The Shampoo Free Life

It has been a solid month now since I've last used commercial shampoo/conditioner. I absolutely love it and my hair is grateful as well.

Commercial shampoo/conditioner is expensive, has a ton of chemicals you don't need on you, actually weighs your hair down with the gunk it leaves behind, and if you've ever had outbreaks of acne on your back and shoulders it could be because you didn't wash off the shampoo/conditioner residue off properly. Given all these things, when I found an alternative, I jumped on it.

For my long (down to the middle of my back) hair I use the below recipe:

• Wash:
• 2 Tbs baking soda (Walmart brand in my area is $0.50 for a small box) in 1 cup hot water
• Rinse:
• 1 Tbs Apple Cider Vinegar (about $5 in Safeway for a gallon) in 1 cup cold water
• 5 drops lavender essential oil

My Regime: I mix up my ingredients before getting in the shower and carry on as usual. To wash my hair, I just pour the wash over the top of my head and let it trickle down to the tips. I massage my scalp and the tips of my hair until the BS wash has penetrated all the hair and then wash off right away. In the ACV and essential oil rinse, the EOs float to the top so I flip my hair over and dip the ends of the hair in a cup of the rinse so that it soaks in the ACV and essential oil.  The very last bit of it I pour over my head. I turn the water to very cold and wash everything out of my hair and I'm done!

What's great is that my hair feels softer immediately as it starts to naturally dry. Before, if I let my hair dry naturally it looks like the dry ends of a broom.. i was ready for Halloween. Now, when my hair air-dries it falls more naturally into its wavy form. I'd leave it like this, but I like my hair straight with curly ends.. so I just let it mostly air dry and then just blow dry the very tips into curls. I finish with a dab of Fructis Anti-Frizz Serum on JUST the very tips because it helps keep the curl and form it into individual chunky curls on the ends.

While this hasn't been a "miracle-cure-all" for my hair like it has been for some people, I have definitely seen a major difference. My hair has a bit more body, the ends don't get dry, it just looks healthier, has more shine and luster, and it's definitely softer. I still get greasy hair and have to wash about once a week (I was hoping to go longer than a week between washings) and I still get split ends. But considering how much money I'm saving, how much healthier my hair, and how much more pleasant the experience is, I definitely will continue doing this. Oh and by the way, I can't smell ANY traces of vinegar about 5 min after my shower, and I have a sensitive nose.

Adjustments to the recipe:

• For shorter hair, you can use just 1Tbs baking soda in 1 cup water. If your hair is very short (ear-length) you can use even less and just mix it into a thickish paste that you can just rub in.
• If the above recipe leaves you with dry/brittle hair... use less baking soda and/or more ACV
• If the above recipe leaves you with greasy hair... use less ACV
• If you get dandruff.. before washing use a solution of 1/2 cup White Vinegar and 1/2 cup water
• Play around with the rinse by adding your own blend of essential oils/herbs. Make tinctures (make a "tea") out of different herbs and add to the rinse for different effects:

•  Burdock: root helps prevent dandruff
    Catmint: leaves encourage hair growth and soothes scalp irritations
    Chamomile: flowers soften and lighten hair
    Flannel Mullein: lightens hair
    Goosegrass: tonic and cleansing, helps prevent dandruff
    Henna: red hair dye and conditioner
    Horsetail: non-fertile stems and branches strengthens the hair
    Lavender: antiseptic, antibiotic, stimulates hair growth, and degreases
    Lime: flowers clean and softens
    Marigold: lightens hair color
    Nasturtium: for hair growth
    Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster
    Rosemary: tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair. (This is good to use if you notice your hair lightening due to baking soda use.)
    Rhubarb: the root makes a yellow hair dye
    Sage: tonic and conditioning, darkens the hair
    Southernwood: encourages hair growth and helps prevent dandruff
    Stinging Nettle: tonic and conditioning and helps prevent dandruff
    Witch Hazel: leaves and bark are astringent and cleanses oily hair
    (Source: "Info: Shampoo-Free")

There are also a couple other recipes that I found on (what I call) the "Official Shampoo-Free" resource and I am listing them below. Check out that site too. The gal wrote an amazing article that covers just about everything on the "Shampoo Free Life" and I can easily say that all I know I learned from her. The below recipes sound absolutely intriguing but I have not tested them out so I can't comment on how well they work. If you give any of these a try, let me know how it works!

Hairspray: 

• Chop 2 lemons, add 2 cups water, and simmer in a pan over low heat until lemons are quite soft. Cool, then strain through cheesecloth. Pour into a spray bottle, add 1 Tbsp. vodka, and shake. Dilute with water if too sticky. The vodka ensures it lasts a long time.

• Chop one lemon (or an orange for dry hair). Place in a pot with 2 cups water. Boil until half of the initial amount remains. Cool, strain, and place in a spray bottle. Store in the refrigerator. If it is too sticky, add more water. Add one ounce rubbing alcohol as a preservative and then the spray can be stored for up to two weeks unrefrigerated.

Hair Gel (#1 is not vegan, #2 is)
#1

• 1/2 to 1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
• 1 cup warm water
• Dissolve gelatin in 1 cup warm water. Keep refrigerated and use as you would a purchased gel. 

#2

• One cup water
• 2 tablespoons flax seed
• 1-2 drops of essential oil of your choice.
• Combine the water and seeds in a small saucepan, bring them to a boil and then remove from heat. Set aside for a half hour. Strain through a colander. When completely cooled, add the oil and mix through. Transfer to a wide-mouthed jar with a tight lid (mason jars work well!), and use as you would any other gel product.

Hair Mousse (Not vegan):

• 1/4 cup of plain gelatin     
• 1 cup warm water  
• Dissolve 1/4 teaspoon plain gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Let sit at room temperature until slightly set. Rub into dry or wet hair, and blow dry.