Hair Tips

At ANTIDOTE, we believe in being open to all and treating people the way we want to be treated. True story.  A few years ago a son invited his mom to help him and his fiancé pick out a wedding cake.  The mom, Debbie, shared her excitement in a recent TIME magazine essay. Debbie described that her son finding the love of his life was “a source of great joy for me” -  how pleased she was to be part of planning the hometown reception.  Her son invited Debbie to join the couple in Colorado to shop for a cake for their wedding reception. "Like so many mothers before me, I was honored and excited to be a part of this step.”  The couple did their research, chose a design, flavors, and colors.  With Mom along for the ride, the couple arrived at the bakery for their scheduled appointment full of joy and excitement. What was meant to be a fun and routine part of the wedding planning process turned into a nightmare. Debbie, shared what happened next. “We walked into the bakery for our appointment. We were motioned to a small table inside the bakery. The owner looked at [us] and [said] that he would not sell [us] a wedding cake [and] would not bake one for [us].” What happened? The baker refused to serve them because Debbie’s son was marrying another man; he would not sell a cake to a same-sex couple. This situation could happen to anyone.  Over 40% of Americans have a close friend or family member who is gay, according to the Pew Research Center. Why not just go to another baker?  What happens when the person refusing the service is a gas station, bank, insurance company, restaurant, or funeral home. More importantly, once it is ok to single one group out, what’s keeping others from being refused service. After all, Colorado law states “It is unlawful for a person … to refuse, withhold from, or deny to an individual … because of disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, or ancestry, the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities … of a place of public accommodation.” In order to prevent this from happening to others, the couple decided to take the baker to court. While they won in Colorado court, the case was appealed to the Supreme court. Last month, the court ruled in favor of the baker due to a technicality but stated that “the laws and the Constitution can, and in some instances must, protect gay persons and gay couples.”  Really? The “Open to all” campaign supports the notion that people should be free to go about their day-to-day lives without fear of being  turned away from businesses simply because of who they are. The campaign is about treating people the way we want to be treated. ANTIDOTE 1848 was among the first who proudly joined 2,000+ businesses across America that are open to all.  We hope you’ll join us too.   -- Abigail + David

The versatile styler that’s all you’ll need We had high hopes (and expectations) for our first styling product.  With a “less is more” philosophy, we are always looking to develop products with more than one benefit.  For our multi-styler, we wanted a product that provided light-weight hold without flaking - something natural, that also worked like a leave-in conditioner, so that hair and scalp were left in better shape at the end of the day. Introducing ANTIDOTE Sandalwood Multi-styler – a leave-in styling product that delivers.  For a more groomed look, apply to wet hair and comb through For a more natural look, use fingers to scrunch into hair style Add volume by blow drying into hair Spot treat to set your style Whether your hair is short or long, thin or thick, Sandalwood Styler has something for everyone. How does it work? Like all ANTIDOTE products, ingredients are the best part.     Sandalwood Oil adds shine to hair and balances scalp - a natural antiseptic Aloe vera conditions Provitamin B5 promotes hair shine and reduces split ends To protect these ingredients, we use black #1 recyclable PET bottles.  Most people start out trying the 4oz size but the 8oz is our most popular. Looking for styling tips? Master stylist Abigail Kuehl explains, “The secret to working with styling products like the Sandalwood Styler is to coat the entire hair. You want to work a good amount between your palms and work into your hair from the back to the front and from the roots to the ends.  For a tailored look, finish your style with a damp comb. Blow or air dry for a more natural look.  What I love about this product is that you can freshen it up during the day by adding a little water to your hair.” Also, don’t be afraid to “cocktail” for a custom look, like combining with ANTIDOTE Vanilla Pomade. Looking for a lightweight natural styler that does it all? Try ANTIDOTE Sandalwood Multi-styler. Color safe. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Gluten-free. https://youtu.be/nxCI1Og9FEw    

Everything you need to know about why green beauty is the fastest growing segment in hair care.  Join us in becoming a green beauty advocate.

