Best Help For Hot Flash Relief! Frogg Toggs And Magic Cool Cloths

Are you sick and tired of those monster hot flashes wreaking havoc on your wonderful life? I am so over these things!!!! After living through over 50,000 hot flashes I finally found the secret to calming those suckers down. Obviously if I still have hot flashes in my life I cannot tell you how to make them go away. What I can tell you is how to get through them in a more comfortable manner with two brands of cooling cloths: Frogg Toggs and Magic Cool. I have had hot flashes for the past eight years all day and all night. Believe me I'm not really thrilled that I am a freaking authority on having wicked hot flashes either. There are better things I could be doing with my time than being a hot mess! Let's turn this thing around and use my hot and flashy knowledge for something productive. Helping you! A big shout out to all the long suffering ladies like me who have no doubt they too live in a hot and flashy world! I feel your heat!!!!

Being the tenacious woman I am, I tried to 'tough it out' for the first two years thinking the hot flashes would eventually go away. You know... just like everyone else had done. Certainly I did not want to take the risky estrogen therapy. Plus I wasn't going to be a baby and whine about these womanly things of life. Be strong I said to myself! You can do this! My gyno recommended that I try taking Remifemin. Well that just did not work for me at all. Since my severe lack of sleep was causing serious system failures within my body, doctors insisted I get the estrogen therapy for one year. To give my body a break I unfortunately had to give into using the damned estrogen pills. They worked at removing the hot flashes and I got the much needed regular sleep. That was glorious and I still dream of such nights. Sleep helped my body overall and gave us a handle on my other medical issues. The down side is the pills also gave me breast cancer. So I do not recommend estrogen therapy for that reason... 'cause cancer sucks big time. After that quiet year they came right back again! In addition to my thyroid condition, having had breast cancer does not allow me to use the various other hot flash hormonal creams that seem to work for some women. Well "F Me!" I'm left with an overwhelming amount of interruption to my life, and a rotten night's sleep. My body clock is always thrown off due to having to sleep during the day to catch up! All the doctors can come up with now is to say you have 'Severe Menopause.' Not the news I wanted to hear. So the fact is I still have them. What can we do dear lovely ladies? For our sanity, and our bodies, til the hot flashes decide it's time to ffff-fade away for ffff-freaking good?

Wind from fans are not all that helpful as you can't carry a full sized fan around, and that is the only size fan that has any use for me. Even standing in front of air conditioner vents (when the hot flashes allow me to stand) is not a solution. Since most hot flashes also make me feel dizzy I need to sit down when they start to come over me. The amount of hot flashes I endure is a grueling waste of my day and night that's for sure. If I'm out in a store I may have to lean or hold onto something when they arrive. Recovering from a broken leg can make that a bit tricky. How about the flush pink face that makes you look as though you are blushing? Not always a great look, and may even seem inappropriate at times. Then there is your makeup sliding down your face too. I ask the great gods of maturity isn't getting wrinkles enough? Where are my awesome unicorns and rainbows????

The good news is that this past September while vacationing at my brother's house things changed a bit for the better. About time! My sister-in-law suggested that I try using one of her 'Magic Cool' cooling cloths that she kept around the house for her hot flash moments. My brother was also using these cooling cloths at work during extreme heat days. They both highly recommended that I try the cooling 'Grabber Magic Cool' product for my hot flashes. I was willing to give the small cloth a shot, having nothing to lose except a few degrees of heat. Really I was skeptical that a little piece of fabric would help. Kathy instructed that I keep the thin cloth wet, wring it out, and place next to the bed. "When a hot flash is coming on just give the cooling cloth a wave, and then snap. Then wrap the cloth around your neck and it will feel cooling." On average now during the night I only get a hot flash every two hours. Although there are nights they will come on five at a time with no break in between. Let's not even go there! When I awoke to the first hot dizzy buzz that night I grabbed the cloth, snapped it in the air, then wrapped it around my neck. Felt good. Yes I liked it... this little cloth really did help! Cooled off my heat and distracted me from my hot flash discomfort too. I was then able to lie back down and fall asleep till the next one. Why hadn't I heard about this solution before? Geez. Hey! What if I could find a bigger cloth???!!! Oh my! Love that idea! That is why I am sharing this good news! Picture me on my happy unicorn sprinkling cooling icicles over you!

