Sooo much pooping

[Guest]

Thanks for posting that Anne. Certainly worth knowing when we get desperate.

 

As I said yesterday, my hair seemed to be having a bad time. It was a bit better today but THANK GOODNESS for oatmeal I went out this evening with clean-looking hair. Wonderful!

 

I'm on day 23 now, can't believe how quickly time is passing now!

[Sheilaz]

That's good Ginette. I'm due a vinegar rinse, but it's not looking desperate, I could easily leave it a bit longer, so I'm enjoying knowing that I still have that to look forward to. Simple pleasures.

I found all the bicarb. etc info. very interesting, and the linked site. We have very hard water here, which does suggest that the water has contributed to the horrid tangles I used to get and also explain why the vinegar really makes a good difference for me.

[spott]

ok, second day, and i am not itchy... i'll probably need a vinegar rinse tomorrow, but today i feel fine, and i think i look it, too

re the sugar thingy, but about a teaspoon of sugar, or salt if you have not cuts into the plam of your hand, amd add a little bit of oil, sunflower, olive or sweet almond if you got it. rub your hands together, like your washing them, and then ringse with luke warm water till all the gritty bits are gone and gently pat dry. give them a little time for the oil to sink in and enjoy the siftest hands you ever had... also works lovely on the dry skin of your feet.

[Happymama]

I must be very lucky or very weird as I am not using vinegar or oatmeal yet

 

It is sitting on the shelf in the bathroom both unopened

 

Mind you I start some clean room work on Friday so I will be having several showers (a day) at work for the next 15 weeks so I may feel the need

 

I wonder if it is because my water at home is chemical free that I am not having the itchy scalp that needs the vinegar rinse

 

Any thoughts Happymamma

 

I didn't have an itchy scalp anyway, but our water is almost lime free so very soft and I know exactly what's in it as my Dh is the water production technician at Northumbrian Water's biggest works! THey dose it with some peculiar things, I can promise you! If you're having showers anyway, your hair should be quite happy I would have thought. I have to straighten mine, and it's a pain, so I didn't want to wash it more than once a week, it takes hours to dry and iron.

 

I'm delighted that all signs are good - either you feel better or you're coping. Brill!

 

So, some of you are approaching the 5 week crisis point - or it was for me. I just ignored it and forged on, but that's how I do everything.

 

I did say your hair would feel heavier when wet but not soak up as much, and dry quicker. You'll notice a real difference when you've adapted fully and go to the hairdressers the first time you wash your hair at home. Then you get to see how horrible and dry and fluffy your hair has (temporarily) become. Don't panic, recovery is swift and traumaless.

 

Good luck, girls! I can't believe how many of us are onboard now!

[Aylana]

I am on day 9 now and my hair is looking fine. I have a very small amount of greasyness at the very top but nowhere near as bad as I had thought it would be by this stage. I have only rinsed with water since the oatmeal at the weekend. I am off work now until the Tuesday after Easter so will not be too bothered how my hair looks anyway as I will be spending most of my time at the allotment digging and weeding furiously!

[Guest]

Can I ask a stupid question, before I commit myself to no washing?

 

Surely the point of not using shampoo is to allow your natural oils balance out and then they keep your hair looking good. Surely if you then rinse in vinegar, or scrub in some oatmeal or whatever else you upset the returning natural balance of the oils, making it take longer before it looks right again?

[Guest]

You are probably right Shona, but I for one cannot walk around with really greasy hair and an itchy scalp for weeks on end. The vinegar and particularly the oatmeal strip the excess oils that the scalp is producing. Eventually it will all settle down (and I think I'm seeing signs of less grease now) and everything will be fine.

 

Louise has managed so far with just water. That must be best but most have us have found that impractical, Louise is just lucky!

 

I hope you do join in I would say the first 10-14 days are the worst and after that you have a) got used to less than clean looking hair b) worked out a suitable cleansing schedule and c) less grease than initially. Remember too that the first few days (up until you would have used shampoo again) are no different, so they are really easy. That means I'm talking about 1 week in the middle. It really is all right!

[Guest]

By the time we all meet at the Omlet gathering in August (DATE please!) several of us will have viewable, natural shampoo-free hair. Then all those who are tempted but not quite brave enough (I remember feeling just like that!) will be able to see for themselves that it does work! It not only saves money but it's a great time-saver too

 

Something I have noticed: For years I have had a tsp of NightNurse to make sure I get to sleep and stay asleep. Since stopping the shampoo (and also becoming vegan!) I have had no trouble sleeping at all. I haven't had any Night Nurse for weeks. I am wondering if it is something to do with not using chemicals on my head or not eating dairy products. Has anyone else noticed anything like this?

[Louise]

Yup I am still water only

 

I have had to have two showers so far today and will be due another at 1pm today this will be the telling day as I have this for the next 15 weeks

 

The ends at the moment feel a little dry but that is it so I may use some conditioner on the ends of the hair for the next one

[Sheilaz]

So, can you have water only showers, Louise? I'm sure your hair will benefit. I don't miss conditioner at all, I can use a comb without tangles for the first time in my life.

I'm glad you're sleeping better, Ginette, whatever the reason, it sounds healthier.

Glad Aylana's still going strong.

