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Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Since I started the "Natural Conditioner Alternatives" thread, I thought it might make sense to make another one for Shampoo!
Please list here your tried and tested all natural, homemade shampoos!
Here's mine (I can't take credit for it though, it is from the book "Beauty Secrets of India".)
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Soapnut Shampoo
1 c. whole soapnuts
1 c. water
1 T. lemon or lime juice
Soak soapnuts in water overnight. Take out the soapnuts, dry them and save in a plastic bag for one more use. You should have 8 oz. soapnut liquid. If not, add enough water to make 8 oz. Add the lemon or lime juice, pour into a squirt bottle and keep in the fridge. Shake before use.
When using, shield your eyes with one hand as the liquid will burn your eyes if it gets in them. Squirt through your scalp and rub lightly (it will run down your ends so don't worry about them). Leave on a few minutes then rinse out.
***
P.S. This liquid is also great for handwashing dishes and wiping down counters, as it is antiseptic and antibacterial.
P.P.S. Also, I notice a LOT less shedding when I use soapnuts!
ETA: Here's a closeup pic of my hair after a few weeks of exclusive soapnut shampoos:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ictureid=23299
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I have some powdered soapnuts (reetha) that i've never used, i might try them though.
My reliable one is Shikakai, though i don't have just one way that i use it. The simplest one though is i add a few teaspoons to a jug and pour on some boiling water, stir, leave to cool down then pour over my hair working it into my scalp. I leave that on for a few minutes then rinse and apply whatever conditioning concoction i'm using that wash.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Your hair so pretty! Is Shikakai what you usually use?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mellie
Your hair so pretty! Is Shikakai what you usually use?
Oh bless your heart darlin! :flowers:
Recently i've been lazy and mainly CO washing, but yes, usually i use the shikakai as a wash then another blend of conditioning herbs afterwards, though i have added a teaspoon of shikakai to the conditioning herbs before as a kind of herbal 2 in 1 thing which can work ok.
Your hair is looking stunning i must say, you got the shine a pantene commercial promises!
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Shucks, thank you! That's the soapnuts! :-)
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ChloeDharma
Recently i've been lazy and mainly CO washing, but yes, usually i use the shikakai as a wash then another blend of conditioning herbs afterwards, though i have added a teaspoon of shikakai to the conditioning herbs before as a kind of herbal 2 in 1 thing which can work ok.
What herbs do you use for conditioning?
And, doesn't your hair become dry from shikakai?
(I have just tried soapnuts, and just one time two days ago.)
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
HotRag
What herbs do you use for conditioning?
And, doesn't your hair become dry from shikakai?
(I have just tried soapnuts, and just one time two days ago.)
No, it's never become dry from using shikakai, though i never have used it on hair that hasn't been thoroughly oiled.
The conditioning herbs i use vary, but powdered methi seed is always included (left overnight for it to swell and release the mucilage) others i include are amla, brahmi, bhringraj, kapur kachli. I sometimes mix some yogurt with it for extra conditioning, or aloe or honey...just depends on my mood really.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I tried shikakai, amla, rice rinse water and combination of these.
Now I am pretty much settled with this recipe.
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300 ml of rice rinse water
2 teaspoons (10ml) of shikakai powder
1 teaspoon (5ml) of amla powder
Add shikakai and amla to rice rinse water. Bring to a boil. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat. Let it cool. Strain with tea strainer. Use half of it per hair wash. I pour the liquid in a Rubbermaid dressing bottle with small tip. Pour over my scalp and rub. Put on a shower cap. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse.
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Rise rinse water is white translucent water you get when I rinse regular California rice before cooking. There is saponin in rice rinse water. When I shake rinse water, it bubbles up like very diluted shampoo.
When I used shikakai alone, or rice rinse water alone, it did not clean my oily scalp well. It was still oily. So I combined the two. Amla adds body to my hair. But if I add too much amla, my hair does not feel silky. So I just add half the amount of Shikakai.
Also I feel a significant difference when I boil and simmer shikakai soup (?). I wonder if someone else here has similar experience.
When I just added powder in hot water, the liquid was somewhat drying for me. So I needed to pre-oil my hair. But if I boil, shikakai liquid not only cleans but conditions my hair, making it easier to comb. My hair feels like I used regular conditioner. Smooth. Also it is not so drying. I don't need to pre-oil.
I seem to be able to extract something from powder when I bring to a boil and simmer.
Saponin is found in variety of grains, such as wheat, soybeans, red beans and chickpeas. But I have not tried any of them yet.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
ChloeDharma
No, it's never become dry from using shikakai, though i never have used it on hair that hasn't been thoroughly oiled.