When we got home from our trip I had my husband order me a black Magic Cool cloth. Thinking a darker color would blend into the clothes I wore during the day. He told me there were some other brands on Amazon that were also selling cooling fabric products. Wanting to investigate these possible solutions for my daily heat issues I suggested that he pick out one other brand and order that as well. My black Magic Cool personal cooling cloth arrived and looked just as expected. Then when I opened the 'frogg toggs Chilly Dana' tube I was let down that my husband had ordered me a bandana shape cloth. Wait a minute... this is a head scarf... darn I wanted a big rectangle shaped cooling cloth. Little did I know that this triangle bandana shape is the most useful shape of all the cooling cloths I own for hot flashes!!! Really! And I am not wearing it on my head either Ladies!

Place the frogg toggs Chilly Dana triangle across your chest as shown.

Listen to this my hot and flashy friend! Having an average of one hot flash every 40 to 60 minutes during the day I have taken to wearing a sports bra. As those of us with constant hot flashes know; a sports bra makes lifting up your shirt to get the heat out every hour a bit easier. Plus the material of a sports bra dries very quickly afterwards. At night I would usually just lie in bed lifting my top letting the steam out, then I'd wipe down the dripping sweat with a paper towel, or wash cloth. Now with the 'Chilly Dana' I can place that cold triangle shape across my chest where the heat is most intense, lower my sports bra over top of the cloth, and press the cold cloth onto the building heat. Ahhh sweet relief! Those 'frogg togg' cloths get super cold! While they absorb the building hot flash heat it becomes a great distraction from all the usual side effects of a hot flash! The cloth also absorbs any sweat too! After the hot flash is finished I pull the bottom of the cloth out from under the sports bra quickly, just the way a magician pulls a tablecloth off. Tah-dah!


Whew! I am having a hot flash as I write this! Let me grab my frogg toggs cooling cloths for a few minutes. Sometimes I can continue doing what ever I was doing far more quickly now, as I just leave that frogg togg cooling cloth to do its thing on my skin under my clothing. No more flashing my hubby with my hot flash! (That really does gets old after awhile!) 

Wear your Magic Cool cloth out to lunch or dinner.

I love how cold the frogg togg brand material gets when wet. It's amazing! The only downside is they are a bit large and bulky for social occasions. The thin Magic Cool cloths come in handy as they fit in the purse. Wonderful for restaurants or work. If my husband and I are out shopping, or at a gig, I bring along the small thin black Magic Cool cloth. Wet the cloth, place it in a baggie, and into your purse. Most people do not notice when I slyly wrap the thin black cooling material around my neck since it blends into my other clothing. When the flash is over I slip it off and seal it back into the baggie. When the next hot flash arrives the Magic Cool cloth is ready to use. Give it a sneaky wave in the air or under your table you devil.

The Magic Cool is a thin micro type fiber and the patterned frogg togg is a thicker dense material.

Recently I added the 'frogg toggs' large 'Chilly Pad' towel to my cooling arsenal. This long rectangle can be used on a variety of body parts that are heating you up. During my first two years of hot flashes my back would pour out sweat so bad that every 5-10 minutes my husband had to wipe me down with a towel. If only I had the incredibly cold 'Chilly Pad' back then to place across or down my back! At that time I also had to place rolled up coils of paper towels in my bra multiple times during the day. What a hot mess! 

Now that I know the secret to cooling myself down I wrap the 'Chilly Pad around my neck, or across my forehead, or both at once! Sometimes my belly feels hot and I lay the long pad across my abdomen area tucking the ends under my back. These really are the best help for hot flash relief! This material gets icy cold and will take the fire away from your skin immediately. You will be surprised how warm the fabric will be when the hot flash is finished. Within minutes after taking the fabric away from your body it returns to being cold again. You can wave it in the air to speed up the process if you are getting multiple flashes. Good to have a couple of cooling cloths ready at your bedside.

Place the larger frogg togg Chilly Pads across or down your back as needed.

I do not use the long rectangle Chilly Pad on my chest since the Chilly Dana bandana shape works far better for that area. Once I tuck the bandana shape over my chest, I pull the sports bra down over the cold fabric to hold it tighter to my skin. I then use the top tip of the triangle to pull up through the top of my sports bra to cool off a bit of my neck. I have got the triangle move down fast! Also remember that you want the sports bra pressing down on the frogg toggs cold cloth, not your hands. Your hands have heat in them taking away valuable cooling power. The long rectangle Chilly Pad is too much material to get under the sports bra quickly. Use the long cold rectangle chilly pad around your neck like a scarf. Lay back in cool cold comfort my friend and let that nasty hot flash pass. When the rectangle shape is gathered lengthwise like a scarf to fit around your neck, you can then flip the cold scarf over halfway through the flash. Thus giving you some fresh colder fabric relief mid hot flash! Sweet!!!

