Hair Salad

I used to use these...

But a year ago I phased them out and switched to these...

A few months ago I ran out of this and I won't buy any more...

I've looked, I've thought about it

but I just can't bring myself to do it

I'm lovin the 'poo free life

and the only day I really feel 'meh' about my hair is the FIRST day I wash now that I'm not using curl enhancing products...my curls are well, not curly

I'm willing to accept that this could just be my need for change.

Yesterday while riding in the fully mirrored elevator thinking to myself "Ech...my hair looks like poop," a fellow passenger said "Gosh your hair is just Gorgeous"

"Who me?" --no I didn't say that out loud but...it did change my thinking for the day

I was using flax seed gel (1 Tbsp ground flax seed in 1/2 cup warm water, let it set until it thickens) This is also a GREAT replacement for eggs in your favorite baking recipe...

That was making my hair shiny, but didn't really do much for my curls

So...time for the next phase in hair salad.

Just call me 'Balsamic Babs'

This morning I used Olive Oil

I smeared a bit on my hands and scrunched my curls like I would with mousse. (Whatever was left on my hands I used as moisturizer for my hands and face).

The verdict?

Well my hair is softer

my curls look like I did something with them

but I don't think I used enough...which is definitely better than using too much and I'm SURE I erred on the side of caution

I'll keep you posted.

Anyone out there have any suggestions?

As you can see...I'm willing to try anything once :P

Take THAT Paul Mitchell!

I gave in and got a trim today...trims are okay, just no major style changes until at least Halloween 2010
I've had a hard time holding my 'poo free ground in salons in the past and paid for it dearly when I had to go through the ucky phase of getting product out of my hair again.

Not today
I walked in, said I want a trim.
Don't wash it, no conditioner...just wet it, trim it and blow it out.
Really, no conditioning treatment? Nope nothing, wet it...trim it...and blow it out.
So she did
I only needed a 1/4 inch trim, which is pretty cool to me since it's been a while since I've had a trim and when she was done...even the stylist said "I can't believe there is NO product in your hair!"

Oh yeah...no flat iron either!
I think there may be something to this 'poo free stuff
:)

The never ending saga that is my hair... ('poo free once more!)

I don't know why I ever stopped this.
Oh my dear BS/ACV hair care routine how I have missed you!

Well...I know what made stray, I colored my hair to 'get back' to my natural hair color (yes THAT turned into a fiasco) and I was suckered in by a sulfate free shampoo...
It just made my hair ucky...but I bought it, so I had to use it
Well...NO MORE! The last of it touched my head last week and yesterday I went back to my beloved Baking Soda wash and Apple Cider Vinegar rinse...oh how I miss the feeling of CLEAN hair

Yes, I'll probably have to go through some of the transitionary pains again...
But I know the results are more to my liking...not to mention my budget.

so just an update...
I'm not cutting (no more than a trim for which I'm seriously over due) until 10/31/10...that's when I will revisit the idea of cutting...
I'm not coloring anymore, so yes, even though the bulk is black and my roots are growing out dark brown, I'm dealing with it
And no more shampoo or conditioner
I find I don't use very much product in it when I go 'poo free...so I'll reassess the need for those once the 2 bottles of product I have are gone.


photo credit

'poo free update

On Saturday, May 9th 2009 I stopped using commercial shampoo and conditioner

I donated the remainder of my stash (about 1/8 of a bottle each of s and c that I've had for about a year) to my lil one and switched to Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar.

1 tbsp of BS to 1 cup of warm water

then

1 tbsp of ACV to 1 cup of warm water

That was Saturday morning and my hair STILL feels and looks great

I've rinsed twice since then, and will probably wash tomorrow but more so because I think I should not because my hair looks, feels or smells funky.

My hub even said something about it

he was surprised it didn't smell bad :)

okay so the cartoon is just for fun

I'm really happy with this process so far

I didn't really shampoo much to begin with

probably twice a week then mostly rinsed

once my hair care products are gone...I'm ditching those too

and not coloring (at least not until September)

so we'll go summer hair product free and see what happens...

Today I'm officially 'poo free

I've used up my shampoo and conditioner...the same set I've had for over a year now so I guess I didn't use it much to begin with...and in my attempt to reduce the amount of plastic bottles we use and chemicals we put back down into our own septic system I've gone to a baking soda and apple cider vinegar process on my hair.

It definitely feels very clean. Very very clean

Right now i think the thing I will miss the most is the product I used on my curls

But as I delve deeper into this journey of discovering my true self...maybe my true hair needs to be a part of the unfolding.

