This isn't just another beauty blog. Here I plan to share with you some Food for Thought as well as practical tips for loving your hair. I'm surrounded by inspiring things and people everyday and constantly doing research on the best natural beauty ingredients. Here is where I get to tell you everything.

All you need to know about healthy hair growth may be in your refrigerator, and I’ve got the dietary solutions for your head.

Some of my clients have been coming to me for over 20 years. When you work with an individual for this long, you can see the hair go through a transformation. Frequently, my clients approach me with concerns regarding hair growth. And with what we do to our hair (perms of the 80s, relaxers of the 90s…) and bodies over time will affect hair growth in the future. While I do believe there are medical questions that should be addressed when experiencing hair thinning/loss (genes have a lot to do with it) there are also many factors regarding your lifestyle that could be a cause for hair loss. Below you will find a list of vitamins, foods, and ingredients that will help you achieve a healthier and happier you. The keys to great hair (and a healthy body) are in a nutritious diet, exercise, all-natural ingredients, and keeping lots of love and happiness in your life. Only then can we be whole—mind, body and soul.

While a vast majority of male hair loss sufferers are identified as having andogenic alopecia (or male pattern baldness), the causes in women continue to elude doctors. The source of hair loss in women vary case to case and it’s difficult to pinpoint the source. While some women also suffer from androgenic alopecia, others can attribute their thinning hair to extreme stress or traumatic events that cause hair loss like child birth, severe infection, major surgery, menopause, or any other event that may cause general malnutrition. This type of hair loss is referred to as telogen effluvium. This condition is particularly common among new mothers (reportedly 40-50% of women experience post-partum hair thinning). While there are no permanent solutions to hair loss in men or women, there are natural ways to treat and prevent future hair loss through a well-rounded diet and healthy lifestyle choices.

Iron can make a huge different in hair growth. Those with low iron or anemia are likely to experience thinning hair. Be sure to eat foods high in iron. Meat is a common source of iron, but dark leafy greens, dried fruit, and legumes are sources that are just as important.

Protein is crucial to strengthening and promoting a healthy body, and in fact makes up 90% of hair structure. It is one of the key elements to protecting your hair from damage. While it is found in many shampoos/conditioners and hair treatments on the market, you should also be supplementing protein in your diet (as it is so important for overall nutrition). While protein is most commonly derived from meat, there are several options for vegetarians and vegans that can replace meat. Try tempeh, tofu, brown rice, broccoli, lentils, chickpeas, or peanuts.

Several vitamins are vital components to healthy, growing hair. The most common vitamin recommended for hair loss is vitamin H, also known as Biotin. It is actually a part of the B-complex family (also highly recommended for healthy hair, skin, and nails), and is proven to prevent both hair loss and the onset of greys. Biotin can be found in swiss chard, carrots, nuts, many berries and vegetables, and milk. Pantothenic acid, which prevents greying and hair loss, can also be found in many of these foods as well as avocado, yogurt, and both shiitake and crimini mushrooms.YAROK Feed Your Sunshine hair & scalp treatment is packed with B complex vitamins for protecting your hair against sun damage, naturally moisturizing the scalp, and promoting hair growth. It is also contains anti-Oxidants…

Anti-Oxidants (i.e. vitamins C, E, and A) work to flush out toxins in your body and boost immunity, which in-turn promotes clear, beautiful skin and boost hair growth. Vitamin C is commonly found in citrus fruits, berries, tomatoes, green peppers, and dark leafy vegetables. Vitamin E is important for circulation to the scalp (which thus promotes hair growth) and can be found in raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables. While vitamin A—found in sweet potatoes, butternut squash, cantaloupe, and carrots—helps produce healthy oil in the scalp, it can be very harmful as too much can actually lead to hair loss and further complications. You should definitely consult with a doctor or expert to understand how much is too much. YAROK also has several products loaded with anti-Oxidants like Feed Your Shine hair serum which works to give your hair a natural sheen and prevent damage from hot styling tools.

A commonly overlooked supplement, Zinc, aids in reversal in scalp problems. It is abundant in red meat, but also sesame, pumpkin and squash seeds, dark chocolate, and peanuts. Inositol, found in whole grains and citrus fruits, keeps your follicles healthy at the cellular level. Niacin also helps blood circulation to scalp and can be found in bran, fish, paprika, peanuts, and sun-dried tomatoes.

