How to go ALL NATURAL. Ditch the Poo (Shampoo that is)

This is it.  This is the time and the SEASON.

I have participated in "Natural Hair" Shows, regular Beauty Shows and many things of the like.  I

once went about a year without washing my hair in the customary manner.  I simply rinsed it and

cleaned my scalp with Baking soda and witch hazel. Now I use Baking soda and Apple Cider

Vinegar mostly and love witch  hazel on my face.

Worked amazingly and then I got sent overseas and I got back on the "Poo", Shampoo that is.

Today I am packing up all the hair and skin care condiments and returning to Nature.

talk about "Back to Nature".  LOL

Here is a good recipe for a Conditioning wash (Co Wash)

What you will need

1. Pure Natural soap (pH10) 50ml
2. Natural conditioner (pH) 200ml
3. Tea Tree Essential Oil 5 drops
4. Rose Mary Essential Oil 12 drops
5. Peppermint Essential Oil 12 drops

First make sure you have a clean container or bottle with a lid to put your co-wash.Next, mix conditioner and soap together. Follow by adding each of the essential oils. Make sure everything is blended well. Your co-wash is now ready for use.

So, here it is my basic Routine for ditching the Poo!!


And then we have a great clarifier:

Baking soda is your friend

 

Baking soda works wonders on hair, along with its other many household helps. It’s gentle, it’s the weakest alkaline, and it very gently clarifies hair from chemical buildup.

Like many natural cleaners, the recipe isn’t static — it can be tweaked to suit your needs. The standard amount for hair care is one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water. Those with curly or thicker hair might need a bit more baking soda, and those with thin or fine hair might need less. Experiment, and see what works for you.

I use a simple 8-ounce squeeze bottle, pour in a tablespoon of baking soda with a funnel, then fill up the rest with water from the kitchen sink. I give it a good shake to dissolve the baking soda, and it’s ready to be used.

In the shower, I soak my hair with water, then I squeeze a bit of the baking soda mixture on my scalp, starting at the crown. I massage it in as I go, squeezing a bit more here and there, concentrating mostly on the scalp. I include my hair as well, but since most of the oils originate from the scalp itself, the hair will naturally get cleaned once the scalp is clarified.

After a few minutes, I rinse it out, just like I would the poo.

Apple cider vinegar is your next friend

Apple cider vinegar is a mild acidic, working well to counteract the baking soda, and thus acts as a great replacement for conditioner. It detangles the hair follicles, seals the cuticle, and balances the hair’s pH balance.

A little goes a very long way, just like the baking soda. The standard recipe is also one tablespoon apple cider vinegar to one cup water. For this, I use an old conditioner bottle, and fill it with the vinegar and water via funnel, then finish it with a shake.

My hair tends to rest a little on the oily side naturally, so I don’t use much of this. I pour a little on just the ends of my hair, let it sit for a few seconds, then rinse it out.

And that, from start to finish, is my current hair care routine.

Other tips

• You might have a transition period that lasts from a few weeks to a few months, where your hair reacts with excess oil to the lack of shampoo. This is perfectly normal. It’s used to having its oils stripped, so it might take time for the oil to stop producing so heavily in protest. My transition period only lasted about two weeks, and it wasn’t a big deal.

• I hear that eventually, you can wean off baking soda and vinegar all together, relying only on water in the shower to remove dirt and oil. I haven’t gotten there yet.

• If you find that your hair is too oily (after the transition period), try using less vinegar, or not using it all together. Some people also use lemon juice instead of vinegar as their acidic clarifier.

• If your hair feels too dry, use less baking soda, or try using honey or vegetable glycerin instead of vinegar.

• I don’t need anything else for my hair. I stopped using pomade and greases YEARS ago.  I do use come coconut oil just to keep it smooth and supple (I also use this as my facial moisturizer—I LOVE this stuff). My hair is amazingly pliable, and can hold styles without my needing to do much of anything. I’m thrilled with the results!

• This can also be used on our kids hair, though only use it once a week or so since they don't really require daily poo.  Their scalps don’t really produce much oil at a young age.