Sunday, November 22, 2015

Black Friday Sale Preview & December Custom Oil Blend: Sacred Forest


Black Friday to Cyber Monday Sale


We wanted to give our customers who follow our blog a special head's up on the upcoming sale!  Starting on Black Friday (Nov. 27)  and running through Cyber Monday (Nov. 30), pick up some of our best discounts of the year!  Stock up for you, your giftee in a swap, or for that special longhair in your life.


Sacred Forest Custom Oil Blend for December

To make sure that nobody misses the last oil blend of 2015 when picking up these great discounts, we've also released December's blend a little early!

You can see all of the past featured oil blends of the month in our blog:
http://nightbloominggarden.blogspot.com/search/label/Oil%20Blend%20of%20the%20Month

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A sacred grove or sacred woods are any grove of trees of special religious importance to a particular culture. Sacred groves feature in various cultures throughout the world. Examples of sacred groves include the Greco-Roman temenos, the Norse hörgr, and the Celtic nemeton, which was largely but not exclusively associated with Druidic practice.


Sacred Forest Custom Oil Blend: A middle-weight oil, perfect for scalp or length. 

Base Oil: Sweet Almond Oil
Secondary Oils: Pumpkin Oil, Hazelnut Oil, Avocado Oil
Essential Oils: Frankincense, Myrrh, Pine, Cedarwood, Ho Wood, Hinoki, Vetiver, Sandalwood
Aroma: Sacred incense in an evergreen forest. 

Application: After a shower rub 1-2 drops of oil in the hands and massage into damp hair.

Detailed Ingredients:

• Sweet Almond Oil- This pale golden oil is extracted from almond kernels. Apart from vitamin E it also contains vitamin D and other nutritious components including essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium and rich, natural fats. This oil is easily absorbed and will not clog pores, making it ideal for the scalp and face as well as hair.

• Pumpkin Seed Oil- Pumpkin seeds contain fatty oils with linoleic acid and oleic acid, both known to prevent cancer-causing cell production. They are also an excellent source of vitamins A, B6 and C. In addition, the seeds contain beneficial nutrients like zinc, magnesium, calcium and iron. Perhaps most important to those suffering from hair loss, the seeds contain cucurbitin, a unique amino that may be responsible for pumpkin seeds' effects on hair growth. There is conjecture that when consumed internally pumpkin seed oil it is a DHT blocker and can aid in treating baldness or hair loss, though no clinical study has been done. 

• Hazelnut Oil- Considered valuable in giving facial and body massages. It has a high content of essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. Hazelnut oil has a very light, pleasing sweet aroma, which is also somewhat nutty. It is a highly unsaturated vegetable oil that boasts of its fine texture. Hazelnut oil provides numerous health benefits for which it is being increasingly preferred in the preparation of carrier oil blend. The best part about using this carrier oil is that, it does not leave an oily feel behind. The oil is also known to efficiently play the role of an astringent. 

• Avocado Oil- This deep golden oil is an edible oil pressed from the fruit of the Persea americana (avocado). It is used for lubrication and in cosmetics where it is valued for its regenerative and moisturizing properties. Rich in nutrients, amino acids, and essential fatty acids, this nutritional oil is excellent for enhancing hair health. It supplies vitamins A, B, D, and E to nourish both hair follicles and the scalp. Vitamin E also acts as a protective antioxidant. It has natural humectant properties, adding and locking in moisture. The monounsaturated fatty acids will give hair a glossy shine and silky texture. The amino acids will promote the growth of new hair cells.

• Frankincense Essential Oil- Frankincense Oil is extracted from gum or resin of Frankincense or Olibanum tree. Apart from being used as a cosmetic and as a fragrance, it has numerous other benefits including being an antiseptic and disinfectant. It is also a cicatrisant, helping reduce scars and easing tight skin. 

• Myrrh Essential Oil- The essential oil of Myrrh is extracted from the resin of Myrrh. Myrrh, in scientific nomenclature system, is called Commiphora Myrrha and is a native to Egypt. While the resin was in use in incenses and perfumes in ancient Egypt, the oil obtained from it was used for healings wounds in ancient Greece. Myrrh is an antimicrobial and astringent oil. It also helps promote circulation and soothes skin diseases such as eczema, ringworm, itches etc. 

