Hair washing test

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kiery
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Hair washing test

Post: # 90362Post kiery »

I am thinking of not washing my hair for six weeks to see what happens.
I use shampoo without any SLS etc. every other day but I am finding my scalp is really itchy and I end up looking like Ogra from The Dark Crystal.

I have read some articles on the net about how bad shampoo is for your hair and thought I would give it a go. I know that shampoos strip out all the oils from your hair and scalp. Anyone else done this? Should I rinse my hair with rosemary or something? it would be great to get any advice

(after sweating on the allotment I don't know if my other half will come near me! Mind you, Napolean and Josephine seemed to like that! :oops: )

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Green Rosie
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Post: # 90369Post Green Rosie »

I usually wash mine in an egg - and rinse very well in warm water - and it gets the occassional wash in baby shampoo from time to time.

I have been rather lax of late resorting to shampoo for various reasons but your post has reminded me why I stopped using shampoo in the first place. Back to eggs I think then.

I like the idea of a rosemary wash - it's my favourite herb. Not sure how you would do it though.

Does anyone here make their own shampoo?

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Post: # 90387Post Hawthorn »

Not currently, but I do have recipes in one of my various soapmaking books.

Time consuming.......it takes weeks to 'cure', but you end up with an sls free product at the end of it.

I bought a shampoo bar off someone who makes them on ebay once. It was awful and left my hair feeling tacky and taffled.

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Post: # 90389Post the.fee.fairy »

It takes longer than 6 weeks to self clean.

go to www.longhaircommunity.com and look up WO (water only) washing.

It takes around 6 months. The first two minths, it goes greasy, then it goes dry, then greasy again.

Being WO is marvelous if you can manage it. I have a friend who hasn't washed his hair for 6 years, and it is beautiful!! I also have another friend who hasn't washed his for 3 months and it is horrible...

I would recommend starting by cutting the amount of times a weekyou wash it, and ow you wash it.

For example, if you wash it every day with 2 shampoo washes and one condition, cut one of the shampoo washed. There is no reason for ou to be shampooing your hair twice!

Then, cut to every other day, then every 4th day etc etc.

When you have it down to washing weekly, then try not washing it.

If you suddenly stop when you're washing your hair every day, it can cause scalp problems because your scalp has to work at getting id of the excess skin and oil, whereas it didn't before.

While you're on Longhaircommunity, look us CO (conditioner only) washing. I do this during the winter and the height of summer when i feel that my scalp is most dry. Conditioner has enough active ingredients to effectively clean your hair. It doesn't give it that squeaky clean feel, but it does feel clean. It also doesn't strip the hair of its oil, and therefore it doesn't strip the scalp as much.

Good luck!
Last edited by the.fee.fairy on Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:48 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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Post: # 90390Post the.fee.fairy »

Green Rosie wrote:I usually wash mine in an egg - and rinse very well in warm water - and it gets the occassional wash in baby shampoo from time to time.

I have been rather lax of late resorting to shampoo for various reasons but your post has reminded me why I stopped using shampoo in the first place. Back to eggs I think then.

I like the idea of a rosemary wash - it's my favourite herb. Not sure how you would do it though.

Does anyone here make their own shampoo?
I have done. But i don't like it!

I have 3 bars left. If anyone wants one, PM me your address! I'll be glad to get rid of it! Its Egg and Lemongrass. It just didn't suit my hair, but other people who have tried it have loved it.

I do have a second batch with green tea and peppermint that i haven't tried yet too.

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Post: # 90431Post Milims »

I've started to wash my hair with a simple olive oil soap - and it's wonderful! My hair is squeeky clean and lovely and soft - and I have to wash it less often too
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Hawthorn
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Post: # 90432Post Hawthorn »

Is it the SLS in shampoo that causes hair to go awry? I find I have to wash my hair every couple of days! I'm sure it just stimulates oil production even further......especially the stuff for greasy hair.

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Post: # 90446Post Helsbells »

I have been using Green People shampoo, and it was great at first, but recently my scalp has become sooo itchy so I have resorted back to Head and shoulders, very disappointing. I would be interested in any recommendations for shampoo too.

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Post: # 90456Post Annpan »

I use nettle shampoo that I get at the farmers' market (I think it is Carnoustie soap makers) it is pricey but lasts for ages and I am just converting JohnM and E to the same shampoo so we can cut down on the various toxins that go into the septic tank.
We all wash our hair every day and I couldn't / wouldn't do otherwise... I have nothing against others doing the no wash thing, but its just not my bag... man.
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Post: # 90459Post Russian Doll »

Milims wrote:I've started to wash my hair with a simple olive oil soap - and it's wonderful! My hair is squeeky clean and lovely and soft - and I have to wash it less often too

where do you get it from hun

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Post: # 90477Post The Riff-Raff Element »

I haven't shampooed my hair for a lot of years. It gets a good riddling under the shower to dislodge any persistant dirt, twigs and wildlife and it is shaved off periodically. The first six months were a bit vile (very yellow sheets and pillow cases) but that was all.

Having curly hair helps - it just doesn't look so greasy in the early stages.

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Post: # 90490Post farmerdrea »

I've gone 9 months without shampoo, and my hair and scalp are thanking me for it! I convinced the rest of the family to do the same, and both husband and childrne also no longer shampoo. Based on varying oiliness of hair (both my children are in the throes of puberty, so VERY oily) we all use baking soda and apple cider every so often (me once a month, kids once a week, no idea how often my husband does it).

The first few weeks were fine. the 6 or so weeks after that were VERY VERY VERY itchy, but not so oily for me (very oily for husband). Now, I'd never shampoo again. None of us noticed an "off" odour. My hair is very thick and long and curly.

One thing we have all noticed is that our hair has gotten darker (we're all brunettes), even though we've just been through summer when our hair tends to lighten in the summer (mine used to go strawberry blonde highlights!). My husband's hair is the most striking, as it's always been very fine, and he started going grey years ago (he's 44 now). His hair has thickened as well as started TURNING brown again. It's weird. He has hairs which are silver at the tips and brown at the roots! Not all of them, but probably more than half. My MIL even commented on it last time they were visiting (we only see them once a year as they're in the US).

Well worth it for the piece of mind of not putting chemicals in my body through my scalp. Now, if only I could find a way to deal with my dry hands without usually resorting to chemical-laden hand lotion...

Andrea
NZ

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Post: # 90491Post mrsflibble »

I love olive oil soap on my hair, it's one of the few things that stops the frizz.
oh how I love my tea, tea in the afternoon. I can't do without it, and I think I'll have another cup very
ve-he-he-he-heryyyyyyy soooooooooooon!!!!

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Post: # 90493Post Milims »

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! :mrgreen:
ps - Local to us is 26 miles away! :cry:
Let us be lovely
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Let us be silly and free
It won't make us famous
It won't make us rich
But damn it how happy we'll be!
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Post: # 90525Post the.fee.fairy »

SLS is nt nice stuff really. Its a irritant. However, Sodium Cocosulphate is nicer, Its made of coconut oil.

BUT, for all the scare stories about SLS bear in mind that it has been safely used for many many years, and continues to be an effective detergent.

The other nasty substance that you find people using is silicones - generally marked as an ingredient ending in -cone. These are like a plastic covering. Yes, it makes your hair shiny, and smooth, but it doesn't allow moisture in or out.

I'd love to stop washing my hair in shampoo and conditioner, but to do that, i'd have to stop dyeing it too..and i love the purple hair!!

I couldn't stand the itching either!

Good luck!!

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