The start to hair and scalp health is a well-balanced, diverse diet. However, all of YAROKs products have been designed to fully supplement your hair’s every need. From shampoos to styling products, every ingredient is all-natural and works to repair, strengthen, and protect your hair and scalp. Vitamins, minerals, essential oils, herbs, fruit extracts—YAROK has it all. Using our products on a regular basis will ensure your hair and scalp are getting all of the elements it needs for maximum health, beauty, and growth (the natural way!).

Friday, April 13th, 2012 – Spring Hair Festival

Please join us for a day of complimentary YAROK hair and scalp treatments at JUJU Salon and Organics,
featuring YAROK’s product educator Theadora Guzman.
Reserve your appointment in advance by calling Juju Salon at 215.238.6080
Friday April 13, 2012 10am-5pm
Space is limited!

April 22 – 24, 2012 – IBS New York International Beauty Show

Come and visit us at the IBS New York International Beauty Show. BOOTH #1974 at the Jacob Javits Convection Center.
655 West 34th Street, New York City, NY

Get Your Best Hair For The Best Day of Your Life

Let YAROK Beauty Kitchen make your wedding fabulous!

Perfect dress? Check.
Delicious catering? Check.
Dream location? Check.
Prince Charming? Let’s hope so!
But what about that tired, lackluster hair of yours?

Overworked from styling and damaged by the elements, chances are you hair isn’t as ready for your big day. as you are. Obviously, you intend to be the center of attention at your wedding (and rightfully so!), and that means all eyes are on you. This is why it’s so utterly important to make sure you and your hair is ready to say “I do.” From flawless, pampered locks to a soothed and relaxed state of mind, the all-natural hair & beauty experts at YAROK Beauty Kitchen have exactly what you need to have you and your hair ready
for the best day of your life.

YAROK’s suggested bridal services start with YAROK Feed Your Youth, our signature hair and scalp treatment.
Allow yourself to be engulfed by the sweet aromas and relaxation as our stylists apply YAROK Feed Your
Youth treatment through a soothing scalp massage. With a powerful blend of pure oils, vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants, your hair will be rejuvenated and ready for all of your new beginnings.

Next, your stylist will wash and moisturize your mane with YAROK Feed Your Volume Shampoo & Conditioner. Sit back. Remove the “weight of the world” in your hair with more titillating fragrances and a massage This herbal, organic blend will visibly plump your limp locks. Let the Jojoba Seed Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, and Aloe Vera seal moisture and promote voluminous, manageable hair.

Finish your top-notch treatment with a fabulous blow-dry! Up, down, curly, straight, our stylists can accomplish any look you want to complete your beautiful bridal ensemble to your heart’s desire!

Between reception hall booking, floral arrangements, and groomsmen tuxedo rentals, you may feel like you’re just too swamped to let our experts pamper you. Don’t despair! Treat yourself by visiting YAROKhair.
com where you can purchase all the items mentioned along with many other great YAROK products to make your own fairytale wedding look (without the fairy godmother!). With a quick call our stylists will be happy to
answer any questions you may have regarding how to use all of YAROK’s haircare line.

Book with YAROK Beauty Kitchen for your big day, and while you’re at it, bring your bridesmaids and treat them to an all-out YAROK wedding party!

Top Spring Hair Tips and Trends for Spring

While trending hairstyles right now are ranging from retro to au naturale, the hair color trends for 2012 are anything but. The key to great hair color has always been to keep it looking as if it had grown out of your own head, while maintaining a wholly unnatural (and basically unattainable) perfection through rich hues and blinding shine. Well move over, Nice ‘n Easy. Girls are taking back their hair color and having fun with it! Hair trends for 2012 are progressive, vibrant, and eye-catching!

First, there’s the “Ombre,” which looks something like you’ve been too broke to touch-up the blonde highlights you got last Spring. Fashionistas like Alexa Chung, Drew Barrymore, and Lauren Conrad have really embraced this late Summer look. Of course, not everyone has had highlights, so careful when attempting this look at-home. If you’re hair is dark, it’s always a good idea to consult and expert when going lighter and using bleaching agents on your hair.

Punk rock is back in a fashionable way. Lots of girls are drawing attention to their locks with unnatural hues of pink, purple, blue, anything goes! But you don’t have to go Katy Perry to be radical with your hair. There are extensions available in many beauty stores and salons that offer a rainbow of options.

Finally, and possibly most shocking of all, women are going rogue with white and grey all-over color. Kate Moss and Lady Gaga are proudly and fiercely sporting their age and greys!

