Cider vinegar and bicarbonate of soda

[ailbhe]

I tried a few different solid shampoos from not-Unilever-etc suppliers, and none of them rinsed out of my hair properly. Not even the Lush one. The Lush one with conditioner was ok, but it refused to rinse out fully, always left a residue that I could detect.

So I gave up and, rather than going back to Dove, went to baking soda wash with a vinegar rinse. And from the first wash, my hair was not sticky, easy to comb, and clean-feeling.

I meant to look up how I ought to be doing it somewhere, but in the end I just made up a random paste of baking soda and water, and a random solution of vinegar and water, and rubbed the former into my hair and rinsed it out with the latter.

It's great. The only possible downside is that washing my hair takes a little longer than it used to with regular shampoo, but it's quicker than rinsing out the solid shampoos, so that's ok. I shower fast anyway. Oh, and it may be contributing to the dry skin on my scalp and hands, but I'm not sure about that, that could just be pregnancy.

I was a bit worried that massaging the paste into my very fine, very thick hair would be Too Hard, but it wasn't. And the bicarb makes a nice facial exfoliant too; my face is softer and smoother and not drying out, where before it was rough and spotty. That's pregnancy too.

I'll need some convincing to go back to using shampoo, I think. I'm a happy hippie sometimes :)

Comments

[moustachios.livejournal.com]

A little bit of honey helps with the dryness (and it conditions!).

[moustachios.livejournal.com]

Oh, and it's possible there's a too-high concentration of baking soda; it might be better to dilute a teaspoon of so in a bowl, and then pour it over your head.

[hitchhiker.livejournal.com]

wow - i need to try that! wonder how it'll work on my rather thick hair.

[ailbhe]

Yeah, I was thinking that now I have the shampoo residue washed out I can use a thinner paste.

[ruthi.livejournal.com]

Yay! It's great that it's working for you.
Does your hair smell like vinegar afterwards?

[ailbhe]

Nope. It is dilute vinegar, of course. But I've had it independently confirmed, by a friend, that it doesn't.

[the-warwick.livejournal.com]

Can you pass on a url where you looked up stuff. Mine is fine as hell and I tend to itch on the scalp. I'm currently giving it the chemical treatment and would like to get it under my control?

[ailbhe]

I meant to look up how I ought to be doing it somewhere, but in the end I just made up a random paste of baking soda and water, and a random solution of vinegar and water, and rubbed the former into my hair and rinsed it out with the latter.

So no, no url, sorry. I was going to google.

[nicolechan.livejournal.com]

Sounds interesting, I should give it a try sometime. I tend to get rather dry scalp so maybe that would help out. I've also learned that taking a cooler shower helps with dry skin. My husband takes extremely hot showers and his skin and scalp are always so dry, even cracking. I've started taking almost luke warm showers and it has helped.

[porcinea.livejournal.com]

I don't expect I'll ever use shampoo again.

[(Anonymous)]

From various things you've written in your journal, I thought you might be interested in this company. Annabelles. (www.annabelles.com.au). It's run by two Australian sisters and all their products use 100% natural ingredients and are made to order. They have solid shampoos which are absolutely divine and use a apple cider vinegar and lavender to rinse. Your hair will feel VERY clean and smooth.

Annabelles have lots of great skincare products as well... all natural! The prices are quite reasonable, also.