Really bad night? Use 3 cool cloths for total hot flash relief! Chest, neck and forehead!

Often I use all three of these cooling cloths at the same time! I wet them as needed, then wring them out, carrying one or all of them throughout the house during the day. Placing them all by my bed at night I am ready to chill. The frogg toggs are fantastic for use in your home or a private office. That long Chilly Pad would be great to place around your neck during a hot flash at home, in your car, or at work. If you work in a private office with a door you might bring the Chilly Dana bandana to work with you as long as you are able to push it up under your top when no one is around. That's the tricky part. Don't forget the Magic Cool cloth for your purse and be ready at all times while you are out shopping, in a meeting, or dining with friends.

The thin wet Magic Cool cloth fits easily into a small plastic sandwich bag and into my purse.

I only need to wet the cloths once or twice a day, and then again right before bed time. Some nights I may re-wet as it nears morning. It all depends how warm your home is as to when they dry out. The frogg toggs material is funny as it dries into a stiff board shape. 



Just wet it, wring out and it's ready to use again. The frogg toggs fabric holds up to 8 times their weight in water. Be sure to read the instructions that come with whatever brand of cooling towel you choose. They should be washed before use either in a machine or by hand thoroughly. They can also be washed or soaked if they become soiled. Do not use bleach or any chemical laundry products.

The cold wet frogg togg material has a frog feet design on one side. I tend to use that side against my skin.

These products are mostly seen as useful solutions for summer heat encountered by construction workers, sports people, and those who work out in the sun. Purchase these cooling cloths on Amazon, Walmart, or other stores like Bass Pro Shops. Hot and flashy lady this product is for you too! You can check out Amazon to read reviews and learn more about these and a few other brands to try for yourself. I've added extra links below for a headband shape and a hot pink 33 x 25 inch cool towel. Wow! If I got two of them I could cover my entire hot self in those extra large babies! Certainly the only thing better than using these cool cloths would be NOT having hot flashes at all! 

Looking forward to jumping for joy when I do not need to use cooling cloths and can get a good 7-8 hours sleep without interruption! In the meantime... now no longer a hot mess... you can go back to being the goddess of all things chill. Be happy. Be healthy. Be peace.





As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

NOTE: We actually did purchase all my cooling cloths from Amazon. I am an affiliate of Amazon so I may get a few cents as compensation from any sales generated through this post. There is no up-charge to you as prices remain just as they are shown on Amazon. Any sales would be helpful in keeping this blog going. Vintages images used for my artwork are public domain or from The Graphics Fairy.

Peek Inside My Healthier Pantry To Make Improved Processed Food Choices

When we start to eat healthier whole organic plant based foods most of us realize that we are still are going to be buying processed canned and packaged foods as well. That is modern life. So what types and brands of organic products should we purchase from a store? I will include a list below, although basically it's organic non-GMO foods. I really am not interested in the rest of those traditional supermarket foods of my past that mask themselves as something wonderful. On occasion when we must walk though a regular food store we are in amazement of how much useless crap is piled up in those places. Every aisle is one hot mess. A warehouse for chemicalized products that make people sick and diseased. I know... I was one of those medical victims of fake foods lacking any nutrition. As a result a few years ago those worthless fake food stuffs were put out into the trash as soon as I learned what was really going on with the industrialized food industry. 

After filling our kitchen and refrigerator full of fresh organic produce, we then tried over time to purchase canned and packaged food items that pass our label reading test. Choosing organic with as few ingredients as possible was the first step, along with no GMOS, no long list of chemicals, low salt, no msg, no BPA, and no ingredients that cause medical concern for us. There are only a few things I cannot find that are organic as of yet... like a good naan bread. I will not split hairs over that, and hopefully one will appear soon. New organic items are always coming on the market. Of course if you like to bake you can always make a items like naan from scratch. I also try to research as much as possible the companies that create the products. There are many brands that have been bought out by the usual suspects and we try to avoid those ones. I prefer to find the companies with a true organic and sustainable mission if I can.

I already showed you inside my healthier refrigerator, as well as how to organize your super-foods, in this post here. Finally I am making the pantry post that I promised would come next. Actually I had to do this post now since we are moving, and this cute pantry is being sold. I am forced by our situation to get to it, plus I also promised a friend! 

