Plastic-Free Hair Care: The Saga Continues
It's been two and a half years since I went "less-plastic," and I still can't figure out how to wash my hair. It really annoys me.
Because I know you're incredibly interested, here's a timeline that explains a bit of what I've been going through.
Really Important Hair Care Timeline
- I started washing my hair with baking soda and using a conditioner bar from Lush in May 2008. I was really happy with this process at first, but eventually it made my hair wiry. Also, my friends complained because I "smelled like a hippie."
- I did the no 'poo thing during the summer of June 2008. It went alright at first. I just used baking soda to clean my hair and did an occasional vinegar rinse.
- After three months of being no 'poo, it was suddenly not alright. I got horrible dandruff and had to start using Head and Shoulders so that my flaky scalp didn't take over my life and turn me into a social recluse.
- My dandruff disappeared.
- After my bottle of Head and Shoulders was gone, I washed my hair with some seriously yummy-smelling mango bar soap from Abbey Brown, an artisan soap maker based in Chicago. It worked okay, but it left my hair feeling flat.
- Then, the dreaded dandruff returned.
- I started using Head and Shoulders, and the dandruff went away. But then Head and Shoulders started GIVING me dandruff! "How is this possible?," I wanted to know.
- I bought a bottle of Pantene out of desperation (please don't judge me!).
- My dandruff disappeared, again.
For me, this means that using Pantene isn't a viable long-term solution to my hair care problem, so I've started looking for new options through the internetz and on Etsy.com, a fantastic online marketplace dedicated to handmade products.
Here's what I've tried so far.
Conditioner Bar by Nourish Bath and Body
I used a Rosemary Mint Solid Conditioner Bar made by Nourish Bath and Body, which I actually received free from the producer. The conditioner left my hair smelling really nice and feeling good. It didn't provide that deep condition that commercial conditioners give you, but it came close. All in all, I'd give this bar a grade of "B." I would have given the product an "A", but it does have a few ingredients listed in the Skin Deep database as moderate hazards. Note: the bar comes in a vellum wrapper that's made of 10% plastic. Christine said she would be glad to send soap without the wrapper. You just have to mention that you don't want the wrapper in the purchase notes.
Syndet Shampoo Bar from Arcadia Aromatics
I've also tried the Syndet Coconut Solid Shampoo Bar from Arcadia Aromatics, which I purchased on Etsy. This product works exactly like regular shampoo and smells absolutely fanstastic. If you're a coconut person like me, you'll love it. That said, I'm giving this shampoo a "B" because it also has ingredients listed as moderate hazards in the Skin Deep database. Note: I didn't ask the seller about the packaging before I purchased this (you know what they say about assuming), and I was unhappy to discover that it comes in a plastic container. I haven't checked with the seller yet, but I'm hoping they'd be willing to send the soap sans the plastic. I'll provide an update once I know.
The Saga Continues
And that's where I am now—I'm using up my Pantene and using my new shampoo and conditioners bars. The stuff I have now should last me a long time, but I'll be sure to try new products and provide more reviews once I run out. As probably the only person ever featured in Time Magazine because of their hunt for a perfect shampoo, I guess it's kind of my duty.
Heck, maybe at the end of all my these trials, I'll actually figure out how to wash my hair. It's doubtful, but I'll never, never stop hoping.
Comments
It lasts a long time and I haven't needed conditioner.
I'll definitely have to check out that Gear Head shampoo.I think I've heard of it before, actually. Anyways, it's great that it's locally-made.
Thanks for the recommendation. I'll let you know once I've tried it!
Here's a link with more details if you're curious: http://www.greeniacdigest.com/lovin%e2%80%99-my-%e2%80%9cno-poo%e2%80%9d-do-secrets-to-hair-care-without-shampoo/2010/05/21/
The only thing about no poo is that I haven't found an affordable source of vinegar that doesn't come in plastic bottles. I tried making it myself but it was a TOTAL failure. I guess I'll just have to keep working on that one!
Loving your blog!
http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html
Good luck!
http://www.chagrinvalleysoap.com/index.html
Also, how hard would it be to make a shampoo bar. Anyone have a recipe?
