dirty little secret
See that cute little scarf trick I did there? It’s hiding my hasn’t-been-washed-in-9-days hair. Are you judging? Hang on, lemme explain…
First, I should probably tell you that I’m totally skeeved out by all of the crazy chemicals found in cosmetics and body care products; things like formaldehyde, lead, and mercury, oh my!! While I’ve always tried to be conscientious about the things I eat, I never paid much attention to what I slathered on my skin. That is, until my mom-in-law was diagnosed with breast cancer back in 2008. During her treatment, she spent a lot of time researching the possible links between these chemicals and our health, and some of the facts are pretty scary. Since then, I’ve done my best to stock our medicine cabinet and shower caddy with all-natural and organic products, including aluminum-free deodorant, handmade goats milk soaps from a local farm, and olive oil moisturizers, to name a few.
But hair is tricky! I’ve yet to find a line of {affordable} natural haircare products that keep my thick hair shiny and manageable, so I try to compensate by only lathering up every 7-10 days. And it turns out shampooing less has made my hair and scalp so much healthier. I get through the week with dry shampoo; but by day 7, hats and scarves are a girl’s best friend.
Does anyone remember the big “no-poo” craze that went around a few years ago? Girls were forgoing shampoo for up to 8 weeks at a time, and claiming it gave them magical unicorn tresses. My girlfriends and I were fascinated — but too chicken to try it out. What’s the longest you’ve gone without sudsing up?
And natural haircare recommendations welcome!
The Comments
The Vanilla 47 Site
Spot on with this write-up, I absolutely think this web site needs much more attention. I’ll probably be returning to see more, thanks for the info!
workout routines for men
We stumbled over here from a different web
address and thought I might as well check things out.
I like what I see so now i am following you.
Look forward to finding out about your web page yet again.
pagebypaigebeauty
I love the scarf detail and your bracelet on your right wrist. It almost looks like a watch, but I can’t tell. Awesome outfit!
video how-to: scarf wrapped side ponytail | A Pretty Penny
[…] filmed an how-to for this scarf-wrapped ponytail weeks ago, after a few of you requested a tutorial. Then I forgot about it. The clips sat untouched […]
winnie
My friend is into the all natural, no-chemical craze as well and she raves about Acure Argan Shampoos. I recently tried it out and surprisingly, it lathers just as well as the chemical laden shampoos as well.
crazyoldratlady
Holland And Barratt stock a brand called Dr Organic that is paraben and sodium lauryl sulphate free. The shower gels can be used as shampoos. I like Knotty Boy’s shampoo bars. The Vanilla is particularly lovely and is 100% natural and residue free.
keiralennox
crazyoldratladyThank you so much for sharing this! I’ve been reading a lot about shampoo bars, and I’m really curious to give them a try.
crazyoldratlady
keiralennoxYou can find out more about their ‘All Purpose’ shampoo bars by typing Knotty Boy All Purpose Shampoo Bar into Amazon. Tahitian Vanilla is my favourite but the Sandalwood & Ginger & Orange are lovely too. They also do a natural conditioning spray which although marketed at dreadlocks is suitable for brushable hair too. My son has psoriasis on his scalp and this is the only thing that conditions without being heavy and doesn’t aggravate his skin condition.
I like that their products are 100% chemical free and biodegeadable. A lot of friends use them for camping purposes because they can be used in streams without damaging the environment. They double up nicely for handwashing, washing delicates whilst on holiday, etc.
Another brand worth looking into is Dr Bronners. This too is 100% natural and can be used for just about everything from washing hair, cleaning teeth, bathing, showering, hand washing clothing, cleaning thr house, etc. It comes in solid and liquid form in lovely fragrances such as rose and almond.
I prefer Knotty Boy and that’s the one I’d recommend out of the two however both are infinitely better than the mainstream chemical laden store alternatives.
Lush also do a solid bar but be aware that they contain SLS which is a known skin irritant.
