Groom & Grow Your Beard Naturally

Now that "No-Shave November" is looming, many are planning to honor the month with a nice face-sweater (pictured). Maybe you're following in the footsteps of 19th century mountaineers, poets, and philosophers like John Muir, Walt Whitman, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, bearding their way into American history; or taking after modern day facial-hair heroes like Jack Passion, the world champion, with a billowing fire-red beard.

Beards, indeed are a privilege, and with privilege comes responsibility. Before growing out your "Grizzly Adams," you ought to check out these modern beard products, designed for the environmentally conscious beard grower — because you're worth it!

Beard Oils Brooklyn Grooming boasts a fine line of vegan beard beautifying products from their Fort Greene collection, namely their moisturizing and soothing beard oil. After all, beards can itch and tingle and, like your scalp, develop dandruff over time. This oil consists of hempseed and organic sesame, and is subtly scented like a passing breath.

Or, if your natural musk is not enough and you'd prefer a mildly scented beard, slap on some Beard Tamer conditioning oil, made by Queen Bee Trading. This concoction consists of oils of avocado, jojoba, and almond and has a rich scent of sandalwood, white cedar, basil, and black pepper.

Beard Wax There comes a time when beard bristles grow rebellious. Wax helps keep your beard in check. There are plenty of beard waxes out there, but then there's Honest Amish  Original Beard Wax, handmade and blended with beeswax, fruit and nut butters, and botanicals.

5 Eco-Inspired Halloween Costume Ideas

We've covered alternatives to the cheap, plastic costumes that line the shelves this time of year. You know all about going vintage, handmade, and hand-me-down to reduce your Halloween waste. But when October 30 rolls around and plans for an elaborate costume based on your favorite literary character have fallen through, your options may seem limited: a bed sheet ghost or a quick trip to the nearest grocery store for a "Sexy [Whatever they have left]" costume? Put down the plastic, and make one of these easy, eco-inspired costumes that let you send a message (and still get the respectful "ah, you are very smart" head nod that your Holden Caulfield costume would've prompted) without too much effort or waste. 

Energy Vampire: Remind your fellow partygoers about the waste of standby power from unused but plugged in appliances. A large box can easily be turned into a computer with fangs, or a suit and black bed-sheet cape can be decorated with large paper power outlets to show the terrifying danger of wasting energy. 

Endangered Species: Spread the word about your favorite furry (or scaly, slimy, or feathered) friends who face extinction. A grey tracksuit with a paper-cone horn and ears becomes a message of solidarity for endangered rhinos, and animal costumes are cute on everyone. Search the endangered species list for your favorite animal, or search online for detailed DIYs, like this caribou costume tutorial from YouTube user BouTheCaribou.

Green Your Back-To-School Shopping

Back-to-school shopping can be a serious undertaking, as anyone who's dragged a middle schooler through a department store knows. If everyone else in the class is going to be wearing [insert trend here], you don't want your poor little fashionista ostracized for being sartorially lacking. But in addition to being a serious battle of wills between you and your child, back-to-school shopping can be expensive: Americans spent $8.5 billion at family clothing stores last August, according to the U.S. Census. Avoid the cost and make back-to-school shopping (slightly) more fun with these tips for greening your child's new wardrobe.

Go thrifting. Hand-me-downs are only a bad thing if they come from an older sibling with questionable taste. "Vintage" is still a magic word for hipster teens, and younger kids with character might enjoy the treasure hunt presented by your local Goodwill. Come prepared with your child's sizes memorized and the energy to hunt through the racks for hidden gems, and the ultimate find: clean, popular label, and with the tags still on!

Shop secondhand online. If sorting through the racks isn't your thing, you can let someone else do the hunting for you. Websites like Schoola Stitch sell clean and well-preserved used children's clothes for a fraction of their retail price.

Edible Opera: How Artists Turn Music into a Meal

The opera may sound good, but it tastes even better — at least that's what artists Michael Burton and Michiko Nitta (Burton Nitta) think. Together, these masters of design and science have created the Algae Opera, which transforms a singer's voice into an edible experience.

In this installation, they use mezzo-soprano opera singer Louise Ashcroft to highlight humans' unique relationship with algae. The artists designed a special futuristic suit that collects the carbon dioxide exhaled as Ashcroft is singing. This carbon dioxide feeds algae, which  grows during the performances and is later prepared and served. The audience can literally taste her song! The singer has trained herself specially for this project so that she can further enhance her lung capacity to produce the best quality algae possible. The slightest changes in pitch and frequency can determine tone, color, texture, and even whether the algae will be sweet or bitter. 

The Complete Guide to Healthy, Chemical-Free Hair

Long hair, short hair, curly hair, blue hair — no matter how you wear your hair, we have ideas for you.

By making a few changes to your beauty regimen, you can minimize your environmental impact (nearly effortlessly), save money by reducing your water consumption and energy use, and limit your exposure to the unnecessary chemicals used in commercial personal-care products.

