Allison will teach #our first ever Facebook live streamed course about Essential Oils on March 4th, 2018, 11 am PST.  To attend live, RSVP at hashtagourtribe@gmail.com.  To view remotely, join #our private FB Group!

This will be our first workshop shown live on Facebook! Join our private FB group (#OurTribe) to attend virtually, or RSVP to hashtagourtribe@gmail.com to attend in person. 

​Losing lashes and eyebrows is a common side effect of chemo, and the regrowth period can be painfully slow! The team at #OurTribe got together to compile their best tips and products to help you through this time.

During chemo, tribe member Jessica used ice packs to brows and lashes, like tiny cold caps for your face.  The use of cold closes (or "vasodilates" if you're feeling fancy) the blood supply where it's applied, and this prevents the chemo from penetrating these regions. For those who have already lost lashes, eye drops are a must have in your purse as your eyes are more likely to become irritated. If irritation persists or eyes become red, speak to your oncology nurse about a prescription drop.  Paige Woodward, NP, likes Systane or Refresh Drops.

For others, a lack of eyelashes can cause constant eye tearing.  Since you’ll need to carry tissues with you anyways, why not be eco-friendly with these organic cotton cuties.

Several tribe members used castor oil at the base of their lashes to promote growth.  Castor oil contains a high percent of Ricinoleic acid which penetrate the pores of skin and hair follicles and is essential in hair growth. It is also antibacterial, extremely moisturizing and has anti-acne abilities! Castor oil's main downside is it's gloppy consistency, and as tribe member Emma puts it, “let’s just say it’s definitely only a night time ritual!” To make the process less messy, BaeBody’s Castor oil serum comes with teeny tiny lash line sized brushes. It can be used on brows as well.

​While you're waiting for the Castor oil treatment to kick in, Cherry Blooms will give you the look of salon lash extensions that are easy to apply at home.
It adds microfibers to your existing lashes, and luckily it’s waterproof in case you fall into the “eyes water all the time” category.

​Skin Research Laboratories Neulash and Neubrow are favorites of tribe member Lori. According to Lori, even before chemo her eyebrows were lacking, but since using Neubrow, she no longer "draws" her eyebrows on before leaving the house!
One downside, she noticed when not using the product, her lashes and brows returned to their prior, thinner state.

​The priciest, but perhaps most lauded in the Tribe, is Rodan + Field’s Enhancements lash boost. in about 8 weeks, This nightly eyelash-conditioning serum features a unique proprietary formula thickens and lengthens stubbly post chemo lashes. 

​If all the products in the world still don’t stimulate your brows, Microblading is a more permanent solution.  Check out our blog post for more info.

​Do you have any favorite products or tips to help bring back your eybrows and lashes? If so comment below, we’d love to learn from you!

Our first Guest Blog by our friends at Hip Hemp!

Studies show the benefits of hemp seed oil range from younger looking skin to regulating hormonal balance for menopausal support. Among its many benefits, it has been shown to lower cholesterol, help moderate blood sugar levels and boost immune systems.

The Many Benefits of Hemp Oil
Hemp oil contains 25% high quality protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, omega 6, omega 3, linoleic acid and insoluble fiber, which makes this “super oil” the perfect balance of nutrition that our bodies need.

It also provides Beta-carotene, an antioxidant, which is then converted into Vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin A is an essential vitamin. Vitamin C helps synthesize collagen, which gives strength and flexibility to organs, and Vitamin E is an important antioxidant.

Hemp oil also contains several minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium iron, zinc, and phosphorus, all which reduce risk of disease and manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, (high blood pressure) heart disease and cancer.

Other Advantages of Hemp Oil include:
Improves immunity levels
Reduce symptoms of PMS & menstrual cramps
Reduces inflammation
Improves recovery of muscles after exercise
Reduces and treats dry skin and improves skin elasticity
Reduces many degenerative diseases
Provides nervous system support
Provides detoxification
Is vegetarian approved

Hemp Oil Does Not Contain:
GMO’s
Gluten
Soy
Herbicides
Pesticides
Estrogen
Peanuts


References
9 Health Benefits of Hemp Oil That You Should Know. (n.d). Retrieved May 22, 2017, http://www.zliving.com/wellness/natural-remedies/9-health-benefits-of-hemp-oil-that-you-should-knowHow Healthy is Hemp? (2012) Retrieved May 26, 2017 from https://www.drweil.com/diet-nutrition/food-safety/how-healthy-is-hemp/
http://www.mynetdiary.com/foods-nutrient-needs.html#sthash.qWxKpgXT.dpuf

by Stacey R
​
I am one of the very few whose brows never came back after chemo. Mind you, I went through chemo twice, which I am sure didn't help the situation. I began resenting the amount of time it took to draw on my brows in the morning and began investigating my options.  There’s Latisse, which is a gel approved by the FDA to grow eyelashes, but has been used “off label” to grow eyebrows as well.  Most users begin to see changes in 4 to 6 weeks, with the biggest improvement between weeks 12 and 16.  Latisse doesn’t work for everyone (unfortunately, including me) and results only last as long as you use the product.  Another, more extreme option was an eyebrow hair transplant.  For this, they remove a strip of hair from your scalp and then graft individual hair follicles into your brow. Because you now have head hair for eyebrows, you need to trim it fairly often and may need to “train” the hair to act more, er, eyebrow-y.  No thank you.
 
After sharing my eyebrow tales of woe with a gal at my plastic surgeon’s office, she mentioned that a friend of hers did permanent makeup.  No, not like the sharpie drawn on kind Michael Jackson or past-her-prime Elizabeth Taylor wore (may they rest in peace). This technique, called “microblading,” uses precise, individual strokes to recreate your brow. Because the ink in microblading is applied closer to the surface of the skin than with tattooing, it needs to be touched up every 1 to 3 years.

 I got them done for the first time about a year ago. It was 2 sessions, 2-3 weeks apart, and let me be clear, she basically recreated my brows from scratch. Each session lasted about 3-4 hours and the pain is minimal…truly. It's not like getting a regular tattoo, because it doesn't go as deep, so you barely feel it. It is actually kind of relaxing and she told me she's had people fall asleep in her chair. I got mine touched up last weekend and am just as in love with them as I was a year ago. They actually look better than my real brows used to look. If your eyebrows need some help, I highly recommend permanent makeup.