Here are some of the commonly asked questions we've received over the years.
We've organized them by category so you can easily find answers.

ISSUE: Dry Scalp and Hair Loss

September 21, 2009 | African-American Hair, Color-Treated Hair, Damaged Hair, Dry Hair

Dear Philip,

I’m an African-American woman with chemically-treated hair. My hair feels dry all the time, and my scalp itches in the center. I’m constantly rubbing it to stop the itching, and as a result, I have a lot of breakage and my hair is falling out. What type of regiment do you recommend?

You can’t believe how often I see this situation – I’m so sorry to hear of your struggles. The good news is that I have the perfect remedy. It involves three steps:

1. Coat your hair with my Rejuvenating Oil and work it into your scalp to loosen any dead cells and flaky patches. Let it sit for 20 minutes or so.
2. Put a dollop of the Peppermint & Avocado Clarifying & Volumizing Shampoo on your hair, work it into a lather and let IT sit for 2-3 minutes. You’ll feel your scalp tingling as the therapeutic levels of peppermint oil in the formula do their healing work. Rinse.
3. Immediately apply the Anti-Flake Relief Shampoo, work it into a lather, and let IT sit for another 2-3 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.

If you like, you run some conditioner through the ends of your hair, or apply a leave-in conditioner – avoiding your scalp. Repeat the 3 steps as needed. You should see a huge improvement in your scalp and your hair within a week.

ISSUE: Clown Hair

September 21, 2009 | Color-Treated Hair, Damaged Hair, Dry Hair, Fine & Limp Hair

Dear Philip,

I have fine, colored hair and an oily scalp. My hair appears very dry and damaged at the bottom, and the texture is both frizzy and lifeless. When I sleep, it gets all roughed up by the pillowcase, so by morning I look like I have the hair of a clown! I’m interested in the Russian Imperial shampoo and Katira Masque. Would any of you other daily shampoos and conditioners work for me? Are the White Truffle shampoo and conditioner too moisture-rich for fine hair? I’ve just tried a small sample of the African Shea Butter Shampoo. My hair looks less frizzy, but I’m not sure if this is what I should order first.

For you, the perfect fix would be the Four-Step Hair & Scalp treatment, followed by Katira Masque, followed by Lovin’ Leave-in Conditioner. Trust me: Throw in a satin pillowcase at bedtime and your clown-hair days are over!

ISSUE: Russian Amber – How to Lather Up?

August 13, 2009 | Damaged Hair

Dear Philip,

I recently purchased the Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo, but I’m not getting any lather with the product. Is that normal? When I watched the video the product looks like it lathers. Am I doing something wrong?

It sounds like you have too much product build-up on your hair, but that’s an easy thing to fix. Just start with the Peppermint & Avocado Volumizing & Clarifying Shampoo (you may need to use it twice) to clarify the hair-shaft and leave your scalp tingly clean and cool. Then go in with the Russian Amber – it will restore just the right dose of moisture and amino acids to your hair, and you’ll definitely get a rich lather. I love using those two products back-to-back.

ISSUE: Rehabbing Damaged, Fine, Highlighted Hair

August 13, 2009 | Color-Treated Hair, Damaged Hair, Fine & Limp Hair

Dear Philip,

I recently bought your Katira Masque, which I love. I have somewhat fine, highlighted blond hair that became damaged and is in recovery. Until recently, I shampooed it everyday because I have oily skin. But now I’ve cut back washing it 4-5 a week and use a dry shampoo on the off-days. What would you recommend for continued hair healing and everyday use, including styling products?

I’m so happy to hear that you’re enjoying the Katira Masque. I recommend that you alternate Katira treatments with Rejuvenating Oil treatments; they have a wonderful synergy that will transform fine, chemically-damaged hair. Simply coat your hair with oil, focusing on the mid-shaft to the ends and on any dry areas. From there, heat it with a blowdryer to help the oil sink inside your hair and let it sit for 30-40 minutes. Then wash it out with the Peppermint & Avocado Volumizing & Clarifying Shampoo. That should give you plenty of oomph. As a finishing touch, rub a touch of Lovin’ Leave-in Conditioner between your fingers and use it to smooth down flyaways and hide (and heal) dry ends. If you want more of a beachy, sexy, bed-heady effect, go with the Maui Wowie Beach Mist: Use it on damp or dry hair (experiment to see which works better for you) and feel free to scrunch away.

ISSUE: Fried & Dyed

June 26, 2009 | Color-Treated Hair, Damaged Hair, Thin Hair

Dear Philip,

I dye my hair and use flat irons. As a result, I’ve noticed that my hair’s become extremely brittle and over-processed. I’m worried that it might be thinning, too.

