Frugal Friday- Shh, it’s a secret
If you haven’t heard, I’ve had some really great looking hair lately. I know, you probably read it in People or something. You haven’t?
Well, let’s just say that my hair has grown thicker, fuller, and curly all by itself in the last 3 months. I didn’t even take my MIL’s suggestion and purchase some hair product for thinning hair advertised on the tv. (”Your hair look thin on top- you buy that stuff they say on tv? Why not?” she really is a great MIL just very uhm. Korean=blunt)
I went from my doctor mentioning how it appears that I am losing a lot of hair, to people mentioning how thick my hair looks lately. And I have stopped using gel, mousse, hairspray and any other type of product. I am all naturale.
Oh, and the biggest thing I have stopped doing is shampooing my hair. Actually, I haven’t shampooed my hair in 3 months. What? Gross? Not really.
I didn’t say I haven’t cleaned my hair. I am not that crunchy. I have been cleaning my hair, even if it is once a week or so now. What I have been is converted. (no need to get excited Mom, I am talking about my hair still.) I have joined the ranks of the No ‘Poo following.
I am allergic to many, many medications. It makes sense that my head was having a bad reaction to the many chemicals in shampoo. This change has solved that. I am no longer stressing out my system with harmful chemicals. Therefore my head is not screaming back at me to stop and kicking all my hair out of my head to get my attention.
So here is what I DO instead:
-clean with baking soda. I know I must have stock in this stuff; I use it for everything…
-rinse with apple cider vinegar.
-massage my scalp while doing the two above and rinse. Yup, that’s it.
Common issues : (I’m not gonna make it look all rainbows and ponies)
- the first month of the switch I had a lot of bad hair days. It takes awhile for your body to adjust to the change. I almost gave up, but I am so glad I didn’t.
- there will be the fear you smell like salad dressing from the ACV. I have been so bold as to ask people if I do and I have been reassured that I don’t, but I still worry.
Natural Family Online has a great article about why you should go No ‘Poo, if I haven’t convinced you already. I know it’s scary. I was scared, too and thought my hubby would give me a hard time about being a tree hugger, blah, blah, blah. But actually, he has been very supportive. When I was thinking about trying the system out, I convinced myself with this… “What is there to lose? You can ALWAYS go back to shampoo if you want. It won’t hurt to try”
And it hasn’t. And it has saved me money. No more need to buy the shampoo and conditioner. No more expensive hair sprays and products. The impact on our earth is better, too. No plastic shampoo/conditioner bottles. You can buy the baking soda in cardboard packaging and the ACV in a glass bottle. No chemicals.
Come on! Everybody’s doing it. At least all the cool kids 
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15 Responses to “Frugal Friday- Shh, it’s a secret”
December 14th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
Ok so I have to admit, some of the things you post such as the composte blog makes my eyebrow raise and the side of my cheek go up :). But for some reason, I actually want to try this. I’m constantly trying hair things and my hair is thin (not falling out thin, but thinner then I’d like). They say its bad to shampoo everyday but my hair gets so dang oily. So maybe…just maybe (ok I’ll admit I’m probably going to) try it. So do you just rinse your hair the other days that you don’t clean it? I don’t know if I could go a whole week without cleaning it…maybe I could build up to it. Ok give me more info.
Lyns
December 14th, 2007 at 2:18 pm
I have a couple questions.
Did you jump right in and do it cold turkey or did you do it ease into it?
What do you keep the baking soda in in the shower?? How much do you use of each the soda and the vinegar?
Just wondering…my hair gets “immune” and looks like a limp rag if I use the same stuff day after day so I switch between products but to really shock myself I might have to try this!
December 14th, 2007 at 3:28 pm
yes, I jumped right in, that’s just my personality, though. Actually, for the entire process to work you kind of need to just “do it” What happens is during the adjustment period your body learns to reregulate the oil production on your scalp. It has been likened to the whole supply and demand thing - like breastfeeding.
I keep my baking soda and ACV in small travel size recycled shampoo containers. I also have a medicine measuring cup in which I measure out the 1.5 teaspoons of baking soda. I then dump that into a very small sized (like single serve pudding size) tupperware container to mix with water to make a paste.
I use about 2 teaspoons of ACV mixed with water in that same small tupperware container.
December 14th, 2007 at 3:36 pm
Yes, on the days that I don’t clean my hair I just massage my scalp and rinse my hair off. Now after the entire adjustment period, I only baking soda my hair once a week and use the ACV usually 2times.
You kind of have to “listen” to your hair. If it is looking greasy it’s time to Baking Soda it. If it needs conditioning- ACV it. If it’s looking good, just rinse.
I never thought I could go a week either, but I’m doing it
Actually, I hate to do the baking soda b/c my hair is not as awesome that day that I actually do.
December 14th, 2007 at 5:05 pm
wow. This sounds great. Natural really does work!
December 14th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
Does it work ok on colored hair? Because with my premature grey, there is no way I can give up the color! I’m vain, I know!
December 14th, 2007 at 7:58 pm
You are an engaging writer. Why? I shave my head and I still read this to the end
December 14th, 2007 at 9:37 pm
Okay, you have my attention but I just can’t do it. I can use a all natural shampoo and conditioner though. I just don’t know if I’d feel clean? I get what you’re saying and I bet your showers cleaner too b/c there’s no build up of the chemicals. It all makes sense. I’m a Shaklee Shampoo fan but you have me interested.
Sommer
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December 15th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Wow! I don’t know if I could do that either. I might miss the lather and suds. I’ve switched to everything Burt’s Bees and have noticed a huge improvement in my skin and hair. I’ve even got my husband hooked on it. My hair is still thinning thougth, but I think it may be genetic. All the women on my mother’s side are going bald. Maybe I’ll try it and see if it will hold off genetic inevitability for awhile
December 16th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
I’ve never heard of this! I would do anything to make my hair look nicer. Maybe I’ll try it! I drink a tablespoon of ACV everyday, so I have some in stock!
December 24th, 2007 at 4:17 pm
I want to go No-poo but I have dry hair and scalp, will the baking soda work?
April 22nd, 2008 at 7:51 am
I love natural remedies instead of all the articials selling @ our favourite retail stores. will give it a try
June 2nd, 2008 at 5:29 pm
clean with baking soda…its joke? How your hair live now?
June 11th, 2008 at 9:12 pm
try the juice of one lime mixed with a liter of water. just wet your hair first and then pour the mixture through and rinse again!!!
works great!
August 24th, 2008 at 10:50 am
Ok-this sounds crazy but intriguing. What would be the visual benefits exactly if one doesn’t have the problem of losing or thinning hair? Does it make straight, flat hair - fuller?
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