Warm boot recommendations please

[Sheilaz]

Yes, I'd echo that, Ginette, very helpful, & looking forward to an inspirational pic Happymama.

Today has been 2 extremes; due a rinse this eve. but went out for a meal so decided to leave it, hair looking OK ish, but not great.

Went to the loo, and caught sight of yuk, yuk, I'm so ashamed scraggy hair!

Came home & thought, maybe I'll try oatmeal & vingar & rinse in morning...too late for wet hair now, but a bit pushed for time Sat. am, so had better work! Very dejected. Close to stopping if not better tomorrow.

Then, decided to use oatmeal now, for first time, and vinegar rinse tomorrow.

WOW, the oatmeal is incredible! On first impression, it's really worked well....my hair looks just washed, for the first time in 12 days! Amazing! It's worth trying for those who are perhaps trying to skip occasional shampoos.

I was a bit slow, & had a bit of a whitish effect, but brushing, & the rinsing, should clear that. Just warning you Ginette as your hair is darker than mine.

Have you used it yet? I'd really recommend it!

[Linda]

Sheila, that sounds really promising. Good for you for sticking with it.

[Guest]

Thanks so much Sheila, that's just the incentive I need. I think I've just adjusted to having dirty-looking hair now! I feel a real reluctance to use the oatmeal because somehow vinegar and water seems to make more sense. I didn't want to go to all the bother and mess, only to be disappointed! But now, I am definitely going to do it today (OH bought the oatmeal yesterday) and hope for really clean hair tomorrow!

 

I was performing in a concert last night and so put my hair into a bun. It was so easy, a good-quality thick bun which stayed in place and felt solid. That's because of the grease of course, but it felt good. The rest looked fine in a s"Ooops, word censored!"ed back look, I even received a compliment about how nice my hair looked (though admittedly from a child! )

 

I'll report back later Sheila, after my oatmeal experience. This is quite exciting isn't it? Or is my life so dull that even dirty hair is exciting?

[Linda]

This is quite exciting isn't it? Or is my life so dull that even dirty hair is exciting?

It can't possibly be!!! You're a mum, a musician and a chicken keeper!

[Guest]

[myles]

Hello All. Here's a pic of me and hubby, I hope you think our hair looks OK

Peter's on day 10.

 

I'm on day 15.

 

[Cate in NZ]

Your hair looks fantastic Anne, hubby's does too. It certainly doesn't look unwashed at all. Excellent

[Nicola H]

Your hair looks a lot better than mine did Anne although mine is a lot shorter................Infact you can not tell that you or hubby haven't been using shampoo, believe me when I got to day 10 mine looked a lot worse..................Stick with it and good luck.

[AnnieP]

It looks amazing! I was wavering as to whether I should do it or not, but now.....

By the way: What an incredible view! Did you go somewhere special just to take the photo's?

[Guest]

I have just used the oatmeal and, like Sheila, I'm amazed and thrilled with the results.

 

Calling all those who gave up after a valiant effort

 

Oatmeal is the new shampoo! Go out and get some and start again! It's just like using dry shampoo and will definitely make sure your hair looks reasonable at all times. It's easy to use, if a little messy, and you can brush thoroughly afterwards to make sure it's all out. You could do this every morning before work, ensuring that you are always presentable.

You can do it!

[Sheilaz]

Great posting, Ginette, very encouraging, & I'm glad you had the same experience. I feel more confident now, knowing that I can do a last minute oatmeal before going out if necessary, and it looks great brushed through.

I obviously didn't take in all the info. very well when I embarked on this. For me, the oatmeal is an essential part of this, but the penny didn't drop earlier, so it would be great if anyone else joins in again.

Anne! What wonderful hair you both have! Apologies to OH that I haven't mentioned up to now the 2 husbands also taking part, based on the fact that my OH doesn't know about this yet, & only has 1mm! It's obviously working! Thanks for posting, they're really great pics!

Your hair looks far better than shampoo advertisements!

PS. I can't stop using !!!!!!! and !!

[Lesley]

I'll wait for photos of short hair on day 14

[Guest]

I think short hair would respond very well to the oatmeal treatment and as I said you could do it every morning if necessary.

 

Me too Sheila Feeling absolutely thrilled!!!!!!!

[Cate in NZ]

I'm seriously thinking about having another go, but I'll probably wait until Easter when I can have a few days out of work... and stock up on oatmeal too. I gave in last time after using the vinegar... I felt that it made my hair seem even worse.

Hubby got home yesterday after being on a course.... and he's had his head shaved, completely looks dreadful actually, like he needs an ASBO.. or has endured chemotherapy. I hate it, but I did tell him that at least it would be easy for him to stop using shampoo. He was when I told him I was serious.

[AnnieP]

Perhaps you should copy his style?

[Cate in NZ]

Ummmmm, I think I'd rather stick with shampoo Annie

[Guest]

My husband just came in and said 'Wow! Your hair'

I'm smiling, well grinning actually!

[Linda]

I can't help sharing your and !!!!!!!!