See the boxes stacked up next to the pantry? That is my life now. Although it has been my life for the past four months too... and that is another story. Anyhow we currently rent a home with a kitchen so small there is absolutely no room for pantry food. So I wanted to share with you my nifty storage solution for this tiny house. I did an Ikea hack on my computer hutch! Perhaps this will spark an idea to rethink a storage problem you may have in your own space challenged home. Linens, towels, and sheets could have easily been stored in this piece if I needed help in that area. This Ikea computer hutch has served well as our food pantry for the past 2 1/2 years. A simple and functional solution to re-purpose this furniture. I loved how the 12 x 12 scrap booking paper you find at 'Michael's Crafts' fit perfectly into the front glass windows. I chose an arts and crafts William Morris looking paper, then added a tassel, to give it some extra style. Our next kitchen is much larger and has tons of kitchen cabinets. So onward to a new kitchen adventure!

Enough about the outside of my pantry... I guess you really want to look inside my pantry... right? Oooops there it is! Busting with possibilities! I have listed some of the basic processed food items that you may see on the shelves of my pantry in the graphic below. I am also including a detailed list lower in this post with the company names so you can see which brands I have purchased. This is how the pantry looks when it's full after a trip to the Natural Foods Co-op and the Wegman's Organic section.

Here are a few close ups to see some product...

and the many mason jars for dried beans and wild rices...

We are always open to try new items or change something up. Certainly that does not mean we will buy that product again in the future. You have to try things to find out if you like them. For instance I bought the animal crackers for the grand kids and then found I ate way too much of them. They were not the best choice for our health anyway, so we will not get them again. I also find the rice based pasta to be binding to my system, so I rarely eat those noodles. You have to be aware of what your body is sensitive and allergic to as well when making choices. I have to stay away from soy because of my hypothyroidism. 

Here is how the pantry looked a few days ago. You can see the slide out for the keyboard in this photo. We have not been food shopping since we are busy packing for the move. Those lonely items have been put into open boxes as the pantry/computer hutch has been sold. Hubby stops at the nearby local national chain store and picks up a few needed items from their very spare organic aisles to get us by for now.

The list below are some of the products that we have found to be tasty, satisfying, as well as being a healthier choice in their categories. Needless to say most of the products listed are organic. We have done our best in making the better choices when it comes to boxed and canned foods from our local stores by being a label reader. Hope this peek inside my pantry provides you with some help in your quest to choose new canned and packaged processed food items from your market. Also be sure to check out my refrigerator organization post here, and how to organize your morning smoothie super-foods here. Don't forget my free shopping tips and shopping list on this page here. Plus my Food Substitutions and Foods to Avoid pages. Every little bit helps to keep you on track for a healthier life!

Vitamins: Dr. Fuhrman Food and Supplements, Host Defense Mushroom Supplements

Bottled Water: Mountain Valley glass bottles, Acqua Panna glass bottles

Coconut Water, Cocoa, and Juice: Harvest Bay coconut water, Billberry juice concentrate by Bionaturae, Tropical Traditions Cocoa powder, Rapunzel Cocoa powder

Teas: Traditional Medicinals, Tazo, Mighty Leaf, Tea Forte

Soups and gravy: Amy's Organic Lentil Vegetable Soup, Low Sodium and Pacific Natural Foods Vegetable Broth

Spices: Simply Organic Cumin Seed Ground Certified Organic, Frontier Organic Spices

Sweetener: Big Tree Farms Coconut Palm Sugar, Stevia drops

Salad dressing, sauces, vinegar, oils: Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar Organic Raw, DeNigris Organic Balsamic Glaze, Coconut Secret Coconut Aminos Soy-Free Seasoning Sauce, Gold Label Organic Virgin Coconut Oil , Bionaturae Organic Olive Oil ,Wegmans Organic and Dr. Fuhrman's dressings.

Beans: Dried bulk beans stored in mason jars, and canned Eden Foods brand.

Wild Rice, Sprouted beans, and Quinoa: dried from bulk then stored in mason jars, or Alter Eco brand, and TruRoots brand products.

Cereals: Arrow Head Mills Gluten Free Cereals, Natures Path Cereals, Erewhon Cereals, Bobs Red Mill

Tomato products: Bionaturae Tomato Sauce Products and Eden Foods Organic Crushed Tomatoes, Mediterranean Sun Dried Tomatoes

Crackers: Brown Rice Snaps, Black Sesame with Organic Brown Rice, Dr. Krackers Seedlander Crisp Breads , Mary's Gone Crackers, Le Pain des Fleurs, Mediteranean brand lentil crackers

Pastas: Eden Kamut Quinoa Pasta, Eden Buckwheat Soba Noodles, Eden Kamut/Buckwheat Soba Noodles, Explore Asia Organic Black Bean Spaghetti, Tolerant Bean Pastas, Tinkyada Brown Rice Pastas

Artichokes, Hearts Of Palm, Olives, Mashed potatoes: Edward & Sons Mashed Potatoes, Edward & Sons Vegetables, Mediterranean Olives

Salmon and Sardines: Wild Planet brand
Seaweed: Maine Coast Seaweed, Sea Snax

Flours:  Bobs Red Mill  I keep mine in the freezer.

