Warm boot recommendations please

[Sheilaz]

:shock:I'm not sure about squeaky clean, Ginette. I think the squeak means hair is too dry, so I wouldn't use it as a test!

Also, I applied mine to wet hair, using 1 or 2 (but no more) tsp. of bicarb in a pint jug of warm water. I guess 1 tsp in a cup would do short hair.

This means that I just pour all over the wet hair, & rub in just like the action of shampoo, even though it's just wet hair you're rubbing, then rinse.

Good luck!

I've just done good vinegar rinse. Looks & feels really clean and bouncy!

[Muppet81]

Well, I have now managed a whole week . I have rinsed with water each day and used vinegar rinses every other day. Is this too often for a vinegar rinse? I keep thinking acid must be as bad as shampoo.

Tomorrow night we are out for a Greek meal on barge and I don't fancy looking all manky and greasy. I am going to try the bicarb trick but leave time to shampoo if it does not work too well. Oh she of little faith

My return to work is looming on Monday and i know I am going to reach for the bottle (shampoo of course )

I wish I had another week off so I could try carrying this on a bit longer

My hair is feeling thicker but looking quite dull and OH keeps referring to his Rastafarian wife. Why did I tell him what I was doing

[Guest]

I hope the bicarb works for you then! It takes months rather than weeks, but I believe it is worth it. Those of us who have kept going this last 4 months have got by without resorting to the bottle (any bottle, I think!). We have all had important things to attend.

 

I'm not lecturing you (! sorry), just trying to encourage you to keep going if you want to. Good luck with it!

[Sheilaz]

Yes, I hope the bicarb keeps you going, Muppet. Try putting the shampoo out of sight, so it's not an easy option.

Although the vinegar & bicarb are removing oils, I'm sure they don't have the same harmful stripping action as shampoos & conditioners. However, I found the bicarb most effective with a fortnight interval, more often may be too drying.

Hope you manage to keep going. Oh, and have a lovely w/end!

I have a very special day on Sunday. 17 very close family here for my parents' Diamond wedding anniversary celebrations. Obviously, I'd like my hair to be OK! So, I'm doing a bicarb tomorrow, giving it a day to settle.

As it needed something today (not too bad, but just the ear/neck area) so I gave it a small oatmeal rub, only took 1 min. Perfect!

Maybe buy some oatmeal tomorrow, Muppet!

[Muppet81]

Thanks Ginnette and Sheila. I need encouragement right now.

The bicarb does work well so I am feeling much happier about going out tonight.

Hope the Diamond Wedding party goes well Sheila. What a wonderful milestone.

 

Pam

[Guest]

Well done Pam. One hurdle successfully leaped over!

[Sheilaz]

Thanks, Pam, & I'm glad the bicarb worked. I ran out of time this morning, so will bicarb this eve.

But, regretted the morning rush (not late, just hectic here on a Sat!) as I popped into work for an hour to be greeted by "Have you been swimming?" I was so embarrassed, my hair wasn't wet, just oily! But, not as embarrassed as the person who'd asked. She then covered with how sporty I looked

Not a good time to mention, "No, it's just that I don't use shampoo".

I knew I shouldn't ever try to do the rinse on a Saturday, I always end up leaving it!

[sarahjm]

hey all, well, I've gone 16 days with nothing but water on my hair and I must say I'm really enjoying it!

 

OK, some days it has felt a bit manky but I can tie it up easily now (used to always get frizzy bits) and if anyone asks I'll say I'm growing it out - oh and giving up shampoo! Everyone has me down as an eco-mad-chicken-lady anyway so nothing to lose!! (I know you'll all think I'm on commission from Lush - I wish - but using Lush shampoo for about 3 years before this has really made a difference I think, no chemicals in my hair already!)

 

But, around 2 weeks - isn't that meant to be a sticky patch, or is that 5 weeks? Well, I have the oatmeal to hand (readybrek ) so bring it on!

 

I have to tell you all that I'm turning 30 next Saturday, which I'm really really chuffed about - I always wanted to be 30 (believe it or not...) and having the chickens and just 'greening-over' my life has made so much sense for this part of my life - giving up shampoo has been a very logical and positive part of this change.

 

Right, that's it for now, my chilled wine is losing it's chill quickly in this warm evening air!

 

S x

[Louise]

Keep going girls it is worht it in the the end it sounds as if you are having a fairly easy time Sarah like me

 

Are you using anything at all or just water

 

Good luck with 30 I hated it I was 35 last Sunday and I hated that as well I only ever get one card (parents) as no one else apart from you guys know when it is

[Muppet81]

Happy birthday Louise and thanks for the encouragement.

