In 2010, starting out as an idea I wrote on a paper napkin at Sunday brunch with my, now ex-husband, at the Elmwood diner (miss that place so much!) with a purple glitter pen + ink, I quickly pieced together what I wanted the space to be. A space that at its foundation had to be built on the principles of my Herbalism, had to include an apothecary area, had to provide space for local artists to showcase and sell their work, and also had to provide space for local musicians (as I am a musician myself)  to play and tell their stories in a semi unplugged, intimate situation.

Reading and decoding labels. Dihydrogen monoxide aka…Water.

The term “ Alchemy” is having a moment lately in the beauty + wellness arena, so I would first like to say a few words and honor what Alchemy really is, and how we have evolved into various facets in how we use that term today.

September is here, and with it, the subtle shifts to softer, cooler breezes. Leaves are ever so slightly dulling their green and morphing into warmer hues of oranges, reds and yellows. Mornings and evenings are crisp in contrast to the hotter afternoons. The shorelines are less crowded, and the scholastic year ahead is beginning.

First and foremost, we would like to THANK YOU, for being a part of our journey and experience here at Flipp. We have officially entered 2024, and as of February it will be 13 years since we first opened our doors to greet you! So many experiences shared, stories told, graduations had, welcomed babies, navigated through significant events, including elections and the challenges posed by the recent pandemic.

Hair means many different things in many different cultures. Whether it's your go-to accessory, a defining statement of your essence, or sometimes just an effortless part of your routine – holds a timeless significance as a means of expression and identity. Across centuries and cultures, our hair symbolizes much more than strands; it embodies tradition, spirituality, and personal history.

I love this time of year. Moving from Hibernal Solstice into Midwinter and ultimately the transition into the Spring Equinox is truly palpable to our bodies in many ways, and I believe most of all through our nervous systems. 

February is a time every calendar year that gives rise to the crave for rest, restoration and looking ahead without a sense of urgency, but rather a gathering of energy through rest and reflection. Of course it always makes me think of one of the most loved/loathed days…Valentine's day, and with that, inevitably my mind goes to the Rose, although over the last 3 years..Rose has been a steady companion for all its attributes.

The Holiday Season is upon us. No matter how, when and where you celebrate this Season can feel stressful, even overwhelming. Add that to a baseline sense of overall insecurity of a quickly changing world as we emerge from a pandemic, into a possible recession and the gamut of feelings and thoughts that follow. 

Essential oils have gained a ton of popularity in the past decade. So much so that many of the plants, resins or barks are dangerously overharvested. Best practices are a concern with the many companies producing essential oils as well. All sorts of contaminants and unfriendly chemicals have been found due to the extraction methods being used by some.

As the cycles of the Seasons continue to move forward it brings change in the elements, colors, mood and basically the balance of all things. We feel the changes through our senses as well as our physical selves, everything from our levels of energy down to the smallest details. The texture and behavior of our skin and hair are also affected by the change in seasons.

Spring is officially here, and this year it is particularly a welcome change charged with energy, and dare I say even a big sense of eagerness and readiness to get out and live life. This energy is a strong and upward moving energy (think of the plants emerging from their roots) that we also experience within ourselves and although a totally normal response to the shift from dormant Winter to Spring, can feel overwhelming for us, especially in an already tense or anxious climate we have all felt in the culmination of the last two years. This can manifest in the form of sleepless nights, feelings of overwhelm, not being able to focus, swift changes in mood, feeling flooded with new ideas and frustration of not being able to have them come to fruition.

This has certainly been an interesting Winter. I must admit that I am struggling a little as I write this because I, on the one hand, want to share my enthusiasm I have for the upcoming Spring Season. The awakening of all of the plant life and trees beginning to bloom around us, the birds, bees and butterflies coming back to create the lovely and lively eco system full of texture, sound and color. My enthusiasm for people starting to gather in the city. Pedestrian traffic everywhere. 

This past year has certainly been a full one, complete with challenges, joy, sorrow, fear, defiance and everything in between. Anxiety has been at its highest and doubt also has been prevalent. We have had a lot to think about, and also have had the opportunity to explore ways in which we can serve ourselves in much more meaningful and significant ways.

What makes a good haircut, great? It’s the first thing we stylists ask ourselves before we begin cutting and it happens in an alternate universe that only exists in the stylist's brain, which allows us to also consult with you in the very same moment we are designing the blueprint in our minds . After the initial consultation, and as we begin to map out the actual cutting, the wheels begin to spin as we reflect on these two points;

This time of year always feels magical to me. That energy of summer coming to an end and the Fall approaching slowly. It’s harvesting season. Time to gather what has been sown and nurtured, and to savor it in the upcoming nesting season.

As most of you know and some are discovering, I, Jo-Anna, Owner/Stylist/Herbalist of Flipp am also the Herbalist in residence at Shewatuck Farm in Exeter R.I.

There is something quite magical in seeing a lawn or meadow covered in Violets. It's one of the reassuring signs that Spring is upon us. It is the flower of our home State of Rhode Island. The color is soothing, a “signature” in the natural world that harkens to the Crown Chakra in Ayurveda, relating to the brain, pineal gland and endocrine gland. Other “signatures” or associations of purple flowers are that they are associated with mental and psychological well being, spirituality, the sacred, the higher self, mental tranquility and soothing properties. Think Lavender. 

The subject of “Beauty” has been one of much controversy over the centuries. Going back to times when comprehensive verbal language hadn’t been invented yet, it is thought that physical attraction to another was steeped in instinct to procreate and keep our species alive.

On February 1st 2011 I (Jo-Anna) took my very first appointment, in my very own Salon, Flipp Salon- Apothecary. My first client, David, is still a faithful client and every year I gift him a product or good from our Apothecary as a token of thanks, and to honor the relationship we have. 

We have always promoted the message that beauty (health and radiance) begins from within the body first, and extends outward. There are so many factors, especially in these times that make it challenging to get proper nutrition, rest and time to nourish the inner self from an energetic and spiritual level. We are all currently living with some form of chaos and upheaval. Some more than others. It can feel unnerving and exhausting for sure.