Snacks: Heaven Mountain Gogi Berries, Garden of Eatin Chip Products, Late July Snacks Sea Salt multigrain tortilla chip , Justins Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Alter Eco Chocolate, KIND Nuts & Spices Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt (Choose only Kind bars that state they are between 4-6 grams of sugar on the front), GoRaw Cookies and snack bars, 
Just Great Stuff Organic Powdered Peanut Butter, Bionaturae Fruit Spreads, Justin's Peanut butter Squeeze packs, From the bulk department: unsweetened banana chips, dried hummus, and organic raisins.


Happy shopping and eating! Be happy, be healthy, be peace.

DNa Lab Organic Hair Chemistry Salon: Healthier Hair Coloring And Styling

Meet the brilliant David and Ana Maria Seifarth. Together they are 'DNa Lab Organic Hair Chemistry'  an exceptional non-toxic salon located at the circle in Urbana, MD. Both share a passion for styling hair and sourcing hair products that can safely give clients fantastic results without the worry and danger of noxious harsh chemicals like ammonia. They have created a nourishing healthy environment at their phenomenal 'DNa Lab' salon. During their own professional careers within the salon industry they realized that not only are the carcinogenic chemicals of modern hair products bad for us consumers, they are doubly toxic for those hair stylists who must work with those chemicals every day! This stunning husband and wife team wanted a healthy sustainable beauty experience for their customers, staff, and also themselves. They opened the 'DNa Lab' salon a year ago outside of Frederick Maryland, just off of I-270, north of Washington, D.C., in order to supply the need for top notch hair styling along with state-of-the-art certified organic hair product alternatives. They have succeeded in both as their ever growing list of clients are singing their praises. In fact clients travel from out of state, and across Maryland, including Baltimore, Virginia, West Virginia, and Washington D.C. to savor the 'DNa Lab' experience.

Thanks to 'DNa Lab' I can feel good about the process of coloring and styling my hair. Having had a cancer diagnosis, safe chemical-free products are very important to me. David worked his organic styling magic on my hair and I am thrilled to feel like myself again! Honestly I know even if you are currently enjoying vibrant health that finding a new hair stylist can be a bit daunting. Read on and feel confident about your conscientious choice to work with a salon such as 'DNa Lab Organic Hair Chemistry.'  This service makes even coloring our hair a worry free restorative choice for our well being. Just when I thought I would have to give up on my hair issues I can instead enjoy having a bit of glamour back in my life! 

Do you realize that 85% of cancers are caused or triggered by toxins from our modern world? Skin, our largest organ, absorbs everything that comes into contact with it and then sends those substances into our cells. Just think about skin lotions, and medical patches... the fact that they work is based on that amazing absorption power. For over 40 years I had been using the highly destructive chemical hair dye process and breathing in the fumes too. Plus I was rubbing those harsh dangerous chemicals into my scalp to color my roots every two months.Yuk! Ultimately I could no longer do something like that to myself again after cancer. My son used to complain about the awful ammonia odor and say, "Mom that cannot be good for you to breathe in!" He was right. What did I know? I trusted corporations and government regulatory agencies way too much back then. Like many I just assumed that they do the right thing when it comes to the public's health. Not so my friends. After my cancer research on the truth about our modern carcinogenic food and personal care products one of the things I stopped was dyeing my hair with harsh chemicals. I let my hair begin to grow out natural. I no longer trusted the little bottle in that box, along with regular shampoo and conditioner too. Though unfortunately, even as bohemian as people may perceive me to be, I was not really happy with the end result of growing out "my natural hair." Feeling sadly drab I wondered what do I do now? Should I be content with a gloomy attitude towards my hair? No way! More kick-ass research... and 'DNa Lab' to the rescue! We can still shimmer and shine!

