I have sold and given away samples of Hair and Skin JUNC products to various salons and people to get feedback and comments to help improve the products. The overwhelming product favorite, for both men and women, is the Lavender Mint Hair Masque. It works  very well for processed hair as well as natural hair. Those with naturally thick or curly hair reported they had to use a bit more product to get desired results . The Hair Masque is made with over 89% organic ingredient and based on reviews, the scent is  “heavenly” and “relaxing.” I am contemplating adding a sulfate free Lavender Shampoo to go with the Hair Masque.

Other products such as the Sulfate Free Citrus Shampoo and the Herbal Oat and Citrus Conditioner have also been very well received, one person described it as “washing her hair while running naked in an orchard,” (I’m still trying to figure out the logistics.)
Hair and Skin JUNC Elixirs and nourishing butters*, while effective, have been described  as having a “medicinal” “herbaceous” and “earthy” scent. While working on these products, my primary goal was to include only oils and butters shown to offer certain benefits to hair and skin. For example, tea tree essential oil for its reputed anti-fungal properties, cedar-wood essential oil for dandruff and dermatitis control, argan oil because its rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, carotenes and essential fatty acids. I chose shea butter because it is an excellent emollient that adds superior moisture to both hair and skin. Shea butter is the main ingredient in the nourishing butters, sometimes constituting up to 70% of the finished product. However, natural unrefined shea butter has a very distinctive and earthy smell that is rather difficult to disguise using only essential oils. I am considering incorporating other butters to reduce the overpowering scent of shea butter.

While the efficacy of the oils and butters is not being questioned, the finished products containing these ingredients need a more appealing scent. I am in the process of incorporating oils and butters that will blend well with the existing formulas but also offer a more pleasing scent.  One stylist said, “People will buy anything, as long as it smells good.” I was working from another perspective, “People will buy anything, as long as it is effective.” I know the products are effective, my goal now is to deliver that winning scent.

*Nourishing Butters are only available in sample sizes and are not yet available for sale.