Victoria
How funny, I recently discovered the magic of head scarves. Now I never have to worry about a “bad hair” day or dirty hair – I can cover it up!
hannahrosekeys
With that smile, I think you can get away with dirty hair!
I started no-pooing just over a week ago (the old baking soda and apple cider vinegar trick) after I finally decided to commit to trying it properly, and I’m aiming for at least a month.
I read that the first little while you kind of have to go through a gross transition phase, but thankfully, my thick, dry hair hasn’t turned into a grease monkey since I made the switch. It’s been very full, a little frizzy, but mostly totally manageable.
Two days ago though, I decided to add a couple of drops of rose hip oil to the apple cider vinegar dilution and after drying, I smoothed a tiny bit more through my hair after warming it in my hands.
Cue boyfriend: ‘Wow, your hair looks good. It’s like, shiny or something.’
Dude – he wasn’t kidding! Rose hip oil just took the whole thing next level for me – so I have renewed confidence I can stick it out for the whole month!
Good luck with your hair experiments – surely we’ll be better off for it! :)
(Love your blog by the way, you’re awesome.)
lizzielanni
Reblogged this on lizzielanni.
Sarah
I go 4 days usually – I’m a teacher and I wear my hair up every day so I feel no need to wash it every day… I do wash my bangs every day with a natural shampoo from lush cosmetics made from beer!
crazyoldratlady
SarahSarah: Sadly, Lush products aren’t as natural as they claim to be. All their shampoos, soaps and shower gels contain SLS which is a known skin irritant. They’re better, on a whole, than mainstream store products however, for example, Knotty Boy shampoo bars cost £8.99, are 100% natural and chemical free and last me around 2 years. Used once a week it would still last over a year. The Lush solid bars don’t last anywhere near as long.
foreverebekka
Please do a blog post on the organic products you use and when you find an organic hair product range please make sure you include that too as I never actually thought about the chemicals in hair products!? X also feel free to check out my newly set wordpress blog! ForeveRebekka.wordpress.co.uk
keiralennox
foreverebekkaI definitely will! I’m trying out a few new products for an upcoming post :-)
foreverebekka
keiralennoxoh good! I never really thought about the chemicals in the hair products but I looked after reading your blog post and its actually quite shocking so I definitely want to find a new organic one! Thanks! :-)
mrsLNS
I don’t go quite 9 days, but I regularly go 4. I use aveda products which I believe to be pretty solid in the top tier of better options for us!
keiralennox
mrsLNSI’ve heard great things about Aveda! Unfortunately, there aren’t any retailers that carry it close by. What are your favorite Aveda products?
mrsLNS
keiralennoxI just did a post on my favorites actually! You can see them here- http://asgoldasitgets.wordpress.com/2013/03/20/my-must-have-hair-prep/
I actually prefer ordering their things online because they often have spend x amount of dollars and get free samples… so you can try lots of their goodies!
supportthebride
I’ve been recomnded Kirk’s Castile soap. Its natural coconut oil and very gentle on the hair. You should give that a try x
Lindsey
First off – I love reading your blog! Thanks for sharing your life with us. :)
Anyway, I’ve been trying to go longer without washing my hair. I would estimate my record at this point is 4, maybe 5 days. My issue is that I have psoriasis on my scalp in a couple of small spots, and it itches like crazy if I don’t use a dandruff shampoo like head & shoulders. Have you heard of any natural or less chemical-laden shampoos that are good for itchy scalps? Also, I’ve been told that dry shampoo usually has just as many chemicals as regular shampoo…. have I been hearing wrong? Or are there certain dry shampoos that are ‘healthier’ than others?
keiralennox
LindseyHi Lindsey!
Psoriasis is such a delicate condition, so that’s a tough one. My first thought would be to stick with what works and doesn’t irritate your scalp… If the Head & Shoulders works, stick with it but maybe squeeze in as many days between shampoos as you can? I’m on a search for great natural hair care as we speak, so if I find anything that may be helpful for you I will definitely pass it along!