Those who follow 'The Queen's Table blog' know I view improving our horrible modern processed food eating habits and the transitioning to healthy nutrient dense food as moving through 'good... better... best.' You can use this same scale when you are considering upgrading your personal care products too. I would say if you stopped dyeing your hair and went completely natural that would be 'best.' Since I was not happy with 'my natural hair' the 'better' choice for me was to find an organic color salon. I asked friends who were hairstylists if they could help my situation. They said that they were sorry that they could not as everything they used was toxic. As I continued researching hair coloring products the 'Organic Colour Systems' line was one that kept rising to the top. 'DNa Lab' uses those products along with other healthier coloring options! I am so happy I found them! The name of their salon (d = David  n'  a = Ana Maria), while a play on their initials, is also the symbol on 'The Periodic Chart Of The Elements' for sodium. Salt... natural... and detoxifying. A good fit since going organic and plant based we are now detoxifying our hair and body from the dangerous chemicals of modern industrial methods. Let's do this!

Yep my natural hair color was so blah that I was totally over it! Even in the photo above during David's consultation I am one sad puppy looking at myself in the mirror. My real natural hair turned out to be a lackluster mix of brown and gray. Although I admit I do have two wonderful secret silver stripes hidden next to each of my ears. Imagining the uber-coolness of Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, I would indeed stay natural if all of my hair was his shade of silver! Unfortunately it is not. I needed some safe healthy professional help if I was to get some glam-o-rama back into my life! David who is a certified organic colorist listened and made suggestions. Actually at 'DNa Lab' they will hook you up with a specialist stylist that suits your particular hair needs. (Check out the Bios page at their 'DNa Lab' website.) You may have curly hair, fine hair, short hair, long hair, prefer modern cuts and color, love dimensional color, would like a perm, or be in need of bridal hair. You get the idea, we all have our own preferences. 'DNa Lab' will listen to your concerns and set your appointment up with the perfect stylist for your desires as they want you to be happy with the final results. 

Since we know the word 'organic' in the world of personal products does not have the same meaning as 'food grade organic' products stamped with the familiar green circular USDA label, we do need to be careful about what is actually in them. So in order for me to do 'better' at a hair salon like 'DNa Lab Organic Hair Chemistry'... what are they doing different with their product protocol? David and Ana Maria have made a point to research brands with natural and organic ingredients that are tested by outside sources, have sustainable practices, and are cruelty free. Just having the word "organic" on the product does give them a reason to carry the line in their salon. It takes more than adding that word to a bottle.

Therefore some of the products they carry are called organic and some are not. Most of the product lines that they carry in the salon do use 'Certified Organic Ingredients.' Carefully they have chosen product lines that do not contain any ammonia, sulfates, formaldehyde, and parabens. They even provide gluten-free hair products for their clients that are so sensitive to gluten that their skin breaks out in a rash. At first I thought gluten-free hair products sounded silly, although David assured me they do have clients where this concern really is an issue. 

The atmosphere of the 'DNa Lab' salon is hip retro industrial with a 'Renovation Hardware' vibe. The staff was welcoming and cheerful. They took my coat, and immediately offered me and my hubby a nice cup of tea. You can be served other drinks if you prefer. My favorite thing is that when you walk into the salon there are no chemical smells in the air! How refreshing!

During my first appointment with David we discussed blending my natural grown out hair with the old blond chemically treated hair on the bottom section. Most of the chemically damaged hair was then cut off. Then he added very natural highlights and low lights, with a great cut. The tradition is to take a selfie in their awesome restroom... actually I never shared this selfie till now... so there ya go world.

A month later I realized that I expected to see a blonde when I looked in the mirror. So now I wanted even brighter highlights to satisfy my rock n' roll soul. I needed to call David at 'DNa Lab' right after the busy holidays and make a few additions to my 'do!' Make way for the glitter-atzi!

My True Confession: My mother dyed my hair darker when I was in fifth grade for Easter photos because she said I had very ugly mousy brown hair. Great boost for the inner child self-esteem. Anyway when my mother finished my hair it looked black, and my teacher was horrified. At that time as a creative kid I was making and wearing chain mail looking vests from soda and beer zip tabs. That sure annoyed the grade school lunchroom attendants for some reason. Hey! Just having some funky fun ladies! Shortly thereafter in seventh grade I started dyeing my own hair, alternating from auburn to strawberry blonde, wearing my mothers bits and pieces from sparkly gowns, donning different colored wigs, and not giving a fig what anyone thought about it. I was having fun. Bowie before Bowie, which is why I related to the chameleon aspect of him immediately. And yes I was in the front row of 'The Tower Theatre' wearing my lightning bolt platform shoes on his first (and second) 'Ziggy Stardust' American Tour! I was a Glam 'T-Rex Jeepster' baby and loving every minute of it! Damn I wish I still had some of those outfits!