You’re taking a lot out of your hair; you need to give it something back. In this case, the name of the game is moisture: frequent Rejuvenating Oil and/or 4-Step Treatments; a healing shampoo like White Truffle or Russian Amber; and either a delicate conditioner like the Lightweight Deep Conditioning Crème or something richer, like White Truffle Nourishing & Conditioning Crème. And, at the risk of repeating myself: If you’re experiencing sudden or dramatic hair loss, see a doctor to rule out an underlying hormonal imbalance or medical issue. Good luck!

ISSUE: Infusing Coarse Hair with Shine

June 26, 2009 | Damaged Hair, Dry Hair

Dear Philip,

My hair is dry, coarse, and silver-grey. How can I keep it smooth, polished and
shiny?

Hair like yours can look so gorgeous and elegant – it just needs the right care. I recommend three things: Oil treatments to silken the texture; Katira Masque to make it more manageable; and Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo to enhance everything. Check out the how-to video on my website to see how dramatic the results can be.

ISSUE: Organic?

June 26, 2009 | Damaged Hair, Dry Hair

Dear Philip,

Two questions: Are all of your products organic? And what do you recommend that I use on my hair, which is damaged AND dry? I’d like to use your Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo and Katira Hair Masque, but I don’t know which conditioner would be the best fit for me. And do the Russian Amber and Katira Masque contain oil? I find that when there’s no oil in my products, my hair feels harsh, not soft.

To answer the first part of your question: My products aren’t certified organic. To make them, I shop for the raw materials all over the world to make sure I’m getting the best quality. Sometimes the botanical ingredients are certified organic and sometimes they’re not – but I always make sure they’re responsibly grown and harvested.

As to the best treatments for your damaged hair: You’re a perfect candidate for Rejuvenating Oil treatments. If your hair is on the finer side, I suggest the Lightweight Deep Conditioning Crème. If it’s thicker, use the White Truffle Crème instead. Also: The Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo contains fantastically high levels of healing plant oils; it will magically transform hair like yours. Katira is completely oil-free.

ISSUE: Curly, Frizzy & Dry

June 26, 2009 | Curly Hair, Damaged Hair, Dry Hair

Dear Philip,

I am a guy of Asian-Indian origin. I’ve straightened my curly hair and it looked great for a while — but now that I’ve stopped, I try to keep my hair short. I apply styling cream and gel when I get out of the shower, which works well for an hour or so. But given the humidity, my hair soon turns frizzy and dry. Someone suggested that I use a leave-in conditioner, but I’m confused. How can I maintain my style and a damp/wet look? Please help!

It’s tricky to find the right combination of products for hair like yours, but it’s possible. My guess is that a leave-in conditioner would soften your curls but for hold, you’ll do better with a cream pomade and gel mix. Don’t fear a little oil: Remember that your hair is dead and dry – you just need the right balance of moisture so it won’t feel greasy but will look healthy and supple. When you get out of the shower, mix a little Cream of the Crop Pomade with Styling Gel and work it through your hair. The less you use, the drier the effect.

ISSUE: Fried Hair, Reborn!

June 2, 2009 | Color-Treated Hair, Damaged Hair, Dry Hair

Dear Philip,

I have been using your Russian Amber Imperial Shampoo, White Truffle Conditioner, Katira Masque and 4-Step Hair & Scalp Treatment since the new year. My hair was so dried-out and straw-like from years of hair color and medicinal side effects. But today my hairdresser says my hair is healthy and strong. I’d been doing weekly jojoba-oil treatments overnight for years and while that made a difference, it was nothing like what happened over the past 4 months. I’ve been washing my hair daily and the texture still improved like crazy. Thank you — I’m so happy. The Russian Amber shampoo and Truffle conditioner are definitely worth the price. I’ve used the Russian Amber daily for 4 months on my long hair and still have a third left! It really is a miracle.?

That’s wonderful news — I love hearing success stories like yours. You chose a perfect combination of products, too: As you’ve found, they really do give seriously damaged, lifeless hair a whole new look and feel. Thanks so much for writing in!

ISSUE: Hair Loss

June 2, 2009 | Damaged Hair, Special Cases

Dear Philip,

What’s the best way to stop my hair from falling out?

The first thing to do is to see a doctor to rule out any hormonal problems or underlying medical issues. If you come out with a clean bill of health, you can do a couple of things: Protect the hair you have by (a) using a gentle yet invigorating shampoo like Peppermint & Avocado Clarifying & Volumizing Shampoo or Scent of Santa Fe; and (b) regularly stimulating your scalp with a nylon and boar-bristle brush. If you need more aggressive intervention, I’ve heard good things about over-the-counter minoxidil, Propecia and red-light laser treatments, too. Check with your doctor.

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