 

This is great news! I gave in and washed mine without trying the oatmeal and as soon as I did my itchy scalp came back again I had been relieved of that for the eight days I remained unwashed and it felt great in that respect. My only problem was how it looked, but if oatmeal makes that much difference........ Watch this space!!

 

Anne, your hair looks absolutely beautiful, very encouraging. Will my shoulder length dark brown tresses look like that on day 15?

 

Ginette, what a lovely reaction from the OH! Great for your confidence to carry on.

[Guest]

Linda, I'm sure one shampoo won't set you back that much. Do join in again and get some oatmeal, it really makes it all possible!

[The Dogmother]

Well, I caved in and shampooed on Friday night, and wished that I hadn't! My hair hadn't felt bad at all, I just wanted something to compare it with.

 

The next morning, it felt dry and straw-like and my scalp is itching again I am def going back to the rinsing think despite not having used up all my shampoo yet. I know that I will have to wash it on hols to get all the protective stuff out at the end of the day, but I will get back on the wagon after I get back. My hair definitel bebenfits from less shampooing, so I shall probably do it just once a month.

 

Right folks - this oatmeal - is it the same as porridge oats? I shall have to get some in....

 

BTW, Anne, your hair looks fab!!! Rosie is still just rinsing and her hair looks great - I will take a piccie and get it on this thread when I get a moment.

Edited March 26, 2006 by Guest

[Guest]

Well done Clare! It's good to hear your discovery and it'll be interesting to see how you get on, with your shorter hair. I think the rest of us have quite long hair.

My OH got me some oatmeal in Holland and Barratt. It is much finer than porridge oats, closer to couscous, ground rice etc. Porridge oats may work just as well though. I'm sure that you would be able to manage with just using the oatmeal. Remember that it is only for 8-12 weeks and then your hair will be OK with just water.

[Elaine C]

Been following this thread and seems to be mixed results. Think you are all brave girls and would like to follow your lead. Not very brave yet though.

 

Currently, I use an unperfumed shampoo base and blend with essential oils. I have two blends on the go at the moment rosemary and tea tree and sandlewood and patchouli (my favourate scents). Get on with these better than commercial shampoos but when all's said and done still using detergent on my hair which is fine and prone to frizziness and going wavy in damp weather.

Happymama - would rinsing with water and essential oils be ok or should it just be water or vinegar? I do like the scent of the oils and they do seem to make it shine. I somethimes spray with orange floral water and this seems to make my hair shine nicely too. The oatmeal thing sounds good. In my homemade cosmetics books, oatmeal features quite a lot for a skin treatment both for the face and body, it's supposed to soften the skin.

 

Also, happymama, just being curious, inquisitive nosey, call it what you will, what made you start on this in the first place? It clearly took a lot of patience and dedication to get where you are now.

 

E

[Louise]

Well I am now on day 6 a bit behind the rest but never mind

 

Last shampoo was last Tuesday morning and last night I decided to just rinse instead of the usual soak in the bath and shampoo etc so I opted for a shower instead

 

I didn't use any vinegar just water but because my hair is long and very dry at the ends I went for a conditioner as well for the bottom half which I will keep up until the oils are down that far. It felt weird afterward when I ran my fingers through sort of thick which must be the oils but it didn't feel greasy before I rinsed it or when it had dried

 

I am going to keep it up for longer and I have oatmeal and vinegar on standby in the bathroom just in case

[Guest]

Well done Louise! 6 days is a long time, well it seems it anyway

 

I'm on day 14 now. I feel so much more confident about it now I've found oatmeal and know I can have normal looking hair when I want to. Like you, my hair feels very thick, but not really greasy. Though I sometimes think it feels a bit like sheep wool when you can feel the lanolin in it although it's not greasy. My ends feel drier than they did a week ago (but they do need cutting!) but I'm sure they'll sort themselves out sooner or later.

[Sheilaz]

That's great news, Louise, I'm sure you'll keep it up & see the benefits until work shower rules take over. Having seen your wonderful hair, (It's fab, girls) I think it will be stunning after the oatmeal when you need it, & the natural oils will be so beneficial for the dry ends. Good luck!

Some really interesting posts here from Clare & Elaine too. I intend to use rosemary in some form when I get organised, I just love the smell & of course it has a long tradition in haircare.

Ginette (plus OH) & I are on day 15, a few days behind the beautiful Anne & OH. I'm fine about it except I now dread the rinsing. Did so yesterday, not because it looked bad, but because I thought I should rinse twice a week to cleanse, taking out daily grime. It just looks so gross afterwards, even though I'd done oatmeal just prior to washing. I think I may have to use a tiny bit of oatmeal after the rinse, & just try & brush it out, it just looks so good after the oatmeal.

Trouble is, although the hair looked great, Esther said my hair looked white! It did So, a bit less oatmeal & a good brush through.

For a scientific trial, I didn't use the vingar in the rinse, thinking that if it looked great, I wouldn't know if it was the vinegar or the oatmeal. So, next rinse, I shall try the vinegar, & it will be a fair trial, & see if it improves the rinse.