Well I'm all done with the process, I feel I am officially poo free and I'm loving it!
I really thought the process will be longer and more dramatic, and it wasn't! No greasiness, no frizziness, no complaints from me!
I would recommend this process to anyone. Your experience may be different than mine but give it a try!
Good luck!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Ch-Ch-changes!
I am happy to report that my suitcase no longer smells like vinegar. I didn't even have to scrub it! We just left it in the garage for a week and aired out.
While the whole exploding vinegar container was not fun, I am glad it happened. If it hadn't I wouldn't have realized something, my hair does better without vinegar everyday.
My hair has gotten less frizzy with this process, but it was even less frizzy without the vinegar for three days. So I've decided to only use the vinegar every 2-3 days. I've only used vinegar once since we've been home (a week now and I am going to use it with today's shower) and my hair is doing great.
As I always say, everything happens for a reason, so I am glad the vinegar fiasco happened. I've also realized this whole process is more complicated than just not using shampoo. I am beginning to feel like I'm in chemistry class!
While the whole exploding vinegar container was not fun, I am glad it happened. If it hadn't I wouldn't have realized something, my hair does better without vinegar everyday.
My hair has gotten less frizzy with this process, but it was even less frizzy without the vinegar for three days. So I've decided to only use the vinegar every 2-3 days. I've only used vinegar once since we've been home (a week now and I am going to use it with today's shower) and my hair is doing great.
As I always say, everything happens for a reason, so I am glad the vinegar fiasco happened. I've also realized this whole process is more complicated than just not using shampoo. I am beginning to feel like I'm in chemistry class!
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Traveling
Instead of buy vinegar while we traveled, I decided I would just bring some with me on our trip to Colorado. I'll only have to shower three times while we're here, "What trouble could 3 tablespoons do?" I thought.
So I put roughly three tablespoons of vinegar in a small Tupperware container, with a super tight lid. I put the container in the a quart size Ziploc bag and put the quart bag into a gallon size Ziploc bag with some other toiletries. I put the whole bag into my suitcase like I had done many times before and below the plane the suitcase went.
I was exhausted by the time we landed. It was only a 2.5 hour flight, but it was a 8 hour ordeal when you count in all the traveling time to the airport, sitting at the airport, getting to the rental car agency and to the hotel.
While standing in line to get our rental car I noticed a pickle smell, again. I thought to myself, wow why does Colorado smell like pickles? I've smelt pickles since we got our luggage. Right as I was about to ask my husband if he smelt pickles it hit me...the vinegar!!!
Without even telling my husband I grabbed our two large suitcases and our son (who was in his stroller) over to a corner. Jon gave me a very confused look as I rummaged through the suitcases. Sure enough my trusty vinegar had leaked. Not only had the Tupperware container popped open, the vinegar had leaked through both of the plastic bags!
To my surprise, the only casualty besides the suitcase was one of my son's outfits. Luckily, I always over pack, so don't worry he'll have enough clothes! :) But now I have a nice vinegar smelling suitcase. I still don't know if I will be using it on the way back. (I'm sure I will I'll just have to spend some quality time with it and some cleaning device.)
So take a lesson from me, just waste the $2.00 and but a small thing of vinegar at your final destination. I don't like to be wasteful, but I promise, I've learned my lesson on this one! Looks like it will be baking soda only showers for three days.
So I put roughly three tablespoons of vinegar in a small Tupperware container, with a super tight lid. I put the container in the a quart size Ziploc bag and put the quart bag into a gallon size Ziploc bag with some other toiletries. I put the whole bag into my suitcase like I had done many times before and below the plane the suitcase went.
I was exhausted by the time we landed. It was only a 2.5 hour flight, but it was a 8 hour ordeal when you count in all the traveling time to the airport, sitting at the airport, getting to the rental car agency and to the hotel.
While standing in line to get our rental car I noticed a pickle smell, again. I thought to myself, wow why does Colorado smell like pickles? I've smelt pickles since we got our luggage. Right as I was about to ask my husband if he smelt pickles it hit me...the vinegar!!!
Without even telling my husband I grabbed our two large suitcases and our son (who was in his stroller) over to a corner. Jon gave me a very confused look as I rummaged through the suitcases. Sure enough my trusty vinegar had leaked. Not only had the Tupperware container popped open, the vinegar had leaked through both of the plastic bags!
To my surprise, the only casualty besides the suitcase was one of my son's outfits. Luckily, I always over pack, so don't worry he'll have enough clothes! :) But now I have a nice vinegar smelling suitcase. I still don't know if I will be using it on the way back. (I'm sure I will I'll just have to spend some quality time with it and some cleaning device.)