Hair Color Tips for Spring

This is a bit obvious, but if you really want to get the most out of your hair color, try not to stray too far from your natural tone. I recommend staying within three shades of your own color.
Use a color safe shampoo and conditioner, anything organic is good but i will
Love to recommend Feed Your Volume is amazing and does not Streeps the color, no harsh cleansing agents here.
With the sun’s rays and pool chemicals, your hair will need all the defense it can get against color fade. You might even want to consider purchasing a chlorine filter for your shower-head.

The possibility of colors and shades are almost endless. Multi-tonal hair can look awesome, but is difficult to achieve on your own. When you’re going for the extreme, you should always consult us “the experts” like myself

Spring Hair-care Do’s and Dont’s

Fun in the sun can wreak havoc on healthy hair if not treated correctly. Keep these tips in mind this Spring as the sun comes out and bikinis are dawned.

Going to a pool party? Be sure to rinse your hair with tap water before diving-in. Pool chemicals can do major damage and dry-out your locks. Dry hair will soak up the chlorinated pool water, while hair wet with non-chlorinated water will not be so ready to soak in more. Moreover, try to use an oil formula like Yarok Feed Your Sunshine, this serum will help protect from the chlorine to penetrate onto the hair shaft, shampoo & condition your hair as soon as you’re done in the pool. It’s important to get those chemicals out before they can sink deeper in drying.

Don’t pull up your hair in a tight bun or ponytail while wet. The outdoor heat and humidity of wet hair plus elapsed time yields a thriving environment for bacteria, fungus & mold. Gross!

If you’re hair is colored, you need to take extra care in the sun to keep your color from fading fast. Buy a fabulous sun hat and wear it when you know you’ll be in the sun for an extended period. This helps keep your hair vibrant and protected, as sunshine will fade hair-color (just like it does with your lawn furniture). Also consider purchasing a hair product like Yarok Feed Your ends an amazing Leave In Conditioner that when you know the hat might be coming off.

New York Fashion Week: Spring 2012

“Au natural” was a major trend during this year’s New York Fashion Week. In their Spring 2012 RTW shows, designers like Philip Lim, Charlotte Ronson, Carolina Herrara, and Missoni took a minimalist stance to hair, leaving it in simple loose buns and low ponytails, embracing (if not encouraging) a slightly unkempt look. Michael Kors took it to the extreme with hair that looked positively dirty as if they had all recently returned from an African safari.

Calvin Klein, Chloé, Givenchy, and Lacoste just left the hair down, with a look as if the hair had hardly been blow dried–simple and straight with soft body.

Another notable style was the slick, wet look featured in shows by BCBG Max Azria, Chanel, and Yves Saint Laurent. Derek Lam embraced androgyny with an almost masculine, very clean, slicked-back look.

Finally, retro is in with big, luscious curls and up-dos. Badgley Mischka, Anna Sui, and Jean Paul Gaulthier had styles reminiscent of the 40s, while Diane Von Furstenberg brought the beehive back into fashion.

Sunday, March 11th – Organic Rama

Please join us for Organic Rama: Body, Skin, and Hair TRUNK SHOW
Sunday March 11, 2012 11am – 6pm

New ways to use hair tools

suggest using a large barrel curing iron to straighten hair. Flat irons can suck the life out of hair and leave it too flat, especially those with fine hair. A large curling iron will give it a little more body and wave to make it look naturally voluminous.

Consider the look you want to achieve, and what your hair needs. If your hair tends to fall flat, try using a large curling iron to lift hair at the roots for more volume, then a smaller iron to curl at the ends. For an even more dynamic look, use different sized curling irons throughout your hair.

If you’re not as adept with hot hair tools, try simply braiding your hair and blow drying it. The smaller the brains, the more crimped the curls. If you can french braid, you’ll be able to achieve wave through the whole strand.

If you like to create waves with a blow dryer diffuser rather than curling or flattening iron, I recommend using a cloth diffuser instead of plastic. The cloth diffuser helps make hair less frizzy.

New Hair Tools:

I like using a duel thin barrel curling iron for my editorial work. They resemble a pair of knitting needles attached to one handle. Models and clients are always a bit shocked and intimidated by the tool, and even more surprised by the outcome. I mainly use it to create waves that look natural yet defined. The size of the wave depends on the size of the section of hair you choose.