The conditioning herbs i use vary, but powdered methi seed is always included (left overnight for it to swell and release the mucilage) others i include are amla, brahmi, bhringraj, kapur kachli. I sometimes mix some yogurt with it for extra conditioning, or aloe or honey...just depends on my mood really.
Thank you for your answer.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Where in Australia can I get soapnuts?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Gilly
Where in Australia can I get soapnuts?
Hiya Gilly :waving:
Is there anywhere near you that has a large Indian population? If so check out the grocers there and you might find it, though it tends to be called either reetha or aritha xx
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I found whole soapnuts at my local health food co-op. They are getting popular for doing laundry, so you might find it near the laundry detergents.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
When thinking about natural Shampoo Alternatives most people think about:
-herb washing (soapnut, yucca, soapwort) they clean chemically with rising the ph-level, lowering the surface tension and making it possible to dissolve grease and dirt better than it would be possible with plain water. In general the same way like shampoo, CO or soap do, just that the herbal detergent (saponin) is gentler and better for the environment because itīs gentler, faster degradable and without processing.
- rhassoul powder, which basically is a clay our of silicium and magnesium ions and iron, aluminium and calcium oxides and cleans in a physical way. The particles of it take up fat and dirt and are rinsed out then.
(Leaving out no-poo and soap on purpose as not natural ways of cleaning, imo.)
Another method which is not as common, but works equally to herb or mud washing is egg-cleansing. The cleansing agent here is lecithin, it has an effective but balanced mixture of protein - fat - cleanser and there are some other beneficial things in eggs like sulfur which decreases shedding and stimulates growth.
I wash my hair on and off with eggs since the beginning of ī06 and I used it as my one and only cleansing method since this year. Nothing else. My sebum production has constantly decreased since then and I now need to wash about every 13-14 days. One egg for my midtigh length hair is still enough to clean it if I do not oil heavily the night before, then a doubled recipe is needed.
The basic recipe is: 1 whole egg mixed with one teaspoon honey - mix well until the honey is dissolved and then add a squirt lemon juice (or citric acid or ascorbic acid or any other ingredient which is acidic). Mix well again.
Sometimes I add some henna or cassia to make it less runny and some skin-safe EOs if there are scalp imbalances of some sort or just for scent.
I apply it to wet and already rinsed hair under the shower and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how greasy my hair is. Rinse out with warm water. And following it with an acidic rinse, chamomile tea with a pinch of ascorbic-acid, in my case.
Myths: Rinsing egg-shampoo with freezing cold water is not necessary, even if rinsed warm/hot it will still not cook in your hair! Regardless how hot I shower it never cooked on my head. If you do not change the ratio of the shampoo drastically, itīs impossible to happen. Egg protein becomes hard / denatures at about 60°C / 140°F and I doubt that anybody showers that hot. Adding acid to the egg lowers that temperature to some degree, but if you do not add too much, itīs still safe and the honey seems to buffer that effect somehow.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Finoriel, thanks for adding your recipe!!
I tried an egg shampoo the other day and got little bits of egg albumen in my hair though....I didn't even use hot water, it was lukewarm. I think it was that stringy bit that connects the yolk to the albumen. Do you strain the egg first, Finoriel?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Finoriel:
Isn't there a risk to get protein problems if one is using egg?
I mean problems like dry hair.
When I use CO, I do not use conditioners with proteins in them, because my hair got drier and felt "harder" (in a bad way, "strävt" in Swedish but I don't know the exact English word for this, maybe "opposite to silky").
I wonder if the egg white is doing anything good, or if that could been thrown away (or cooked and eaten) and one takes 2 yolks or something instead.
I have tried egg yolk in SMT but not too often. The last time I CO:ed, my hair got "hard" (not silky) and felt a little dry.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mellie
Finoriel, thanks for adding your recipe!!
I tried an egg shampoo the other day and got little bits of egg albumen in my hair though....I didn't even use hot water, it was lukewarm. I think it was that stringy bit that connects the yolk to the albumen. Do you strain the egg first, Finoriel?
Do you mean the membrane? I got that part stuck in my hair once and it was annoying to get out, lol. You can get most of it out with a fork before you put it in your hair. That's how my mom does it. She thinks that part is gross and won't eat it because it reminds her of an umbilical cord, so she always removes it, lol. *shrugs* I guess you could strain it, but I've never tried.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Yes the "string" connection between egg yolk and egg white (not sure about the English term) is a bit sticky, if it bothers you, just fish it out of the shampoo before using it. :p I´m too lazy to do that and just remove any leftover bits of it when my hair is dry again. I´m not bothered by them.