So take a lesson from me, just waste the $2.00 and but a small thing of vinegar at your final destination. I don't like to be wasteful, but I promise, I've learned my lesson on this one! Looks like it will be baking soda only showers for three days.
Monday, May 18, 2009
The End has Come...
of week one that is!
Sorry (Jon!) for not updating this sooner. No news is good news, right? Yep!
Days 5-7 I repeated the same steps, baking soda followed by vinegar wash and then conditioner. Day 8 (today) I rinsed with only water, followed by conditioner. Still nothing bad to report. I actually think my hair is getting better. It definitely feels lighter and less weighed down. And I think my curls are getting curlier (i.e. smaller, tighter curls.)
I haven't been brave enough to skip the conditioner yet. It's been too humid here... I am afraid of what will happen. (Poofy mushroom alert!) But I have also read that people with curly hair sometimes have to keep using conditioner because curly hair is drier than straight hair. Anyways, this was my quest to be shampoo free not conditioner free!
I am even used to the cold water being put on my head. Believe or not, I find it kind of soothing. (Weird I know, after I was complaining about it before.) I am starting to wish I had started this process sooner!
Oh, I did see that a gallon Apple Cider Vinegar at Safeway is around $4.50. I am still on my original quart and think it will be lasting me awhile. (After using it in this process 6 times, it is maybe an inch down in the container.) Between my mondo bag of baking soda I have spent a total of $7.00 and I imagine my supplies will last for many, many months!
My next challenge is figuring out what to do for travel. We are flying to Colorado this weekend and I am leery to pack the vinegar in case it leaks. Maybe I'll seal it in 4 or 5 Tupperware containers....
Sorry (Jon!) for not updating this sooner. No news is good news, right? Yep!
Days 5-7 I repeated the same steps, baking soda followed by vinegar wash and then conditioner. Day 8 (today) I rinsed with only water, followed by conditioner. Still nothing bad to report. I actually think my hair is getting better. It definitely feels lighter and less weighed down. And I think my curls are getting curlier (i.e. smaller, tighter curls.)
I haven't been brave enough to skip the conditioner yet. It's been too humid here... I am afraid of what will happen. (Poofy mushroom alert!) But I have also read that people with curly hair sometimes have to keep using conditioner because curly hair is drier than straight hair. Anyways, this was my quest to be shampoo free not conditioner free!
I am even used to the cold water being put on my head. Believe or not, I find it kind of soothing. (Weird I know, after I was complaining about it before.) I am starting to wish I had started this process sooner!
Oh, I did see that a gallon Apple Cider Vinegar at Safeway is around $4.50. I am still on my original quart and think it will be lasting me awhile. (After using it in this process 6 times, it is maybe an inch down in the container.) Between my mondo bag of baking soda I have spent a total of $7.00 and I imagine my supplies will last for many, many months!
My next challenge is figuring out what to do for travel. We are flying to Colorado this weekend and I am leery to pack the vinegar in case it leaks. Maybe I'll seal it in 4 or 5 Tupperware containers....
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Days 3 & 4
Day 3 I rinsed with only water and then followed up with conditioner. My hair was fine, but I didn't enjoy rinsing only with water, it just didn't feel right.
Day 4 I repeated the process from day 2. Still nothing exciting to report. My hair feels great. I am beginning to think better than with shampoo.
I will say this, it's a good thing I am not dropping shampoo for the environment. While not using chemicals is good for the environment, I now take longer, hotter showers! It takes much longer to apply the baking soda and vinegar from the squirt bottles than it does to apply shampoo. Plus I rinse my hair longer and to offset the cold water on my head, I turn the temperature of the water hitting my body up.
So while I may not be an environmentalist, I am still enjoying the process! And there hasn't been a hint of greasiness yet!
Day 4 I repeated the process from day 2. Still nothing exciting to report. My hair feels great. I am beginning to think better than with shampoo.
I will say this, it's a good thing I am not dropping shampoo for the environment. While not using chemicals is good for the environment, I now take longer, hotter showers! It takes much longer to apply the baking soda and vinegar from the squirt bottles than it does to apply shampoo. Plus I rinse my hair longer and to offset the cold water on my head, I turn the temperature of the water hitting my body up.
So while I may not be an environmentalist, I am still enjoying the process! And there hasn't been a hint of greasiness yet!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Day 2
Day 2 went much better than day 1.
I ended up still using 1 tablespoon of vinegar, I accidentally poured too much. But I diluted it better this time. So no vinegar smell after my shower, my husband even smelt my hair and agreed!