TOOLS AND PRODUCTS:

Shampoo & Conditioners: The use of natural or organic products helps limit the chemicals (like the questionable parabens) that inevitably make their way down the drain. Further research is being done to determine exactly how parabens impact humans (and the environment) but in the meantime, consider whether you feel comfortable being exposed to these and other synthetically made chemicals.

Another advantage to choosing a certified organic shampoo and conditioner is that these products are often minimally packaged, saving energy at nearly every step along the supply chain. You can't always trust product labels, so to determine whether a product is safe or not, look it up using the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) Skin Deep Database. 

Buy shampoo in bulk whenever possible. You can also repurpose an old shampoo bottle by transforming it into a unique cell phone holder. 

4 Ways to Green Your Closet This Spring

Spring is here! And many of us may be tempted to head out to our favorite stores to stock up on those lightweight, brightly colored, open-toed, and overpriced "essentials." But before you empty your wallet on spring shopping, take a look at these tips to minimize cost and maximize green.

1. DIY: Braided Scarves

Many of us have tons of old T-shirts in our closets. Whether they are from college sports teams or some retreat you went to 10 years ago, they can still be of use. Make these shirts into awesome braided scarves for those cool spring days. All you need are some old T-shirts, a ruler, scissors, and iron-on adhesive (which can be found at your local convenience store for about $3). Check out the tutorial below by YouTube Guru AnneorShine. And for those of you who can't wait until summer to whip out the shorts, check out our DIY: 10 Summer Shorts You Can Make at Home.

Green Your Valentine's Day: 4 Natural Fragrances

Valentine’s Day is almost here, so we're sharing some sweet ideas for a planet friendly day of romance. Yesterday we discussed eco-friendly bedroom essentials, today we will focus on green perfumes.

Tip #3: Find a Sweet Green Aroma

Since some fragrances are packed with harmful chemicals and toxic ingredients, a number of people just opt to steer clear of perfume products all together. But wouldn’t it be nice to have some “smell goods” for your special night out, or maybe to give as part of a romantic gift? Well good news, we’ve found some wonderful all-natural perfumes that will help you smell amazing without contaminating the environment. And yes, we have a cologne option too.

Love Train — Rich Hippie Eau De Parfum

The California based company, Rich Hippie, used 100% natural and chemical-free ingredients to create this flirty, romantic fragrance. Instead of using cheap alcohol made from petroleum, their scents are made with wine alcohol that is created right in California. You can find this fragrance on Rich Hippie’s website for $48.

 

DIY Perfume

Ask Mr. Green: Where Should Old Clothes Go?

Hey Mr. Green,

I've read that the average American dumps about 70 pounds of textiles (clothing, old carpets, etc.) into landfills each year. How do I recycle the stained and hole-ridden jeans that thrift stores won't take?

--Jesse in California

Americans dispose of more than 12 million tons of textiles annually, less than 25 percent of which is recycled or reused, dooming most secondhand clothing and carpets to a soggy afterlife crammed deep in a landfill.

10 Ways to Kick the Cold

Ooh baby it's cold outside! But what to do to fight off that icy weather that's got you shivering and shaking? Whether you love to be outdoors or long to hibernate during the wintery months, we've got some suggestions to help you keep that chill out of your bones. 

Go on a hike: The best way to warm up is to get your blood pumping, and going for a hike is the best way to do that if you’re looking for a cheap and invigorating form of entertainment. Hike the JMT or the Appalachian Trail for a bigger challenge, or head to the closest trail near you for an impromptu adventure.

Go to a movie: After a couple days of lounging around the house, sometimes you just have to get out, no matter how cold it is outside. Movies are a great way to escape from the cold and get rid of that cabin fever. You could check out the latest blockbusters, but why not take the opportunity to educate yourself. We recommend Chasing Ice for a profound look at the effects of climate change.

Born-Again Presents: Upcycled Gifts That Do Good

These gifts are all made from something that obviously used to be something else. To boost the good-cheer factor, they're not just upcycled — they also help someone, somewhere, rise above poverty.

HAITI: Display memories in Macy's hand-hewn, tree-of-life-inspired "Heart of Haiti" picture frames. They're made from discarded oil drums, and each piece is signed by the metalworker, who gets half of the wholesale price. $32 to $60.

THAILAND: Show birds — and trees — some love with this handmade, reclaimed-wood birdhouse from Bambeco. It's made from planks that skilled Thai artisans salvaged from defunct boats and buildings (many downed by the region's 2004 tsunami), so no two are identical. $45.

UNITED STATES: This long-burning candle, sold by Hipcycle, contains scented soy wax encased in half of a used glass bottle (soda or beer, you choose). It's prepared, poured, and packaged by low-income new mothers in Chicago, many of whom are homeless. A program called Bright Endeavors recruits and trains the women, and the proceeds go toward keeping them afloat and helping them find better jobs. $15.