Let's just say that my experiment with baking soda (bicarb) taught me one thing. I don't like it! My hair was really stringy and dry in spite of reducing the amount of baking soda dramatically. We are on well water, so perhaps that was the determining factor ~ I'll never know. I brushed my hair well, I rinsed it well, I tried everything. Blech.
What I DID really like using was my homemade cold pressed soap! It lathers luxuriously, cleans well, rinses well, and doesn't irritate my sensitive skin. I usually suffer from a dry itchy scalp (especially in winter as it's so dry here) but that problem has totally resolved with the use of my soap.
Additionally, my hair seems less greasy the next day. Using shampoo somehow stimulated my scalp to produce a lot of oil in spite of being dry and itchy. What a weird combination! All that is gone - I wake up to hair that is not in dire need of another wash.
Having one bar in the shower to wash hair and body with is pure simplicity at it's finest and THAT is not to be underestimated! Easy on the budget, natural, self made so I know what's in it, and pleasant to use - what could be better?
As for rinsing, with short hair I'd imagine not needing any conditioner or rinses. My hair is currently shoulder length and it benefits from a weak vinegar and water rinse. I have scented mine with rosemary essential oil but you could use anything you like. Every few days, I am using a very small amount of conditioner ONLY on the ends because they are dry from using the baking soda (bicarb). One I get my ends trimmed in a few days, I'll probably be able to abolish that practice all together.
So, my friends, who knew the best solution is practically free and right under my nose?! Thanks, Rhonda for a versatile and simple soap recipe - it has truly transformed how we clean our hands, hair and bodies :)
I too have been washing my hair in my homemade soap, and an infusion of diluted rosemary/vinegar. My hair has improved out of sight, it still has a way to go, but it doesn't fall out in clumps like it used to everytime I put conditioner on it, and I suffer less with itchy lumps on the base of my scalp, around the hairline. The only downside is that I find I do need to wash my hair more often or it feels greasy, but if I'm not leaving the house, I don't bother, so it has worked well for me to. I wouldn't go back to commercial shampoo/conditioner.
ReplyDeleteI tried the baking soda and really didn't like it, either. I do like to rinse with the apple cider vinegar, though. Plus it brings out the red in my hair! Plus, I learned I had to *really* rinse well after using conditioner, otherwise it was greasy rather quickly.
ReplyDeleteI dropped the baking soda and vinegar too - it did not clean my hair adequately :S I put it down to my long hair but who knows... But I have just made my first batch of Rhonda's soap so I will try using that for my hair too! I am cutting all my bathroom items down to the bare minimum (have you seen the story of cosmetics?) so having only one bar of soap in the shower will be great.
ReplyDeleteI'm reluctant to do the bicarb/soda thing, I use organic products. When we have our annual fortnight off I plan to make some more soap so your info is useful.
ReplyDeleteWell I guess I need everyone's soap recipes. I have tried two different kinds of homemade soap that I bought online. One was a "shampoo" soap and the other wasn't. The first one lathered nice but was extremely drying to my hair, the second one was not as bad but my hair is still breaking (and I do still use conditioner--shoulder or slightly below hair length). I have made my own soap again and will be trying it. Oh, I tried the baking soda and vinegar and it worked great for me, did not dry my hair at all but I just really hate putting somethings cold, wet and gritty on my hair in the shower. It just did not have a nice feel to it.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky - absolutely I recommend Rhonda's soap recipe. The links in my post should take you right to it! :)
ReplyDeleteNice one, Sherri! Rhonda inspired me to use our homemade soap for washing hair too..it's great and you are spot on about the lather!
ReplyDeleteVinegar/water rinse here too, it's been nearly two years since I bought shampoo for my hair, amazing. A herb infusion in place of the water makes a nice addition. We have heaps of rosemary so I use that although I was just reading in a herby book the other day that parsley water is good for sensitive scalps, which I'd like to try too! Enjoy those lovely clean locks :)
Thank you. I did use olive oil, coconut oil and a little castor oil in my last batch. Hopefully my own soap will turn out to be a good, non-drying one to use on my hair.
ReplyDeleteBecky, that sounds really lovely, I'm sure it will nice and gentle on your hair :)
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