No itchy scalp either. Mixing the baking soda and water in the squirt bottle made it much easier to apply the baking soda.
I also had both squirt bottles filled before my shower, so my shower was much more enjoyable today!
The only draw back so far... putting cold water on my hair during my nice warm shower. But I am getting over that and I know cold water is better for your hair follicles anyways.
I am giving my hair a break tomorrow. I will only be washing with warm water and following up with conditioner so we'll see how that goes!
Oh, I should mention, when I say "squirt bottle" I am referring to a restaurant condiment bottle. You know the kind that are normally yellow and red? :) Only mine are clear and I got them a few years back for about $1.00. (We usually use them for olive oil.)
I ended up still using 1 tablespoon of vinegar, I accidentally poured too much. But I diluted it better this time. So no vinegar smell after my shower, my husband even smelt my hair and agreed!
No itchy scalp either. Mixing the baking soda and water in the squirt bottle made it much easier to apply the baking soda.
I also had both squirt bottles filled before my shower, so my shower was much more enjoyable today!
The only draw back so far... putting cold water on my hair during my nice warm shower. But I am getting over that and I know cold water is better for your hair follicles anyways.
I am giving my hair a break tomorrow. I will only be washing with warm water and following up with conditioner so we'll see how that goes!
Oh, I should mention, when I say "squirt bottle" I am referring to a restaurant condiment bottle. You know the kind that are normally yellow and red? :) Only mine are clear and I got them a few years back for about $1.00. (We usually use them for olive oil.)
Monday, May 11, 2009
Day 1 Update
I have gone one full day shampoo free and have some updates...
The vinegar smell went away after my hair dried. (Once again it was never that bad to begin with.) I think I will still cut the amount of vinegar in half for now. Per the website I found, you should never smell vinegar after rinsing your hair, if you do you are using too much vinegar.
A small section of my scalp was a little itchy right after the baking soda was applied. The itching went away very quickly. Per the same website, this could either be too much baking soda or hard water. I know we have hard water, but I've never had an issue before, so I am going to change baking soda methods. I am going to use a second squirt bottle so I can make sure to dilute the baking soda really well. I am hoping this will also help get it closer and to more areas of my scalp.
My hair feels great, I can't tell if it's any different than normal, but nothing strange has occurred just yet so it's on to day two! :)
The vinegar smell went away after my hair dried. (Once again it was never that bad to begin with.) I think I will still cut the amount of vinegar in half for now. Per the website I found, you should never smell vinegar after rinsing your hair, if you do you are using too much vinegar.
A small section of my scalp was a little itchy right after the baking soda was applied. The itching went away very quickly. Per the same website, this could either be too much baking soda or hard water. I know we have hard water, but I've never had an issue before, so I am going to change baking soda methods. I am going to use a second squirt bottle so I can make sure to dilute the baking soda really well. I am hoping this will also help get it closer and to more areas of my scalp.
My hair feels great, I can't tell if it's any different than normal, but nothing strange has occurred just yet so it's on to day two! :)
Day 1
I just took my first shower without using shampoo! I found a good website last night that I used for a reference, http://www.natural-forces.com/essays/poofree.htm#how
Here are the steps I took for the poo free process:
1.) Made a thick paste of approx one tablespoon of baking soda and water. I rubbed that into my scalp the best I could, that part was harder than I thought it would be. I ran my fingers through my hair and let everything sit for a few minutes.
2.) Filled my handy bottle with 8oz of cold water, I already had one tablespoon apple cider vinegar in it. Now if you learn one thing from me, learn this, always fill your bottle with both the vinegar and the cold water before your shower! It was not fun to go from nice warm water to very cold water in the middle of my shower.
3.) Rinsed the baking soda with the vinegar and let everything soak for a few minutes.
4.) Rinsed with plain cold water.
5.) Applied conditioner and rinsed with cold water. (I'm still using conditioner for now. I figure I'll wean my hair off products one at a time.)
So far everything seems ok. My hair does have a very slight smell of the vinegar, but I can only smell it if I put my hair right up to my nose. I think I will use only half a tablespoon of vinegar tomorrow to see if there is a difference. We'll see what happens when my hair dries. I'm not using gel today, so it will end up being a pony tail day.
Here are the steps I took for the poo free process:
1.) Made a thick paste of approx one tablespoon of baking soda and water. I rubbed that into my scalp the best I could, that part was harder than I thought it would be. I ran my fingers through my hair and let everything sit for a few minutes.