Truthfully I have been 'on the bottle' for most of my life. I may have assimilated into looking "normal" after motherhood... yet going completely natural was never going to work for me if it looked drab and boring. When I attend my yearly fairy festivals I always get shiny fairy strands put in my hair. My kids say, "If it sparkles Mom will love it!" Therefore I felt getting bright highlights is a 'better' safer option and more "me." Okay... break's over! Enough of my retro secrets!

When I called David to let him know I wanted to add some lighter brighter highlights to the front of my hair he was excited! "You called at just the right time! We just got in a new product that now makes that possible. You will be the second client to be using our new Olaplex product. Next week we will be training all of our stylists on how to use it on each other!" Perfect!

You might realize that, compared to traditional chemical hair color, organic and natural hair color is very gentle on your hair. David and Ana Maria care about the healthy quality of your hair. In the past David would not allow his customers with naturally dark hair to get the really lighter shades because it damages the hair from stripping. This new professional use only product called 'Olaplex' is free of silicone, sulfates, phthalates, DEA, aldehydes, and is not tested on animals. Olaplex reconnects the bonds in your hair broken by thermal, mechanical, or chemical processes. Your hair gets extra protection and lighter organic shades are now possible for us darker haired ladies. 'DNa Lab' is very happy that they can now offer this solution to their clients like me.

Actually only a few salons in the country even have access to the new product at this time. Ana Maria and David were trained in New York to use Olaplex and in the future will probably be training other salons on the east coast. So lucky me!

I told David that I wanted the brighter blonde highlights mixed with some strawberry blonde shades of red to change it up a bit for me. A slight nod back to my old red haired days. He liked the idea and agreed it was a complimentary combination. With this method the color does not sit on your scalp and sink into your skin. The color mixture stays in the wrapped foil package. Plus the mild ingredients of the products 'DNa Lab' uses on their clients are much safer! The process is so clean that I noticed David that did not even wear gloves on his hands. He told me he really appreciated the fact that the whole process did not smell bad anymore either! In the old days of dyeing my hair I only had to smell that stink for an hour. Imagine having to smell it all day long! Ugh... nasty like a nail salon. 

David and Ana Maria are certified organic colorists; they mix up the colors at their rustic color bar, and then wheel their custom result over to your salon chair on a mini cart.

The hair coloring product David used on my hair is made by Organic Colour Systems. 

A wide variety of shades are also available from 'DNa Lab' in the 'Original Mineral' O&M color line as well. So many healthier choices!

Be sure to talk to an organic hair color specialist about which brand of color is appropriate for your hair situation and needs. Certainly it depends on your own natural hair color and/or if you used chemical color how any particular shade will appear on your hair after the coloring process. Gone are the smells, the stinging scalp, watery eyes, and total damage done to your hair from all the chemicals. Your hair will actually be shinier and healthier than ever before! You are free to enjoy a wonderful experience! 

While I sipped on my herbal tea served up lab style, which by the way was hand crafted by Ana Maria, David focused on placing the colors and foils onto my hair.

When he was finished I spent a short time pretending to be reading under the heat lamps while listening to their well chosen music. (As you can see I was actually communing with the mother ship.)

Now it's time for serene restorative relaxing: A complimentary hand treatment under a hot towel, and herbal shampoo with a soothing scalp massage. Just ease on back into your oh-so-comfortable shampoo bed. No 'bent neck' aches here people! Sweet! The botanical products they use are delightfully 'smelly good' and provide soothing aromatherapy! 

Time to Zen out...

Below is a peek at the retro looking shampoo and conditioner bar that the hair stylists use on your hair while you slip into that other world.

After my hair was towel dried I was back to David's chair. Hubby did a nice job of taking a windy photo while David was blowing out my hair.

Below the product shelf photo is a brief outline of some of those healthier beneficial professional brands that are used by 'DNa Lab Organic Hair Chemistry' salon.

O&M = From Australia (Original Mineral). Free of parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, sodium chloride, phthalates, MIT, and Triclosan. Hair color contains no harsh chemicals and is ammonia, resorcinol and PPD free. They use natural Australian minerals and ingredients such as Kaolin, Montmorillonite, Illite, Lilly Pilly, Quangdong, Tasmanian Sea Kelp, Argan oil, Macadamia oil, other natural oils, and aloe vera within the hair care product line. No animal testing.

