Making your own ACV - cool!

Making your own apple cider vinegar sounds like a fun, rewarding and quite practical endeavour!! Click here for the details :)

Exotic Butters and Oils

How awesome are these!!

Transitioning with No Poo

Well... I didn't exactly know when it happened.. it just kind of crept up on me.  I do know for a fact two things have helped me.  First, brushing... like crazy... till the cows come home kinda brushing... it moves the sebum down the hair and away from my scalp.  Second, I've been washing with my argan oil castle soap - but only washing my scalp!  This means post-wash, once I start producing sebum again, it just catches up with what was already there, and keeps on moving toward my ends.  My "transition" has my sebum reaching past my ears when my hair is down!!!

Today is a busy and pretty socially demanding day.  Normally I wear my hair in a bun or some sort of up do because we all know that when you brush curly hair, it isn't curly anymore.  Wearing it this way has obviously helped speed up the process of course.  But today, I took out my flat iron.  Turned it down to 3/4 the heat I used to use and flat ironed from just below my ears to my ends only!!!!

GASP!  All those crunchy ladies (all natural advocates) would be horrified, but my goal wasn't to be "style free", it was to have nourished, healthy hair and the fact that it costs less, and is wayyyy more sustainable is totally a happy bonus.

I'm pretty happy with the result.  My wonky old wavy ends that are still waiting for sebum got a little relaxing help.  It'll be very interesting to see how this style sustains the day!!

I remember in the past, every single picture taken in December was me with straightened hair.  I went to a hair dresser and purposely got my hair straightened so i could add oils and get it LOOKING healthy for the holidays.  As well,  it helped with wearing hats in the winter of course.

And on that note - colder weather certainly helps in this whole process!!!

5 months in, and I'll never ever turn back!!

Progress...

On day 10 I carefully brushed my hair in every direction. I then took a shower and washed only my scalp with my argan oil soap bar. I scritch'd and massaged my scalp and rinsed.

The soap barely had suds, but I feel wonderfully refreshed and my hair is soooo super soft, it's insane!!! The last 4-5 inches got treated to jojoba oil to help that hair catch up.

I rarely wear my hair out curly, it's just do convenient to brush and keep it in a bun ;)

For hydration, I'm using jojoba oil and either lime or tangerine essential oils for scent and also for both me and the kids, some 100% Aloe Vera gel from the leaf!!!

100% Natural Ways to cleanse hair

http://blackgirllonghair.com/2013/10/3-100-natural-shampoo-options/

This is what one person had to share:

Nicole
NOVEMBER 3, 2013 AT 2:54 AM
I use a combination of shikakai, bhringraj, brahma, aloe vera and hibiscus powders in my daughter’s hair. I’ve found it to be very moisturizing. Also, apple cider vinegar works well as a natural conditioner. I’ve also seen recipes for a natural detangler with marshmallow root.

Jojoba Oil for Moisturizing

When I started no poo, I researched oils I could use because I just didn't feel the the Coconut Oil suggestion was penetrating my hair and moisturizing it as much as my curly and thus porous hair needed.

My oil if choice back then was Jojoba Oil and I still love it!

"Jojoba - A popular basic oil, which is generally more expensive than other oils. Works well on both dry and damp hair to condition it. Also works well when mixed with aloe and glycerin as a leave-in and styling product. Excellent also as scalp massage oil and for skin moisturizing. Great on the ends. Blends exceptionally well with essential oils and fragrances."

Taken from an excellent write up, I highly recommend reading!!

Hair Update

I am not sure, but I believe my last wash was November 2nd.  I'm guessing simply because of my blog posts!! That was 22 days ago!

I washed with my Argan Oil Castille Soap Bar last night only because I've been wearing my hair our curly after WO washes and I do NOT brush as much.  My hair started to look limp and lifeless, no volume at the roots as a result so I washed.  I specifically, I took that little bar of soap and rubbed my scalp at the crown, interestingly right where I wear my ponytail/bun all the time.  You know the areas, no air except at night, and even then it's buried deep in all that hair!!!

So I've washed, and noticed a few things while washing.  At this point... 22 days since my last cleanse/wash my hair started to smell a little funky when it rained or it got wet.  I'm a curly, I'm not afraid to get my hair wet when it rains, so that was a bit of a surprise.  My other surprise was that the soap wouldn't lather, and I don't mean bubbles, I mean when in my hair I can move it around - too much oil I guess so it was working too hard,  I started lathering in my hands and applying directly to my scalp in that crown area I mentioned only!!

