What makes a chicken coop easy to live with?

[sarahjm]

hi everyone, well i found your amazing thread a couple of weeks back and it's taken til now to catch up and read to the very end!

 

Wow! You've done so well and it's brilliant to see the support you give each other.

 

I'd really like to give this a go, I've already started wetting my hair every other time, so I guess I use shampoo twice a week now, used to be every day. Think I'm just about ready to give it up, I bought in some vinegar specially and have loads of ready brek (wonder what my son will say when I use the last of his favourite cereal on my hair... )

 

Is anyone else ready to give it a go, it seems easier when you have company..? also, I wondered if there was a summary of what to do (rinsing, vinegar, bicarb etc) - it's really hard finding something you think you read the other day!

 

S x

[Guest]

Hi, Sarah. I am really pleased you're interested in doing this as I think we have all found it rewarding in many ways.

 

There are several things you can do:

Just water

Vinegar in warm water every day if necessary.

(I follow this with a beaten egg to rebalance the pH)

Oatmeal/readybrek - probably as an interim quick fix.

Bicarbonate of soda in warm water - use sparingly and only when your hair is disgustingly filthy, no more than once a fortnight.

 

If there are other methods I have forgotten, someone else will post them!

 

Good luck - and I hope someone else joins you, it's definitely easier sharing the experience!

 

What is your hair like? Long, short, dark, blonde etc

[Sheilaz]

That's great news, Sarahjm. Even going from daily to twice a week shampoo will be a good start, as the shampooing is a viscious circle, the more you do it, the more you "need" to.

So, a good start, breaking the daily habit!

I do keep meaning to make a separate info thread, but something else seems to happen. So, well done for reading this topic.

Ginette's summary is really good. It is liberating to abandon shampoo altogether, so it'll be fab if you do. I'm so glad that I have, I don't think I'll ever use it again!

You could see how you get along with just water, but then move on to vinegar when needed, plus an occasional bicarb.

There are def. days when you wonder why you're doing it but then, there's always the oatmeal to rub in when nothing's worked (just brush it through in the garden, the chooks will think it's a treat!)

Anyone else going to take the plunge with Sarah? It's important to do it when you are feeling OK in yourself, not during a stressful or depressed time, we need to be assured our hair is OK when nothing else is! But, you're right, it's much, much easier with this forum support, I don't think I'd have reached this stage without the others!

I haven't used egg at all, but I know it's good for condition. I didn't find vinegar as effective as bicarb near the beginning, but now a vinegar rinse is really helpful. So, you'll need to experiment along the way, depending on your hair. Yes, what's it like? Straight, curly, etc.

 

PS. Was just going to report, I've done a vinegar rinse today, about 5 days since last, and had my hair cut to just past shoulder length. Arranged to arrive with wet hair! So, quite a few inches of dry, damaged hair removed, and I feel great about it! I didn't think I'd ever reach this stage!

P.P.S. Vinegar I use 100ml, or up to 200ml, in a pint/500ml jug of warm water. Bicarb, I stir no more than 1 desert sp. into a pint/500ml jug of warm water. Avoid eyes, and do not be tempted to use too much, or use too frequently. It cuts through the grease & dirt, and can give great body, but can leave hair a bit too flyaway.

[Lesley]

You were in my dream the other night Sheila - and you're hair was plastered to your head You looked like you'd been dunked in a deep fat fryer - and I was unsure about telling you

[Sheilaz]

What a nightmare! I think a few people have been unsure about telling me.

Why were you being so tactful?

[Lesley]

I wasn't - I did tell you

 

I have to say, that when we did meet, at Burleigh, I was very close to your hair and it looked wonderful and def. didn't smell

[Guest]

Are you going to post a picture of your newly trimmed hair Sheila? Or is that too hard without telling anyone?

[sarahjm]

Hi all, I've got blonde short-ish hair, it's not quite shoulder length, but just long enough to tie back. I had long straggly hair when I was much younger and always hankered after long glossy hair (like my avatar ) - maybe this will be the break-through I need!!

 

I'm just totally inspired by you guys and can't believe the support you offer

 

So, I washed my hair Monday and yesterday (Thursday) with just a bit of conditioner on the ends - the only downside is giving up my Lush shampoos

 

I must say I don't use any cleansing products on my face (mainly too idle) and have good clear skin - unless I'm under the weather of course, but then your skin should be a barometer of how well you are shouldn't it?

 

Right then, I've talked myself into it, I'm on the wagon!

 

S x

[Guest]

Well done Sarah! Next week may be tough and you might need some oatmeal/readybrek to help you through. Our experience was that after week 2 things settled down and we thought we'd cracked it until week 5 arrived

 

I have just done the first of my weekly vinegar rinses (bicarb last Friday). My hair looks clean but has that thick, heavy feel to it. Better than it was this morning though!

[Sheilaz]

Welcome aboard Sarah. We'll help you weather the storms!

This week has been plain sailing! Last week I did 2 weak vinegar rinses, today I bicarbed. It looks & feels really clean & fresh. Bearing in mind that my hair was becoming very dry & brittle before this, I really think the theory does work in practice. I'm not bothered to reach a totally just water stage. I'm just pleased to be at a confident that I can manage to "look good without shampoo" stage, and goodbye to tangles & split ends forever!

