Diane Takes a Vaca and Recalls the No ‘Poo Challenge

28. December 2009 · Comments Off · Categories: Uncategorized · Tags: ,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  We certainly did.  And now it’s the last week of 2009, a week I’ll be spending with family taking a blogging vacation.  So since I’ll be doing a “no bloggy”, I thought I’d share with you the “no ‘poo” posts I’ve done this year.  Throughout the week I’ll be posting once again my no ‘poo challenge updates, some of the most popular posts done here to date.  I certainly get a lot of email on living without shampoo, and I’m happy to say I get email every week from those of you who have given it up too, and love it!  So to start, here’s my first no ‘poo update taken from early this summer when I first began my life with totally chemical-free hair:

My Personal No ‘Poo Challenge

Hoping I Don't Look Like This Next Week...
Hoping I Don’t Look Like This Come Next Week…

No, I haven’t given up my beans and roughage.  I’ve given up shampoo.  I know it sounds radical, but I gave it a lot of thought – at least 7 minutes – and decided I was up for the challenge.  I recently finished reading Sleeping Naked is Green, and so I was inspired to do something extra.  I’ve been using natural and chemical-free shampoos for years and with great results, but for some reason my hair has been acting up lately.  Perhaps it’s the changing seasons or (ahem) my changing age, but even while using my most trusted bottles of natural shampoos and conditioners, my hair was completely disobeying me.  

So in a strange blend of experimentalism and curiosity, I set aside my shampoo and went the no ‘poo route.  For the past seven days (did I really make it that far already???) I’ve been using either a vinegar rinse, the rosemary sage tea I talked about last week, or just plain water – and lots and lots of scrubbing!  So far the results are very surprising.  My hair feels clean and not oily, I don’t need a conditioner, and my very thick mane that has always given me fits is easily combed through with my fingers.  I haven’t needed any hair product except occasional light mists of hairspray on windy days.  I’ll be honest, I’m a little icked out that I haven’t used any shampoo, but my hair actually looks and feels good, and it’s much more manageable than I’m used to!  The rosemary keeps my hair smelling really good, but even on the days I don’t use it, I haven’t had any issues or spousal complaints.  Since I’ve always rinsed out vinegar after using it (not everyone does), I never smell like a salad bar.  

But still I’m a little icked out.  

I’ll keep up the experiment for as long as it works, and I’ll keep you posted either way.  I did a lot of research on the subject today (perhaps I should have done that a week ago), and I’m finding there’s actually a lot of controversy and heated debate on the topic!  I imagined it would work differently for everyone, but the two sides of the issue are pretty strong.  I’m still teetering in the middle somewhere.  I haven’t had the grease issues a lot of people go through, but I imagine that’s because I haven’t used conventional shampoos for a few years, so my hair didn’t have to go through the transition of figuring out how to deal with no sulphates or other chemicals.  

Overall, I’m bouncing between a self-satisfied “Bear Gryllis would be proud” moment to “Ick – what the heck am I doing?”  At least I can enjoy the survival aspect of it even though it’s hard to feel like a survivalist in the middle of suburbia.  In the meantime, please let me know if you’ve ever tried this, thought about trying it, or know someone who did and suddenly woke up bald.  I’ll keep you posted on my results and whether I get bogged down by the ick factor or eventually start up my own survival show living off dandelions and tracking wild carrots in the depths of suburbia.  Or if I end up looking like good ol’ Fido here.

A Natural Hair Loss & Growth Remedy

04. November 2009 · 18 comments · Categories: No 'Poo, Remedies · Tags: , , ,

rosemaryToday I’ll share the remedy I mentioned briefly in yesterday’s posting: a natural remedy for hair loss and hair growth.  I’ve known of this remedy for quite sometime, but it really proved itself to me during my experiments as a no ‘poo person. (And for the record, I’m still no ‘poo, going on 6 months now!)  The magic remedy is really a two-fold process as I’ve learned:  rosemary oil and good old scalp scrubbing.

I’ve always been a shedder; been losing hair all over every house I’ve ever lived in.  It gets everywhere, and although during spring and fall it reaches ghastly proportions, I still seem to have too much hair.  I suppose that part is in my genes, but for many men and women, losing their hair is a lot more devastating.  Rosemary is considered a rubefacient, which means it brings blood to the surface.  It stimulates circulation.  Circulation not only helps keep your hair on your head, it helps to grow it as well. 

In the beginning months of going no ‘poo, some of you may remember that I noticed I had to cut my bangs almost weekly.  I was scrubbing a lot harder because going without shampoo made me nervous in the beginning, what with the awkward adjustment period hair goes through when weaning off the ‘poo.  And I also found that rosemary oil helped balance the oils on my scalp, along with totally eliminating any dandruff or dry itchy skin. Now I use a few drops (about 5 – 7) in the palm of my hand, and massage it into my scalp in the evenings, using my fingertips and even gently scratching with my nails to work it in.  This always results in less hair in the shower drain next day, and if I keep it up, it gets progressively better.  It speeds up my growth as well, but I don’t mind now.  It beats shedding a trail of hair everywhere I go!

