Announcing the addition of Senna alexandrina to our hair color blends!

Senna alexandrea is a close relative to Senna italica, which most people refer to as Cassia obovata.  The yellow color in Senna comes from Chrysophanic acid, which is also what gives it the conditioning benefits to both scalp and hair.  After some testing, we've found Senna alexandrea that has very, very high levels of Chrysophanic acid.

That's Senna italica (cassia obovata) on the left and Senna alexandrea on the right, tested on white mohair for 2 hours

I was a little skeptical when I investigated this, but I was happily surprised to find that not only did the Senna alexandrea produce great stain, but the mud also had a gel-like consistency, much like one finds with henna.

Any hair blend that currently uses just Senna italica will changing to include a blend of both Senna italica.  That includes:

 

• Devas
• Rusalki
• Fire Genasi

I'm very confident everyone will love the change.  This means very little in terms of color change (though Devas might see the nicest boost of all the blends), but what it means is more conditioning benefits that will last longer.  The cost of the affected blends won't change at all, so consider this a wonderful added benefit!

Our labels are being updated to include this change and will take a little time to cycle out both the older blends and the newer labels, but we wanted to announce the change and keep everyone aware.  

Of course, the old blends will always be available via custom order :)

Selkie Funded!

Thank you all so much!  Selkie was fully funded at 249%  The funds have been transferred to me, and the machine is on order, so now what? 

1. Ordering supplies

The first step will be to order the machine (done!) and the components for all the orders of Selkie. We anticipate this taking about two weeks to calculate the supplies needed (number of bottles, how much of various herbs and oils, etc.), get everything ordered, delivered, and ready to go.  

2. Setting up and testing the machine

There will be a learning curve with using the new machine and getting it calibrated properly.  This is an important step that ensures efficiency with everything that comes afterward so we don’t want to rush it. 

3. Selkie label and packaging design

Everything shown here is a mockup.  The waterproof, oil-proof label stock will be one of the things purchased in the first step, and then I’ll work with a designer to finalize the label design which includes the aesthetic elements, ingredients list, metric conversions, and directions. 

4. Mixing up the Selkie

Selkie is one of our most complicated products, requiring simmering, stewing, filtering, and blending.  To ensure quality, this will be done in small-scale batches so there’s nothing lost in scale. 

5. Putting that new machine to good use

Then every bottle will be filled with a precise amount of Selkie.  Depending on how many orders we get, this could take some time and is one of the more variable steps production-wise.

6. Packaging, quality check, packing & shipping

The last step will be to apply the labels, give everything one more lookover for quality, then pack each order and ship it to the backer.  Packages will ship in the order of backers pledges, so backing our campaign sooner means you get your Selkie that much faster!  We’ll send out packages in waves and we’ll let you know as soon as we start shipping, as well as when your package ships (complete with tracking information)!

As always, we'll keep you up to date as things progress.  Our machine will be here in a week or two and it will be so exciting!

International Selkie Preorder Shipping Listings are Live!

  

This is a little confusing so PLEASE READ EVERYTHING. <3

If you are within the US, please back the Selkie Campaign here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/233367814 

Because of the complex logistics, Etsy could not roll out international shipping for the pilot of Fund. If you are an international NightBlooming customer, but would still like to participate you have two options:

1) You can back the campaign here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/233367814 as normal, but MUST enter a US shipping address. You then make shipping arrangements with the people at that address to have the product sent to you. Do not use this Preorder Shipping Upgrade listing. Domestic shipping is covered within the Selkie Campaign listing. 


2) If you want your package sent directly to you in a nation other than the US, you MUST do ALL of these steps:
- Back the campaign here: https://www.etsy.com/listing/233367814 as normal, but you MUST enter a US shipping address. Note which item(s) you are purchasing.

- Enter your International address in the Message to the Seller at checkout with your donation to the Selkie Fund Campaign

- Add a Selkie Preorder Shipping Upgrade for EACH item you backed to your cart and check out with all of them at once. So if you purchased two 1oz and one 8 oz you will need to add a quantity of 2 of the 1oz upgrades and a quantity of 1 of the 8oz shipping upgrades to your cart.   Etsy will use calculated shipping to factor the proper weight. 

