Warm boot recommendations please

[Guest]

[myles]

Ok....my hairs now dry.Dried outside in the lovely sunshine , it feels clean but its gone from chip shop grease to chip shop smell . I'am off out now to a garden centre, maybe i'll give it a spray of perfume

[Guest]

At least it feels clean! I must do mine!

 

I don't have a problem with the smell of vinegar though! It's so weak it doesn't smell noticeably.

[myles]

Hi Ginette

Still here, just been looking at those cute chicks in the gallery. Maybe it was too strong, it did sting alittle . I wasn't very technical about it, just put a bit in a plastic beaker and watered it down. Also i only have in red wine vinegar, so maybe thats not so good

[Guest]

I use distilled malt vinegar. Others have used Apple Cider Vinegar. On HappyMama's advice I measure out 200mls vinegar and 1 litre warm water. The smell is detectable but not noticeable.

 

It's Friday, nothing wrong with smelling of vinegar!

[Chicken on a mission]

To all of you who are still being strong, congratulations!

 

Please, please, please keep going.

 

Believe me, you'll regret it if you give in.

[Guest]

Oh! Chicken on a Mission. You can start again any time. At least we have learnt ways of managing the difficult patches, so it should be easier for you. Several people are joining in now they have discovered their scalps feel better without the shampoo. Don't feel miserable, maybe it was just the wrong time for you. It's not a lost opportunity, it's always there for you!

[Sheilaz]

.....I measure out 200mls vinegar and 1 litre warm water.

Whereas, I stand in the warm shower with a pint jug & a vinegar bottle & remember that I've forgotten to read the quantity suggested, so just splash some in and hope for the best! My cooking is much the same principle

Turns out it was prob. bit under 100ml, so nearly same ratio as Ginette, perhaps bit less, maybe 50ml. I use the clear vinegar (which I bought for window cleaning etc!) Once dry, my hair didn't smell of vinegar at all, if it does anyone, I'd decrease the amount.

Anne, yours looked so terrific in the photo, far better than mine. Is it greasy on top?

COAM, thanks for saying that, and spurring us on. But, as Ginette says, do join in again if you think it's good to do. It's not a competition, and hopefully people will be starting all the time.

Ginette, what is the 90 days? is that when it should be settled forever, or when you stop for a shampoo? I've forgotten. I'm hoping to carry on always!

[Guest]

Sheila, I think it will take 90 days to settle down and then our hair will be beautiful for ever with just water rinses. No more oatmeal or vinegar and no shampoo ever again!

[Sheilaz]

Oh good, I thought that must be what it meant, the perfect balance of natural oils & good looking hair with water alone.

I think I'll stick to just counting the days we've done until we get a bit nearer, 73 to go sounds daunting!

Hey Ginette, I'm looking forward to my 2nd vinegar rinse tonight! By the way, mistake to wear dark jumper & brush hair today...covered in white from yesterday's oatmeal!

[Chicken on a mission]

All is not lost, I have washed my hair through twich with mild baby shampoo.

 

The first time was a moment of weekness because I wouldn't give into the vinegar or oatmeal

 

The second time was on Tuesday because I have been very unwell to the point where I hadn't eaten in 4 days (no mean feat for a size 22/24).

 

It now means that although I surcumbed, my hair has been sucessfully weaned off strong shampoo and only starts getting greasy after a week. Next time it does, I'm going to try the vinegar

[Guest]

Way-hey! Chicken on a mission is in again!

 

I have done a vinegar rinse today and my hair feels all soft again. It is fitting my head quite closely though! and has got the lambswool effect again! I don't think I care anymore! I can wear it up and it looks absolutely fine. As long as it feels clean, I'm happy!

[Aylana]

All right everyone, I'm joining in now too! I last washed my hair on Tuesday Morning. I have some old Ready Brek in the cupboard that isn't much good for eating anymore but should be ok for my hair I think and I also have some apple cider vinegar that I hardly use.

 

My hair is very long and tends to be greasy at the top and flyaway at the bottom. Yikes, I am feeling a bit apprehensive now I have officially agreed. Good luck to us all!

[Guest]

Excellent news Aylana! I think the first 10 days were quite hard-going, so post your progress daily. Ready Brek should do the trick magnificently. Good luck

[AnnieP]

Yep. First day of holidays, so I'm in too girls! Aylana, we'll be doing this pretty much together. I last washed hair on Thursday morning, so I'm on day 2. Its already greasy as I wash it every day usually. I have the porridge oats and white vinegar ready. Going to wait until I absolutely have to. I am worried about it smelling though. Mucking out donkeys makes you reek of ammonia (polite description), it permeates everything. Muck out day is tomorrow, so all suggestions welcome. I will definately wear a beany hat to fend off some of it. Other worry is the colour, as my hair is very blonde and am concerned it will look dull after a while. Oh well, Looking forward to the challenge.

Trish, canI borrow one of your knitting needles for a good itch??

[Guest]

Annie, I haven't had any problems at all with smelliness! HappyMama said the second month was worst and I haven't got there yet though!

Yes, your hair might look dull but remember it's only for 12 weeks and then it will always look fantastic! I don't know if I'm right, but my advice would be not to let your hair get too bad before using vinegar/oatmeal. Otherwise it might be too big a job for it to cope with! You can continue to rinse in water every day if you wish, which might help.

By the end of the holidays, I'm sure you will have got to grips with it and established a system that works for you.

Really pleased to have you with us!

[Sheilaz]

Brilliant, we now have COAMission back in, plus Aylana & AnnieP. That's great news.