Best part is, my scalp is healthier and my hair is shinier.  With the rosemary oil used in the evenings (along with having ditched the ‘poo 6 months ago), my hair stays cleaner longer.  Rosemary is a wonderment for hair care; next time I’ll share my rosemary rinse secret for extra curls!  My new favorite remedy.

No ‘Poo Update: How I Almost Threw in the Towel, Shaved My Head, and Other Really Bad Choices

14. September 2009 · 5 comments · Categories: No 'Poo · Tags:

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Going Bald Wasnt a Great Look for Britney and it Probably Wouldnt be so Hot on Me Either

Going Bald Wasn't a Great Look for Britney and it Probably Wouldn't be so Hot on Me Either

I ditched my shampoo back in June, and it was quite an adjustment at first, but I was so curious about the great results I’d heard others had had, so I stuck it out.  After a month or two, I was thoroughly convinced.  No doubt this was the way to go for me.  I learned how to use baking soda to scrub my scalp and apple cider vinegar to give myself a conditioning rinse.  My hair became soft, manageable, and curly.  I didn’t need a comb in the morning like I had my entire life to untangle my wet hair.  I didn’t need mousse, styling gels, or even a hairdryer.  I loved it!

But I made a couple of big goofs that almost threw me off the no ‘poo trail.  

Goof #1: I colored my hair.  Although I use a natural hair color and have for a long time, this particular product must still manage to strip the natural oils despite its lack of chemicals.  I was initially afraid to color my hair, but with about 2 inches of dark regrowth staring at me in the mirror, I decided I’d do it anyway.  It dried my hair out pretty good.  But I carried on.  After about 2 weeks it was almost back to what I loved about no ‘poo hair.

Goof #2: I went to the hairstylist.  My sister is a hairstylist and usually does my hair, but she lives a good distance away.  So when I just can’t stand it anymore, I go to a local salon for a trim.  Not usually a big deal, and this time I really needed it after the hair color incident.  My ends were pretty much shot.  I washed my hair before going for a cut, thinking I’d tell my stylist to please not shampoo me.  I even went in with slightly damp hair.  But when she stuck my head in that bowl, we were so busy yapping that I forgot!  She glopped on the shampoo and I said, “Oops!  I just washed my hair.”  (Yes, skeptics – no ‘poo girls do indeed wash their hair – just not with the stuff from the store.  I get that observation a lot.)  She said “No problem!” and washed the soap right out.  But something odd happened.

What happened when my hair met shampoo after 4 months? It went limp.  Dull, straight as a board, flat to my head.  For DAYS.  It became a terrible rat’s nest that I couldn’t undo, even after major conditioning.  And I could smell the shampoo in my hair for a week, no exaggeration, even after massive amounts of baking soda scrubbing, vinegar rinses, rosemary treatments… But the worst part was that it was like starting all over again.  My hair went into major oil overload.  The only reason I can think of is that shampoo does in fact strip the oil from the hair, forcing your body to produce more oil.  That’s why most people, even with expensive shampoos, can wash their hair in the morning and have an oily scalp by evening.  I’ve gotten used to waking up in the morning with hair that’s still soft and clean from the morning before.  

At first I’ll admit it, I wanted to give it all up and cry, cut my hair extra short, and go back to shampoo.  But then I remembered the reason I started it all in the first place, and I reminded myself that my stylist had used a brand of shampoo that, once upon a time, had been my favorite pricey brand.  And that it had taken out all the curl, given me snarls, and made my hair completely unmanageable for almost 3 weeks.  So that was that.  I’ve toughened it out and for the first time since my haircut, I enjoyed manageably curly hair yesterday.  My husband even commented on how cool all those curls were.

What was that expensive shampoo that turned my hair into a rat’s nest?  Hmm.  I don’t want to type it here or else those Google ads on my site will start spitting out advertising for it, but his initials are PM.  I think you can figure it out from there.

So for now I may be done with the no ‘poo updates.  It’s no longer an experiment; for me, it’s just become how I do things.  Yes, I’m enthusiastic about it, especially when someone who hasn’t seen me in a long time plays with my hair and tells me how great it looks.  And especially when I realize I’m doing something really good for my health, not just my appearance.  

I’m a no ‘poo girl.  ’Nuff said.

How to Make Homemade Hairspray that Really Works!

14. July 2009 · 17 comments · Categories: Homemade Products, Money Saving Tips, Remedies · Tags: , , ,

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I do believe I’m about to post one of the best and easiest natural beauty remedies I’ve ever done.  Since going no ‘poo, I’ve been experimenting more than ever with natural and homemade beauty products, slowly finding replacements for the chemical-laden stuff most of us use every day.  One thing that has always befuddled me is hairspray.  It’s very hard to find a “natural” hairspray.  Even the best often have less than desirable ingredients, and when they contain the minimal amount, lo and behold (or no hold) they don’t often work.  Ever wonder why there haven’t really been any hairspray reviews here?  I’ve tried untold numbers and only one or two worked well enough to write about.

