If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then you don’t. But if you do know what I’m talking about, then you’re in a shameful club. The more I discuss how sensitive my scalp use to be openly, the more people will admit that they have the same problem I did.
So I’m not even embarrassed about it. What’s to be embarrassed about anyway? Should I be embarrassed that my scalp breaks out when I dump regular chemical laden shampoo on it? Should I be embarrassed that companies think nothing of putting toxins in our body cleansers? Nope, again, that’s not something wrong with ME, that’s something wrong with the industry that manufactures our body cleansers.
Not. My. Fault.
And also, not my problem any more either.
There are numerous companies out there that make natural shampoos and quite frankly, that’s what we need to be buying. Though, for the extra daring, I have another solution too.
It’s cheap, safe and natural…
I could get into a bunch of different shampoo recipes, but if you follow my blog, you know I prefer easy, because easy is something I can stick with. Complicated gets pushed to the wayside. Every. Single. Time. So, instead of shampoo, have a box box of Baking Soda hanging out in your bathroom at all times. Also, have a small mixing bowl in your shower ready to go. When you start your shower, take 4 tablespoons of baking soda and mix it with two tablespoons of water. This is not a science, so you don’t have to bring your measuring cup with you.
Mix the baking soda in with the water and create a paste each time you shower. You can stick with just that, or you can choose an essential oil to blend in with it. Choose carefully based on your hair type though. Use one drop of the oil per mixture.
Normal Hair : Lavender or clove
Dry Hair: Myrrh or comfrey
Oily Hair: Peppermint* or clove
(To give highlights, chamomile oil can be added. Calendula can be added to give reddish gold highlights. To darken, rosemary oil can be added.)
So then, you scrub the paste into your hair. It’s not going to get all sudsy like you’re used to. That’s fine though, it will clean and protect your hair and scalp. Rub it into your hair and scalp for two to five minutes and then rinse it off. Now, while it’s still wet, it will feel weird, and you will think you just ruined your hair and you will hate me. But as soon as it’s dry, it will feel awesome. It will be shiny and healthy.
What about conditioner?
You can condition your hair one to two times a week by using virgin coconut oil. You just rub about a teaspoon into your hair and scalp and leave it on for ten minutes or so. Let it soak in. For a deep treatment, if you want to sleep with it on, use an old pillow case in case it doesn’t all soak into your hair. But you can also just rinse your hair and then shampoo with the baking soda. A tiny amount of CJ’s Butter Stick can be used after the shower if you need a little more control and feel like you need something to keep frizz down. Though, the baking soda alone should leave your hair looking remarkable.
Getting rid of build up naturally
If you have a ton of build up. It’s also super easy to get rid of build up naturally too. Do this every few weeks. Take a half an ounce of vinegar, 30 drops of tea tree oil and a half an ounce of water and shake it up. A baby bottle is a good way to get a rough measurement. D0n’t you use less than 30 drops of tea tree oil either. We’ve talked about why before, but in case you didn’t catch it, here’s the blog that talks about how to properly use tea tree oil. Shake it up really good and then douse your hair with it. Let it sit on your hair for about a half of an hour. Then, simply rinse and enjoy you new clean, light hair! WHen the vinegar dries, you’ll stop smelling like salad dressing.
Try these ideas and let me know what you think. If anyone has their own recipes, feel free to share on this blog in the comments section.
*IMPORTANT: Women who are pregnant should have someone else mix this for them because pregnant women should not be exposed directly to full strength peppermint essential oil. I worry about pregnant women dropping some on their skin undiluted on accident. So, please keep this in mind. Also, all essential oil bottles should be kept out of the reach of children.
I have been using baking soda for several years now. I just dissolve one tablespoon in a cup of warm water and dump it on my hair. Give it a scrub and rinse. I do however condition. I mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water, dump it on, leave it for a few seconds and rinse. My hair has never been healthier! Instead of shampooing every day like I used to have to do, I do this about every four or five days.
Once you stop stripping the natural oils from your hair it will not get greasy like it used to. This is because your scalp doesn’t have to work extra hard to replace the oil that shampoo strips from it.
Another great benefit is I no longer have to use hair products as my hair is full of volume naturally. Good for the planet and good for your hair, what a great idea. 🙂
For my shampoo I use a mixture of Dr. Bronner’s Lavender with water and a Tbs of coconut oil that sits in a container in my shower and also doubles as my (and the kids’) “body wash”.
In-between I use a mixture of Cocoa powder [5 Tbs] and corn starch [3 Tbs] for a “dry shampoo” that’s in a large yogurt container with holes on top for easy application. I have brown hair so that works for me and adds a little “highlight” and makes my hair smell yummy. lol
Every once in awhile I’ll use Apple Cider Vinegar and water with tea tree and peppermint for a nice conditioning/neutralizer. Feels extra nice when I do that. =]
A friend of mine has used Baking Soda before and I’ve been wanting to try it. I should see how my hair takes to that. She has had trouble with oil though so she always backs off of natural things because of that.
Why is it that pregnant women shouldn’t be exposed to full strength peppermint?
It has a slight risk of stimulating the uterus when highly concentrated which could potentially lead to miscarriage. It’s not likely, but also, not worth it.