Ginette is right, I'm on day 20 and just used vinegar for 2nd time. I now know that I would have found the 1st couple of weeks easier if I had tried it earlier! I used 50ml in a one pint jug filled with warm water and IT DOESN'T SMELL AT ALL! It really shifts the extra grease.

Ginette and I seem to have settled on a couple of rinses a week, alternated with brushing through oatmeal (it's finer than porridge oats, by the way) when it needs a lift. It's fun doing the oatmeal, ( did I just say that?) do try it!

My hair is still changing, I may use less vinegar next time as the oil settles towards a balanced level.

[Guest]

OK - I've been watching this post with interest, keeping my mouth shut - not making any promises I can't keep!

 

I can say that I've not used shampoo on my daughters hair for a couple of months - it is beautiful and shiny, and when the hairdresser cut it last week, she commented on how good the condition of it was, although she found it difficult to disguise her disgust when she heard about the non-washing.

 

The thing is, it was easy to do it with her hair - it only got washed once a week as it was, and NEVER looked dirty, so the transition to no shampoo was easy. It was the same with the boys - no shampoo = no problems!

 

My hair, on the other hand, gets greasy the day after it's washed - it just hangs there, limp and disgusting, desperate for some shampoo to brighten it up. It's too short to be tied up, and too long to be short. I look stooopid in a hat, so while I am desperate to try this, as I have a horrible scalp - itchy, flakey, mingy (bet you all can't wait to meet me now!), and I strongly believe that giving up shampoo, with all the nasty chemicals in it, would be the key to sorting this out, I just can't see myself getting through the first 48 hours, never mind a week, or a month, or a year!

 

HELP!!! What do you think?

[Cate in NZ]

Chookiehen, I'm right with you. My hair sounds pretty similar to yours, and I am totally convinced that it would look and feel a lot better if I could wean it off shampoo... but I only lasted about 5 days I think, largely because I feel that I have to look good for work. I so wish that I'd continued with it, and am trying to pluck up courage to go for it again.... but I know just how you feel. Sheila, Anne & Ginnette are giving really good feedback, sounds as if they're doing well... maybe they can inspire you.

I'm waiting, hoping to learn from their experience, but seriously plan to try again sometime soon.

[Guest]

That's a tough one Shona. I have thought that it is a definite advantage being able to put my hair up. It hides the 'stuck-to-the-head' look! Could you clip the sides back? I clip the section of hair above my ear back on both sides, which gives some shape.

 

I use vinegar twice a week which helps to keep my hair clean, but in the early days it really didn't help. It does now though Oatmeal is amazingly effective, really brilliant, so definitely give it a go. I said in an earlier posting that I would think we could use oatmeal every day if we need to.

 

From my experience, I'd say the first 10-14 days are the worst. The past week has been much easier (days 12-19). But I only washed my hair twice a week anyway, so I don't know if that would be the same for someone who usually washes every day. Maybe the first 3-4 days would be hard and then it would start to settle down. I think you'll have to give it a try and let us know! You can be the 'short-haired' experiment! You know however that if you can get through a few weeks, it will do wonders for your scalp and your hair, so is definitely worth it!

[Guest]

Chicken on a Mission gave up and used baby shampoo twice. She's back 'on the wagon' now though. She found that having started, once a week with the baby shampoo was adequate. Of course it is quite mild, so can't have done too much damage. It'll be interesting to hear how she copes with the next 10-14 days without a shampoo.

 

I suppose I'm thinking that maybe for really desperate occasions (eg a wedding), baby shampoo could be a worthwhile measure without upsetting the course too much.

[Aylana]

Well I am on day 5 now, hair looking v greasy and lank at the top and still flyaway and full of static at the bottom! it looks a bit odd. I am only going to the allotment today though so am not too bothered. I am going to give my hair a good brushing to try and spread some of the oils down to where they are needed this morning and then whip out my porridge oats this evening though and give them a whizz. I have blonde hair so hopefully it won't look too bad if I can't get all the dust out!!!

[AnnieP]

Day 3 for me and it looks awful...but that may be something to do with the fact that I haven't brushed it for two days! Its tied up out of the way of paint, grout, oven cleaner, wind etc

[Guest]

Hang in there, AnnieP! Give it a rinse in water (or water and vinegar if you think it's greasy) and a good brush. If you're still not happy, use the oatmeal. I do mine in the garden, to save on the mess, and it doesn't take long or use much oatmeal. Good luck!

[Sheilaz]

....I suppose I'm thinking that maybe for really desperate occasions (eg a wedding), baby shampoo could be a worthwhile measure without upsetting the course too much.

True, but no need when you have the oatmeal, Ginette! Use it as environmentally friendly confetti, then no one will notice any stray bits in your hair, as everyone will have some!

Aylana, your description of hair, grease on top then flyaway, sounds like mine on a good day!

Seriously, don't make my mistake & endure the grease if it's awful. Use 50ml white vinegar in a pint of warm water next time you rinse, it really helps.

Brushing is essential for healthy hair & scalp, in my opinion, AnnieP. Glad to hear you're getting on with all those jobs, and not being obsessed with your hair though! The vinegar & oatmeal will be great on fair hair.

Chookiehen & KateA, you don't have to promise to be in for the long haul all in one go! How about doing a vinegar rinse on the 1st day when hair starts to look too bad, then a day or 2 later try the oatmeal, followed by another vinegar rinse when it needs it, and see if you make it to say 7/10 days?

Ginette, 3 weeks, who'd have thought it?!

Edited April 2, 2006 by Guest