Yarok = 100% Vegan botanicals made in fresh batches from organic pristine sources that are responsibly harvested. Free of alcohol, paraben, sulfates, and gluten. Cruelty free.

Loma = Hand crafted in small batches all products are free of paraben, gluten, sulfate, and sodium chloride. Certified Organic Aloe Vera gel is the primary base for all products, with other organic ingredients such as lavender, fennel seed, and sunflower seed. Organic essential oils of avocado, sunflower, olive, jojoba, castor and safflower as needed.

Organic Color, Curl, Care, Control, Systems = 100% ammonia free, Certified Organic Ingredients, cruelty free, 100% vegan, no plastics, and no thioglyolates.

MILK Anti frizz = Handcrafted in California. Organic ingredients from sustainable sources.

Hanz de Fuko = No animal testing. Certified Organic and Non GMO plant based ingredients when a choice exists for their styling products.

Back to David's station for that amazing smoothing action that professionals can achieve when blowing out your hair. Sometimes before some of my husband's gigs I wish someone would please do this for me, especially to the back of my hair where I cannot reach. Ya know what I mean ladies?

I noticed some lab n' library action up at the front desk.... so I asked David about some "Product." I am using the lingo... and admitting my ignorance.

David says the 'Milk' anti-frizz product handcrafted in California is the most popular with their clients. It protects the hair and scalp while promoting growth and restoration. Since at 'DNa Lab' they do not push you to buy products, David was honest and said my hair was in great shape, and I actually did not need to use it. On the plus side... that's what growing your hair out natural will get ya.

This has been my first time other than a touch of hair spray to use "product" regularly on my hair since the eighties! (OMG! Remember mousse? Big frosted Barbie hair and giant cans of hair spray?) In this century I am in love, love, love, with 'Hanz de Fuko Quicksand'. It gives fine limp hair like mine natural volume and lift. Truly amazing! Lasts until you wash it out! I could even be "ah-lah Bowie in Labyrinth" if I so wished!

There is David at the reception desk getting me my quicksand supply! Can I have five?

After being so pleased with the 'Hanz de Fuko Quicksand' product this past month I wanted to try more of the 'DNa Lab' product lines. So I asked David to recommend a few that I would use with my personal hair situation needs. Here is what I decided to purchase:

Shampoo: 'O&M Original Detox' removes deposits on hair and refreshes with Australian Mint.
Conditioner: 'Loma Nourishing' for dry thirsty and chemically treated hair. Aromatherapy - cranberry and pear.
Dry Shampoo: 'CocoLab' A locally crafted product made from arrowroot powder, spices and oils for those in between shampoo days.
Protection from Blow Dryer use: 'O&M Atonic Thickening Spritz'
Free sample Loma Nourishing Oil: protection, shine, aromatherapy - vanilla bean and orange.

'DNa Lab' is always creatively thinking about how to improve their customer's experience. Most recently they added a dedicated bar for computer laptop use. Anyone waiting for the clients who are getting their hair styled will be able to go online comfortably. After three more shampoo beds are installed, then two new stylists hair stylists will be added. Although I have not experienced any of the other hair stylists personally they each get wonderful reviews on Yelp! Obviously they take great care to find people who have impressive hair skills yet fit in with the comfortable friendly atmosphere of the salon. Going to have your hair done can be like going to a therapist for some people. I observed that the other stylists were pleasant souls who can handle the laid back social interaction with impressive ease while satisfying the customer's hair style needs.

Since my personal quest in life has been finding healthier ways of living I love seeing this industrious couple succeed with their vision of better safer hair solutions for their growing list of satisfied clients. We need more people in the world who include making life healthier as part of their business model! I am so thankful that they have created this space with such superb care! Let's review our overall thoughts about 'DNa Lab' ... for pampering our senses, getting superior hair styling, giving exceptional service, using healthy safe organic products, and creating a distinctive setting... Yes! The Queen will take all of that... any day!

I look forward to my next visit to DNa Lab! If you want a fantastic cut, and/or color executed in a safe caring environment I would say it's time for you to get pampered with kindness at DNA Lab Organic Hair Chemistry! I feel really good about how my hair looks, in addition it also feels soft and healthy too!  Oh... I think this is the beginning of a very beautiful relationship! After all... hair is our crowning glory! (So says the Queen!) Now go get the hair you've been yearning for safely and don't forget to take your fabulous selfie in their mirror! Be happy. Be healthy. Be peace.

(Check out even more reviews about the 'DNa Lab' experience on Yelp! here.)
If you have been to DNa Lab leave a comment!
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