And you’re right about dry shampoo; they can be just as chemical-laden as the regular stuff. One reader recommended using corn starch as an inexpensive natural substitute! I haven’t tried it yet myself, but I plan to soon.
hannahrosekeys
LindseyHey Lindsey – glad I spotted this comment before I left – I have scalp psoriasis too!
It sounds like mine is a bit more severe, but just wanted to share my experience with you:
I’ve always used shampoos like T-Gel, with a coal tar element, others with Salycylic Acid, and sometimes Head & Shoulders too, and they can help with itching, but they’re full of chemicals, and they don’t do anything to help clear the psoriasis so I’ve been on the hunt for an alternative!
I started washing my hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar (google ‘no-poo’ for exact measurements) because I’d read that it was good for your hair, and that it has completely cleared scalp psoriasis in some cases.
It’s just over a week in, and while my hair has been adjusting to the change, my scalp has been surprisingly cool with it; so no itching! While I’m yet to see any actual improvement in the psoriasis, I’ll give it a chance to do some good for a few more weeks.
I’ll do a post about the results in a few weeks time on my blog http://www.madamfrank.com if you’re interested!
Stay tough against that dreaded itch :) x
Danielle
I love Giovanni shampoo and conditioner. It is very low on the skindeep scale and works really well. I get it on vitacost, so it’s cheaper than at Target or any health food store.
keiralennox
DanielleThank you for sharing this, Danielle! I’m going to check this out!
Brittnay Estes
I’ve always been scared to wear my jean top with jeans I’m so happy I found this post! It looks awesome!!!
keiralennox
Brittnay EstesGo for it! I love super soft chambrays paired with heavier, structured denim.
blondescientist
I’ve switched to using eco-friendly, natural hair products. It is really scary what gets put into beauty products. Great post!
Check out my blog if you get a chance:)
http://blondescientist.wordpress.com
keiralennox
blondescientistDo you have any favorite brands or products?
blondescientist
keiralennoxMy number one favourite shampoo is from Sea Chi Organics, Tasmanian lavender shampoo! It’s all natural, smells great and leaves your hair feeling silky smooth.
keiralennox
blondescientistYou had me at lavender! It’s my very favorite fragrance. Thank you for these recommendations!
dansledetails
I also made the transition of using natural non sulfate shampoo instead of regular products with all those harsh chemicals. It really has made a difference in not drying out my hair and I no longer need to wash as often!
keiralennox
dansledetailsDo you have any favorite brands or products?
dansledetails
keiralennoxRecently, purchased Natures Gate jojoba shampoo it works great for my hair type. Also, I think Bioinfusium, and Organix are also great brands
Cassandra
Quite a bit off topic, Where is that bracelet from? and how DID you do the scarf trick?
I work out four times a week and have to shampoo.. But a friend of mine showed me a great natural shampoo bar recipe. She says that on day 5-7 you wanna quit because your hair looks a hot mess, but if you stick with it, its actually washing out all the crap you put in your hair and making your natural oils kick in and do their job. Here’s a natural deodorant recipe http://www.theeverythingsoapblog.com/2012/03/recipe-best-natural-deodorant.html
and a natural lotion bar ( i put peppermint and lavender in mine OMG! the best) http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2012/04/make-your-own-lotion-bars.html
keiralennox
CassandraThe bracelet is from INPINK, last season. Here’s a cute alternative (with bees!): http://www.inpink.com/bracelets/white-stone-gold-tone-bees-cuff-bracelet.html As for the scarf trick, it’s super simple! Maybe I’ll do a quick little tutorial video over the weekend and share it next week!
Thank you for the great links! I’ve made deodorant before and it worked really well. Here’s my version: http://aprettypennyblog.com/2010/10/14/diy-natural-deodorant/
I’m going to give the natural lotion bar a go, too!
Thanks, Cassandra!!
peggy
I tried the no-poo, vinegar thing for about 2 weeks then caved. I wanted something that smelled good and I missed suds! But I’m another gluten intolerant girl here and it’s in every thing. I switched to natural shampoos but they seem to make your hair look terrible! I wash every other day, but due to working out, I have to wash it often! This is a great topic!