Then rinsed with ACV and then again with hot water, 5 drops of my fave tangerine EO and a tip of jojoba oil.  Then I plopped to dry.

Today it is curly, bouncy, revitalized and feels light again.  Keep in mind I only soaped my scalp, so I've still got sebum down to the top of my ears... which is further down the length than previously so I'm doing alright!!

I'll wear it curly for two days then back to brushing daily and wearing it in a bun.

Let's see how long I go this time.... any bets?

Water Only washing?

How and when did this become my reality? I've got two and a half Argan Oil bars ready for shampooing, and haven't used one in three weeks!!

Ya... Me, water, ACV with tangerine EO, 100% pure aloe Vera as a moisturizer and my brush... That's it!

... Oh, and wearing my hair in a bun.

My hair is not stinky. It's not frizzy. Its not oily looking. It's easy to detangle. And I'm in shock!

It helps I've been sick, so washing my hair needs to be an evening event so I don't go out with a wet head and get more sick. It also helps that I've been too busy and tired to notice. It also helps that I've used the light and easily absorbed aloe Vera instead if my beloved jojoba oil for adding moisture to the ends. I thin it's helped with the smelling fresh factor. And tangerine essential oil, I love that stuff!

So, here's before the day 18 water only wash, ACV rinse with 1/2 tsp of jojoba in hot water to evenly squirt to distribute through the ends that tenderizer more dry.

Crazy huh...!

I've plopped to dry overnight.

I'm losing track of my washing....

What a lovely problem to have!!!

I'm on day 16 since my last argan oil wash with two WOs in between and my hair is soooo different!! I know the cooler air is to my advantage, however something is definitely different!

I just realized since my washes are less predictable, I'm forgetting to post!

Here's the summary of where I'm at:

The sebum has travelled down the length of almost my waist length hair, past my ponytail holder now reaching my bra strap. After that the length of it needs help from aloe vera or jojoba oil, or I'd wear it all out!!

So, going on 5 months of no poo I'm just going to put it out there... You will NOT get the same benefits without BBBing. Moving the sebum down the length of your hair is remarkable, gloriously beautiful and something I cannot say I've ever seen, not even in children's' hair!!

What you will get is still healthy, lovely hair, but it's different.

I've come to realize that BBBing and wearing my very curly hair in a bun is best to move the sebum, and get the beautiful results, however, I BBB really really well, then do a WO with ACV and EO rinse and plop to dry after a finger or wide tooth comb straightening (my hair doesn't tangle as much either!!!!!!) and it looks fabulous for 2 days... Then BBB, wear in a bun and repeat WO when I'm ready to be curly.

Products:
I use aloe or jojoba oils in my hair, sometimes I put the jojoba teaspoon in my squirt bottle with very warm water and shake immediately as I'm applying it (mixing with warm water) so it gets better distributed down the bottom half of my hair - that's been awesome! To wash, I use an argan oil soap bar or in the summer SoapNuts juice was great!

I also... Brush every day or every other day, or the crown of my head gets itchy and oily, and I'm
Not a happy girl! Oh! I was using aloe butter for the hairline flyaways but I don't seem to need it anymore despite wearing it in a bun so often. Crazy!!!

And plopping in an old T-shirt is how I get my curls!!! The pic above was on day 10 I believe, using nothing but a little 100% aloe vera gel on the bottom and ends! (Google long sleeve plop or plunk hair)

Hair Update

So, I'm on day 13 or 14 now and I did a WO this morning with an ACV rinse and plopped to dry and guess what... my hair is back!!  It's still soft, and shiny and my natural sebum is a hands width down the length of my hair past my ponytail elastic and finally, my hair has volume when curly again.  I did feel that yuck, I think I should wash feeling on day 9 or ten, and I just brushed and wore it in a bun the whole week.  Today, it looks great!

I'm tempted to keep going with the WO washes and brushing till the cows come home... I wonder if I can get my natural oils right down to the tips of my hair???

My scalp feels great!  Not smelly either!  It helps that the weather is colder and I'm really not sweating!!!

My hair is shiny and smooth when brushed into a bun... I'm gonna keep on keeping on!!  Wish me luck!

Coconut Oil - wow!!

Click here to go to the article.

