Hair.
It’s a funny thing, you know. Ask someone to describe an individual…and the person’s hair is usually one of the first things in their physical description. Our hair is tightly wrapped to our identity, whether we like it or not.
So why am I rambling on about hair?
I took on a bet. Yep.
That’s right. Last August, when I was due for a hair cut at the salon, BJ placed a bet. ”I bet you can’t go a year without coloring your hair”, he said. I have really only been highlighting my hair about 2-4 times/ year, well… for most of my adult life. He joked that he hasn’t really ever seen my natural hair color.
I took on the bet and said I COULD go a year without color. I may not like my drab winter-blonde hair color, but I agreed. “Betcha I can!!”
But while we were discussing hair and temporary budget restraints due to job changes,etc ….. I made the decision to go ahead and grow my hair out. For me, I love the ease of short hair. Quick and easy. Short hair also means frequent hair cuts (every 4-6 wks) and product to control crazy cowlicks. What does this equal – MONEY. What else has a short hairstyle meant for me – a lot of unnecessary chemically laden products.
I had a bit of a wake up call one day as I looked at the label of my pommade. One of the main ingredients – petrolatum, along with a long list of ingredients I can’t pronounce. Then I took a look at my hairspray… eeeekkkk… Could I really live without hair products? I was raised by a mother in the hair care industry – I was raised around every hair product under the sun. The thought of NO hair care products frightened me and still does.
Initially I took baby steps. I told myself when I was done with the bottle of hairspray, I wouldn’t buy another bottle. And the pommade… I left it in the closet with the stash of other personal care products as a last resort. We still have a bulk bottle of natural Shampoo + Conditioner on hand.
I did try the no shampoo thing for about 2.5 weeks in September. But I gave up. My hair felt different. Different in a way I wasn’t totally comfortable with. Some days tangly. Some days oily. Some days, just plan blllaahhhh.
However, a few weeks ago I ran across a blog entry by Consumption Rebellion about the no-poo thing.
It ALL CLICKED. She wrote about the body’s natural process of regulating oil production. Shampoos usually strip far too much of the natural oil from the hair and then we’re left to use conditioner to replace some of the oil. She writes that it takes most people 3-12 weeks for their body to regain it’s natural balance of regulating oil production, once no more shampoo is used. Instead of shampoo – basic rinsing the hair with water is done – or – a baking soda wash is used.
(Hair growth check on Jan.6th- one hair cut since July)
(Nov.14, 2008 – new handmade headband)Where does this all leave me?
I haven’t used hair spray or gel since November. I occasionally use my homemade Flax seed gel for a little bit of soft hold over my cowlicks. I’m still on the lookout for a hair spray recipe for extra hold. I’ve been using a shampoo bar (J.R. Liggitts) 1 x per week. The other days of the week I’ve been rinsing or using the baking soda concoction the rest of the week. To make the mixture, I put 2 tablespoons of baking soda in 16 oz of water and placed in an empty shampoo bottle. This usually lasts me about a week or two.
Each day, I’ve taken note of how my scalp feels – how oily my hair is/isn’t – and how manageable my hair is. Oh, and I’ve been using headbands a lot until my hair is long enough to pull back. All in all, I’ve been pleasantly surprised at the results. I really don’t need any of the products I’ve used for so long. For the first time in a LONG time, I am getting to know my hair’s natural color and attitude, and I am trying to resist the urge to make it to do things it doesn’t naturally want to do.
Is this act something I think everyone should try?
I realize everyone has their own comfort level of how green they can go. One baby step to try -use less hair control product. Look into more natural, environmentally friendly hair products. Rinse your hair one day a week instead of using shampoo. Go au natural over the weekend.
One last question – how well do you know your hair? And.. how far are you willing to go to get re-acquainted?
Filed under: green, hair, personal care
Fearless experiment! You look fantastic, though. I love your headband.
My take on this is just to shampoo/style less often. I wash my hair 2-3x per week and just pull it up most days. I’m curious about just rinsing the hair–but mine is so curly and tangled I am not sure that I could get by without leave in conditioner.
That was very interesting. I’ve only recently realised how uncommon my hair care routine is; I have never dyed my hair and the only product I have ever used is hairspray for my cow’s lick. I did try totally natural shampoo for several months but it just didn’t work for me. My reason is mainly financial, and also to limit the chemicals I am exposing myself to.
I love the headband you made.
I am curious what your mom has to say about the shampoo, or rather lack of commercial shampoo use. Only because I finally found a really good hairdresser and she has recommended not a lot of styling products but the one thing she says is that I should use a sulfate free shampoo. So, that’s why I’m curious… I am not a very “hair friendly” person (obvious by the fact I still have the same style as I did in high school) but I have found over the last several months a product I love, well, I lied-two products. I use Pantene spray-in gel and it holds my curls for about 2-3 days! Bye-bye hairspray! The other thing I use is a leave in conditioner by Nexxus. I know, I know-commercial products but besides my shampoo and conditioner, that’s all I use. Good luck Jenn! I just can’t go without a good shampoo and conditioner! Too much hair I think!
You look lovely!
Thanks for the links, I’m slowly starting this process and have found the actual mixing of the baking soda a bit messy…
Love it! I have been dreaming of the day I could say goodbye to my shampoo…I had no idea that this alternative even existed. I’m sold. But, talk to me again two weeks into it.
By the way, did you use the first recipe or the second “simple” recipe?
Kristin -
i slowly weaned myself from the shampoo – starting with one day a week using a baking soda rinse instead of shampoo. the hardest part to get use to is the lack of suds.
the recipe i use is this:
1 cup warm water + 1 tblspoon of baking soda.
mix in a glass measuring cup and then pour into old shampoo bottle. i squeeze it over my head where i need it, then scrub in, wait a minute and rinse. i only use a little bit at a time – not the full cup for each use.
recently, i’ve been adding a ACV rinse every other day or so.
1 cup of warm water + 1 tblspoon of apple cider vinegar or white vinegar
i use it the same as the baking soda rinse. last time i made the ACV rinse i added a few drops of peppermint essential oil (for scent purposes) don’t worry, the ACV rinse doesn’t make your head smell like salad dressing. the vinegar helps your hair return to its acidic state.