To use this tool, I prep that hair with a styling lotion or mousse like YAROK Feed Your Roots mousse on dry hair. Then I take the desired section of hair and begin rolling the hair on onto one barrel, then the next, creating a “figure 8″ motion (stylists call this “figure 8 waves”). From there you can brush your hair to get some frizz, comb it if you do not want frizz, or use just your fingers to blend.

Another new tool I’ve used is a curling iron without the clamp. Instead, it comes with a heat proof glove to protect your hands. This way you control how you and where the heat is applied to your hair without the risk of frying or crimping your strands. You have even get them with interchangeable heads for different sized curls.”

YAROK Feed Your Hold works magic with all of the tools i have mentioned!

Keeping your hair healthy during the cold winter

Rituals:

1. First and foremost, drink plenty of water and make sure you stick to a nourishing diet. Your hair and body need vitamins like A, C, E and many variations of B as well as Omega 3 fatty acids (found in fish or flaxseed) to stay healthy and shiny. YAROK FEED YOUR YOUTH Hair & Scalp Serum is also packed with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and oils that treat your worn hair and restore it to the fullness and beauty of its youth.

2. Don’t shampoo everyday or even every other day. Most shampoos contain moisture stripping chemicals that can actually damage hair if used too frequently. If your hair is naturally oily, try just shampooing at the roots rather than the entire strand. With that being said, Yarok recommends an all-natural shampoo and conditioner that is completely free of harsh chemicals like YAROK FEED YOUR VOLUME Shampoo and Conditioner.

3. Finish off your warm shower with a cold rinse over your hair. This seals in conditioners and boosts shine.

4. After your bath, do not rub your hair dry. This causes frizz and dryness. Instead, gently pat or squeeze it with a soft towel, like bamboo fiber, so as to not remove critical moisture from the hair’s cuticles.
* For more frizz prevention, use a wide tooth comb that has gentle or coated tips.

5. Avoid styling your hair with tools that require heat like blow dyers, curling and flattening irons. If you must, always apply a heat protector, like YAROK FEED YOUR ENDS Leave-In Conditioner, prior to styling.

6. If you can bear it, turn down the heater during the winter as dry, hot air in your home will translate to your hair and scalp. Purchase a humidifier to insert moisture back into your environment.

7. Use laundry detergents that do not contain perfumes and deodorizers. This is good practice for both hair and skin.

8. Finally, once split ends start they cannot be repaired! Put a stop to split ends by getting regular trims.

Remedies:

1. Water that comes from a faucet contains trace elements like chlorine and other minerals that can damage hair. Consider purchasing a filter for your shower head that converts hard water to soft.

2. Protect your head and hair in the dry winter winds with soft material caps like silk, cashmere, or satin, rather than wool which is rough on your sensitive hair (you can even wear a silk wrap underneath a wool hat if you need the layers). Consider this detail in terms of your pillow cases and bed sheets as well.

3. Flyaways are a common winter hair nuissance. One quick trick is to rub a fabric softening dryer sheet on your hair to remove static and frizz. An even more effective solution would be to use a product like the YAROK FEED YOUR SHINE Hair Serum which adds shine and tames those flyaways.
4. If your hair is lacking moisture, there are several items you’ll probably find in your own kitchen that can replenish dry hair.

*For example, mixtures of oil and vinegar is great for your hair. Apple Cider vinegar in particular is known to cleanse, condition, add body and luster, balance the pH of scalp, and even reduce itch and dandruff.

*It’s no secret that your hair needs certain oils. Olive or avocado oils are great for overall hair health and shine. YAROK FEED YOUR ROOTS Mousse contains both oils along with many other all- natural ingredients that give your hair the lift it needs to look voluminous.

5. Aromatherapies can be relaxing for both your senses and hair. Essential oils like lavender, bay and sandalwood mixed with a sesame or soy oil can leave your hair looking and smelling fabulous. You’ll be soothed and relaxed by your own hair all day!”

Hair Color Inspiration

“Walking through the markets with mountains of fruits and vegetables around me, the sight my eyes take are strokes of amazing bright colors that awaken my senses.

Just the same as when you feast your eyes on a plate of food that has been impeccably arranged like a piece of art, in perfect harmony, the colors flow and my eyes celebrate.

When I think of hair color, I’m inspired by flowers–the best of what nature has designed. The shapes and shades of their colors have depth. They can carry two completely different colors and still work. There can be multiple shades in a singular petal, some that reflect sparks of light, while others are deep, dark and seductive. When I think about your next hair color, I’ll imagine beautiful flower!”