Hair Update

As a curly girl, my hair needs to be wet to restyle it, so I tend to rinse with water and use my fingertips to scrub my scalp and I call that a WO or a water only rinse. Some days I follow up with a 50/50% apple cider vinegar/water rinse, sometimes I don't. Because of time and work and life, I've been washing with the argan oil soap bar and following up with the ACV/water rinse and sometimes instead of adding oil for moisture, I was putting that small amount ing squeeze bottle with hot water and my fave essential oil and adding it to the length of my hair, avoiding the scalp and brushing it through. I found I got an excellent distribution, my tangles just fell away and my hair was looking great!

But in my last post I mentioned I think my hair reached its saturation point... So weird! It became lifeless, yet shiny.

So I've been thinking about that and decided since the weather is getting colder and even my skin is feeling more dry, I'd skip the routine of washing this weekend and try for 14 days instead of 7 knowing full well that 9 days is my tipping point.

Wish me luck!

Update: To solve my saturation problem, I didn't use egg... I did nothing - it worked!!

A setback

I'm 14 weeks into no poo using SoapNuts successfully and now the Argan Oil handmade Castille soap bar - both successfully with an ACV rinse. As a curly girl, I tried DWV once and pretty much knew we were never going to get along ;)

Here's my issue. I think my hair has gotten used to the argan oil soap. It sounds weird but the first few times my hair just sucked it up, then a much needed trim and my curls were smiling.

It may just be possible that I'm too oiled up, using hair friendly oils, with lustre but what I think has happened is since my hair looked great, I wore it curly most days versus previously wearing it in a bun.... That meant less time BBBing and therein lies the problem.

I think my hair is lacking natural sebum and has reached a saturation point with the oils I'm adding!

It's lighter, more flyaway curls, it doesn't look as healthy...

I find this very interesting. I'm going up do an egg wash on the weekend, and in the meantine, back to my slick and stylish up do, and some BBB me-time.

Hair Update

July 7 - last shampoo wash
July 14 - first BSV (baking soda and vinegar) wash
... WO washes almost daily, dry hair and scalp.
July 21 - second BSV wash
July 23 - 50/50 vinegar water rinse - happy hair!
July 26 - egg rinse (shiny, smooth, happy hair)
July 28 - Water wash and 20% vinegar and 5 drops Lime EO rinse
Aug 3 - soapnuts wash, 50% ACV, half tbsp coconut oil, 5 drops lime EO with equal parts water for the rinse. CO added liberally.
Aug 4 - SoapNuts wash, 50%ACV, 50% water rinse. CO mid and ends.
Aug 8 - 1 part ACV, 5drops lime EO with 9 parts water rinse only. (CO added to ends only once since last wash. None added today.)

Aug 13 - Egg wash. 3 eggs to equal parts water with a lukewarm shower and a good long rinse. I also did a coconut milk rinse and an ACV rinse with 10 drops tangerine EO. Felt oily and heavy and yuck!

Aug 16 I did a SoapNuts wash with 20% ACV to water with 7 drops of tangerine EO rinse. I rinsed a very very long time. It was easy to detangle, but ever so slightly waxy/squeeky while wet, but I let it dry all out, no braids or elastics. It looked great and felt light and soft. It dried quicker than I'm used to with "product" in it though. 

Aug 28 - SoapNuts wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.  Added Jojoba on day 2 and then day 5, on the ends after WO washes as well.

Sept 7 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

Sept 12 - Rinsed with 50% ACV and used the argan oil soap on lower half and ends only.  Great for oil distribution. 

Sept 15 - SoapNuts wash and 50% ACV with 5 drops lime EO and a capful of jojoba oil with very warm water as a rinse.

Sept 22 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to very warm water with 7 drops of Lime EO and four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my moisturizer normally) as my rinse.

Sept 27 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Tangerine EO and combed out tangles before rinsing out with water.  Then refilled my rinse bottle half way with very warm water and about four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my manually added moisturizer normally) as my second rinse.
Oct 6th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 7 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.
Oct 10th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 7 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.
Oct 18th - WO wash with a 50% ACV to water rinse with 5 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water as a leave in conditioner/detangler; used fingers to detangle hair.

Happy curls!!

Oct 20th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 5 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.

Curl definition...

Ok I did a WO the other day, and detangled with my fingers. My curls looked way better than when I brush when wet to detangle it, but I had a looooot of frizz. I think I need an old fashioned sleeping cap to ward off the frizzies!

Note to self, finger detangle and plop to dry for the day I want great defined luscious curls!!!

It'll be in a pouffy ponytail by the next day, and a messy bun by the third day, then a good brush out will be necessary!! Good to know... I love when I have predictable outcomes.

