Spending time in nature doesn’t just feel good, there’s tons of evidence that it can reduce your stress and improve your mental health. You can think of it as one of the many ways the Earth loves us right back.
City planners are always trying to make room for “green space” when developing a new area, because people need to have contact with the natural world.
It can be difficult to find time to go hiking, or even just to hang out in a local park for a couple hours. When you’re too busy to go outside, you can still interact with nature in meaningful ways!
Keep plants where you tend to spend a long time, whether that’s by your couch where you sit to scroll or watch TV or in your kitchen so you have a green friend to cook and/or eat with. If you have houseplants at your desk, you might even find that you’re more productive and can stay focused for longer!
Even just seeing plants from your window can reduce your stress and improve your focus. Try keeping blinds open whenever possible, as it may help connect your home to the outside world and bring some of that peace into your space.
Getting Outside
Of course, there isn’t a real substitute for getting outside and actually surrounding yourself with nature. In fact, the bigger a green space is, the more benefits it provides, possibly because of how immersed you can become in a park when you can’t see its borders.
When you’re able to make it to a local green space, look for one that’s specifically engineered to offer stress relief!
Water offers the opportunity to focus on something without needing to actually focus. Think of it like meditation! When watching moving water, your eyes are kept busy, but your thoughts can wander a little bit, which lets your brain decompress and process things in your life. Some of our favorite local Gainesville parks with water features include:
Depot Park
photo by Ash Kirk-Kramer
Loblolly Woods
photo by Gargi Mukhopadhyay
Sweetwater Wetlands
photo by Mary Young
Along with being in nature, social interaction and physical activity also both contribute to better mental wellbeing, and parks are a great place to experience all three! Seek out green spaces that have gym or playground equipment, a dog park, or ample opportunities to socialize with others through organized events.
Biodiversity is a highly prized aspect of the natural world, and research has shown that people can tell when a landscape is more biodiverse, and tend to get more stress relief benefits when it is. Places with manicured landscaping may reduce the amount of native flora and fauna that exist in the space, so if you want the benefit of experiencing biodiversity, go somewhere that looks a little more untouched.
You can’t pour from an empty cup! Make sure you’re taking care of yourself in these trying times, so that you don’t burn yourself out on constant bad news and hard work.
Spending your free time outdoors and in public green spaces helps keep you rejuvenated and ready for anything, but it also keeps you active in the community, and shows leaders that our public lands are valued and worth protecting.
Even in conventional shampoo buying places (like the pharmacy or grocery aisle) picking the right shampoo can feel like an ongoing experiment. So it’s totally normal to feel a little overwhelmed when you step into a space like this, surrounded by brands you’ve never heard of and a wall of shampoo bars instead of plastic bottles.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you.
All the hair care on our shelves has been selected carefully and specifically (by me!), not just for its plastic-free packaging, but also for the nourishing ingredients that have amazing benefits, and the values of the people making them. These are products and small businesses I believe in.
We have shampoos that will help with…
Caring for curly or textured hair
Restoring damaged or thinning hair
Balancing oily hair
Treating scalp health issues and removing buildup
Adding hydration and shine to dry, frizzy hair
Maintaining colored hair
We carry a range of options because everyone has different needs. Whether it’s curls, color care, scalp support, or something else. I invite you to scroll to your top hair priority and explore the shampoo bars and liquids we have to offer.
CARING FOR CURLY OR TEXTURED HAIR
What to Consider: Curly and textured hair often requires extra moisture and gentle handling. Look for bars that have nourishing ingredients (like proteins and oils) to keep your curls fresh and hydrated.
Lightly scented with essential oils: Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Mint
Gentle, sulfate-free, pH-balanced formula
Seaweed Extract imparts proteins and minerals to hair shaft to help with damage.
Macadamia Nut Esters and Cocoa Butter soften, moisturize, and create shine.
Behentrimonium Methosulfate, Cetyl Alcohol, and Butylene Glycol are a blend of gentle plant-based conditioners to help reduce frizz and tangles and lock in moisture.
Virgin Olive Oil is rich in oleic acid and nourishes hair from scalp to ends.
Babassu Oil is emollient rich and provides rich moisture and proteins, softening coarsely textured and/or tightly coiled curly hair.
Shea Butter deeply nourishes the hair shaft while moisturizing and softening curls, enhancing shine, luster, and overall manageability.
RESTORING DAMAGED OR THINNING HAIR
What to Consider: For hair that is damaged or thinning, focus on strengthening hair follicles and scalp stimulation. These bars contain ingredients like rice water and rosemary to promote hair growth, keep the root healthy, and strengthen strands.
Pumpkin Seed Oil nourishes the scalp and strengthens strands with a rich dose of vitamins and minerals that are perfect for supporting healthy growth from root to tip.
Rosemary Oil boosts circulation and wakes up tired follicles to help reduce shedding and promote fuller, healthier hair.
Caffeine stimulates the scalp and blocks DHT to support thicker, stronger hair with continued use.
Salon-quality ingredients formulated for thin and fine hair
Rice Water is a known and trusted hair thickening agent.
Argan Oil reduces breakage by hydrating, protecting, and strengthening hair.
Pro Vitamin B5 boosts hair’s overall health and quality by penetrating hair to rebuild its protein structure.
BALANCING OILY HAIR
What to Consider: Oily hair benefits from clarifying ingredients that remove excess sebum (the natural oil produced by the scalp) without over-drying, leaving hair feeling lighter and more refreshed. Some examples of clarifying ingredients are charcoal or clay, apple cider vinegar, and tea tree oil. Look for a shampoo that will balance your scalp’s natural oils and let you go a little longer between washes.
