MEET ERIN
I am an English teacher and passionate about teaching others to find the best in themselves. Our experience as humans is documented through writing, and we are connected through this experience. I like to show my students that we can look for how we are all connected while still celebrating and respecting our differences. I’m very passionate about showing love to myself, others, and the environment. I believe in demanding better ingredients in the products we use and the food we eat. I am passionate about sustainability and being aware of our impact on the world we are leaving behind.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE TEXTURE OF YOUR HAIR?
I have low porosity, thick, dense, and coarse hair with a mixture of curls and waves.
HOW DID YOU TAKE CARE OF YOUR HAIR BEFORE THE INTRODUCTION OF THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS?
Before The Innate Life, I felt like I was just gambling with what would work with my hair. I’ve been practicing the Curly Girl Method for three years and was still struggling to get my hair healthy. I needed a product that provided intense moisture, but did not weigh my hair down. I also needed protein, but not so much that my hair would end up feeling like straw. I was constantly trying out new treatments and techniques and it was exhausting and stressful. I just wanted to give up.
WHAT MADE YOU SEEK OUT THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS? HOW DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE COMPANY?
I believe in demanding better ingredients in the products we use and the food we eat. I am passionate about sustainability and being aware of our impact on the world we are leaving behind. I believe we should demand quality products for ourselves and the environment. I wanted something non-toxic that would truly help hydrate and strengthen my hair. I Googled 'non-toxic' hair products and The Innate Life came up in the search. Then I read an article about the best oils and how the Rose Hair Elixir was highly regarded as an oil that can penetrate the hair shaft and provide moisture and shine. I was also losing a lot of hair postpartum and was thrilled to see they had a Scalp Treatment. I was tired of having an itchy scalp that would keep me up at night. I ordered the Large Complete Hair Care Bundle and haven’t looked back.
WHAT SETS THE INNATE LIFE APART FROM OTHER COMPANIES IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY?
The Innate Life is different from other companies because the products are clean and effective. You can feel the quality of the ingredients soak right into your hair. The products are also intelligently designed to take care of your hair from the inside out. There is no synthetic smelling fragrance. There aren’t any gimmicks either. I’ve learned about what healthy hair needs over the past three years, and The Innate Life has it all covered. I also respect that the prices are fair and affordable.
WHAT IS YOUR HAIRCARE ROUTINE NOW?
PRE-WASH
Every Friday night, I use the Problematic Scalp Treatment and the Herbal Hair Mask. I like how you can use it on dry or damp hair. Because my hair is so thick, I have to do it in sections. I use a little makeup brush to get the Scalp Treatment onto my scalp. The best thing about the Problematic Scalp Treatment is that now it has healed my scalp, so I will probably switch to the Normal Scalp Treatment next. I massage it into my scalp then spray my hair until damp and gently detangle with a brush. Then I work the Herbal Hair Mask through the ends and middle of my hair. I put my hair in a French braid overnight.
DURING WASH
I do a full wash of my hair twice a week. Mid-week is what I call my 'lazy' wash because I simply wash my hair with The Innate Life Shampoo, use the Conditioner (discontinued), do squish to condish with the conditioner, and then I use a curl defining cream and curl gel. A lot of scrunching and tossing my head side to side to establish curl clumps and to help create volume at the root.
POST-WASH
I squish again with a microfiber towel which helps reduce dry time for my dense, coarse hair. I use a curly raw gel then pixie diffuse for 30 minutes. I scrunch out the crunch with the Rose Hair Elixir. On the in-between days, I can get away with using the Rose Hair Elixir as my only refresh product. I take my hair out of my pineapple and let it settle for a minute. Then I take a few drops of oil and rub my hands together and smooth it over all of my hair with praying hands. I start at the bottom and work my way up. All of my flyaways are gone and my hair is soft and shiny. This helps hydrate my hair for the days in-between washes and maintains my curls.
Saturday Mornings, I work out then wash my hair with The Innate Life Shampoo, but I shampoo twice. I use the Conditioner (discontinued), put on a heat cap, and leave it on for 30 minutes. I rinse and use the conditioner for squish to condish, and I style my hair the same as I do mid-week.
HOW DID YOU SEE YOUR HAIR CHANGE AFTER USING THE INNATE LIFE PRODUCTS?
My hair was suffering from hygral fatigue when I first started using the products. It was limp and dull. My scalp was also itchy, and I was losing patches of hair at my temples after I had my baby. My scalp stopped itching immediately after using the Problematic Scalp Treatment. I also lost less hair and didn’t have the bald patches like I did with my first daughter. A healthy scalp leads to healthy hair. The Herbal Hair Mask had just enough protein to add the structure my curls needed to bounce back. The Rose Hair Elixir provides shine and softness without oily buildup. Now I have bouncy curls and waves that are strong, yet soft and shiny. No hair loss. No itchy scalp. No dandruff.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE PRODUCT AND WHY?
It is hard to choose a favorite because each product has done something important for me. After having a baby, the Problematic Scalp Treatment stopped me from having an itchy scalp, dandruff, and bald patches – I would say that is a huge benefit! The Herbal Hair Mask gave my limp curls structure and it’s so easy to use. Perhaps the Rose Hair Elixir is my favorite because I use it every day. I smooth down flyaways, scrunch out the crunch, and add a few drops to the conditioner on occasion. It smells heavenly and feel like it has truly improved the texture of my coarse hair. I will never be without that product. I can’t wait to try the Neroli Hair Primer and Leave-in Conditioner to continue to improve and maintain the health of my hair.
WHO WOULD YOU RECOMMEND THESE PRODUCTS TO?
I would recommend these products to everyone. These are not just for straight hair or curly hair. They are designed to improve hair from the inside out, no matter the texture. Everyone needs a healthy scalp, moisturized hair, and structure to prevent breakage. They have two different Scalp Treatments to meet your specific needs. They have two different Conditioners (discontinued) to meet your specific needs. The other products can be used by all hair types to maintain beautiful, healthy hair which is what everyone desires.
HOW DOES THE INNATE LIFE FIT INTO A LIFESTYLE COMMITTED TO HEALTH + WELLNESS?
Much of what we use on our skin is absorbed into our bodies. I know that when I use The Innate Life products, I am not absorbing chemicals into my body. I know the fragrance isn’t toxic. In fact, the fragrance provides an aromatherapy experience that’s refreshing and uplifting. I’m not stressed about trying to get my hair to look better or healthier anymore. I’m not self-conscious about postpartum bald patches or itching my scalp all day. Their clean, quality products are better for the environment and for us.