Day 9 and doing OK

[Eyren]

Is there room for one more? I thought about doing this a while back, after reading about it elsewhere on the web, but didn't get my act together

 

When I last planned on doing the "no shampoo" thing I bought a natural bristle brush and a wooden comb, as I read that they do less damage because the bristles/teeth are smoother than plastic ones. They also absorb the oils and help spread them from scalp to roots - you need to wash the brush rather than your hair! Since switching to that plus a less chemical-laden shampoo (Faith in Nature Rosemary and Geranium) my hair can definitely go a bit longer between washes, so I'll be interested to see how it manages with no shampoo at all!

 

For the record, my hair is mid brown, fairly long (just past shoulderblades), very fine and straight, and prone to split ends. I generally wash it every two days, though I've stretched that to 2.5 or 3 days recently.

 

Since I have all the necessary supplies (I use medium oatmeal as a coating on mackerel fishcakes), I'm starting today. In the shower this morning I mixed about 150ml of Aspall Hall cider vinegar (there's posh!) with 500ml of warm water and massaged it into my hair, then left it in whilst I washed the rest of me. Gave my hair a good rinse after that. and it definitely felt smoother than after shampoo, so I didn't bother with conditioner

 

Will keep you posted!

 

Anne

[Sheilaz]

Hi Redfox, Sounds like a terriffic start, and of course there's always room for one more! Welcome aboard, we'll be with you every step of the way.

There may be highs & lows along the way, but the best part will be when you gradually have the old split hair cut off.

My sister saw me yesterday after a month. Previously she thought I needed a trim (I did) & yesterday she said my hair was looking lovely, much better!

I would drop the conditioner as well as the shampoo totally, now you've embarked on this. It was interesting reading about hairbrushes. I used to agree about the bristle principle, but when my ancient one wore out didn't another good one. I tried a couple but they didn't go right through the hair. However, at the time, my hair was always tangled. Now, I have tanglefree hair for the first time. Pulling through tangles is what made it split, so goodbye split ends! I'm sure you'll soon find the same, do keep us posted.

[The Dogmother]

Rosie and I both did a very diluted vinegar rinse last night (only the 2nd since we started), and have lovely swingy hair this morning, Rosie's looks so lovely and shiny - a real picture of health. She is now adamant about not using shampoo - I wonder whether her hair will change when she gets to puberty? Mine didn't really, so perhaps she won't egt that oily hting.

[Muppet81]

Welcome Redfox I am now on day 10. I decided to try not using shampoo whilst on a weeks holiday but with every intention of going back to shampoo to return to work I could not envisage returning without shampoo.

BUT here I am, back in work on day 10 and "Ooops, word censored!"ody has looked at me yet and screamed in horror. In fact I was asked if i had had my hair done

Good luck and keep us informed

[The Dogmother]

That's got to be a victory Muppet

[Sheilaz]

Yes, that's another milestone reached, Muppet, well done.

Can just imagine your glossy hair, Clare & Rosie. I think this would be a really hard project to start at puberty, but to already be doing it, I'm guessing would work really well. A shampoo free lifeeven!

[The Dogmother]

Let's hope so - she's really into it and it makes life much easier.

[Eyren]

Hi Redfox, Sounds like a terriffic start, and of course there's always room for one more! Welcome aboard, we'll be with you every step of the way.

 

Thanks!

 

I would drop the conditioner as well as the shampoo totally, now you've embarked on this.

 

I rarely use conditioner, just occasionally when my hair feels too straw-like after rinsing - but maybe that's when I've used too much 'poo because I thought my hair felt dirty?

 

It was interesting reading about hairbrushes. I used to agree about the bristle principle, but when my ancient one wore out didn't another good one. I tried a couple but they didn't go right through the hair. However, at the time, my hair was always tangled. Now, I have tanglefree hair for the first time. Pulling through tangles is what made it split, so goodbye split ends! I'm sure you'll soon find the same, do keep us posted.

 

Will do!

[Eyren]

Well, it's day 3 (or possibly 4 - I was so eggcited about my eglu, I can't remember if I washed my hair on Friday or Saturday morning!). My hair feels a bit greasy and heavy on top, but it looks fine - not turning into icky rat-tails yet

 

I've decided that if anyone comments, I'll say that I'm protecting my hair from the sun by using gentle "products" that rinse away the dirt whilst leaving some of the natural oils in place I usually tie my hair back with a scrunchy in hot weather anyway, so it shouldn't be too noticeable for a while...

