Hair washing test

[kiery]

Its great to hear so many positive things about abandoning shampoo!

It has never occured to me before but seems so natural, and it helps to know that you are not the only one thinking this way.

Helbells - I have been using Green People shampoo for quite a while and recently I have found my scalp itchy too. Do you think they have changed the recipie?

Thanks Fee.fairy that site is brilliant!

[Annpan]

What does SLS stand for?

I thought it was Sodium Laureth Sulphate.... but I bout some SLS free melt and pour soap and on the ingredients it lists Sodium Laureth Sulphate (sorry if I am not spelling that right)

[kiery]

i Annpan,

I think they set out labelling to confuse us don't they!

SLS stands for Sodium Lauryl sulphate and SLES is Sodium Laureth Sulphate (or Sodium Lauryl ether sulphate).

They are members of the same detergent /surfactant family, with slight variations in their chemical formula and structure; so will work in the same way.

[Ellendra]

Now, if only I could find a way to deal with my dry hands without usually resorting to chemical-laden hand lotion...

I get very dry hands during the winter, so dry the skin starts to crack open. Here's the trick I've found that works:

You'll need a cheap pair of gloves, and some kind of grease. Any kind of grease works, butter, olive oil, salves, chapstick, whatever. Just make sure you can stand the smell. I prefer grease that doesn't need refrigerated so I can keep it by the bed.

Just before you go to sleep at night, coat your hands with a thick layer of grease, then put the gloves over top. The gloves keep the grease from getting into your clothes and blankets. The next morning, wash your hands to remove any grease that hasn't soaked in. Your hands will be baby-soft.

Usually once a week is enough to keep my hands from getting chapped, even in winter.

[Andy Hamilton]

I have tried giving it a go, but it is impossible in hard water areas apparently so I gave up. I will say that cutting back on the numbers of times you wash definelty does work.

[farmerdrea]

I know what you mean about the hand washing, but living on a farm with the various and sundry messes that that entails, I wash my hands often. First thing in the morning I wash my hands between each of the 9 goats I'm milking, and that's every day. I did manage to find a natural product, though, and locally made even! It's basically olive oil and beeswax scented with lavender, and it's really nice.

Cheers
Andrea
NZ

[Wombat]

I've been using my own shampoo soap for a couple of years and it works pretty well, but it has a number of opils in it, not just olive.

Nev

[snapdragon]

I know what you mean about the hand washing, but living on a farm with the various and sundry messes that that entails, I wash my hands often. First thing in the morning I wash my hands between each of the 9 goats I'm milking, and that's every day. I did manage to find a natural product, though, and locally made even! It's basically olive oil and beeswax scented with lavender, and it's really nice.

Cheers
Andrea
NZ

cuddle some sheep? I know so many people have lanolin allergies, but also that spinners who spin sheeps wool 'in the grease' say that they never have to use any hand cream

[corymbia]

I haven't tried it, but rinsing with vinegar is supposed to be a good transition/replacement.

[the.fee.fairy]

You'r supposed to use Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) and bicarb.

THis clears tha hair. I've always found it a little harsh for me though.

[QuakerBear]

I think I posted this link when I first joined this site and the topic cropped up, but in case anyone missed it here it is again:

http://www.tznius.com/cgi-bin/tying.pl

If your hair goes yucky while you're not washing it, just cover it up with one of these scarf tying ideas. Tznius is an Orthodox Jewish clothing site.

Just thought, these are all female styles, for the men out there, err, wear a hat.

[mrsflibble]

not to be a nitpickie moo but I thought the headscarf was to prevent vanity and promote modesty?!

[kiery]

One week in and I'm permanently wearing a Buff on my head (best piece of neckwear clothing I ever bought!)

I'm beginning to crack and the shampoo bottle is calling.

[Mydreamlife]

Hi Tea - I buy it from the local green shop - it's about 75 pence a bar or £1.80 for a HUGE one! (600g)It's called Oliva and contains only, and I quote, "Saponified Olive oil, Water, mineral salts" I also use it on my body and face too. Until recently I never used soap on my face - it left it really dry and sore - and any soap on my body did the same thing - but this..... well it's just lovely!
ps - Local to us is 26 miles away!

I have just bought ome and think it's great, I just feel my skin is really dry, do you use a moisturiser with it or just some oil or something? Also OH is being hard to convert, any man ideas? he likes smelly stuff, (actually so do I really) would love some suggestions. We do both like to shower most days and hair washing is usually included!

Also kiddie cleaning recipies? Anyone?!

[the.fee.fairy]

One week in and I'm permanently wearing a Buff on my head (best piece of neckwear clothing I ever bought!)

I'm beginning to crack and the shampoo bottle is calling.

As i said before, if you usually wash your hair more often than weekly, you need to cut down slowly first!! Then, it gives the scalp more of a recovery time in between shampooings - it teaches the scalp that it doesn't need to produce so much oil if you like. Then, cut it down to once every 2 weeks and so on...and then you can start to go no-poo.