Finally, about vinegar and plastic, it's true that you'll still be buying plastic but less if you buy bulk; also it's usually packaged in PET, the easiest-to-recycle kind of plastic.
I use that every second day, then again, I'm not too prone to dandruff.
What would happen if you did the no-poo thing for a while, then switched to a shampoo bar for a while, establishing a sort of rotation?
also check out henna and cassia http://www.hennaforhair.com/
http://chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com/shambar.htm
They have several different shampoo bars to choose from, and all I have tried work wonderfully. There is even a dandruff control one with neem oil.
Dale, I actually tried a few Lush shampoo bars at one point (can't remember where exactly that fits into the timeline), and I found that they dried my hair out too much.
I'll consider giving them a try again at some point, though.
Thanks,
Jeanne
also check out naturoli soap berry products. they have both liquid and bar shaped shampoos, also natural detergents for laundry. http://naturoli.com/
Also - as others have mentioned, shampoo bars are pretty good. I like to get my soap from the small shops on Etsy as well.
Alas, things would definitely be easier for me if I was in California :)
Could you try the following for at least a week or two and report the effects? Note it's not necessary to wash every day--try a rinse of water between days even.
1) Use about a T maximum of baking soda--less preferably if it dries your hair. I mix mine in a jar in the shower just before shampooing. Try 1 tsp of baking soda, about 1 to 2 cups warm water from the shower and simple pour on hair. Massage scalp, let it sit for a couple minutes and rinse.
2)In same cup pour about an inch of apple cider vinegar and add warm water to equal one to two cups. Rinse hair with ACV mix. Proceed with shower (I often use baking soda instead of soap, which dries). ACV can also be used to wash underarms,
etc. DO NOT RINSE ACV. I let dry normally (air) and of course, you know no discernable odor of ACV will remain.
This should restore normalcy to your scalp and hair, especially if you are consistent with it for a couple without introducing your commercial shampoos or other items.
Let us know how this works!
Sure, the pump is in plastic but expecially because they come with a pump, you can reutilize them once it's empty.
I put one beside all my sinks for handwashing (plus they are pretty!) and now I don't buy them anymore because my city got a new bulk store... so I know it's not perfect in the long run.
I figured that I would try the simplest method (water only) and see how that went.
Well, it's been almost a year now and my routine is still water only. ^_^ Two important things:
1. When changing to a 'pooless routine there is a transition period. For most people it takes 2-8 weeks. During this time the scalp is extra oily. (Basically your body is having to relearn how much sebum to produce.) My transition lasted 4 weeks, and at the very end I got the WORST dandruff imaginable. >_< It was terrible. I didn't know if I could stick with 'pooless.
About 2 days later everything balanced and the dandruff-of-doom went away! @_@
A friend of mine decided to try the water only method too, and she also had horrific dandruff at the end of transition. So don't feel like a freak. ^_^
2. After about 8 months of using water only, my hair suddenly felt abnormally oily. I have no idea what caused it, but I used baking soda to remove the extra buildup. (I think it was 1 tsp in 1 cup of water. I didn't use the entire cup!)
That little bit of baking soda removed ALL of the natural oil from my hair! My hair frizzed out and was insanely dry. :( It took a good month for the sebum to get all the way down my hair again.
Since then I purchased a natural bristle brush to help balance the oil. It seems to be working. ^_^
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me!
Right now Im using Doctor Bronner's which is a great shampoo and Burts Bees conditioner(until it runs out and I can get something with Neem Oil).
Anything with a good dose of hemp oil should do the trick as well.
they animal test
=, (
horrible.. I found out when I had 2 large pantene conditioners.
I hope you are against animal testing too?
Try Nexxus, they dont animal test : ) i really love their hyradtion shampoo and it smells like coconut!!
from Gudonya on etsy
and, along with her conditioner it did a pretty good job of cleaning hair and didn't lead to split ends.
I'm not sure what she uses for her packaging however :(
I believe she also makes bar shampoos but I'm not sure about that
Here is an article: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/937047/dandruff_vs_dry_scalp_how_to_recognize.html?cat=69
May this will help on you on your quest. :)