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Girl Talk Decoded
Welcome to Girl Talk Decoded, the unconventional women’s health podcast where we tackle all things women’s health—emotional, physical, and everything in between. Hosted by Mary Vance, Certified Nutrition Consultant, and Carla Hernandez, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, we bring a combined 30 years of expertise and a love for unfiltered conversations about real issues affecting women daily. Twice a month, we call out the BS and make complex topics user-friendly, discussing the latest research, personal stories, and insightful interviews on everything from nutrition, mental health, and relationships to fertility, perimenopause, autoimmune diseases, and more. Whether you’re a seasoned health guru or just want to better understand your body, this podcast will challenge your perspectives, validate your experiences, and empower you to take control of your health.
Girl Talk Decoded
#15 - What You Haven’t Heard About Clean Beauty & Non Toxic Hair Care with Amber Lesse
Could your everyday hair products be doing more harm than good? In this episode, Carla and Mary sit down with Amber Lesse, a longtime stylist and founder of Amber Holistic Hair Studio in LA, who shares her incredible journey from building a clean, non-toxic salon during the pandemic to receiving a breast cancer diagnosis the day before opening. Amber opens up about how her health struggles with PCOS and cancer shaped her approach to beauty and wellness. She breaks down what to look out for in your products, why it’s time to toss your aerosol sprays, and how to start making safer choices for your hair and scalp. And don’t miss her powerful reminder that could save lives: “feel it on the first.” This one’s full of real talk, helpful tips, and a story you won’t forget.
Who is Amber Lesse?
Amber Lesse is a seasoned beauty industry professional with over 20 years of experience and a degree in business management. She is the founder of Amber Holistic Hair Studio in Los Angeles, a salon dedicated to clean, low-toxic, and non-toxic hair care. Known for her passion for helping others feel beautiful inside and out, Amber blends her deep expertise in hair artistry with a commitment to health-conscious practices. Her personal journey with PCOS and a breast cancer diagnosis the day before opening her salon deepened her dedication to safe beauty products and holistic wellness. Today, she’s a trusted voice in clean beauty and a strong advocate for reducing toxic load in everyday life.
Connect with Amber:
https://www.amberlosangeles.com/
https://www.instagram.com/amber_losangeles/
Products mentioned:
Innersense hair products: https://amzn.to/4nbbkbw
Roz hair products: https://amzn.to/3HP2Kia
Innersense Dry Shampoo: https://amzn.to/4l6JqeZ
Episode highlights:
(0:00) Intro
(1:44) Amber’s story and salon launch during COVID
(3:10) Breast cancer diagnosis, PCOS, and the shift toward low-tox living
(5:50) The truth behind “organic” and “clean” hair color
(10:28) Favorite clean hair care brands: Innersense, RŌZ, and Najo
(12:12) How toxic terms like “non-toxic” are unregulated
(15:18) Top offenders to avoid
(18:53) What to toss from your routine
(21:49) The no poo method
(26:58) What is co-washing, and when to use it
(34:18) Best shower filters for hair and skin
(37:46) How to protect hair before swimming
(39:17) The rise of head spas and scalp detox
(41:20) The Fondle Project
(42:43) Outro
Innersense hair products: https://amzn.to/4nbbkbw
Roz hair products: https://amzn.to/3HP2Kia
Innersense Dry Shampoo: https://amzn.to/4l6JqeZ
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