HAIR POTION
A multi-targeted formulation
all Hair Potions are composed of clinically researched oils & botanicals that create an optimal foundation for healthy scalp and hair. applying moisturizing, nutrient-rich hair oil to the scalp creates a healthy environment for follicles to grow thicker, stronger, and longer hair. For your existing hair, the treatment penetrates the shaft, plumping each strand with nutrient rich moisture to protect against breakage and resulting in brighter shine and thicker volume.
Popular advertising would lead you to believe that oily hair is bad and promotes products that strip our scalp of its natural oil balance. Counterintuitively, your hair becomes more oily as your scalp struggles to return to this natural and healthy state and overproduces. What does this mean? In actuality, applying moisturizing oils will result in your scalp producing less oil and maintain a healthy environment for growing and existing hair.
Targeted Treatment: Hair Potion #1
for thicker, longer growing hair
Hair Potion #1 is composed of therapeutic oils & botanicals clinically proven to increase hair volume, density, and tensile strength while activating hair follicles to stay longer in their active growth phase, leading to reduced hair fall, less breakage, and longer, fuller hair. This multi-targeted treatment contains moisturizing oils that penetrate the hair shaft, coat the cuticle to protect and stimulate hair growth at the follicular level. Great to use in Sauna as exposure to heat and humidity can damage hair, with this hair potion acting as both a heat protectant & nourishing treatment. You may even feel a cooling tingle as the restorative botanicals activate in the heat, a delightfully contradictory feeling!
Targeted Treatment: Hair Potion #2
for Dandruff, Psoriasis, and Dry, Itchy Scalp
Hair Potion #2 is composed of therapeutic oils & botanicals clinically proven to combat inflamed, scaly, flaky, skin at its source, the scalp. This multi-targeted treatment contains moisturizing and anti-inflammatory oils that soften plaques, hydrate dry scalp, calm redness, boost circulation, and reduce itching.
Hair Potion #2 is Best used as a pre-shampoo scalp treatment to create an optimal foundation and prepare your hair and scalp to better absorb your regularly used hair care products. This treatment is Great to use in Saunas because it acts both as a heat protectant & nourishing treatment, guarding against heat and humidity that can damage hair and cause frizzyness.
Directions
Dampen clean hair with water. Massage oil into the scalp with fingers or scalp massager for 2-3 minutes, working product through roots. Put on a shower cap to lock in moisture and leave on for 30-60 minutes or 15-30 minutes in the sauna. When treatment is finished, shampoo out of hair and continue with your spa day. Some residual oils will remain in hair, activating in the heat while providing protection. When your spa day is completed, lather hair again with shampoo and follow with conditioner applied only to lengths and ends of your hair. Continue with your regular hair routine. Immediately your hair will feel softer and smoother. Recommended treatment 2x per week.
New Hair Potion
Over the past three years, B&B Herbalist Meryl has been traveling across Europe on a mission to discover what, if any, remedies exist that can repair and restore her hair. From ancient Italy to newly formed Czechia, to polar Norway, luxurious Luxembourg, and more, we drove across the continent seeking legendary remedies passed on from mother to daughter, hair stylist to client, and laboratory to home kitchen. Meryl took on the role of alchemist and tried tallow shampoo, fruit purees, massages and temperature shock, and even consumable concoctions that included ingredients typically found in a witch’s cauldron from a children’s Halloween book! Oh the adventures we’ve had, and the disappointments as well as the laughs. One time, we woke up with the pillow case so stained we had to throw it out!
However, it is only through thorough experimentation that our resident Herbalist learned what worked for her. She balanced the inconvenience of using remedies that required disciplined diets and complicated steps, against the convenience of an evening routine that paired with a facial cleansing right before bed. She also identified easy-to-source ingredients that blended well into one “potion,” which coincidentally produced a pleasing aroma and tingling sensation. The bonus, considering all the saunas she had been visiting, is that this potion paired great with SteamSessions that lasted 15 minutes and created gentle heat over her scalp.
Eureka! Meryl’s Hair Potion was born! It is a blend of essential oils mixed into carrier oils, all of which are considered to benefit hair, cuticles, follicles, skin, and spirit, without any additional chemicals or preservatives. Meryl uses Argon and Hemp as carrier oils; Argon or “liquid gold” moisturizes and adds shine, and Hemp provides deep hydration that strengthens strands to prevent breakage and stimulate growth. The seeds, Pumpkin and Black Seed oils are rich in vitamins that reduce scalp inflammation and promote bolder strands with thicker diameter. Rosemary and Peppermint should sound all too familiar as they are widely recognized as beneficial oils for hair. Both Rosemary and Peppermint act as vasodilators to improve blood flow and deliver oxygen and nutrients to follicles – reducing damage, and as antibacterial substances to reduce inflammation and soothe the scalp. Peppermint especially is just an incredible substance, and in the instance of hair, menthol acts as an active stimulant that promotes hair to stay in the growth phase and can lead to thicker and stronger hair strands.
While we cannot make any specific claims as to the efficacy of this potion, Meryl’s Herbalist formula is composed only of therapeutic oils clinically proven to increase hair volume, density, and strength while activating hair follicles to stay longer in their growth and resting phase, leading to less hair fall, breakage, and longer, fuller hair. This multi-targeted treatment contains moisturizing oils that penetrate the hair shaft, coat the cuticle to protect, and stimulate hair growth at the follicular level. Great to use in Sauna as exposure to heat and humidity can damage hair, with hair oil acting as both a heat protectant & treatment.
