This is a picture of my hair, right after I washed it. It's really clean, but (alas) uncombed because I didn't know how messy I look. (Those dark patches under the blond are a result of inept highlighting. Or maybe I'm still in my Kajagoogoo phase.)Here's the neat thing. I washed my hair without shampoo or conditioner. I didn't know it could be done, but I read about it somewhere and gave it a try.
It works! You just keep your head under the shower and massage every inch of your scalp. I took breaks to wash my body and face (also soap-free), and "washed" my hair three times just to be sure (and it was really dirty going in).
My hair felt light and baby-fine. No pollutants, no petroleum.
Why didn't anybody tell us this? All my life I used Janitor in a Drum, followed by a rinse of BP Spill. Never did like the results, so I would put even more products on my hair trying for a little lift, a little swing, a little sumpin fer godssake.
I'm not going all hippie on you, but this is natural. Freedom from plastic bottles!
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Hmm. I read that article, too. I've never used soap on my face and only olive oil soap (which comes in big blocks and lasts forever) on the bod. My favorite shampoo of all time is a Japanese product made from rice bran that has no odor and it takes only a bit the size of a dime to thoroughly do the hair. It has long been my ambition to avoid the chems. Good for you!!
PS On a similar note, I heard from some "expert" somewhere this week (pardon the brain fog) that we need use only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste, if any, to do the job -- and that we should always brush out teeth first thing upon rising.
Kudzu: I'm stunned you've never used soap on your face. I went through my teens using napalm, lye and flesh-eating bacteria. Regret it. Good for you, you look so plush and fresh.
I always use a pea-sized dab of toothpaste, but my teeth are really cleaner if I use more. Wah! I do use those old-fashioned wooden sticks, though. Good.
And! The industry (moving on to laundry) says use less, way less, detergent in your washing machine. Cool!
Not only that, but I've given up deodorant and made My Beloved promise to tell me if I offended. So far, not at all. What made me think I needed that? Ads, that's what!
Zoomie: Remarkable. I'm sure you've heard Napoleon's plea to his wife while he was off fighting war -- "I will be home in three years. Don't bathe."
I think men like a little sniffy. But not a lot.
:)
(Whatever on earth has caused this shift? There's not a visible movement or a lot of ink, but individually we are all taking up the "put down the chemicals" cause.)
I think we finally got wise to the ad men and realized that much of what we use, we don't need and that most of those things contain chemicals that nature didn't provide. Napoleon notwithstanding, neither MB or moi like "sniffy" - I have just found that I don't get sniffy nearly as much as I thought I did. Maybe it's a feature of aging that I don't need those products as much?
Dreadlocks may be in your future. You may be run out of Marin and have to relocate to Bezerkeley.
Zoomie: Well, lucky you. Cranky doesn't get sniffy either, but I do. I read that a swipe under the arms with a lemon slice can quell the sniffies, but I haven't tried it.
Chilebrown: I know. Can I come live with you and Ms. Goofy?
I use shampoo (sans just about everything according to the bottle) but I never comb my hair with anything other than fingers!
I think that this can't be a one size fits all solution. Since I take public transit all the time, I can assure you that a heap of people who don't use deodorant or wash their hair in the conventional ways can produce a whole heap of stink. Ditto for the non using shampoo; I have a friend who stopped using it ages ago. She brushes her hair with powder and I don't have the courage to tell her that there is a distinct aura of unwashed hair when I give her a hug. So, whatever works for you - fine but it's not something that works for everybody. Even though I bathe every day, if I don't use deodorant, there is le odor de BO. Ditto for the hair. But if you don't want to use commercial products, there are plenty of old fashioned soaps, like Castile soap, that do the trick. You can even continually refill your one bottle from stores like Rainbow Grocery what carry it in bulk.
Mouse: Comb with your fingers! How mermaid-y. You must have wavy hair. I'll give it a try myself. (Me: semi-wavy, sorta like undercooked bacon.)
Nancy: I totally agree. We are humans, all, but we have different DNA and the characteristics that entails. I don't know how long I could go with water "shampoos" before I had to make corrections.
Wavy or jaunty curls, depends on the humidity & length :)
My sister in law has wild corkscrew curls and NEVER uses shampoo, only conditioner and her hair smells lovely!
I have never used soap on my face either. I buy a ridiculously expensive toothpaste that is brilliant. But you only use a little so it lasts for ever. It doesn't contain detergent like regular toothpaste. (The detergent is used to make it froth).
I'm going to try the no shampoo wash.
I have to tell you, you are one of the funniest blogs I read. Thank you so much for your insanely irreverent wit and humor. I love it.-stacey
Mouse: Oh, I know those corkscrews! She never uses a comb either, I'll bet.
Barbara: Again, I'm saddened I never knew NOT to use soap on my face. Always had to be squeaky clean, and trashed my natural oils. Have a nice hair wash!
Stacey: Your lurkerhood is forgiven for such a nice compliment! Thank you, and come back.
Goodness no, nor my brother, but for different reasons :)
Oh! (Winky-wink.)
Nar, he's just a grub :)
(You know I was thinking baldy, don't you?)
Well, I am amazed! I had not seen this article, but even though I wash my hair with shampoo (and once very three or four washes I use conditioner), I use "water-only" in between washes, in part because I wash my hair daily, and feel that shampoo is not necessary.
When I do the water wash, my only rule is - very hot water.
My husband is actually the one who first did it and convinced me to give it a try. He's been using this "method" for years!
I was thinking about your no soap life now. I was wondering how that is going. I just found out that one of my coworkers with the notably beautiful complexion uses NOTHING on her face but water. NOTHING! No soap, no lie no lye, no makeup (she is a natural beauty after all, so why cover that up), no moisturizer, not one thing! Heres to water.
Sally BK: Yes, the temperature of the water is critical. I actually felt the scalp grease melt away at one point!
No wonder you have such pretty hair.
Lannae: Heh. Well, water is your friend. You couldn't live without it! I'm amazed your colleague doesn't even use moisturizer; I bet she stays out of the sun, too.
So are you saying that pic is of your hair and not your face because you're too shy, shy? Hush hush eye to eye?
Sean: I've been earworming that song all morning; thanks for the booster shot! Hah.
I am on board with using as few petroleum products as possible, but I have to admit, shampoo is a thing I have found I cannot give up. I tried just water in between shampooings, to no success. i spent a half an hour in there under hot water with my head updide down, but Im always still oily. Cest le vie!
I think this depends highly on how thick your hair is, the texture and how naturally oily your scalp is. Since I was a teen I can only get about a day and a half between shampooings, but I try to get all-natural products and have liked the Burts Bees shampoos as a compromise.
Lauren: Sounds like you gave it your best shot. As I said above to Nancy, we are all different.
Hurrah for Burt's.
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