• Cedarwood Essential Oil– Excellent for both hair and skin care. It balances oily skin, soothes and helps to heal skin rashes, reduces oil in hair and skin. Famed cedars of Biblical times (Lebanon cedar) provided one of the world’s earliest perfumes. Other ancient cultures used cedarwood for sarcophagi and palace and temple building material.

• Pine Essential Oil– A power skin and scalp renewal oil, it helps with eczema, psoriasis and pimples. It's scent is invigorating, cleansing and relaxing all at once. 

• Ho Wood Essential Oil- A bright, warm, slightly woody scented oil with a few floral notes, it is an antibacterial, sedating oil. Used to relax the scalp and promote a hygienic scalp environment.

• Hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa) Essential Oil - The Japanese Cypress has long been used for building Japanese wooden tubs to create an aromatic and soothing experience. It has a woody, therapeutic scent. Hinoki oil has been shown to encourage hair growth in studies and blends well with Jasmine, Ylang Ylang or Cypress.

• Vetiver Essential Oil- An oil with a sweet, heavy, earthy and woody aroma, it is a cicatrisant which speeds up new tissue growth and can speed up the disappearance of scars or other marks from the skin. An anti-inflammatory, vulenerary, and antiseptic, it promotes scalp health. Is aroma has long been lauded for being relaxing and soothing.

• Sandalwood Essential Oil- An anti-inflammatory with a warm woody scent, it soothes tender scalps and can help help heal eczema and psoriasis, soothe, shrink pimples and reduce dandruff.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Filling Machine Video and bonus Selkie production picture

Tonight was a serious production day (night?) for me.  I started at about 2pm and finally sat down at about 1am.  But I got many lovely and awesome things made for you :)

Selkie Herbal Hair Detangler




First off is a fresh batch of Selkie!  Here's me squeezing a jelly bag full of the slippery elm, fenugreek, and marshmallow root.  It takes a very long time (and two hands, here I was using one for the camera) to squeeze all of the slippery goodness out of there after it's simmered.

Don't forget you can pick up Selkie in a 1 oz Sample Size, an8 oz Full Size, and an 8 oz Refill Pouch.


Filling Machine Experimentation

The filling machine got a workout tonight: Triple Moon Oil, Selkie Herbal Detangler, and all three types of hair salve!

I hadn't had a chance yet to try the filling machine with any of the salves, and had no idea how it was going to go.  Much to my surprise, it went great!




I do miss the pretty star shape the old method left, though, so I've already got a plan in the works to try to restore that.

Curious as to how much time I was really saving, I took two short videos of me filling samples of Triple Moon Oil.



I hadn't ever timed myself using it before, but the time it took using the old funnel method (44 seconds) to the new filling machine method (14 seconds), reduced my filling time per bottle from 15 seconds to 5.  Overall, that cuts my bottling time down by two thirds. Considering how many things come in bottles, that's HUGE!

Sunday, November 8, 2015

What are customers saying about Selkie?


Lots and lots of awesome things!  

Longhairs are finding that they get the most use out of the larger bottles, and it both gets out tangles and lets them wear their hair down more.



Others love the scent and the natural ingredients


And it's a hit with both kids and parents alike!









Don't forget you can pick up Selkie in a 1 oz Sample Size, an 8 oz Full Size, and an 8 oz Refill Pouch

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Philosopher's Beard Oil Custom Blend for November

That's our awesome packaging ninja in the picture.
You can see all of the past featured oil blends of the month here!
Pick it up in either our 1/2 ounce or 4 ounce size!
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Dwarvendom Discount Code


Support awesome hair for men, too! Until January 1st we're partnering with Dwarvendom!  https://www.etsy.com/shop/Dwarvendom 

Use the code NightBlooming15 in their shop to get discounts on their amazing beard and hair beading accessories through the end of the year!  It's a perfect Yule gift for the men in your life, or even women who want a bit of Tolkien flair!