Maybe that´s what some people think it is "cooked" egg :shrug:
The protein is not a problem at all in this recipe. Hair is protein. I do not get the whole rave about how bad protein is. It is not. There are oils like coconut oil which help to protect the hair from protein-loss when it get´s older and a little worn out with time. So not loosing/adding a tiny bit of protein is a good thing for hair. Maybe there is a difference in processed protein and natural ones. Processed protein like wheat or silk protein which are used in shampoos or conditioner tend to overcondition the hair, build up and cling to older/rougher parts of it, which can make them feel dry because they stick so good to the hair and oils or other conditioning agents can not get through that layer that good. Similar to cones, just not as persistent. At least that´s my theory :wink:
I´m also not getting the point in just using egg yolk or just using egg white. Why? I mean what´s the reason? I know that many people seem to preach that the yolk is THE thing, but after having a close look at the components of it and many experiments, that´s just irreproducible for me. The balance in oils, lecithin and sulfur with yolk and white mixed is perfect for cleaning and conditioning scalp and hair. And what do you want to do with the leftover anyways? I do not like to waste food, so I avoid leftovers. And mind you this is supposed to be a cleaning method. Gentle but still cleaning the hair, not a mask or deep treatment. For this it may be beneficial to just use the yolk, but for cleaning purpose it´s not.
I have experimented with yolk only and I also have tried egg white only, left out the honey and/or the acidic component. Just out of interest and to check my thoughts. :shrug: All different options did not give results as good as the full recipe. And after using it one year, my hair is not stiff at all. Just make sure to rinse good after using and you should be fine.
Hope that makes things clearer :)
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Yes, thank you, Finoriel.
I will try this, but first try out soapnuts some more - adding amla and hibiscus, try different dilutions and so on.
I think you may very well have a point with protein issues and processed protein.
So at least I will try the egg wash for some time (after the soapnut testing).
BTW, the leftover (the white). I am happy to eat it (cooked). Or give my dog (cooked). So nothing is wasted here either :-)
I have not the facts about what eggwhite has in it (besides protein). I only know you should cook eggwhite before eating, because of avidin.
Do you know what the white gives to the egg mixture for hair wash?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
There's also the egg yolk shampoo. I tried it, and it made my hair very very soft.
Since the alkaline is mostly at the white of the egg, when using the yolk only there's no need for acidic addition.
So the recipe I made out for myself:
Take 1-2 eggs, separate the white from the yolk and keep it aside for your home cooked Japanese meals. Take a cup or a bowl, and put the yolk in it. Add little bit of water (NO hot water! You'll cook the yolk! Lukewarm is fine), we don't want our shampoo be too runny. Optional: Add a tablespoon of olive oil. Mix all the ingredients (with a fork or the special thingy for mixing eggs).
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I tried JaneyTilllie's rosemary/nettle egg shampoo with rosemary/nettle rinse on YouTube the other day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aylex...eature=channel
It worked well, (besides the little stringy egg bits) although I had some issues with my scalp burning (I think it was the rosemary which I might leave it if I were to try it again, rosemary has some safety issues, see my blog if you are interested). My hair was clean and pretty, maybe just the slightest tiniest bit greasy near my face, but I have very greasy scalp/hair.
Also, it smelled wonderful!
I do notice in the photos from my blog that my hair that day didn't seem as shiny as with the soapnuts though.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
HotRag, do not tell me you eat egg white without the yolk :wink: I know it´s theoretically possible to do that... but... but... but they just taste better complete :lol: and I do not like to save up half an egg for baking sometime later, probably a long time later :wink:, when I can use it up complete and get better results with it, too. And general lack of dogs in my house, just a picky cat :rolleyes: who seems to hate eggs in general. She even avoids me on hairwash days - ahem... anyways.
I found this reference about egg-facts, maybe you´ll find them interesting:
Nutrient Breakdown
Learn more about eggs
In conclusion: The yolk contains all of the fat in an egg and with about 33% of the weight it contains a little less than half of it´s protein. It´s responsible for the emulsifying properties (lecithin) also. So the yolk is the protein and fat bomb in the egg and acts as the cleansing agent as well.
edited to add: If you have ever made your own mayonnaise you will know how much oil a simple egg yolk can emulsify "away". It´s a lot.
The egg white contains the majority of the sulfur (reduction of shedding and growth stimulating andsoon) and lowers the cleaning effect of the egg when used as a wholeeggshampoo. Makes the recipe less harsh. That´s why you do not need to add oil or water to my version of the egg shampoo. Egg yolk based shampoos are either very good cleansers which possibly act drying - or need to contain additional oil / be watered down to make the shampoo more balanced.