With Mother’s Day coming up, Meryl’s Herbalist Hair Potion makes a great gift individually or as part of a Sauna Day Package!
Bear & Birch Signature Scent
Ravensara Essential Oil
Ravensara is a potent, aromatic oil from Madagascar known as “the oil that heals”. It’s fresh, crisp, and clean aroma, often described as a softer, greener, and sweeter alternative to Eucalyptus. It is widely used for respiratory support and immune boosting, particularly during the winter months, acting as an expectorant to clear lungs, open sinuses, and calm coughs.
Ravensara Key Benefits & Uses
Aromatherapy: Its fresh fresh and slightly spicy aroma helps ease anxiety, chronic stress, and fatigue while fostering mental clarity and alertness. It is often used in calming and meditative blends for a grounding and uplifting effect.
Skincare: Strong antimicrobial and antibacterial properties help cleanse the skin and neutralize conditions that lead to acne, eczema, and other skin infections. Rich in the powerful anti-aging nutrient Limonene, it protects the skin from environmental stressors like pollution and UV rays, while its astringent properties can help tighten and tone. Due to its anti-inflammatory and pain relieving properties, when blended into massage oil, it helps alleviate muscle aches, joint pain, and stiffness.
Fragrance: Strong camphoraceous top notes with woody, medicinal, and subtly spicy undertones, Often described as having a “spa” like scent.
Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Sweet Orange is a bright, uplifting oil extracted via cold-pressed orange peels, commonly used in aromatherapy to reduce stress, improve mood, and provide a fresh, fruity scent. Often used to support immune function and improve circulation. It is popular in skincare for promoting a clear, glowing complexion.
Sweet Orange Key Benefits & Uses
Aromatherapy: Its sweet, refreshing aroma helps ease tension, boost energy, and create a positive environment. It is widely used for promoting relaxation, supporting immune health, improving focus, and acting as a natural air freshener.
Skincare: A versatile ingredient known for its potent anti-aging, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties. Sweet Orange balances oily skin by regulating sebum production, acting as a natural astringent to tighten pores, and combat acne-causing bacteria. Rich in Vitamin C and Limonene, it reduces inflammation, protects against environmental stress, reduces dark spots, while stimulating circulation to brighten skin tone, boost cell growth, increase collagen synthesis, and improve overall skin suppleness. Fragrance: A versatile, uplifting top note in perfumery, offering a fresh, juicy, tangy, and sweet citrus aroma, most often used to create calming and cheerful scents. Widely used in fine perfumes, colognes, lotions, and soaps, blending well with florals, spices, and other citrus oils.
If you’ve visited a sauna in the United States, you may have discovered that not everyone enjoys it when you pour water onto the stove. Worse yet, some may even get upset if you try to add any scents! However, you should know that practically all stoves produced in Europe, and most stoves in general, are designed to accept some water over the stones – YES, even in a “DRY” Sauna. This is because steam transfers the heat from the stones into the air, into the sauna space, and onto you, the guest. If used sparingly, proper essential oils will also evaporate without leaving any residue or lingering scent after less than an hour.
With that in mind, while we don’t recommend jumping into the role of a Sauna Master without proper certification, it should be perfectly alright for you to enjoy a sauna aroma like the Bear & Birch Signature scent. This carefully balanced blend akin to clove and orange is the most requested scent at our sauna and earned its place due to popular demand. If you would like to use this scent in your sauna at home, add about three drops into a cup of water and ice and carefully pour onto the center of the rocks on your stove. Be careful not to burn yourself with the resulting steam, and be ready to pour a bit more water for additional steam that will help the aroma spread. As these are essential oils, you can also use this scent in your aromatherapy at home including diffusers, warming plates, and other similar devices.
Sugar Mask
For a smooth skin and glowing complexion.
Sugar is a naturally gentle exfoliator, and using it as a scrub removes rough skin to reveal a softer, smoother, and brighter visage while hydrating due to sugar’s humectant properties, making it ideal for a sensitive or dry complexion. As a natural source of anti-aging Glycolic Acid, sugar gently conditions your skin on the cellular level.
Cinnamon’s antibacterial and antimicrobial properties treat acne and soothe inflammation. This essential oil is Rich in wrinkle fighting antioxidants as it draws rejuvenating blood to the skin’s surface for a healthy, vibrant, and glowing complexion.
Apply a generous layer to damp, freshly cleansed areas of the face, neck, and chest in gentle circular motions, taking care to avoid delicate eye areas. Let this sit for 10-20 minutes, or one sauna session. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water & pat dry. After this application, your skin will be optimized to receive further treatments such as moisturizer or your regular skin routine. Recommended Frequency: 2-3 times a week
1 Day Scrub
Peppermint Salt Body Scrub provides intense physical exfoliation to remove rough skin, unclog pores, and reduce ingrown hairs to reveal smoother, brighter skin. Naturally occurring minerals in the salt’s biogranules draw out impurities to detoxify the skin and reduce inflammation. Applying with light massage enhances the benefits of stimulating blood flow, reducing muscle tension, and aiding lymphatic drainage. Peppermint essential oil refreshes your skin, stimulating circulation while providing a cooling analgesic effect that soothes irritation and wakes up your whole body, a pleasant but contradictory feeling especially in saunas and steamrooms!
Do not use on face, broken skin, or freshly shaved skin unless you can handle the sting!
Apply to freshly cleansed, damp skin in gentle circular motions. Start at feet and move upwards towards the hearth and neck. Rinse off with warm water. Frequency: 2-3 times a week