How do you use the shampoo stones?
Saturate hair with water and wet the stone. Place the round part of the stone in your palm, and massage your head in a circular motion with the flat side of the stone, covering the entire scalp. With hands, scrub scalp further and work shampoo into a full lather. Leave in for 2 minutes to maximize benefits of extracts. Rinse. Repeat (if necessary).
How do you use the conditioner stones?
Activate resin stone with water. With the round part of stone in palm, rub flat side on other palm in a circular motion until you have a thin coating. Rub hands together, then through hair mid-shaft to ends. A little goes a long way, so start with less. Leave in for at least 2 minutes to maximize benefits of extracts. Rinse.
How long will a shampoo stone last?
One full-size (Net Wt. 4.23 oz.) shampoo stone is equivalent to three 8 oz. bottles of shampoo. How long your stone lasts will depend on your individual wash frequency and how much hair you have, but on average each stone lasts 72 washes, whereas a liquid bottle provides approximately 26 washes.
How long will a conditioner stone last?
One full-size (Net Wt. 3.88oz.) conditioner stone is equivalent to three 8 oz. bottles of conditioner. How long your stone lasts will depend on your frequency of conditioning and how much hair you have, but on average each stone lasts 145 uses, whereas a liquid bottle provides approximately 52 uses.
What does it mean to be waterless?
In typical shampoos and conditioners, water is essentially a filler for the formula to be liquid, and allows for lower concentration of other ingredients, both healing and chemically-derived ones. Conscia advocates for the preservation of water resources to ensure the future of our planet. Therefore, we don’t use any water in the making of our products, which also means there is a higher concentration of the active, natural ingredients we select to heal and nourish hair and scalp. Our shampoos and conditioners are of course activated by water in your bath ritual but have no additional water waste. We also recommend shorter showers!
What does it mean to be soap free?
Being soap free means we use ingredients other than soap to formulate our products. Many solid shampoos are soap based, but ours is Sydnet based (short for 'synthetic' + 'detergent'), meaning the surfactants are produced synthetically by combining plant oils with other natural molecules. Soap is made out of oil and lye combined and heated, resulting in a chemical reaction called saponification. In soap, the pH balance (or acid-base balance) is around 9, which is alkaline and opens up hair cuticles, letting water in and in turn weakening and damaging hair. We use surfactant-cleaning agents made from all vegetable, renewable resources, primarily coconut. These impart extra mildness on your hair and scalp with a balanced 4.5- 5.5 pH, keeping your cuticles closed from damage. They work equally well in hard or soft water, and are naturally derived and biodegradable.
Are Conscia products safe for colored or treated hair?
All Conscia products are safe for colored or treated hair because they are sulfate free and pH balanced. We use gentle cleansing ingredients that aren’t harsh on hair or color, and being pH balanced keeps the cuticles closed, maintaining color deposits in the hair for long-lasting vibrancy. Our Heal formula specifically targets chemically treated hair, with specialized ingredients that offer enduring protection and chemical “burn” prevention, helping to promote healthy cuticles. The complex utilizes matrix-style scaffolding, acting like shingles on a house, protecting the hair and making it stronger because the formula’s layers bind on top of each other. It’s the ultimate bleach side kick.
Are Conscia products natural?
Completely. Our products contain botanicals, essential oils, vitamins, minerals, butters and enhancers derived from natural ingredients that are sourced from local producers in Oregon. We don’t use synthetic surfactants like over-the-counter products, which are not only toxic but pull keratin from the hair.
Do Conscia products contain sulfates, phthalates, parabens or silicones?
No, Conscia products do not contain sulfates, phthalates, parabens or silicones.
Are Conscia products vegan?
Yes, all Conscia products are 100% vegan.
Do you test on animals?
We never test on animals. We follow stringent ethical standards directly and indirectly with our supply chain partners. We use very safe ingredients and only test on ourselves.
Are Conscia products gluten-free?
Yes, Conscia products are totally gluten-free.
Do Conscia products contain artificial fragrances?
No, Conscia doesn’t use any artificial fragrances. All of our ingredients are natural and have a purpose. The scents come from pure essential oils, which help heal the hair and scalp, protect the scalp from stressors, provide anti-microbial benefits to aid in balancing the scalp microbiome, and offer anti-inflammatory benefits which can soothe an irritated scalp. Bonus: the aromas also benefit the mind as a natural relaxor and mood uplifter. The oils we use are handcrafted from wild, cultivated and Certified Organic distillers in Portland, Oregon.
Do Conscia products use artificial color?
No, Conscia doesn’t use artificial color. We use only powder extracts and clays for healing properties, and in return they create the beautiful colors of the stones, with variation from stone to stone.
Are Conscia products affected by weather?
Our stones contain butters and other ingredients that can melt in humid or hot temperatures, making the stones softer. And as Conscia is plastic-free and committed to a low carbon footprint, we don’t use insulation or freezer packs in our shipping. During the summer, it is possible that our stones will soften while in transit. You may want to consider stocking up prior and we recommend, regardless of season, that you store the stones as soon as possible in a cool, dry place until you’re ready to use them. Please feel free to contact us with any concerns before you place your order.
How do I store my Conscia shampoo and conditioner stone?
Simply place stone on soap dish with drainage for daily in-shower use. Ideally, keep stones away from spraying and pooling water, or store outside of shower. If the stone is on a flat bottom surface, it will hold standing water and make the stone turn mushy. Best to air the stone out in between washes. Soon we will have our unique vessel ready to share!
Is Conscia packaging recyclable?
Conscia packaging is entirely recyclable and compostable—down to the stickers we use. We’re hoping for a better solution in the future than cardboard boxes, but for now we use 100% post recycled paper and no virgin materials. Each stone is wrapped in hemp cloth in the traditional Japanese furoshiki style. Hemp is the most sustainable fabric to produce, and is also antimicrobial, making it safe to reuse to store your stone in when traveling. We are a plastic-free company, so there is no waste; everything is reusable, recyclable or compostable.
How do I travel with my Conscia shampoo and conditioner stone?
For best results when traveling, air dry Conscia products as much as possible. Pat stones dry with any cloth, then stow in the hemp cloth you received at purchase. Hemp cloth is antimicrobial, and therefore very safe to reuse.
Are your products certified organic?
Our products are not USDA certified organic. However, we use USDA certified organic ingredients in all our products.
Can natural products perform as well as over the counter products?
Yes! Natural ingredients have vitamins and nutrients that our scalp needs for a balanced microbiome, which in turn creates healthy hair. Green chemistry enhances these natural ingredients to achieve the performance quality of synthetic ingredients—yet without being harsh on the scalp and stripping it of its own oils, which is what often causes inflammation.
Where is Conscia manufactured?
Conscia products are handcrafted in our converted garage-turned-laboratory in Portland, Oregon, by the Conscia team, making each stone one of a kind. We take pride and care in every step of the process, always following the values of our brand with the highest integrity.
Which product is best for my hair type?
Currently we have three formulations: Hydrate, Heal and Fortify. The purpose and target hair type for each is explained in our Shop section, but feel free to ask us any further questions by contacting info@conscia.life. In the near future, we’ll be offering live consultations with our co-founder Nicole Brown.