Warm boot recommendations please

[PurpleHen]

So - Day 4.

Felt dirty yesterday - despite vinegar wash the night before.

So this morning I just washed it in warm water, and then let it dry naturally. This seems better than drying with a hair drier as it feels better today. There isn't such a distinction between roots and ends!

So back on track now I think

[Mrs Frugal]

OK, I've sat back and watched this thread with interest as I like th natural approach to things but haven't wanted to commit to this as I do like nice clean hair!

 

I've got short, collar length hair which is fine but there's an awful lot of it and it's very unruly and frizzes at the slightest thing. When I wash it normally, I only ever use Suma shampoo without conditioner as it's very gentle but when I blow dry my hair, it is awful and I could seriously give a Frizzle hen a run for her money! I'm trying to grow it at the moment and it's at that really annoying stage where it won't go up and looks horrible down so it's not really a good time to be trying this but I'm going to!

 

I've just washed it with vinegar and warm water after leaving it 4 days since my last shampoo and to be honest, although I can smell the vinegar, I'm not bothered about that as I use the stuff all over the house as a household cleaner and know that the smell quickly disappears. I've just done a very quick dry with the hairdryer just to put it into some sort of style and it's not frizzed at all! It feels soft, looks shiny and clean and doesn't stick out all over the place.

 

I'll see how it goes and see just how long I can manage without reaching for the shampoo!

[Chicken on a mission]

Daft question I know, but I take it you lot are using white vinegar? I use this for a lot of my cleaning especially in the bathroom and kitchen because the place doesn't end up stinking like a chip shop.

 

I'm trying to think when the last time I washed my hair was? I have a feeling it was Saturday. My hair was never needed to be washed more than a couple of times a week since I started using a clarifying shampoo to take out all that left over residue from the conditioner and previous shampoo; it just attracted the dirt. I'll wash my hair again tommorow using vinegar and just ditch the last dregs of shampoo and conditioner I have left. There is no point in waiting, strike while the iron is hot!

 

I use the same principle when dusting so I generally just use a damp cloth. The lack of residue from polish means that dusting is easier and the duster is much clearer after each run through - that reminds me, I must tear myself away from the forum and go and do some housework

[The Dogmother]

Well done Kate, you're inspiring me. Just let me finish my stock of hair products and I'll go for it too.

[Nicola H]

 

Well here it is the photographic evidence that my hair looks OK...........It always looks like this in case you are wondering........ Also in the pic. is Mr Dangly the toy I knitted for Emily's birthday, his hair looks OK too....

 

I went out for a curry last night to a smoky restaurant in Rushholme and my hair doesn't smell at all this morning. There were lots of students smoking so I thought my hair would smell terrible............

 

Keep on going girls I am on day 8..............

[The Dogmother]

Nice to see you Nicola - you had light brown hair in my imagination! I like Mr Dangly. I do so love knitted toys.

 

PS your hair looks fine

[Mrs Frugal]

Your hair looks fab Nicola and I love Mr Dangly ! Well done!

[Happymama]

Hi Everyone!

 

Well, lots of good news, then.

 

You can all choose: wash every day, twice a week, once a week, once a month -it's up to you. And if you find vinegar works, carry on! I haven't needed to keep using it once my hair settled down.

 

If your hair is looking greasy, at least give it a warm water wash. And give your scalps a good rub - finger PADS only, not nails.

 

Anyone with dry scalps that itched with products - products are alkaline, like most soaps, unless they're guaranteed to be ph 5.5 which is every so slightly acidic. Hence the vinegar is giving your scalp relief.

 

Nicola, your hair looks fabulous. Keep with it. Lack of frizziness is one of the big benefits, all the hair scales will gradually begin to lie flat as the oil lubricates them.

 

Hair oils and other dressing products: Once your hair is 'sorted' like mine, you can use anything you like. No, you may not wash it out with water the first time you wash after application, but your hair will discard it with it's natural oils and recover very quickly, I promise. The only thing I wouldn't use while your all getting to where you want to be is products that have lots of wax in, like styling products. Give your hair a chance!

