sources, and daily life in an urban locale, detoxing once per season is generally sufficient to maintain optimal hair health. However, if you keep your hair in extended protective styles, shower in well water, swim regularly, have topical allergies, etc., you will need to detox more frequently.   How to Detox For those who need more frequent detoxing, we recommend using a chelating and clarifying shampoo, such as our Triple Threat Detox Shampoo. This highly concentrated shampoo will allow you to keep your hair and scalp free from buildup and will counter mineral deposits that can discolor and damage the hair. For best results, we recommend incorporating monthly treatments with the Hydrofuse Moisture Treatment Mask, which flushes mineral deposits while correcting dryness by building long-term hydration pathways in the hair. For those who are not experiencing ongoing buildup or allergies, seasonal, professional treatments with the Moisture Detox are the answer. This natural, effective treatment works two ways to remove buildup and optimize hair health. The first step balances the hair’s receptivity, allowing it to either retain or absorb moisture more effectively. Lower porosity hair generally needs help absorbing moisture, while higher porosity hair needs help retaining it. We offer two different versions of the Detox to customize this step to match your hair type. The second step removes mineral deposits and creates internal hydration engines deep inside the hair while infusing it with moisture and nutrients. The results are persistent and progressive, meaning they do not fade and can improve with repeated applications. We also recommend regular Scalp Detoxes, which we currently offer in our Flagship Salon. This service includes an exfoliating scalp scrub, formulated with a custom blend of detoxifying and growth-stimulating essential oils. It is followed by a scalp massage with Scalp Therapy Complete Care Lotion to calm inflammation and encourage blood flow to the follicles. You can book your Moisture Detox or Scalp Detox at The Original Moxie Salon. To book an appointment, visit originalmoxiesalon.com or call 734-340-4022.   How NOT to Detox In a world where DIY tutorials are the norm, we also want to bust a few detoxing myths. ACV Rinse – Apple Cider Vinegar has its place – especially when it comes to keeping the acid mantle of the scalp healthy, removing common allergens, and sealing the cuticle of the hair. However, it will do nothing to remove mineral deposits from the hair. Mineral deposits can only be removed by specially shaped, chelating molecules, which bind to and detach them from the hair. Vitamin C – This common DIY ingredient can also be found in professionally formulated detoxing products. While we do find this to be a beneficial ingredient for the hair, it works primarily on the scalp to stimulate collagen production, counter free radical activity, and balance pH. It does not possess any properties that remove buildup or minerals from the hair. Sulfate Shampoos – While the satisfying suds of a strong, foaming shampoo may make you feel clean, they can actually do more harm than good. By stripping the hair and scalp of their natural oils, they disturb both the natural protective coating of the cuticle and the acid mantle of the scalp, leaving both more vulnerable to damage from the environment. Overly aggressive cleansing can also send sebaceous glands into overdrive, thereby leading to hair that feels limp and oily or an oily scalp. It can also trigger eczema and other inflammatory conditions and constrict blood flow to the follicles. Bottom line: choose a gentle, pH-balanced clarifying shampoo like Triple Threat to clarify and always follow with a high-quality conditioner like Featherweight or Intense Quench. For more tips on how to build health through proper detoxing, schedule a Free Hair Assessment with one of our Stylists or chat with one of our experts via email at info@originalmoxie.com.  

Summertime and the living is easy! Unfortunately, all that easy living can be hard on your hair.  Sun, travel, pool, and surf can all wreak havoc on unprotected strands.  Here are a few tips to help you survive (and even thrive) in style:   Cover Up A simple, but highly effective solution.  Swim caps, hats, scarves, wigs, and wraps all provide complete protection from sun, wind, humidity and wayward twigs. Bonus: they let you switch up your look in seconds!   Pros: 100% effective, adaptable, accessible to all hair types. Cons: Potentially hot and sweaty. May stretch, flatten or otherwise alter your hair style.   Hydrate Just like your body, your hair loses water at a higher rate in hot, dry weather.  Make sure you keep it hydrated with plenty of deep conditioning and leave-ins that effectively boost your hair’s moisture content.  Intense Quench Deep Conditioner and Oasis Hydrating Primer are our stand out favorites in both categories.   Pros: Helps build overall hair health.Cons: Takes consistency and patience. Results build over time.   Protect Take advantage of protective products to seal prevent moisture loss and damage from harmful chemicals such as chlorine (we’ll cover swimming in more detail in a future post).  Our favorite option is Emollience Pre-Treatment which creates a protective barrier that seals in moisture and shields against damage.   Pros: Won’t mess up your ‘do’ and adds shine and luster to the hair.Cons: Isn’t 100% foolproof as a stand-alone.  Works best in combination with other protective measures.   Detox Despite our best efforts, bad things still happen to our hair. This is especially true when traveling. Hard water is a common pitfall that’s difficult to avoid, unless you can completely abstain from washing your hair during travel. If you notice your hair falling flat or feeling rough after a trip, a Detox may be in order. Our exclusive Moisture Detox remove minerals and re-moisturize parched hair in a single treatment. Visit originalmoxiesalon.com to book your Detox!    Pros: Dramatically improves the health of the hair and enhances the effectiveness of your regular products. Translation: your hair looks better with less product! Cons: Needs to be done by a professional and, unlike protective products, can’t travel with you wherever you go.