Well, yesterday was a yuk day, so I didn't report. My looked forward to vinegar rinse was the usual...hair looked terrible after the rinse, all day long.

I decided to just get through the day & start afresh with a better vinegar rinse this morning. Success, I think I didn't use enough yesterday.

It looks & feels OK (hoping for great by tomorrow! )

Shona, my thoughts were the same about with-holding vinegar & oatmeal in case it just prolonged the process.

But, with experience now, I would say that careful use of diluted vinegar just takes out excess oil, but doesn't strip the hair & send scalp into panic as shampoo does. I would try & only use a couple of times a week, but as Ginette says, it helps us keep going, but it's certainly not drying my hair or scalp as chemicals do.

The oatmeal probably won't affect the scalps oil production, it seems to be more a superficial fix it method for bad hair days. It brings the hair to life, but I don't think it affects the long term balance.

To anyone starting, you do have to get used to your hair being different. Hopefully, in the long run, that's a good thing. I don't get the same just washed look that I used to have after shampoo. My hair appears, sleeker & less fly away, but it takes getting used to. At least it's not a dry, matted, tangle clump!

26 days!

Edited April 7, 2006 by Guest

[Louise]

I don't know if I am supposed to only water wash my hair Sheila since I haven't said I am doing it

 

I have to wear a hat as well afterwards to work so it can't be too bad and besides I make the rules

 

This morning was a complete disaster from start to finish so if there is contamination I will blame the room ventilation which stopped working just as we got started

 

My hair is feeling really quite dry even without the shampoo I think it is the horrible water my skin is feeling itchy as well

[Guest]

Alright then, count me in.

 

I last washed my hair on Wednseday morning, and I've got to tell you, it looks pretty terrible already.

 

However, my scalp and hairline have had an awful reaction to a new shampoo I got, and it looks worse than greasy hair.

 

I'm off to arm myself with vinegar (does it matter what kind?) and oatmeal, and will buy myself a baseball cap to wear while in public for a while.

 

Fingers crossed that it helps my skin!

[AnnieP]

Ashamed to say I have dropped out!

What with grouting and sanding plaster etc at teh moment, my hair was so thick with dust and muck that I couldn't bear it any longer. The vinegar wash just didn't do it for me. Sorry guys! Good luck to the rest of those still going for it!

[Guest]

Maybe it just wasn't the right time for you AnnieP. You can try again later when your life isn't so full of other things!

[AnnieP]

I definitely will do Ginette!

[Sheilaz]

Never mind, AnnieP, maybe in the summer hols?

Louise, I realised after I typed that perhaps "Ooops, word censored!"ody checks inside the showers?! so, as you say, it's up to you.

Shona, welcome aboard. The main thing is to hide all your usual bottles out of reach. I use the clear vinegar, really cheap stuff & smell doesn't linger.

If you have a low day with it, do try the oatmeal, just rub into dry hair, it's amazing, but needs brushing out!

Hopefully your skin will have a good rest now, so do give it a try.

[Aylana]

Never mind Annie, I imagine I would have done the same as you if I was grouting and things!!!!

 

I'm on day 10 and my hair is looking a little bit minky. Nothing I can't live with though for the moment. I have a works night out next Thursday so I think I will need to do an oat scrub that morning.

[Karen & co.]

Aylana, I love the description of your hair being a 'little bit minky'

 

Karen x

[AnnieP]

my hair is looking a little bit minky.

[Sheilaz]

Whereas mine's just manky.

[Guest]

Day 26 now! I'm thrilled I've got so far, but I think I too have hit a definite manky stage! Rinsed with vinegar yesterday and hair looked worse afterwards! Today I thought it was looking better when I got up but now it seems really filthy. I think I will do some more oatmeal and then tie it up so I don't notice it!

 

I'm unfazed though. I got throught this last time and I will get through it again!

[Nicola H]

Well done Ginette keep at it, why not try the bicarb. thing that somebody put a link to earlier in the thread that sounds like it gets the dirt out.....................Good luck.

[Guest]

I will if I get desperate! At the moment I feel like I am settled and have the necessary 'tools'. I have just done some oatmeal and my hair looks clean. It doesn't feel it though!

 

Busy weekend ahead, so no time to risk anything new. Hopefully by Monday, it will all have settled down again.

[Happymama]

Ashamed to say I have dropped out!

What with grouting and sanding plaster etc at teh moment, my hair was so thick with dust and muck that I couldn't bear it any longer. The vinegar wash just didn't do it for me. Sorry guys! Good luck to the rest of those still going for it!

 

So start again. The ground you've already covered will hold you in good stead. I have highlights every 9 months or so, and imagine what that and washing them out does! But I just carry on and it's less of a problem than the greasy beginning, I PROMISE. Each time it will be better, one shampoo won't do too much damage.

[Sheilaz]

Happymama, thanks for all the advice & encouragement. Did you actually use the vinegar yourself?( ) If so, was it for long? Would love to see a photo of your hair now please, including the top, not just the length, as an inspiration.

Ginette, 4 weeks! I'm still in but have a chest infection thing (Hull disease, son visited for 4 days & was ill the whole time, now I have it) so am not looking in the mirror for a few days, as hair always shows my health/ill health and I don't want to look at it & give up!