Argan Oil Castille Soap Bar

This is my shameless plug for the Argan Oil handmade Castille soap bar that I use to wash my hair. The Canadian Soap Company's owner, the SoapBoss has allowed me to watch soap being made, and even to assist in the process which is soooooo fun!

Despite my adoration for the scents and essential oils that envelop you in the soap kitchen - sheeee is truly an earth angel! She is not only gifted and a 5th generation soap maker, she's a sweet sweet soul. When I take a bar of her soap home, I feel like I get to take a piece of her shop home to continue to enjoy! My favourite part is when the soap is almost finished, I get to go back!!!!

The SoapBoss at the Canadian Soap Company is on ETSY, YouTube, FaceBook and of course, she has her website.

Speaking of Christmas, why not go shopping and buy a few gifts! Her soaps are delightful!!!!

Here's the brand new look of the Argan Oil Castille Soap Bar - gorgeous!

Aloe Hair Gel

How cool is that?? My hair and skin loves aloe! I'm going to try this Gelatine & Aloe Hair Gel recipe!!! I wasn't totally happy with the Flax Seed gel I made, so this is exciting!!

Hair Update

July 7 - last shampoo wash
July 14 - first BSV (baking soda and vinegar) wash
... WO washes almost daily, dry hair and scalp.
July 21 - second BSV wash
July 23 - 50/50 vinegar water rinse - happy hair!
July 26 - egg rinse (shiny, smooth, happy hair)
July 28 - Water wash and 20% vinegar and 5 drops Lime EO rinse
Aug 3 - soapnuts wash, 50% ACV, half tbsp coconut oil, 5 drops lime EO with equal parts water for the rinse. CO added liberally.
Aug 4 - SoapNuts wash, 50%ACV, 50% water rinse. CO mid and ends.
Aug 8 - 1 part ACV, 5drops lime EO with 9 parts water rinse only. (CO added to ends only once since last wash. None added today.)

Aug 13 - Egg wash. 3 eggs to equal parts water with a lukewarm shower and a good long rinse. I also did a coconut milk rinse and an ACV rinse with 10 drops tangerine EO. Felt oily and heavy and yuck!

Aug 16 I did a SoapNuts wash with 20% ACV to water with 7 drops of tangerine EO rinse. I rinsed a very very long time. It was easy to detangle, but ever so slightly waxy/squeeky while wet, but I let it dry all out, no braids or elastics. It looked great and felt light and soft. It dried quicker than I'm used to with "product" in it though. 

Aug 28 - SoapNuts wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.  Added Jojoba on day 2 and then day 5, on the ends after WO washes as well.

Sept 7 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

Sept 12 - Rinsed with 50% ACV and used the argan oil soap on lower half and ends only.  Great for oil distribution. 

Sept 15 - SoapNuts wash and 50% ACV with 5 drops lime EO and a capful of jojoba oil with very warm water as a rinse.

Sept 22 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to very warm water with 7 drops of Lime EO and four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my moisturizer normally) as my rinse.

Sept 27 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Tangerine EO and combed out tangles before rinsing out with water.  Then refilled my rinse bottle half way with very warm water and about four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my manually added moisturizer normally) as my second rinse.
Oct 6th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 7 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.

WOW! Thicker, Softer Hair Rinse

Thicker, Softer Hair with Rosemary, Lavender & Apple Cider Vinegar

Click here...

My hair routine ...

I use an argan oil handmade Castile soap bar with 50% apple cider vinegar to 50% warm water in a squirt bottle as my conditioning rinse. Sometimes I switch to SoapNuts/ apple cider vinegar, depending on my mood. I'm sticking with the Argan Oil bar for the dry/cold upcoming winter most likely and will switch back to SoapNuts in the spring.

I also add about 5 drops of essential oils to my rinse. My favourites are lime and tangerine, they effectively mask the apple cider vinegar smell and leave my hair smelling pretty.

I'm almost 3 months no poo and my hair is happy. I just got a major trim last week so my ends are gone and my hair looks awesome!

I use a boar bristle brush and brush with my hair flipped over from the nape of the neck forward for a good ole fashioned 100 strokes, flipping and sectioning it half way through. I braid or twist it while sleeping.

I use aloe butter, rubbed vigorously between my hands to emulsify to a sheen and then apply it along my hairline to keep the frizzies or flyaways controlled, it's way better than gel!!

