Personal Style: Susan HenryA 30-year career in top salons left Susan Henry chemical-sensitive. Now, she's opened the Shades Salon in Beverly Hills, launched an all-natural color and styling line and lives her life to reduce her carbon footprint.

My hair right now: Blonde and straight. It's colored with my non-ammonia, all-natural color, which contains no metals and is not henna-based.

My style: Jeans and T-shirts. I try to buy all organic cotton clothing from companies like GAIAM and White Apricot.

My favorite outfit: A white 100-percent organic cotton dress.

I opened a green salon: So I could work in an ammonia-free enviroment and offer the same to our clients.

What makes my salon green: Of course, eco-friendly products make a difference in the local air and water quality. We use passive solar gain heating and lighting, energy-efficient hair dryers and serve 100-percent organic coffee from Humboldt County in Northern California.

The key to a green lifestyle is: Always thinking about our use of energy and products and our waste. Consciousness is the most important first step-knowing where our products come from and where they go once they are used.

My favorite natural ingredient: Lavender oil. It has many medicinal properties, including being anti-allergenic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, soothing, healing and stimulating. It's said to help regulate skin functions, works well on all skin types and helps stimulate cellular growth.

My mentors: Umberto and Laurent of Privé.

My inspiration: My daughter, who went to Humboldt State University in Northern California and taught me about "going green." She was always concerned with recycling, alternative energy and the environment.

I'm a hairdresser because: I like to help people look and feel beautiful. I love people and I love to hear their stories and learn about their lives. I enjoy researching products and making my own oils and soaps, as well as providing hair color that is free of harsh chemicals.

 

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