No Shampoo Method

The no shampoo method has done amazing things for my hair.

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In case you’ve never heard of it, I’ll explain the process.

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First of all, since it is the no shampoo method, you must stop using shampoo (duh).  You can stop cold turkey, or you can slowly wean yourself off of it.  I found that the latter worked better for me, because it allowed my scalp oils to adjust and normalize to the new routine.  Either way, it’s likely that you will face oily scalp for awhile.

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Second, you decide how many times you want to “clean” your hair.  Once a week is perfect for me.  The no shampoo method only requires two simple steps, the first of which is scrubbing your scalp with baking soda.  Do not scrub the rest of your hair, just your scalp.  The goal is not to dry out your hair, but to clean your greasy head.  :)

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After rinsing out the baking soda, fill a large mug with water, and add roughly 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar.  (I know you’re probably thinking, “I don’t want to stink of vinegar!”  Well, not to worry, the smell evaporates as your hair dries.)  Flip your hair upside down, and slowly pour the mixture over your head, making sure to saturate your roots, all the way down to the ends of your hair.

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No Shampoo Method (3 Months In)

Do not rinse the vinegar out of your hair.  Simply wrap your hair in a towel, put it in a clip, or keep it down and allow it to dry naturally.  (Of course, feel free to squeeze the excess moisture from your hair before getting out of the shower.)  You will be amazed at how soft your hair feels once it’s dry, and as long as you brushed it before washing, it shouldn’t be difficult to do so once it’s dry.

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I have been using the no shampoo method for about 4 months now, and I’m loving it.  My hair feels softer, and it doesn’t have that weighed down feeling it used to have (due to shampoo residue).  I’m not exposed to any artificial chemicals (I wasn’t before either, because I was using an organic shampoo, but still).  Also, a big plus for me is the money savings.  I was spending $25 dollars a month on shampoo at one point, and it just dawned on me one day that there must be a better/cheaper way.

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It seems that in 99% of cases, there truly is a cheaper way.  I’m just having a great time discovering exactly what those other ways are!  Shampoo just plain isn’t necessary.

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If you’re tight on funds, don’t like chemicals, or if you just want to be weird, try the no shampoo method.  It really does work, and I imagine it’s much healthier for your hair.  Have fun!

March 22, 2010 | 7 Comments »

Is Tag Ink Toxic?

013It’s official.  My son is obsessed with tags. 

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Pillow tags, stuffed animal tags, shirt tags, you name it.  If it’s a tag, Axel wants to eat it.  It’s seriously insane.  If he sees a tag, even if it’s far away from him, he goes after it like his life depends on it.  It doesn’t really make sense to me why he would go for a plain little white tag, especially when he is surrounded by colorful toys, and other entertaining things, like mommy and daddy.  I’m beginning to wonder if there is an underlying cause for this behavior.

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We’ve actually started tearing the tags off of all of our pillows, and a few other things.  It just doesn’t seem like it could be that good for him.  I’d hate for him to get addicted to the ink.  I realize how far fetched that must sound, but I think it’s a definite possibility. 

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I know that for me personally, becoming addicted to toxins is fairly easy.  My mind loves the chemicals in junk food.  They give me a sort of rush, or high almost, but they also drop me afterwards.  That’s why I try my hardest to stay away from them.  Something that gives you a good feeling at first, but later leaves you feeling like you got hit by a truck, can’t be good for your body.  That’s why I’m nervous about letting Axel chew on these tags, as I’d hate for him to get a taste for something that’s so unnatural. 

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I understand that allowing him to eat a little ink may not do a whole lot of damage, but you never know.  And, even if the damage is extremely minimal, I’d rather him not have any if I can prevent it.  My job as a mother is to make sure my child is loved, nurtured, and protected.  If that means cutting off all the tags in my house, so be it. 

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*Does anyone know if the ink on tags is actually toxic?  (The tags I’m talking about are the ones that have ink printed on them, not the kind that have stitching with dyed threads.)  I’m really curious about this.  Although, I know that even if the ink isn’t considered a toxin, it’s still not really suitable for eating!  If anyone knows anything about this, please comment!  Thanks!

January 3, 2010 | Tags: | 4 Comments »