I'm a curly girl with hair to my mid-back, now with long layers. When I want my brushed out curls back, I wash with just water (about 2x per week) with a good brushing first, and then a good fingertip scrub in the shower with warm water, then I rinse with 50% apple cider vinegar/ 50% warm water and then add my jojoba oil into my squirt bottle (a dime sized tiny bit) in hot water, shake well and often, and apply only to my bottom half and ends. Some people add oil manually, I've found this way quicker and I get better coverage. Then I finger detangle and sometimes use my tangle tamer brush or wide tooth comb. (Similar to a wash but no soap). Then I plop with a long sleeved t-shirt to dry curly or let it dry naturally before using fabric hair ties or plastic clips of any kind. The vinegar smell almost rinses out completely, and once my hair is dry, not even my 5 year old can detect a vinegar smell - she's as honest as they get!!!

I now have happy, healthy hair and scalp!!!

Egg Shampoo

Here's a good link on a moisturizing Egg Shampoo!

5 Home Frizzy Hair Remedies

These are awesome home made frizzy hair recipes

pH Balanced Shampoo Recipe

This looks interesting, a pH Balanced Shampoo Recipe

Click here for 

3 Homemade Hair Tonics for Strong, Healthy & Shiny Hair

Curly Girl Tips...

Advice...

Wash less, brush very often, and WO wash to restyle

I have noticed I spend way too much time brushing the top of my head (naturally) so I rest my head on my lap as I sit in a low chair and brush from the underside and sides.

Then I WO wash and have started putting the amount of oil I normally add by hand into my rinse bottle with very very warm water and after I WO and massage my scalp I shake and apply the watered down oil (I use jojoba, closest to natural sebum) through my hair, detangle, and continue adding. I find it spreads evenly, even in the ends and makes detangling extremely easy. It's also way faster to style since I'm already ready to go!!

I use a T-shirt to squeeze out excess water and another one to plop while it dries.

Hair Update

July 7 - last shampoo wash
July 14 - first BSV (baking soda and vinegar) wash
... WO washes almost daily, dry hair and scalp.
July 21 - second BSV wash
July 23 - 50/50 vinegar water rinse - happy hair!
July 26 - egg rinse (shiny, smooth, happy hair)
July 28 - Water wash and 20% vinegar and 5 drops Lime EO rinse
Aug 3 - soapnuts wash, 50% ACV, half tbsp coconut oil, 5 drops lime EO with equal parts water for the rinse. CO added liberally.
Aug 4 - SoapNuts wash, 50%ACV, 50% water rinse. CO mid and ends.
Aug 8 - 1 part ACV, 5drops lime EO with 9 parts water rinse only. (CO added to ends only once since last wash. None added today.)

Aug 13 - Egg wash. 3 eggs to equal parts water with a lukewarm shower and a good long rinse. I also did a coconut milk rinse and an ACV rinse with 10 drops tangerine EO. Felt oily and heavy and yuck!

Aug 16 I did a SoapNuts wash with 20% ACV to water with 7 drops of tangerine EO rinse. I rinsed a very very long time. It was easy to detangle, but ever so slightly waxy/squeeky while wet, but I let it dry all out, no braids or elastics. It looked great and felt light and soft. It dried quicker than I'm used to with "product" in it though. 

Aug 28 - SoapNuts wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.  Added Jojoba on day 2 and then day 5, on the ends after WO washes as well.

Sept 7 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

Sept 12 - Rinsed with 50% ACV and used the argan oil soap on lower half and ends only.  Great for oil distribution. 

Sept 15 - SoapNuts wash and 50% ACV with 5 drops lime EO and a capful of jojoba oil with very warm water as a rinse.

Sept 22 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to very warm water with 7 drops of Lime EO and four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my moisturizer normally) as my rinse.

Sept 27 - Picture Day and a visit to the hairdresser so did an early wash.  Had a little scalp pimple, so changed up my rinse a little.  Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Tangerine EO and combed out tangles before rinsing out with water.  Then refilled my rinse bottle half way with very warm water and about four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my manually added moisturizer normally) as my second rinse, I avoided my scalp and focused on the thickest part of my hair, and ends, then combed it through with a finer toothed comb and rinsed again with water.  I noticed my ears need cleaning more (probably from the oil right in my water rinse!).

The Oil Cleansing method

I've heard many many people using oil for cleansing their face, and with much success.  I'm not quite there yet, but I'm still very curious.  I have started using a handmade goats milk soap for facial cleansing with has lots of lovely oils so I'm kind of half way there ;)

Here's a great link to learn all about it from Crunchy Betty.