Any time is a great time to celebrate women in science, wetlands, and beauty. These 3 topics might seem like an unusual combination but at ANTIDOTE 1848, it's what we are all about. Professional clean beauty! We'll be celebrating this month with a partnership with our local Boys and Girls Clubs SMART Girls and STEM Girls programs, and the Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust. This week we demonstrate the water cycle and the power of nature to clean our water, especially through wetlands.  "Wetlands can reduce surface run-off by as much as 60%."  We'll also talk about how the water cycle is affected by what we use in our beauty products.  After all, most of what we use in the shower ends up in our streams. Yes, being beautiful can be good for the environment too. And next week, we have some of our favorite scientists (who happen to be women,) plus great professional stylists taking girls on a nature hike at the Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust's Stroebe Island Marsh Preserve. This property, saved by the Northeast Wisconsin Land Trust, is the last cattail marsh on the lower Fox River. Our salons are participating in the program by raising awareness and providing stylist/ nature guides. Visit your ANTIDOTE salon to contribute to the SMART Girl program. Your donations go to your local program - making a difference right in your community.  SMART Girls is all about "Giving girls confidence.  SMART Girls is a small-group health, fitness, prevention/education and self-esteem enhancement program designed to meet the developmental needs of girls in three age groups, spanning ages 8 to 18. Through dynamic sessions, participatory activities, field trips and mentoring opportunities with adult women, Club girls explore their own and societal attitudes and values as they build skills for eating right, staying physically fit, getting good health care and developing positive relationships with peers and adults."  

Is your hair over worked, tired, in need of some TLC? Time for ANTIDOTE Jojoba Hair Repair Conditioner.  We developed this conditioner for the realities of life – antidote to environmental stressors like sun and wind and treatments like heat styling and coloring. “Hair damage is more than just split ends. Extremely damaged hair develops cracks in the outside layer (cuticle). Once the cuticle lifts (opens), your hair is at risk for further damage and breakage. It may also look dull or frizzy and be difficult to manage.  For the most part, hair damage is permanent because hair is actually a collection of dead cells, making them beyond repair.  But don’t despair, with proper hair care and a few targeted treatments, you can help restore the outer cuticle and begin to improve the look and feel of your hair.” - Healthline.org. So what have we found to work the best?   We fill ANTIDOTE Jojoba Conditioner with a combination of jojoba oil, shea butter, avocado oil, and provitamin B5.  Here’s what experts say about these key ingredients:  “Jojoba oil can help strengthen and rehydrate the hair.” - Healthline.org.  Our jojoba oil is USDA certified organic by the Washington State Dept. of Agriculture. “Shea butter …  absorbs into the hair strand/shaft …so that it is protected against damage from the heat tool being passed along the hair.” – NaturallyCurly. Our shea butter is cold pressed and USDA certified organic. “Avocado oil … a good choice for hair treatments… contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that … can help keep a person's hair strong and healthy.” – Medical News Today. Our avocado oil is cold pressed. “Hair care products include [Provitamin B5] because of its ability to improve your hair’s shine, softness, and strength.  It can also help protect your hair from styling or environmental damage by locking in moisture.” – Healthline.org How to use ANTIDOTE Jojoba Conditioner?  After using your favorite shampoo, apply a generous amount to damp hair.  Massage or comb through to coat the entire hair strand from scalp to tip.  Leave in for 5-10 minutes to allow nourishing oils to penetrate the shaft.  Rinse with cool water to close the hair cuticle.  Enjoy! You can also use a small amount of Jojoba Hair Repair Conditioner as a leave in conditioner.  We think that you’ll love the natural scent it gets from essential oils. ANTIDOTE Jojoba Hair Repair Conditioner comes in 8oz and 32oz sizes, in #1 recyclable dark green PET bottles that provide glass-like clarity and optimum product protection. For all hair types.  Color safe. Vegan. Cruelty-free. Gluten-free. Tired hair? Don’t despair. ANTIDOTE Jojoba Hair Repair.