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We've found that while people are interested in a custom blend for their hair, not everyone feels confident enough to pick the oils on their own. To that end, we are creating a suggested custom blend each month. You'll be able to order past blends at any time, or add or subtract oils as you prefer! These are just suggestions of ways to blend some of our many oils into our 1/2 ounce or 4 ounce custom oil blends.

You can see all of the past featured oil blends of the month in our blog:
http://nightbloominggarden.blogspot.com/search/label/Oil%20Blend%20of%20the%20Month

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Philosopher's Beard Oil


The idea of the philosopher's beard gained traction when in 155 BCE three philosophers arrived in Rome as Greek diplomats: Carneades, head of the Platonic Academy; Critolaus of Aristotle's Lyceum; and the head of the Stoics Diogenes of Babylon. "In contrast to their beautifully clean-shaven Italian audience, these three intellectuals all sported magnificent beards." Thus the connection of beards and philosophy caught hold of the Roman public imagination.

As historian John Sellars puts it, Epictetus "affirmed the philosopher's beard as something almost sacred...to express the idea that philosophy is no mere intellectual hobby but rather a way of life that, by definition, transforms every aspect of one's behavior, including one's shaving habits. If someone continues to shave in order to look the part of a respectable Roman citizen, it is clear that they have not yet embraced philosophy conceived as a way of life and have not yet escaped the social customs of the majority...the true philosopher will only act according to reason or according to nature, rejecting the arbitrary conventions that guide the behavior of everyone else."


Philosopher's Beard Oil Oil Custom Blend: A light, moisturizing oil perfect for both the beard and the skin beneath. 

Base Oil: Sweet Almond Oil
Secondary Oils: Jojoba Oil, Argan Oil
Essential Oils: Bay Laurel, Litsea, Clove, Bergamot, Sweet Orange

Aroma: Warm rum and clean citrus. 

Application: After a shower rub 1-2 drops of oil in the hands and massage into the beard.

Detailed Ingredients:

• Sweet Almond Oil- This pale golden oil is extracted from almond kernels. Apart from vitamin E it also contains vitamin D and other nutritious components including essential minerals such as magnesium, calcium and rich, natural fats. This oil is easily absorbed and will not clog pores, making it ideal for the scalp and face as well as hair.

• Jojoba Oil- Jojoba Oil is found to be an ideal moisturizer and conditioner which is derived from a natural plant. Jojoba oil is produced from a desert plant called Simmondsia Chinensis whose oil is highly regarded as an effective conditioner, moisturizer, cleanser and softener for the skin and hair. This deep golden oil is considered to be the closest to the sebum naturally produced by the body, making it a customer favorite. 

• Argan oil, dubbed as Miracle oil; extracted from kernels of Argan fruit by crushing, is swiftly taking the place of other natural oils for hair protection and treatment. Argan oil contains tocopherols (vitamin E), phenols, carotenes, squalene, and fatty acids, making it both light and great for brittle hair. 

• Bay Essential Oil– Bay is a scalp stimulant and antiseptic astringent and was very popular with the Romans, who thought Bay was a symbol of wisdom, peace and protection. The Latin Laudis means “to praise,” which is why the victors at the Olympic games were presented with a Laurel (Bay) Wreath. The priestesses at Delphi sat over the burning fumes to increase their prophetic visions.

• Litsea Cubeba Essential Oil- A heavy, sweet citrus oil. The essential oil is extracted from the ripened and dried fruits of the Litsea Cubeba tree. Like most citrus oils, its scent is immediately uplifting and rejuvenating, its astringent prperties help to cleans scalp pores, while its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory action minimizes and heals existing flare-ups.

• Clove Essential Oil- This warm and spicy oil aids in circulation and is recommended for skin care, especially to acne patients.

• Bergamot Essential Oil- Certain components of the essential oil of Bergamot are antibiotic and disinfectant in nature. They inhibit the growth of germs, virus and fungi. They also effectively prohibit infections, including those of the skin. It has a refreshing and natural scent and is also a tonic, meaning it tones up skin and muscles

• Orange (Sweet) Essential Oil- A zesty citrus, sweet, strong aroma, Sweet Orange is cheering, refreshing, uplifting, and comforting. Orange, like all citrus fruits, plays an important role in Chinese medicine.