Argan Oil bar still a happy relationship

Note: I use a boar bristle brush to brush my hair 100 strokes (like in the old days) at night and before I rinse with water. Once brushed, the curls are obviously gone. They have to be rewet to restyle. I usually wear my hair curly within the first three days of washing my hair with SoapNuts or the Argan Oil Soap Bar - and I plop to dry :)

Last time I washed I used SoapNuts which was great. I had to take the time to add my jojoba oil for moisture, but I have no complaints, except I think my curls suffer slightly.



Sept 22 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to very warm water with 7 drops of Lime EO and four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my moisturizer normally) as my rinse.



Yesterday I washed with the Argan Oil bar - my curls are lush and happy. I think it helps that I add the jojoba oil into my ACV rinse with very hot water so I'm getting argan oil and jojoba oil infused hair right out of the shower. Detangling is a breeze and generally, it takes a little longer to dry (than with SoapNuts) but my curls are pretty, defined and happy.

The picture above is NOT what it looks like plopped and dried - it's AFTER the curls are brushed out - I do not even leave the bathroom like this - yuck!!

Hair Update

July 7 - last shampoo wash
July 14 - first BSV (baking soda and vinegar) wash
... WO washes almost daily, dry hair and scalp.
July 21 - second BSV wash
July 23 - 50/50 vinegar water rinse - happy hair!
July 26 - egg rinse (shiny, smooth, happy hair)
July 28 - Water wash and 20% vinegar and 5 drops Lime EO rinse
Aug 3 - soapnuts wash, 50% ACV, half tbsp coconut oil, 5 drops lime EO with equal parts water for the rinse. CO added liberally.
Aug 4 - SoapNuts wash, 50%ACV, 50% water rinse. CO mid and ends.
Aug 8 - 1 part ACV, 5drops lime EO with 9 parts water rinse only. (CO added to ends only once since last wash. None added today.)

Aug 13 - Egg wash. 3 eggs to equal parts water with a lukewarm shower and a good long rinse. I also did a coconut milk rinse and an ACV rinse with 10 drops tangerine EO. Felt oily and heavy and yuck!

Aug 16 I did a SoapNuts wash with 20% ACV to water with 7 drops of tangerine EO rinse. I rinsed a very very long time. It was easy to detangle, but ever so slightly waxy/squeeky while wet, but I let it dry all out, no braids or elastics. It looked great and felt light and soft. It dried quicker than I'm used to with "product" in it though. 

Aug 28 - SoapNuts wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.  Added Jojoba on day 2 and then day 5, on the ends after WO washes as well.

Sept 7 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

Sept 12 - Rinsed with 50% ACV and used the argan oil soap on lower half and ends only.  Great for oil distribution. 

Sept 15 - SoapNuts wash and 50% ACV with 5 drops lime EO and a capful of jojoba oil with very warm water as a rinse.

Sept 22 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to very warm water with 7 drops of Lime EO and four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my moisturizer normally) as my rinse.

DIY Hairspray

I want to remember this one for some upcoming weddings!!

Hair Update

July 7 - last shampoo wash
July 14 - first BSV (baking soda and vinegar) wash
... WO washes almost daily, dry hair and scalp.
July 21 - second BSV wash
July 23 - 50/50 vinegar water rinse - happy hair!
July 26 - egg rinse (shiny, smooth, happy hair)
July 28 - Water wash and 20% vinegar and 5 drops Lime EO rinse
Aug 3 - soapnuts wash, 50% ACV, half tbsp coconut oil, 5 drops lime EO with equal parts water for the rinse. CO added liberally.
Aug 4 - SoapNuts wash, 50%ACV, 50% water rinse. CO mid and ends.
Aug 8 - 1 part ACV, 5drops lime EO with 9 parts water rinse only. (CO added to ends only once since last wash. None added today.)

Aug 13 - Egg wash. 3 eggs to equal parts water with a lukewarm shower and a good long rinse. I also did a coconut milk rinse and an ACV rinse with 10 drops tangerine EO. Felt oily and heavy and yuck!

Aug 16 I did a SoapNuts wash with 20% ACV to water with 7 drops of tangerine EO rinse. I rinsed a very very long time. It was easy to detangle, but ever so slightly waxy/squeeky while wet, but I let it dry all out, no braids or elastics. It looked great and felt light and soft. It dried quicker than I'm used to with "product" in it though. 

Aug 28 - SoapNuts wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.  Added Jojoba on day 2 and then day 5, on the ends after WO washes as well.