 

Someone mentioned, a few posts back (I finally caught up with the whole of this thread yesterday!), that people nowadays wash too much. I couldn't agree more*. In my second year at uni, I lived in a rented house in Bristol, with no central heating, during one of the coldest winters on record (down to -18 C one night ). Baths were a real endurance test, but I quickly learnt that by wearing clean clothes every day (the laundrette was much warmer than the house!), I could easily get away with a weekly bath - at least in cool weather

 

Nowadays, I only bathe/shower more often than that if:

 

1. I'm stressed - a warm, scented bath is incredibly relaxing - or

 

2. I've worked up a real sweat - e.g. digging the garden - or

 

3. The weather's very hot and sticky

 

Admittedly I don't sweat much in normal conditions, so this wouldn't work for everyone...

 

Anne

 

 

* though I'd rather we didn't go back to the days of sewing your kids into their winter underwear with a layer of goose-grease for insulation - eeeww!

[Guest]

I (and OH) was at Bristol too Anne! First year in Badock, then in Manor and then in Richmond Terrace. I LOVE Bristol!

[Muppet81]

Looks like it is you and me at the moment Redfox

I'm on day 11 and cannot believe I have got this far.

Might opt for a vcinegar rinse in the morning to freshen things up a bit but so far so good

For a second time today someone commented on my hair and asked if it had been "done"

It certainly looks thicker and feels more controlable.

[Eyren]

OK, I did an oatmeal treatment this morning as an experiment, since I was planning on being at home all day. Went well - did it in the garden as advised - and hair looks clean and "normal", though a tad greasy to the touch. Had to wash my hairbrush afterwards, though!

 

This afternoon I got really hot and sticky moving the eglu into the shade, so I had a shower and just rinsed my hair in water. No porridge, thankfully Hair is about the same as before, but with extra volume (never a bad thing with fine straight hair like mine!).

 

I'm hoping to make it to the weekend before I have to resort to the bicarb

 

Anne

[Guest]

Well done Muppet and Anne! You're both doing really well. Sorry I haven't posted much recently - I'm feeling a bit down about mine. I'm trying to move to once a week vinegar, but my hair never really looks good any more. Fortunately it's just up all the time now as it's so hot.

 

So I don't feel like a shining example and it is difficult to be encouraging. HappyMama told me that it might take 6 months to get to just water and nothing else, so I am pressing on and looking forward to September 14th which will be 6 months. I'm not considering returning to shampoo though. Everyone who has tried this has seen the benefits, even if they didn't feel able to continue.

 

I am enjoying reliving those early days - so keep posting!

[Sheilaz]

Well done, everyone, it's great comparing notes.

Ginette, although Happymama started us on this, (er, thank you H.M! ) I've decided to make my own targets & techniques now. I'm just not aiming for water only, I'm not sure that I'd feel clean enough. I'm happy to settle for maybe averaging wekly vinegar & fortnightly bicarb. Maybe a very occasional small oatmeal rub around ear area if not lasting well, if desperate.

How about seeing if a bicarb gives you a lift? My hair still feels clean from Saturday's.

I'm very happy to have totally dropped shampoo/conditioner & replace them with 2 bicarbs & 4 vinegars in a month!

So, don't be hard on yourself (i think of you as a shining example, even if you don't feel like one right now ) You saw me through some really down days.

It seems a remarkable achievement, so celebrate! I'm not convinced that water only is a desirable target. I'm making up my own rules now!

I look forward to the bicarb, it's a treat. Go on, treat yourself.

[Eyren]

Talking of treats, I've taken a leaf out of Nigella Lawson's book, or rather adapted her approach to dieting - she reckons you should find ways to indulge your senses (in the case of food, by using strong flavours so your brain feels like you've really eaten) so that it feels less like deprivation

 

So, I've been inventing recipes to turn the basic cleansers our guinea-pigs have tested into "products" that hopefully will make my bicarb and vinegar regime feel less ascetic (albeit still acetic) [sorry - couldn't resist the science joke!]

 

If you'd like my recipes for herb vinegar, etc, let me know - they're really just common sense and you can probably find better ones in books on home beauty (but then again the ones in books often seem time-consuming and complicated - perhaps to justify the price of the lavishly-illustrated book!)

 

Anne