I don't use shampoo and conditioner

WE'VE MOVED!! Find us HERE!

When I first tell people I don't use shampoo or conditioner in my hair, they usually take a step back like you would a dog with fleas. It always makes me giggle.

A few months ago, I was trying out all these "natural" things, I found a few on "how to save money" websites, but this one TRULY interested me. How on Earth could you get away with not shampooing your hair?!?! Wouldn't it be greasy and gross? I know if I don't wash my hair every other day it gets really greasy and nasty! At least... that's what I used to think!

Studies show that using shampoo actually strips the oils right off of your scalp, which is why they tell you to not wash your hair the day before you have a perm or color your hair. Shampoo doesn't just clean your hair, it strips it of oils and moisture that it needs to be healthy and luxurious!

Another reason I tried this is because I was tired of going to the salon for a cut and them saying things like "Well, if you tried XYZ Product, you would have less frizz" or whatever they would have to say. I don't want to spend MORE money on products that I'm hardly ever going to use because I don't blow dry my hair all the time. HECK! I'm doing good if I BRUSH it every day! LOL

Enter to "no 'poo" method!

What I do is I take roughly a Tablespoon of baking soda, and combine it with a cup of water. I shake it up to combine it, and I pour it evenly on my head. I work it into my scalp really well, but not like you do with shampoo because it won't produce any suds. Trust me, it's working, even if there are no suds! Then I rinse it out. I then take about a Tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water, and use that as conditioner. I also use coconut oil as a deep conditioner once a week.

Now, if you are one of those people that washes their hair every day, or every other day and starts this... I'm going to warn you to have LOTS of pony tail holders ready! Your hair will go thru a cycle where it produces WAY too much oil and you will have an itchy head, and your hair will be greasy, but it only lasts about 3 weeks and your scalp will calm down and adjust to not being stripped of all it's oils all the time. I normally wear mine in a pony tail anyways, but I do let it down occasionally. You might also have to experiment a bit to find the right "mix" for your hair. I started out using exactly 1 Tablespoon to 1 cup of water. I now use a bit more than a tablespoon, but still 1 cup of water. I find that if I use only 1 tablespoon or less, my hair gets greasy quickly.

I now only need to wash my hair about once a week to 10 days. I just went to get a hair cut on Saturday, and the stylist told me that my hair was healthy and very nice looking.

When I first started doing this I thought that my hair would be a tangled mess after I stepped out of the shower. I have VERY THICK baby fine hair, and whenever I used to get it wet, I had to put conditioner in it, or I would end up with a handful of hair that would get pulled out brushing it. I don't have that issue at all! The vinegar lives it almost virtually tangle free! Not completely, but, I have noticed that there is less hair in the shower, less hair in my hairbrush, and it has some natural bounce and body to it now. I'm falling in love with my hair all over again! :-)


**** Linking up to Prairie Homestead

Homemade Laundry Soap

WE'VE MOVED!!! Find us HERE!

For the past 6 months or so, I have been making my own laundry soap. It works FANTASTIC! It smells wonderful, it cleans beautifully, and it is significantly less expensive. (Just what we all like to hear, right?!)

You will need Borax, Washing Soda, Fels Naptha (or Zote, Ivory, or your favorite bar), and a cheese grater. (The oxy cleaner is optional)

First, you grate your soap. I only have a large hole grater, if you have a fine grater, you won't need to do the blending step. :-)

1 cup of Washing Soda (not baking soda)

Put half the soap in the processor or blender and the powder and blend.

1 cup Borax, and blend as above

I usually add 1 cup of oxy cleaner, but I ran out on the 1st batch I made today. (oops!) Mix, and you have your detergent!

Use 1 Tablespoon per load. I've been told that this IS safe for HE machines because it is a low (almost zero) suds soap. I also use about 1/4 cup of white vinegar in a "downy ball" for fabric softener. It leaves our clothes soft and virtually static free!

*****Linking up to Prairie Homestead Barn Hop