Sure you can get your hair clean with 1001 different methods, the point is more how gentle it is to long hair and how oneself personally likes the preparing, usage and result of a recipe. So it´s mainly just a matter of taste and that´s just how I prefer my eggs (sounds :eyebrows: , lol) and why.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Hi there,,
This is really intresting,,as i am using natural alternatives for hair washing,,,I found soapnut (Aritha) as a good cleanser but once a 2 week i sure like to do a egg protein treatment,,Mixing Egg and fenugreek powder (methi powder) for 30 min sumthing or more if one can tolerate and than washing it out ,,,ofcourse with little diluted SLS free shampoo..It does makes a good difference,, :)
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mellie
Since I started the "Natural Conditioner Alternatives" thread, I thought it might make sense to make another one for Shampoo!
Please list here your tried and tested all natural, homemade shampoos!
Here's mine (I can't take credit for it though, it is from the book "Beauty Secrets of India".)
***
Soapnut Shampoo
1 c. whole soapnuts
1 c. water
1 T. lemon or lime juice
Soak soapnuts in water overnight. Take out the soapnuts, dry them and save in a plastic bag for one more use. You should have 8 oz. soapnut liquid. If not, add enough water to make 8 oz. Add the lemon or lime juice, pour into a squirt bottle and keep in the fridge. Shake before use.
When using, shield your eyes with one hand as the liquid will burn your eyes if it gets in them. Squirt through your scalp and rub lightly (it will run down your ends so don't worry about them). Leave on a few minutes then rinse out.
***
P.S. This liquid is also great for handwashing dishes and wiping down counters, as it is antiseptic and antibacterial.
P.P.S. Also, I notice a LOT less shedding when I use soapnuts!
ETA: Here's a closeup pic of my hair after a few weeks of exclusive soapnut shampoos:
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/...ictureid=23299
where do you buy your soapnuts from? I so want to try this
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Lately I have found them locally at my local health food co-op in the laundry detergents area. But the first time, I ordered them online from Amazon.com. I got the "Lullwater" brand ones.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mellie
Lately I have found them locally at my local health food co-op in the laundry detergents area. But the first time, I ordered them online from Amazon.com. I got the "Lullwater" brand ones.
Thanks. I think I have the Aritha powder at my place. If I use powder how do I do it that way?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I've never used the powder, but from what I understand, you just add enough water to make a paste and apply to your hair then rinse out.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I'd like to try washing my hair with egg yolks but I am worried about the smell.
My scalp does not like essential oils so that is not a possibility for overcoming the smell issue.
Any advice?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mellie
I've never used the powder, but from what I understand, you just add enough water to make a paste and apply to your hair then rinse out.
yeah it didn't work so well this way. I just read somewhere to boil it and strain it..hmm I may try that with some orange peel powder I have. I plan to order whole soapnuts next week and use them for laundry as well :D how long does your soapnut shampoo last before going rancid?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I haven't had it go rancid on me yet...I usually use it within a week or so though. I wash my dishes with it too!
If you add in some EOs it might help make it last a little longer too!
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
I've been reading all the soapnut stuff but doubted I could buy some locally (not much of an Indian population nearby) until I checked in the clothes washing section of an independant health food shop today.....yey result! :disco:Some are soaking now. I've rubbed a bit of the liquid thats soaked a while on my neck and the inside of my elbow as a skin test overnight. I'm rubbish at testing things as I never normally react but I found recently that bicarbonate of soda made my neck and chest itchy as hell when I tried using it as a hair cleanser (it was not a strong solution, just the 1tbsp to one cup of water I've seen sugested in various places).
I'll be trying it tommorrow!
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Oh Boy I Love This Place:D
Washing hair with egg? who knew, something I didn't know existed and now can't wait to try. This sounds so simple, tell me egg heads :p I mean that in the best way ;) do you need a conditioning rinse or oil afterwards? I am having a lot of tangle/dry issues at the moment and don't mind adding a conditioning/ moisture treatment if it's needed.
Finoriel- you said you use a chamomile tea and acid rinse after, if you don't mind me asking, is it for moisture? detangling? or just as a nice smelly end?
I am reminded every time I come to these boards of the wealth of information here, come hell, or high water, I will have great hair.:D
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Catfish, I do egg washes occasionally, and they work really well for me. My hair is very fine thin and prone to tangles, but I haven't noticed any more or less tangling when I do egg washes. I have tweaked various egg shampoo recipes that I've found online. Here is what I do:
ERIN'S EGG SHAMPOO
-1 egg yolk
-juice of 1/2 lemon (or a whole lemon if your hair is very oily)
-about 1/2 cup water
Mix all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and use within 3 days.