So now you’re wondering what the big hairspray secret concoction is, right?  This is about the simplest remedy I’ve found.  Are you ready?  Sugar water.  Plain, simple sugar water.  I’m not kidding.  I’d seen this remedy on other sites and in books on natural beauty, but I overlooked it.  Water flattens and/or frizzes up hair, right?  Well, I’ve discovered there are a few simple tricks to get this to work.  First of all, you need to find the right concentration for your hair.  I heat 1/2 cup water to boiling or almost boiling, turn off the heat, and add 2 tsp. sugar and stir.  When it’s cool, I pour it in a little spray bottle I have that is a very fine mist (big trick #2).  The fine mist doesn’t soak my hair and undo the style.  When I use it, I spray a fine mist over my hair, let it dry for about 30 seconds, and add more if I need it.  (That’s trick #3.)  As long as I wait for it to dry between applications, I can keep misting that sugar water on until I get a good hold.

Now, if you make this up and it’s too stiff or not stiff enough, it’s so cheap and easy you can dump it and start again.  You can go anywhere from a light hold to ’80s Flock of Seagulls if you so choose.  I like to add a couple of drops of rosemary oil and lavender oil to it as well, just for a little scent.  

Oh, and another bonus?  The sugar water actually adds a little extra shine to the hair.  Sure, if it rains you’ll melt away, but what hairspray withstands the rain anyway?  Besides, since it’s water soluble you don’t have to worry about hairspray buildup on your hair.  Or your counters or your expensive ceramic tile.  Contrary to what you might think, this mixture isn’t stiff (unless you add lots of sugar) and it isn’t sticky feeling.

This honestly is the very best hairspray, store-bought or otherwise, I’ve ever tried.  If it wasn’t so simple I’d bottle it up and sell it at exorbitant prices.  But hey, I like to share.  So if you try this (and I sincerely hope you will), please let me know what you think.  And be sure to use the two tricks I mentioned.  I really think those are the key to making this remedy work:  1) Find the right concentration for you; 2) Use a very fine misting bottle; 3) Use a light misting and wait for it to dry 20 – 30 seconds between applications.  

This stuff holds all day for me, and I’ve got thick and unruly hair in general.  If you have another hair type and you try it, let me know what you discovered.  I’d love to find out if it works for fine or ethnic hair, for example.  And don’t forget to email me your no ‘poo experiences to themommyspot at gmail dot com!  I’d love to put something together for us to all learn from.

Day 12 of My Personal No ‘Poo Challenge

17. June 2009 · 5 comments · Categories: No 'Poo, Remedies · Tags: , ,

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It is true. I do have a natural mane.

It is true. I do have a natural mane.

By now you’re all wondering, “Did she cave?  Did she finally crack open a bottle of shampoo, dump it all on her head, and lather away?”  Well, not entirely.  Even though my hair has been fairing much better than I ever would have expected without shampoo, it’s not without its little challenges.  Not using shampoo may sound quite disturbing to some, but I think we can all agree the concept sounds simple – just don’t use shampoo.  But there are many ways around the shampoo issue as I’ve learned.  Some no-poo people prefer to scrub at their scalps with baking soda, rinse vigorously, then apply conditioner.  I haven’t tried this, but from what I’ve read you can have quite a head of tangles with this method.  I already suffer from that and have my whole life, so adding to the problem didn’t appeal to me.  Besides, not using shampoo has allowed me to have the most tangle-free hair of my life.  I don’t even need a comb after washing my hair – I literally run my fingers through my very thick hair to “comb” it.  This has been the best part of being a no-pooer.  Finally, snarl-free hair!  

Other no-poos use the tea rinses, which I thought worked pretty well.  The rosemary tea, for instance, adds shine and is pretty good at cleaning.  But a few days ago I didn’t have time to make the tea and let it sit for long enough.  So I grabbed a little bottle of rosemary essential oil.

I’ve used rosemary essential oil in my hair in the past, just a few drops rubbed in the palm of my hand and worked into damp hair to restore shine, support a healthy scalp, etc. so I figured this would probably work pretty well.  And it did!  I had great shine, my hair smelled wonderful, and my hair and scalp felt clean and fresh.  Alas, the next day I decided to shampoo anyway.  Sort of.  Using the most natural shampoo I own, I did wash it.  But since I’m no longer used to conditioning, I forgot that little step and had to really work on all the tangled mess I’d forgotten my hair can be.  Yesterday and today found me a no-poo chick once again, and with the aid of my rosemary oil, I’m rather enjoying my radical new me.

I still don’t know if this is a permanent change for me or not.  I think it calls for some more experimenting in what works best for my hair type.  I may just shampoo occasionally with my favorite natural stuff, or I might awaken one day to feel totally hippie-rebellious, pulling all my shampoos and conditioners into the shower with me to enjoy a suds fest.  Either way I’ll keep you posted.  So far it’s certainly been one of the more interesting experiments this blog has found me in!

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