-Your order will be shipped to the address on your Selkie Preorder Shipping Upgrade, but make SURE it is also noted in the Message to Seller with your donation to the Selkie Campaign. If this does not happen there may be a chance that your order could be shipped to the US address.


My deepest apologies that this is complicated, but many international customers expressed wanting to participate. This way allows backing of both the actual Selkie Herbal Detangler: Filling a sea of bottles campaign AND allows the product to go right to you. It's a little more legwork on my end, but you wonderful international customers are worth it :)

If you have any questions at all please do not hesitate to contact me!  These listings will disappear when the Selkie Campaign ends next week, so make sure you hop on soon if you'd like Selkie from the first batch.  We won't have it up in the store for general purchase until all campaign orders are filled. 

Drúadan Forest Traceless Hair Oil Custom Blend for July

You can see all of the past featured oil blends of the month here!

****************
In Tolkien's Middle Earth, the Druadan Forest was located in Anorien at the northeastern end of the White Mountains near Minas Tirith in Gondor. 

Drúadan Forest Traceless Hair Oil Custom Blend: An ultra-light oil designed to absorb into both hair and scalp, leaving only the scent behind.

Pick it up in either our 1/2 ounce or 4 ounce size!

Base Oil: Fractionated Coconut Oil
Secondary Oils: Tamanu, Soy (Organic, non GMO)
Essential Oils: Siberian Fir Needle, Melissa officinalis, Siam Wood, Frankincense, Cedarwood, Scotch Pine, Vetiver, Juniper Berry, Lemongrass

Aroma: Evergreen forests with bright grasses and fey-touched undergrowth. 

Application: Intended for use on either the scalp or length.

Detailed Ingredients:

• Coconut oil fractionated- Coconut oil is excellent as a skin moisturizer and softener. A study shows that extra virgin coconut oil is effective and safe when used as a moisturizer, with absence of adverse reactions. A study found that coconut oil helped prevent protein loss from the wet combing of hair when used for fourteen hours as a conditioner before washing the hair.
• Foraha (Tamanu) Oil- Contains a unique fatty acid, calophyllic acid, which has antibiotic properties and non steroidal agent the callophyllolide which is anti inflammatory. A good choice for dry skin/scalps, and helps restore smoothness and shine to damaged hair. 
• Soy Oil (certified organic, non-GMO)- A pale golden oil with a nutty scent, soybean oil is rich in omega three fats and other oils. This light oil helps keep moisture in the hair without weighing it down.
• Siberian Fir Needle Essential Oil- A disinfecting essential oil, it has a smooth, fresh evergreen aroma.
• Melissa officinalis Essential Oil- Known for its calming effects, this oil has a light, fresh, green citrus sent. The genus Melissa comes from the Greek word for honey bee. The flowers of the lemon balm plant attract honey bees when it is in bloom.
• Siam Wood Essential Oil- Used aroma-therapeutically in many parts of SE Asia as an antiseptic, rheumatic anti-inflammatory, in therapeutic massage to enhance vitality, reduce muscle and skin inflammation. It is also diffused in an oil burner to help kill bacteria, purify and disinfect the air, and an effective mosquito and insect repellent. It has a rich, warm woody scent.
• 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. 
• 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.
• Scotch Pine Essential Oil- Used in saunas and spas to encourage muscle relaxation and increased circulation, this oil is the scent of a bright winter forest. 
• Vetiver Essential Oil- Vetiver oil is psychologically grounding, calming, and stabilizing. It is one of the oils that is highest in sesquiterpenes.
• Juniper Berry Essential Oil- Used for medicinal and spiritual purposes since ancient times, it is a natural antiseptic and has calming properties. 
• Lemongrass Essential Oil- The health benefits of Lemongrass Essential Oil can be attributed to its many beneficial properties as an analgesic, antidepressant, antimicrobial, antipyretic, antiseptic, astringent, bactericidal, carminative, deodorant, diuretic, febrifuge, fungicidal, galactogogue, insecticidal, nervine, sedative and tonic substance. As the name implies, lemongrass smells just like lemons, but it is milder, sweeter, and far less sour.