I really believe that shampoo is dreadful stuff, and for all the promises of conditioners, actually becomes a vicious circle of needing more & more products to address the fact that they've coated the hair in yuk synthetics!

I feel much better having cut off some of the old hair.

[sarahjm]

Thanks Sheila and Ginette!

I'm on day 4 now, and still tying my hair up each day after rinsing so it really feels easy so far I want to grow my hair a bit anyway so tying it out of the way as it grows makes sense to me!

 

Does anyone know if tying your hair up can damage it, if you tie it in a tight ponytail will it break the hair where the hair band is? (EEK!)

 

I know that Louise did well just using water for as long as possible so I'll try that I think.... vinegar and ready brek at the ready!

 

Oh, what am I doing

[Sheilaz]

I don't think the ponytail damages the hair if it's a coated hairband you can remove without a tangle. I'd never use plain elastic bands, as they do rip it out.

I find brushing my hair is good for the scalp & takes the oils down to the needed parts. Eventually it'll be good to have the dry ends trimmed off. I can't wait for the day when all the old hair is gone. Also, when rinsing, massage your head with finger tips just how you would if rubbing in shampoo. It's shampooing the "virtual" way.

Anne, are you still with us after your disillusioned week? Aylana & Merryn still OK?

[Louise]

I have been tying my hair up for years and it is okay so long as you away away from rubber bands

 

I bicarbed once at about week 5 but just the top of the scalp apart from that it has been just water I have 2 bottles of vinegar and 2 packets of unopened oatmeal

[The Dogmother]

Just don't pull it to tight ('Croydon face lift') or you'll get traction alopecia and it will all come out round the hairline. I used to have hair down to my waist and used to vary the way that I wore it.

[sarahjm]

Great, I never tie it too tight so tying it up will see me through! I also have a very trendy head scarf for the worst days

 

Day 5, it's feeling very thick, very close and very fuzzy below my ears, which all sounds very normal from what I've read!

 

S x

[Guest]

You're doing well Sarah! It'll be really interesting going through it all again with you - it will remind me of the whole process again and all the highs and lows we went through - sorry, are still going through . . .

[Muppet81]

Sad ondividual that I am, I have just read the entire 60 odd pages and am fascinated. Will have to make a start on the cleaning sometime

 

Have always shampooed every day, sometimes twice as hair greasy and scalp itchy.

 

I will start by perhaps just water rinsing every other day to see how I feel and take it from there.

 

One question though. No one has mentioned hairspray. I clip my hair up for work and as there are short bits I need to spray or it goes all over. Would this stop me just water rinsing?

[Guest]

Somewhere HappyMama advised that water-soluble products are best. Some hairspray just brushes out, doesn't it? I only use it very occasionally but haven't noticed a problem.

 

It took me 2 hours to read through the first 40 pages! It's a very interesting archive though, isn't it?

[Sheilaz]

Hi Muppet81, despite the length, I'm glad you found it interesting reading! It's full of ups & downs isn't it?

I reckon giving up shampoo could be just what you need, to break the circle of itch, grease & overwashing! Honestly!

Believe me, if you do, you won't even need hairspray, it will stick down nicely!

Really, long term, it could be just what you need. I agree with Ginette's points about hairspray, but really, stop shampooing & you won't need it. My hair is still fab since the last bicarb, and I shall just do a light vinegar rinse tomorrow, or even just water.

[Louise]

Hows this guys

 

I had to go down to the main builing to collect a visitor and I was early so I just stood chatting to the receptionist when she asked me when I had my hair cut I said I hadn't and she said yes you have it looks much shorter I then said no its the curls it pulls it up so it looks shorter oh so you've had it permed then said she errrrrr no I reply she then said well what have you done

 

I said you wouldn't believe me if I told you and she then started badgering me it is then I remember she is actually a hairdresser by trade so I said no you will be horrified no I won't she said so I told her I also said it was the best thing I had done she didn't look horrifeid but we will see what gossip starts up now and if people start trying to smell me coming

[Guest]

You're secret's out then! Mind you, she must have thought your hair looked good!

[Sheilaz]

Hey, that's a really good sign Louise. Most people would only ask if you'd had something done if it looks improved. Great! Until the gossip & nudging starts. When I "come out" I shall call it hairwashing the natural way, rather than saying not washing with shampoo. The "not washing" is the only bit people take in, and it sounds negative.

We're doing something positive!

(Aren't we Ginette? )

[Guest]

Not sure at the moment, Sheila!

[Sheilaz]

I know, but I felt grim so many times, and now it's been good for a couple of weeks, so I'm sure yours will turn the corner soon. It depends on the target though. I'm not sure about aiming for just water. I feel I've reached a milestione, but don't think I'll ever manage without the occasional vin. or bicarb. But, I'm happy to accept that as the end result.

It feels tons better having had a couple of very dry ends removed.

I might be close to confessing my secret!

[Louise]

I described it a stopping using nasty chemicals which she took to mean colouring but I don't colour my hair so I just replied no its shampoo I have cut out

 

I don't care what people think to be honest never have