My hair is pretty thin, but I have a lot of it. My hair was also pretty oily. I used to wash my hair daily with normal shampoo, something I knew was probably contributing to my oily problem, but it's a vicious cycle! I couldn't not wash my hair because it would get oily, and when I washed it I knew I was stripping my hair of its natural oils, thus the overproduction of oil. It was oily within 24 hours of washing, so every morning, I washed it. I did use baby powder and dry shampoo sometimes, but I just didn't love that solution. I should have just cut back on shampoo-ing, dealt with the oil, but I never could bite the bullet. Until…
I figured something as drastic as cutting 8+ inches off my hair could be matched with something as drastic as washing it with an alternative shampoo. A good turning point, if you will. So I just jumped right in. Plus, short hair is so much easier to handle! (Baking soda shampoo isn't slick or easy to maneuver.)
I started my new routine the day after I got it cut off. I have a bottle of dry baking soda in the shower and I put about a teaspoon or two in the palm of my hand. I slowly add drops of water until the consistency reaches something resembling shampoo - not too liquidy or it all slips out of your hand, not too solid or you can't move it around. It doesn't take long to figure out the right consistency for you. Side note - I'd read a lot about people adding lavender or jojoba oils to their baking soda shampoo, because baking soda can irritate your skin or make it itchy, but I haven't and it's been fine.
The first few months, I'd wash my hair with regular shampoo once every ten days or so just in case. Now, after eight months of baking soda shampoo, I can say that I’m a huge fan. My hair is no longer oily, and even my face is less oily at the end of a long day. My hair feels strong and grows pretty fast. Honestly, I did this experiment mostly for my oily hair problem. But I’m also a wannabe-hippie and it feels great to reduce my consumption of plastic bottles and contact with chemicals.
So there it is! Think it’s weird? Questions? Comments? Have you done it?
PS – My husband thinks this is the weirdest thing! Every time we talk about it he says “Whitney, just wash your hair with normal shampoo!” Hehe.
as you know, I'm also a wannabe hippie. I can't believe it's only baking soda. That's it? Does it smell like anything after you wash it? do you still wash it everyday?
ReplyDeleteI'm also a total hippie wannabe, plus I'm cheap. This is the absolute perfect thing for me to try. My hair doesn't get oily (in fact I can go far too long without having to wash it), but I'm still trying this!
ReplyDeleteAh, I'm totally trying this now! I have the same vicious cycle of greasy thin hair, so I 'have' to wash it with shampoo every day! I second Shannon on the conditioner thing. I think my hair absolutely needs it, but I'd love to hear what you do! Thanks for sharing this nifty secret Whitney.
ReplyDeleteWhit! Ok, so I know I'm echoing what everyone has said, but you know I'm such a wannabe-hippie too! And (I admit it:/), you also know I am a big fan of not washing my hair on a daily basis. Lately, however, I have found myself needing to wash it more often, and I have been annoyed by that! All of this to say, I am excited to try this concoction! I am hoping it will be just the remedy I need. (I may have a couple of questions for you about it when we talk next.)
ReplyDeleteI've heard of this but I've always been so scared to try it! I heard there is a bit of an adjustment period where your hair gets super oily and gross...did you experience that at all? I have a similar confession: I don't wash my face. I always had a little bit of acne, but the past year I started "washing" my face with a mixture of olive oil and castor oil and honestly my skin has never looked or felt better! I only do it once a day. In the past few months, I switched from making my own to using Josie Maran's argan oil cleanser, and it's great too! I still only use it once a day and honestly NEVER have pimples. Here's to all-natural beauty!
ReplyDeleteHow cool! I guess I'm just a straight up hippie, because I absolutely refuse to wash my hair on a daily basis, lol (thank the lord for topknots, bobby pins, hairspray and an understanding boyfriend--- 'nuff said)! I've got super thin, greasy hair so my routine is pretty much shampoo + conditioner every other (other.. other...... sometimes other other other?) day, on the off days I wash/cleanse my face with Thayer's Rose Witch Hazel tonic. When my hair gets super oily, I use Dr. Bronner's Lavender or Rose Castille soap alone, without conditioner. That tends to work really well. I find my general technique saves on the water bill, too! After years of doing this, the oil has slowed down... but this baking soda sounds like a great solution to remaining fresh- and cheap, too! I am going to try it out tomorrow.... great idea!!!!
ReplyDeleteDid it- love it!!!!
ReplyDeleteyay!! so glad. and i love that you're a straight up hippie - i always secretly admired that about you! ;) Definitely going to try that witch hazel tonic for my face, too.
ReplyDeletenope, i don't use conditioner at all. i thought i'd eventually need to, but i haven't needed it at all. i guess i just have super oily hair haha! i do wash my hair most days, but recently i've started skipping a day or two a week. it doesn't feel much different. let me know if you try it!
ReplyDeletedefinitely let me know if you try it! i haven't needed any conditioner, but i think it will depend on your hair type, i just haven't needed it. goodluck!
ReplyDeletehey lace! i actually don't think i had much of an adjustment period, if i did it was that my scalp was all of a sudden more dry, so it was itchy. but i really had a smooth transition :) And I love your face washing mixture!! i definitely want to try that, I haven't found a good face routine yet. Let me know if you try the baking soda!
ReplyDelete