THe womb room
episode 15:
sovereign hair healing as womb wisdom with arielle de martinez
Have you ever considered what your hair, and how you care for it, have to do with your womb, nervous system, and even your sovereignty?
Today I’m sharing a conversation with my dear friend Arielle de Martinez. She’s a mother, a wife, an herbalist, a hair healer, and a member of The Womb Room Membership!
With an extensive background and successful career as a hairdresser, Arielle’s experience with a medical midwife during the birth of her daughter revealed the illusion of licensure as safety, and caused her to question the role of licensure in her own life and work.
Now, Arielle is a sovereign hair healer and herbal educator, and she’s sharing with us the many connections between our hair, our overall wellness, and our power.
In this conversation, we get into:
How most haircare products (including “natural” ones) contain endocrine disruptors that can impact our health
Witnessing racism and misogyny in the hair industry
The connection between our hair and our nervous system
The “witch wound” and the importance of touch and intimacy in female friendships
The facade of licensure, and redefining risk and safety in our sovereign health choices
Top tips for beginning a “no poo” (shampoo free) journey for all hair types
…and more!
If you’re considering going shampoo-free and want to dip your toe in, here are a few tips from Arielle that you’ll find in the episode:
Scalp exfoliation: hair healing starts at the root! Use your fingers or a scalp comb to stimulate circulation to your scalp when you wash.
Decrease the amount of shampooing. If you’re not ready to go cold turkey, start by decreasing your shampoo frequency (ie if you wash twice a week, try for once a week)
Apple cider vinegar rinse: Add a bit of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water, and use this as a hair rinse in the shower! ACV matches the pH of your hair, supports scalp healing, conditioning, and more vital hair
Incorporate herbal hydrosols: Adding herbal hydrosols, a steam distillation extract of plant oils, can be a wonderful ally for adding moisture to hair or repairing pH imbalances to the scalp. Check out Arielle’s herbal shop below!
If you’re listening to this when it’s released, make sure to check out Arielle’s small batch apothecary, Sub Luna Botanicals, which updates on Friday, December 3!
And, check out her upcoming Feral Herbalism Series, and her Instagram.
Download our free Herbs for Womb Health Guide
To hang out with both of us in The Womb Room, join us —enrollment closes December 21!