 

Lice - you'll not be immune, I'm afraid. But the Tisserand oil sounds PERFECT! I will be trying it if mine come home with lice - managed to miss it so far!

 

If you want to use conditioner, do so. Can't see if it'd make any difference other than perhaps prolonging the 'balancing period' your hair must go through before it comes out the other side.

 

What's it going to be like?

 

After 6 weeks I found I had to wash my pillow slip twice a week. After this, it started to get better, and by 8 weeks things were really looking up.

 

Oh, and any vinegar you like. I use white as it's cheap cheap cheap and comes in big bottles from the supermarket for silly money.

 

Good luck all!

[Guest]

That's brave of you Nicola. Thank you! Your hair looks lovely.

 

I'm on day 3 and have just rinsed my hair with a vinegar solution. I was pleased that the litre of water/vinegar really did soak my long thick hair and that i was able to get a comb through it too (without conditioner). It feels really soft but I am not convinced it will look clean when it has finished drying. I'll report back!

[The Dogmother]

You're the brave one Ginette, with all that long hair!

[chocchick]

How much do you smell of vinegar if you use it to rinse your hair?

[Nicola H]

Thanks for the comments the real difference for me has been less frizz and a healthier scalp......................So I will be sticking with it, thanks for your postings Happymama they are really encouraging me to carry on, I have told hubby as he wanted to know why I wanted a pic. taking and he said my hair looks the same as it always does...........He is off to work in South Africa for 2 months on Monday so if my hair starts to stick out all over the place at least he won't have to look at me........

[Guest]

2 months, Nicola! How do you survive that?

[Guest]

I can smell the vinegar but only because I know. It's extremely faint.

 

I have to say that I am feeling very disappointed. My hair looks dirtier now than it did before I showered. Have I done something wrong? Not rinsed enough?

 

Is oatmeal the same as oatbran? Is it porridge oats? Would this work better? I'm not accustomed to greasy hair and while it looks quite sleek, it is also very dull. Advice please!

[Chicken on a mission]

I can't help thinking that we have all become a victim of marketing.

 

When I was little, bath night was on Sunday and I had my hair washed then; not everyday or every other day as seem to be the common approach.

 

There's no doubt about it, things have changed and we are at the mercy of the marketing gurus.

 

I'm determined to give this my best shot

[Nicola H]

2 months, Nicola! How do you survive that?

 

I am not sure yet Ginette I will just have to get on with it, he has worked away before but never this far away.............

 

 

My hair felt really clean after using the vinegar, maybe you should rinse it again tomorrow................I have to admit I only had Apple Cider vinegar in the house so used that not sure if it makes any difference because Happymama says she just uses the cheap stuf,f I am not sure about the oatmeal I haven't tried that..................Don't give up Ginette I am sure your hair will soon improve soon............

[Guest]

Thank you for the encouragement Nicola. I will try rinsing it again. It's so cold it will be a pleasure to stand underneath the warm water!

 

Good luck on Monday! I'll be thinking of you.

[Mrs Frugal]

Me too Nicola. I am a puddle of despair when LSH is away overnight so it must be really awful for you. I hope that the children will look after you. My boys become "The Men of the House" when LSH is away and make sure I lock up properly and sit watching TV with me in the evenings instead of clearing off upstairs to play on their XBoxes. You've got all of us to keep you company if you're feeling lonely so don't forget us!

 

Vinegar (getting back on topic before anyone notices ) - I've always got distilled white vinegar in the house but read somewhere that cider vinegar is good for hair! Mine certainly feels different since the vinegar wash. It's not smelling vinegary now it's dry but it's so much more manageable than it would have been after a shampoo followed by the hairdryer! Hope it stays like this and doesn't get like an oil spill!

[Sheilaz]

I can't help thinking that we have all become a victim of marketing.

 

When I was little, bath night was on Sunday and I had my hair washed then; not everyday or every other day as seem to be the common approach.

 

There's no doubt about it, things have changed and we are at the mercy of the marketing gurus.