Sept 7 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

Sept 12 - Rinsed with 50% ACV and used the argan oil soap on lower half and ends only.  Great for oil distribution. 

Sept 15 - SoapNuts wash and 50% ACV with 5 drops lime EO and a capful of jojoba oil with very warm water as a rinse.

Argan Oil Happy Place

Today, Sept 14th is my two month anniversary of being no poo...

This is my hair after taking it out of a bun today. No brushing, just pulled out the elastic. I think my hair looks healthy and although I have some layers and split ends I should be trimming off, I am very happy with how my hair looks and feels - yay Argan Oil soap bar for great hair and less overall maintenance!!

Argan Oil update

I did something crazy. I did my usual WO wash to restyle my hair.... And I used the argan oil soap bar on my ends, the part I really should just cut off since the layers and old highlights look terrible... (About 4-5 inches) And it looks great! All over, light and even moisturizing! I'm onto something!

The aloe butter used as a hairline pomade washes right outta there during my WO wash. It's the only thing I need to reapply!

I just wish my handmade soap lady could make me a jojoba oil and argan oil bar - now were talking!!! I love how the soap just evenly deposits the oil so I just have to BBB!!!!

18 HOMEMADE SHAMPOOS

How cool is that.. 18 homemade shampoos!!!

Click here to see them all.

Argan Oil - Reflections

I bought the sulphate free Oil of Morocco Argan oil shampoo and conditioner as my super luxurious hair treatment before I started no poo.  I'm still using it on my daughter for that very reason.  It just struck me that it contains argan oil ... and grapeseed oil (among another unpronouncables).  So about my argan oil castille soap wash...

After realizing this "argan oil" content and how great it makes our hair feel and look, I set out to do my day two oil application  of jojoba oil and was paying particular attention to how my hair feels after washing with the argan oil castille soap bar.

It feels light, and looks shiny.  It feels clean but not so light that it is frizzy or fly away.  My ends, the layers and split ends are glaringly obvious after the wash.  So I separated my hair eventually into twelve sections and put a teensy bit of my chosen oil - jojoba oil - and BBB brushed it through until evenly and lightly coated.  My hair feels soft, looks shiny and lovely.  The ends are trashy but slighly more settled.

Here's what I think.  I think I got a good cleanse with the argan oil castille soap.  I think I spent more time at the scalp and less on the ends and perhaps since it is an argan oil soap, I need to get a very very rich lather at the ends MORE than at the scalp, so it can truly coat my ends as nicely as my hair near my scalp looks and feels.  Because I use handmade soaps, and no linger need a skin moisturizer, I know that the soap IS depositing the oils into my hair so I need to give it a chance to penetrate.

I believe that the last time I reported, the sebum had travelled to the ponytail holder area of my hair from my BBB at nights.  I believe it has travelled two more inches so it is my ponytail and almost a fist of length.  It's not anywhere near those trashy layered ends yet, and maybe in all fairness, that's why I am seeing them more.

I have a lot of hair, fine hair that is curly so appears voluminous once the curls are dry.  Today, my fine hair is shiny, and laying flat on my head.  It's certainly different, and definitely feels healthy.  I'm going to wear my hair in a bun for a few days (and not out like I do after a wash) and just keep BBB every night to see how it does, how these oils travel and help my sebum move.  I'll hold off on the WO wash just to see what happens and how it feels, then I can report on how the WO wash helps the oils move as well!

I did notice that it took longer for the jojoba oil to penetrate into the hair, likely because my curly porous hair is saturated with argan oil, so it's oil on oil trying to settle in and nourish.  Once applied and BBB for quite some time, it looks like even the jojoba is absorbing nicely.  I'll sleep on it and wear my hair in a bun tomorrow and let you know how this new adventure goes.

Note: I am using the aloe butter (aloe & coconut oil) as a hairline pomade to get my smooth ponytail, and love it!  Here's another link.

How to: Perfect Low Bun

Argan Oil Soap - dried hair

So I'm impressed that My hair doesn't feel dry or brittle. I'm impressed that I could put my hair in a ponytail and into a bun and it looks shiny, healthy and pretty ... But my ends, with the layers look horrific! It's like my split ends doubled and went witchy frizzy on me.... Yuck!

Is washing with argan oil a step back in my no poo journey? ...no! Is it a step in the right direction... Not necessarily. I think I'll save this bar for getting out henna, chlorine, for anytime I want to make sure I'm doing a good scrub, but certainly not for every wash!

