Oil & Water

Beards need a little love too. How much time do we spend on the hair on the top of our head — washing it, conditioning it, trimming it, combing it, putting it up and putting it down? That can leave those of the bearded ilk feeling left out. Take Andrew Rashotte who, after growing a luscious, red beard of his own, found he was trying to control unruly hairs and irritated skin.

In search of a beard oil to help, Rashotte couldn't find any made locally at the time, and of those he did find, the scents were often over powering or unappealing. And with a beard just inches away from your nose, you have to like the scent. That lead Rashotte to start experimenting in his kitchen, testing batches on himself, friends and family until he found the right mix of fresh citrus notes with a touch of spice.

In 2014, he launched Dapper Beard Oil with that signature scent, Gold Tusk, and has since added Black Tusk No. 2, with more woodsy and earthy notes. Using cold-pressed oils that moisturize the hair, the skin and smell great too. As one happy customer noted after putting Gold Tusk in her husband's stocking, "Not only does he love it, but I do too. It smells like his beard spent the evening rolling around on the forest grounds, then took a stroll through the musky shores of Man Beach." High praise indeed.

Dapper Beard Oil
dapperbeardoil.com | andrew@dapperbeardoil.com

Find it at: Knifewear, Drake General Store, Capital Barber Shop

The idea of producing a series of videos showcasing people who work with their hands in contrast to today's sometimes overwhelming technology-driven landscape, inspired Joulian Tavalloli, the owner and creative director at uniteddivided, to do just that — work with his hands. Tavalloli started to experiment with soap-making and quickly became addicted to the process, as well as learning about the ingredients that keep us squeaky clean.

Conscience of the environment and all of the harsh detergents and chemicals found in many commerical brands of soap, Tavalloli chose to produce all-natural, vegan soap. Starting with plant-based oils, only good things go into each bar — from Australian red clay, charcoal, Himalayan Pink salt, seaweed to Dead Sea mud — to help with varying skin conditions and types.

Tavalloli started Saaboon (which simply means soap) in October of 2012 and four years later, nearly to the day, he opened his new soap shop in Centretown. Saaboon's product line has expanded too. The skincare line, which includes Elemental face oil, Nude lip balm, Utility, a coconut-oil deodorant, and Body, an unscented balm for irritated skin, is well worth a trip to the soap shop.

Saaboon
595 Gladstone Ave., Ottawa
saaboon.com | 613.864.3007

Find it at: McKeen Metro Glebe, Rainbow Foods, Kokito (PEC)