(note: sometimes I substitute rosemary tea for the lemon juice)
I don't put in any oil because my hair is very oily already, so you might need a few drops of oil if your hair is dry. Also, my hair is short, so if your hair is long you will need 2 egg yolks instead of just 1.
To use: I thoroughly wet my hair, and then apply about half of the egg mixture. I massage it into my hair and scalp, and rinse. Then I massage in the rest of the mixture, leave it in my hair for 3-5 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. You can use a mild vinegar rinse if desired, but it's not necessary.
Hope this helps! :)
Erin :blossom:
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
MagpieLaura, that's so cool!! Yay!! Keep us posted! :-)
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
quick qestion I am tryign to buy sopanuts but all i keep seeing is soapnut shells. Which one do I buy?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Yes, the soapnut shells is what I use! Are you able to find them locally?
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mellie
Yes, the soapnut shells is what I use! Are you able to find them locally?
I just ordered whole soapnuts and I could have gotten a ton of shells cheaper:dizzy: now how the heck do i use whole soapnuts :confused: I had to order them online, but I guess $20 isnt bad for 68 soapnuts; plus we plan to use them as a laundry detergent :D
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
My hair is not tangle prone at all as itīs stick straight and medium thick. So, Iīm sorry catfish that I can not say if egg washing is improving for that aspect or not. For me it stayed the same > not tangling.
Chamomile and ascorbic acid rinse has very simple reasons. Lemons are reported to be drying, they are expensive here and most times you would not find them in my house. Ascorbic acid is something I always have at home for my animals and me when dealing with a cold. It has no scent and is very easy to dose exact.
Chamomile is because itīs a skin safe herb and is even supporting a healthy scalp and of course :wink: I like the smell, but it disappears as soon as my hair is dry. I think it also gives my hair a slight golden shine which supports the copper tone I like, but thatīs very subtle and could also be wishful thinking :p . Something I also like is birchleaf tea (not recommended for blond hair) as a rinse base, when my scalp is dry and a little more flaky in winter. It smells very "green and herby" though.
In general my experience was that herb rinses do not do much for my hair, except subtly changing itīs colour sometimes... hibiscus gave me lilac-auburn which looked hideous with my skin tone. So I tend to choose herb teas for rinses after their effects on the skin. Happy scalp = happy growing.
The only "conditioning" I sometimes need these days is oil for the very last tips of my hair... about past classic. And about every other month I do a yogurt deep treatment, but itīs not really necessary more some sort of habit from the sulphate days. So depending on how stressed you hair is, itīs possible that you do not need much conditioning with this washing method.
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
My hair is drying after my first try at soapnut washing!
Fingers crossed... I found from other washing experiments that you never really know until it dries. Shampoo is easy - bung it on, it lathers, hair is clean (maybe too clean!). I've been CO washing for about 6 months and tried BS a few times too and have definately learnt not to just go out with wet hair and let it dry in public until you've sorted out your technique! I'm at home alone all day and if nessesary can devise a hairdo that hides any weirdness or even wash in again some other way this afternoon. It didn't really feel like it was cleaning much because there in no lather or "slip" and there wasn't the slightly squeaky feel I've got from BS but so far its looking promising. I followed it with a cider vingar rinse with a dab of honey and (because of the odd smell the soapnut liquid had) a couple of drops of lavender EO.
My hair feels quite thick and I found the ends difficult to comb through so I put a bit of coconut oil on (ends only) to ease detangleing.
:cheese:Will report back further later!:cheese:
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Lora410, the shells and whole soapnuts are usually the same thing (just different wording). Unless somehow you got actually whole soapnuts with the seeds still inside, but they don't normally sell them that way.
Did you look around locally? I have been seeing them at the health food co-op in the laundry detergent area!
MagpieLaura, I can't wait to see/hear your results!! :-)
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Re: Natural Shampoo Alternatives
Quote:
Originally Posted by
mellie
Lora410, the shells and whole soapnuts are usually the same thing (just different wording). Unless somehow you got actually whole soapnuts with the seeds still inside, but they don't normally sell them that way.
Did you look around locally? I have been seeing them at the health food co-op in the laundry detergent area!
MagpieLaura, I can't wait to see/hear your results!! :-)
They actually are WHOLE..lol so I am assuming I need to de-seed them before soaking or using them? I haven't looked at our health food store because it is a bit of a cummute as well as our indian food store. Oh I coudl plant a soapnut tree :D