MEET ELISABETH
I am a nursing student on a journey to become a nurse midwife. I really enjoy medicine and plant based/natural medicine. It has been a journey of personal study to learn about natural hair care over the course of four years and will be a lifelong journey. I am also an artist who loves to draw and paint. Human anatomy and pet portraits are some of my favorite things to draw/paint. I love to run (I was a cross country runner in high school). Now, I occasionally run long races (I just did a 6-mile mountain race recently). I have also worked as a birth doula part-time after college, and as a barista, making coffee and baking scones.
I am really into running, swimming (yes, I can still twist all my hair up and get it under a swim cap!), art, plant-based medicine, birth work, and natural hair care & skin care. Reading is also a way I love to relax while keeping my mind engaged. I really want to incorporate natural medicine as a midwife so that there can be the best of both sides of medicine that is often not in balance.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TEXTURE OF YOUR HAIR?
My hair is straight and of medium thickness. I have never dyed my hair and rarely use heat. I used to blow dry my hair a lot when I was growing up and realized even just that was damaging my hair a lot. It's probably a bit dry in winter, and I haven't figured out how to best deeply hydrate it yet.
HOW DID YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR HAIR BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS?
After college, I decided I was going to take care of my hair and study everything I could about natural hair care. At that time, my hair was a bit longer than shoulder length. I had a goal of waist-length hair, so I did a lot of research and eventually found Sarah from Holistic Habits on YouTube. I used natural shampoo/conditioner and apple cider vinegar rinses/rice rinses. And just with those few changes, my hair grew more than a foot long in about a year and a half. It was amazing!
WHAT MADE YOU SEEK OUT THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS? HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE COMPANY?
I found The Innate Life products through Sarah from Holistic Habits. I had it as a goal to save up to try some of these products. I wanted to try the Scalp Treatment and Rose Hair Elixir to help my roots grow thicker and to help my ends not be so dry.
WHAT SETS THE INNATE LIFE APART FROM OTHER COMPANIES IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY?
They have a very clear and clean ingredients list. I realized pretty quickly that a little bit goes a long way when using all plant-based hair products. I have never found another company that has products specifically for the scalp. I gave two guy friends the Scalp Treatment to help with male pattern baldness and when they use it consistently, it does help thicken their hair a bit and reduce itchiness.
WHAT IS YOUR HAIRCARE ROUTINE NOW?
I used to be more faithful about my hair care routine and washed/conditioned, then used an apple cider vinegar rinse/soak. I also used to do egg masks a bit more often then too. Currently, with nursing school being so busy, I have been washing my hair once a week or two weeks if I can stretch it. I use another shampoo but I want to try The Innate Life Shampoo next. I occasionally use the Scalp Treatment every few weeks and leave it in before washing out. I try to use the Rose Hair Elixir on my ends after showering when my hair is dry. I love to use a scalp oil serum on my scalp and length occasionally as well. I take a collagen supplement in my hot tea several times a week and I took biotin daily for a season; now I take horsetail supplements daily. I also get my ends trimmed professionally once at the end of every year.
HOW DID YOU SEE YOUR HAIR CHANGE AFTER USING THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS?
I have more hair growth at my roots since using the Problematic Scalp Treatment. After getting my hair trimmed in December, the Rose Hair Elixir was more effective for my ends. I need to use the Scalp Treatment more often because I'm hoping to thicken my hair a bit more. Occasionally, I have used the Herbal Hair Mask, and if I let it set in my hair long enough, it really moisturizes my hair.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE PRODUCT AND WHY?
I love the Rose Hair Elixir because it smells so, so good. I love the Scalp Treatment because it kind of has a refreshing, almost icy/hot feel on my scalp.
WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THESE PRODUCTS TO?
So far I have given the Problematic Scalp Treatment to two guy friends who are dealing with male pattern baldness, and when they use it faithfully, it does help. I recommend these products to anyone, but mainly to those serious about natural health for their body and hair, and are willing to invest for the long-term benefits.
HOW DOES THE INNATE LIFE FIT INTO A LIFESTYLE COMMITTED TO HEALTH + WELLNESS?
The Innate Life encourages me to focus on feeding my hair directly and reminding me to work on feeding my body with good food. I try to take good plant-based supplements and incorporate healthy foods into my diet such as grapefruit, spinach, raw wild honey, and pasture-raised local farm eggs. I also try to exercise three to five times a week, though not as good during cold weather so I need to work on that. I try to drink 64 ounces of water or more a day and limit my caffeine intake.