I've also decided no hair color

at least not until back from Sedona in September

love my grey in all it's glory

I've actually been quite intrigued by it in years past because it is more white than grey...so maybe I'll take on that look of a wise sage :)

I've always wanted to try kicking the hair color...and now I have a tangible (because we already bought our tickets AND reserved our lodging) time to shoot for.

Will I dye my hair as soon as I get home..or in Sedona even? who knows

more likely I think I will have come to a point where I have reasons for grey or no grey that will resonate more truly with my being so in the end it will not matter.

So as you can see if you've been reading my posts, baking soda is becoming quite a staple around here, clean the house, clean my teeth, clean my hair...and i think today we'll run some through the dishwasher and clothes washer to give them a nice cleaning too.

But for now I'm in a new white eyelet sundress and off to the hub's sister's house for a family get together...tons o family i've never met with lots of miracle whip and spam but their hearts are kind and the laughter is loud

needless to say...I'm packing a cooler :)

I think I may go 'poo free

Friend of mine is in the midst of 30 days with no 'poo (shampoo and conditioner)

I've done some reading about it

I think I might try it...

I'm almost out of my current s/c so seems like a good time

1. Use an old shampoo bottle (well-rinsed) or a squeeze bottle of some variety  Mix 1 part aluminum-free baking soda to 3 parts Water. Each time you use this solution, shake well to mix.

2. Squeeze the baking soda solution onto your dry scalp, then massage your scalp for several seconds.

3. Leave in for 1-3 minutes, and rinse completely.

4. In an old shampoo bottle (well-rinsed) or a squeeze bottle, mix 1 part Organic White Vinegar to 4 parts Water. You can add essential oils or herbs if you like - or add 1 cinnamon stick (which lasts through several bottles of mixture) and 1/2 t vanilla. This masks the vinegar smell, and leaves your hair smelling spicy and lovely.

5. Leave on hair for several seconds, then rinse.

Keep on reaching for higher ground

Weeks ago we got rid of our microwave and you know...no one is any worse off. I thought for sure it'd be a huge mutiny but with this one small change in our kitchen, seems as though the fruit and sandwiches are getting eaten more often instead of the microwaveable burritos and pizza rolls...it's a good thing.

We've also switched to unhomogenized milk ... we may go raw if we can find a good source but it's only sold for pet consumption in our state so we'll see.

My most recent switch has been our cleaning products both for our bodies and our home. I've stopped buying myself body wash (even though I used great, animal friendly organic products) because one less plastic bottle is still one less plastic bottle...not to mention this great honeysuckle soap is only $0.75 a bar which is MUCH less than my old body soap!



So onto higher ground.
I've been a clorox wipes girl forever
the kids swish and swipe their bathroom daily (yes I dream but it does get done a few times a week), there's a tub in our bathroom, a tub in the kitchen and one under the sink for just in case uses...
I started thinking about how many of these things we throw away a day, and they're not labeled as biodegradable so my conscience started to get to me.
Then...voila! Greenworks biodegradable wipes
honestly, that only made me feel half good...because the company still makes non-earth friendly products so who cares that I use their earth friendly ones...it's just twice as much plastic on the earth.

Last night the hub and I watched a commercial for a new eco-conscience, biodegradable cleaner by another famous brand name company and I mentioned that we really just need to create an eco-bucket with some vinegar, salt, lemon juice, baking powder and good old fashioned elbow grease. His first comment, "that would be better for our septic too, let's do it."
Woo hoo!


ingredients:
- white vinegar
- lemon juice
- baking soda
- salt
- water


glass & window cleaner:
- 2 cups water
- 3 tablespoons white vinegar
- 6 tablespoons lemon juice


scouring powder:
- equal parts of vinegar, salt, baking soda and water * it should be pastey


toilet-bowl cleaner:
- 1 cup white vinegar and 6 tablespoons baking soda. let stand for 30 minutes and scrub clean.


additional cleaning supplies:
- Murphy's Oil for our wood floors. it is a vegetable oil base.
- earth friendly laundry and dishwashing detergent (we've been using Seventh Generation)

Man and just imagine all the money we're going to save...it's the non-food items in the grocery basket that kill our budget every week...a gallon of vinegar is less than $1.50 and our neighbors grow lemons!

I have some great "recipes" for other clean cleaning projects but I dunno how to post a pdf so if you're interested, let me know and I'll email them