2.) Filled my handy bottle with 8oz of cold water, I already had one tablespoon apple cider vinegar in it. Now if you learn one thing from me, learn this, always fill your bottle with both the vinegar and the cold water before your shower! It was not fun to go from nice warm water to very cold water in the middle of my shower.
3.) Rinsed the baking soda with the vinegar and let everything soak for a few minutes.
4.) Rinsed with plain cold water.
5.) Applied conditioner and rinsed with cold water. (I'm still using conditioner for now. I figure I'll wean my hair off products one at a time.)
So far everything seems ok. My hair does have a very slight smell of the vinegar, but I can only smell it if I put my hair right up to my nose. I think I will use only half a tablespoon of vinegar tomorrow to see if there is a difference. We'll see what happens when my hair dries. I'm not using gel today, so it will end up being a pony tail day.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Before Pictures
Here they are, the before pictures. Not the best, but I realized (thanks to my husband) that I had to make due with what we have. (Seeing as I am starting the process tomorrow!)
This picture is of a typical hair down day. As you can see the top stays "crunchy"(thanks to all the gel I have to use) and the bottom dries out and gets frizzy. I hate the way I end up with two difference textures.
The second picture shows how I normally "manage" my hair. When gets too poofy or unruly I pull it half back into a hair clip. But as you can see it's still frizzy.
My whole goal is to be able to leave my hair down without looking like a puffy mushroom head and without having to use too much gel.
Tomorrow is the day!
I have all the supplies and am ready to start the poo free process!
In case you are considering starting this yourself, save some money and head to Costco to get your baking soda. A 12lb bag was only $5.59. I should have enough baking soda for a least a few years! I haven't be able to find bulk apple cider vinegar. I still need to check to see what the biggest bottle Safeway has. (We had a bottle at home already so I am starting with that one.)
I'll post about my first experience tomorrow. And I am still working on the "before" picture. It seems that all of our current pictures are of our son... hmm, I wonder why that it is! ;)
Wish me luck tomorrow!
In case you are considering starting this yourself, save some money and head to Costco to get your baking soda. A 12lb bag was only $5.59. I should have enough baking soda for a least a few years! I haven't be able to find bulk apple cider vinegar. I still need to check to see what the biggest bottle Safeway has. (We had a bottle at home already so I am starting with that one.)
I'll post about my first experience tomorrow. And I am still working on the "before" picture. It seems that all of our current pictures are of our son... hmm, I wonder why that it is! ;)
Wish me luck tomorrow!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Just getting started...
So here I go, my first blog, should be interesting...
Crazy title you say? What is she talking about?? Well, I'm on a quest to go shampoo free. Yep, you heard me right shampoo free. No I'm not a dirty hippy and no I don't want dread locks. I just want better looking hair! I've got naturally curly hair and have always struggled with keeping it tamed.
How will I get better looking hair you say? Well it all started with an article on MSN (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30337386/) that my husband forwarded to me. Apparently going shampoo free is a new movement. Instead of shampoo you use plain water or better yet, baking soda and apple cider vinegar. (Yum!) I've decided to go with the baking soda and vinegar route. (I figure go big or go home!!!)
As of today I am a full time SAHM and I figured this would be the best time to start the process. Per everything I've read your hair may look crappy for the first 6 weeks or so. I thought it would be best to start the process when I could pull my hair back into a ponytail if needed! Also my co-worker Kasia decided I should be the guinea pig of this process. I figured this would be the best way to keep everyone up to date.
My goal is to start on Monday, the 10th. I will post some "before" pictures soon and keep you updated along the way, with pictures weekly.
Crazy title you say? What is she talking about?? Well, I'm on a quest to go shampoo free. Yep, you heard me right shampoo free. No I'm not a dirty hippy and no I don't want dread locks. I just want better looking hair! I've got naturally curly hair and have always struggled with keeping it tamed.
How will I get better looking hair you say? Well it all started with an article on MSN (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30337386/) that my husband forwarded to me. Apparently going shampoo free is a new movement. Instead of shampoo you use plain water or better yet, baking soda and apple cider vinegar. (Yum!) I've decided to go with the baking soda and vinegar route. (I figure go big or go home!!!)
As of today I am a full time SAHM and I figured this would be the best time to start the process. Per everything I've read your hair may look crappy for the first 6 weeks or so. I thought it would be best to start the process when I could pull my hair back into a ponytail if needed! Also my co-worker Kasia decided I should be the guinea pig of this process. I figured this would be the best way to keep everyone up to date.
My goal is to start on Monday, the 10th. I will post some "before" pictures soon and keep you updated along the way, with pictures weekly.
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