 

I'm determined to give this my best shot

 

100% agree there, C.o.a.M. It's what the hair gets used to, and we had the same w/e bath/hairwash...or maybe longer for the hairwash!

I remember using talc for hair in my teens, when it looked greasy but wasn't hairwash night. Desperate measures.

But, hey girls! I'm really pleased today!

I usually wash hair twice a week, and day 4 is def. "hope I don't meet anyone" if I haven't done. By this stage, it is getting greasy to shoulder length, & the longer part is dry & split. After hairwash, the top looks great but the length is tangly, dry & scarecrowish!

So, today, day 4, I washed with warm water but no shampoo, & no vinegar! (So, I would miss out the vinegar unless you are desperately needing it, Ginette).

It looks clean all over, possibly a bit lank or limp...but not dry or frizzy! The scalp part is fine, not greasy, just a bit flatter. But the most amazing thing is that I could get the hairbrush right through! I usually struggle with conditioner & leave ins just to get through the tangles. So, natural oil seems to be much better & this is what I was hoping.

Very early days of course, but I'm hopeful. Presumably with short hair (Lesley) the results would be less noticeable this early, I'm so pleased to see an improvement in the tangle that I'll put up with the hair nearer scalp looking less washed (but not too bad) for now. but I think it would work long term.

This morning the lovely bottles were all in the shower but I resisted temptation!

Looking forward to my next warm water day!

I'm glad it's going well for you Nicola, that's terrific.

I'm glad a few of us are doing it together.

[Nicola H]

Thanks for your support girls I will need the forum over the next few weeks so really appreciate you all being around for me............Tom will look after me and he will also be helping to finish the house I am renovating I have to admit to needing some manly muscle to help me sometimes...............

 

I think i will carry on using the ACV for my hair............At least the chooks can share it with me..............

[Guest]

I'm just the same Sheila - washing hair twice a week on Mondays and Fridays. Today was an early extra! I'm pleased you have had good results too. I know what you mean about being more close-fitting on the head! I described mine as looking sleeker. I never thought of it as frizzy, but perhaps it was a bit!

 

I will try with just water tomorrow and see what happens. I'm just so disappointed not to have the same joyous results that other people have had.

OH used a few drops of vinegar this morning and says that his hair feels so normal he had completely forgotten about it.

[Sheilaz]

It has a sort of 1940's washed & set look, rather than, er, a wild big hair look! So maybe it's just a period of adjustment for us Ginette (G. has fab thick, long hair everyone).

I always thought that OH & I could be Lauren Bacall & Humphrey Bogart Hair is hanging a bit like that, in those films (The Big Sleep?) sleek but not very full. But, it'll be Lauren Bacall now, not at 19, I suppose for me realistically .

[Mrs Frugal]

Yes, it is a 1940s look, isn't it! I'm back to being the 1940s housewife again! Perhaps I ought to find my washing up lady avatar!!! LSH says he'll tell me when I start to look like Waynetta Slob and at that point, I'll be reaching for the shampoo bottle!

[SarahJo]

You are all very brave. . Glad I have some trialists now ..... yep I am chicken. .

 

Nicola ... Graham has been away now for 2 months .. not in one go, but 5 days at a time in Switzerland. So I can empathise with you to a certain extent, its always nice to come here and get back in touch with the REAL world .

 

Does the Apple Cider stuff smell less pungent than other sorts . Just had a whiff of the old sarsons ...... euwwww.

[Sheilaz]

Oh yes, Kate, I loved your original avatar, until you were swamped by Superpants.

Glad you're joining in too, but very brave to tell LSH. I'm trying not to tell anyone locally, I'm sure LSH will be the first to tell me if I'm looking wretched, so that will be a good test as to whether my hair still looks ok to others or not.

Told some friends that "a friend" was trying it (OK, I was cowardly). One person said that her OH tried it for 3 months but that she thought it smelt. I suspect he missed out the water too, but didn't like to ask!

However, I won't let it put me off, my girls can do a smell test for me, they'll be honest. I don't think it will.