I'm back to adding jojoba oil today, paying extra attention to my ends as i have been on my day two. I'll be back to my SoapNuts next wash. I wonder what a jojoba oil bar would do for me.... Ah hah! Something to think about.

Ill watch and see how my progress goes this week and report back next wash.

In the meantime, I brush with a Boar Bristle Brush every night and do a Water Only scalp massage whenever I want to change my hairstyle. I'm not really wearing my hair curly since brushing it takes out the curls. I'm wearing buns and braids and ponytails most days.

Have fun!

Update: my hair is still frizzy but very soft and shiny. I'm going to skip adding jojoba oil until later tonight when I'm using the BBB. Sorry the selfie is sideways lol

Argan Oil Soap - the wash

Soap-nuts is going well, it's become wonderfully predictable, which I love.  My hair feels clean and I get to control the moisturizing once the ACV has done it's job.  Jojoba is my oil of choice.  It feels great and lasts, and absorbs; I don't have to reapply daily like I did with coconut oil.  My bathtub also looks cleaner overall, and is easily cleaned with Dawn & vinegar and warm water!  (YES! No elbow grease on the grease!)  I'm applying jojoba oil infused with Lime EO on day 2 and day 5 from the ponytail area to the ends and what little sheen is left on my hands I rub into my scalp in areas and then on my hair top and hairline.  I feel that the jojoba nourishes the end parts of my hair where the sebum hasn't reached, which is now 2 inches below my ponytail holder on my bra length long hair.  Then I add jojoba on the ends whenever I do a WO wash to restyle my hair.

My hair has always looked better the dirtier it gets, that's a true curlygirl statement ;)  The same holds true as a no poo curly girl.  I have great light and voluminous curls on day 1 after plopping, and if I do a WO and add jojoba on day two I can repeat the all out curly girl style, then I move on to curly ponytail for a day or two, then another WO and jojoba application #2 on day 5 and onto french braids, ponytails, and buns, first messy then sleek for up to 12 days!!  I think 9 days is my ideal length of time between washes though, even from before no poo.

So I found what works... almost.  I started adding aloe butter as a pomade to get my hairline frizzes to lie down when in a ponytail and my hair looked lovely and healthy.  I loved it!  I've started using it on my lips and on my daughter's hairline frizzies as a pomade as well.

So today is day 11, time for a wash.  I went to visit my dear fiend the SoapBoss who makes handmade soaps at The Canadian Soap Company.  She has lovely soaps that have cured my eczema on my hands completely, I no longer use a moisturizer on my body, now that I'm washing exclusively with her soaps and only got two pedicures for this entire calendar year when I used to get pedicures monthly!  (One on my birthday, a treat not a necessity!) My skin looks great!  I'm also using her all natural goats milk soap as a facial bar right now, with little need for a moisturizer and no breakouts on my combination skin!!

I digress... I also came across an argan oil castille soap in her shop today, and my brain got thinking... I read a lot about argan oil in my search for the coconut oil replacement (that ended up for me being jojoba oil) and remembered it resonated with me because those great store bought moroccan oil products all have argan oil!!  It leaves hair soft and shiny.  As a curly girl, I need oil!  I also need soft and shiny soo.... I bought a bar!

I did an argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

The argan oil soap bar wash was awkward.  How much do I use.  Do I lather on my hands and work it into my scalp area?  When things are dirty you don't get a lather with soap, but using soap nuts and prior to that the BS, I wasn't really thinking about the lather... until it started in one spot and not the others.  So flashes of regression and going back to stage one of this no poo journey flashed through my mind as I continued rubbing and scrubbing the actual argan oil BAR at this point in my hair and scalp getting an even lather.  I rinsed.  You know that squeaky clean feeling that makes me think "DRY" and cringe?  I got that feeling and felt the tears prick my eyelids - what have I done??????   So I continued so i was at least evenly washed on the whole length of my hair and scalp.  Feeling squeaky/waxy and not impressed!!  Then onto my 50% ACV with EO rinse and my hair just went smooth and silky like it melted into my hands!  It was begging for the ACV.... the detangle that followed was relatively easy and ended with a finger detangle while I continued rinsing.  I must say, those itchy spots were a burnin hot hot hot with the ACV!  But soothed once I rinsed with water.

What I learned.... 50% ACV is actually what detangles my hair!!

Then I did a quick BBB and french braided my hair for sleep.  I'll update you on the dried hair & no poo status in the morning, stay tuned.