Powerful blend of Lemongrass, Lime, and Rosemary Essential Oils helps to cleanse hair and balance oil production leaving healthy hair that feels fresh.
Coconut Oil lifts oil from the scalp while also nourishing and conditioning dry ends.
TREATING SCALP HEALTH ISSUES
& REMOVING BUILDUP
What to Consider: A healthy scalp is the foundation for healthy hair. These shampoos will soothe itchy and irritated skin, reduce dandruff, and are great for people that use a lot of hair products that may build up on the scalp.
Liquid sold by the ounce – refill your own containers and get as much or as little as you’d like!
Calendula Extract reduces inflammation.
AloeVera leaves scalp squeaky clean but not dehydrated.
Tea Tree and Lemon Essential Oils contain anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties that help combat the yeast-like fungus that often causes dandruff, and soothes irritated scalps.
Contains niacinamide and ceramides that act as skincare for your scalp.
Algae Oil regulates oil production while smoothing hair and calming the scalp with anti-inflammatory benefits.
ADDING HYDRATION AND SHINE
TO DRY, FRIZZY HAIR
What to Consider: Dry and frizzy hair needs intense hydration. These bars use Vitamin C and hair-healthy oils to add shine and luster to dehydrated hair.
Lightly scented with essential oils: Rosemary, Eucalyptus, and Mint
Gentle, sulfate-free, pH-balanced formula
Seaweed extract imparts proteins and minerals to hair shaft to help with damage.
Macadamia nut esters and cocoa butter soften, moisturize, and create shine.
Behentrimonium methosulfate, Cetyl alcohol, and Butylene glycol are a blend of gentle plant-based conditioners to help reduce frizz and tangles and lock in moisture.
Bottle Return Program: bring back the empty bottle for 10% off a full one!
Sulfate-free, hypoallergenic, good for all hair types
AloeVera as the base (instead of water) imparts 75 nutrients, including 8 essential amino acids, leaving hair squeaky clean without dehydrating.
Citrus and LavenderEssential Oils plus Vitamin E help hydrate hair for strong and healthy locks.
Sunflower Seed Oil works to both soften and smooth hair.
MAINTAINING COLORED HAIR
What to Consider: Color-treated hair requires gentle, sulfate-free cleansers to prevent the color from fading or washing out. These shampoos are pH balanced and color-safe, so you can keep your perfect shade for longer.
Salon-quality ingredients formulated for blonde or grey hair
Pro Vitamin B5 strengthens and makes the hair shaft more resilient to color fading.
Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, and Argan Oil provide additional hydration and create a protective layer on the hair, helping shield it from damage and color fading.
Purple pigments neutralize unwanted yellow tones and help elevate your color by eliminating brassiness.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Trying something new, especially when it’s different from what you’ve always used, can feel like a leap. It’s also an opportunity to discover products that not only work better for your hair, but also your community and the planet. You’re skipping the plastic bottle AND supporting small-batch makers. That’s no small thing!
A Few Quick Tips for Using Shampoo Bars:
Let your bar dry completely between uses by using a well-draining soap dish. The bar will last a lot longer.
To use the bar: Either lather in your hands first, then apply to your scalp, OR rub the bar directly on wet hair in small circular motions.
Upcycle a small tin or baggie to get your shampoo bar from Point A to Point B – it’s one less liquid to pack.
Be patient with your hair if you’re switching from conventional products. It may take a few washes to see how your hair reacts.
The length of time each bar lasts depends on several factors: wash frequency, storage, hair length, thickness, etc. Typically for a long-haired person who shampoos every 2-3 days, a 2oz bar will last 3-4 months.
Some bars lack the detergents or chemicals that help rinse the product out of your hair fully, causing a waxy feel when you first make the switch. This usually resolves in 1-2 weeks, but I recommend using an Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse as needed to help condition the hair as well as pull out excess product build up which can lessen the transition period.
This concentratedSummer Rain Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse from Chagrin Valley Soap & Salve is infused with organic herbs and essential oils that will help clarify and refresh your scalp and hair follicles.
Beyond these tips, if a bar doesn’t end up being the bar, don’t toss it! Many make great body soaps, shave bars, or even hand soap at the sink.
Thanks for being curious, thoughtful, and open to change. You’re not just shopping, you’re impacting the system and voting with your dollar. And I’m so glad you’re here for it.
Note: Though all of our products are made with natural ingredients and no harmful fragrances, our unscented shampoo options are a great option for anyone with sensitive skin.Plaine Products, Tangie, and Aromaland all come in super safe, super simple unscented variations.
It’s Plastic Free July, and we’re making it fun to ditch disposables and rethink waste one habit at a time.
Join us for our Plastic-Free Bingo Challenge and you could earn rewards just for showing up, trying something new, and taking steps toward a lower-waste lifestyle.
You can also pick one up at the shop anytime this month. Once you’ve got your card, start marking off squares as you complete the actions. They’re all designed to be approachable and impact-driven.
How It Works
Complete any square and mark it off
Take pics for evidence
Complete a row, column, or diagonal to unlock in-store rewards
Black out the whole card (25 squares!) and be entered to win a $100 Life Unplastic gift card
Cards must be turned in by July 31st.
Grand Prize winner will be announced the first week of August.
All rewards must be redeemed in-store by December 31st.
Rewards
Here’s what’s up for grabs depending on how you bingo:
Vertical Lines:
B – 15% off all B.Y.O. gear (utensils, totes, etc)