Kat G.
peggyI agree that some of the natural shampoos are just terrible (um I love burts bees, but their shampoo makes my hair look and feel like it’s still greasy!). Try Say Yes to Carrots in cucumber, it’s all natural and I thought worked just as well as it’s chemical-filled counterparts!
keiralennox
Kat G.I’ve had the same experience with BB! I love just about everything else they make, but their haircare products didn’t jive well with my hair texture. I just picked up some Say Yes to Carrots on the advice of another reader, and I’m excited to give it a try!
keiralennox
peggyUgh, gluten intolerance is such a battle. You’re right, it’s in everything. If I find out about any good (and effective!) GF products, I’ll let you know!
Mary
I’ve slowly converted to a healthier lifestyle over the past 3 years. I eat a Paleo lifestyle and now I’ve been following this guide http://skinterventionguide.com/
Also, check out this site for a “no-poo” option with stuff you already have in your house, apple cider vinegar/baking soda
http://cavegirleats.com/2011/01/20/no-poo-results/
Let me know if it helps!
keiralennox
MaryThank you, Mary! My dad has been on a strict Paleo diet, and he’s in the best shape ever. I’ve looked into it, and I just need a little push to take the leap! :)
Amy
I go 3 days with out washing my hair.
kelsey
gorgeous! i am loving your bag!
kw ladies in navy
Kat G.
I am the same way about crazy chemicals. I loooove Dr. Bronner’s soaps- that is my beauty secret! I use it for everything, body wash, hand wash, laundry detergent, cleaning solution. It’s amazing. I also love 100% Pure Cosmetics- totally natural and uses fruit pigments, works great (especially the lip/cheek tint, it’s my favorite!). 100% Pure also has lotions that smell amazing. I used to like dry shampoo, but those have weird chemicals too so now I just use corn starch. Corn starch is like $2 a box and works great! Can’t wait to see your post on what products you use! I’m always looking for great all natural product recommendations.
keiralennox
Kat G.I’ve used Dr. Bronner’s castille soap, but I think I used it wrong? I washed my hair with it at full strength, and it felt like hay afterward. Do you dilute it before using it as body wash?
Thanks for the recommendation on 100% Pure! I’m going to look into this!
I’m also buying a box of cornstarch, because this news rocks my world.
Thanks, Kat!!
Kat G.
keiralennoxYeah, I probably should’ve mentioned that I didn’t like Dr. Bronners as a shampoo either! I use Say Yes to Cucumbers (bought at target) and I like that a lot. I don’t dilute Dr. Bronners when I use it as body wash, I just use a tiny amount. I’ve heard of people putting it in different bottles and mixing with water, but it does this weird clogging thing and won’t pump out, so I haven’t totally figured out how to do that successfully yet! :)
keiralennox
Kat G.I just started using Yes to Carrots, and so far so good! Seventh Generation has a new line of body products, and I’m loving their lavender body wash! I love lavender, and it lathers really well and doesn’t leave my skin dry or itchy like most soaps. I’d definitely recommend it!
DIY Schampoo? | -erikabarcheus-
[…] Keira, site about one fabulous look she made due to not-so-recently-washed hair (check it out HERE). I hear ya sister! Me and one of my dearest friends (and neighbour) is always talking about the […]
erikabarcheus
LOVES the scarf!!!!
nora
A friend of mine swears by baking soda as a hair shampoo. She uses it to brush her teeth too. I have curly hair so haven’t tried it as a shampoo, but the new healthy shine her locks developed after using baking soda for a month makes me think about switching…
keiralennox
noraBefore I got married, I spoke to my dentist about whitening my teeth. He told me to skip the professional whitening for a while, and to instead brush with a paste of baking soda and water once a day and rinse with hydrogen peroxide. It worked SO well, and is much cheaper than those whitening strips (that make your teeth and gums weirdly numb after a few days of use?).
I haven’t tried baking soda to cleanse my hair, but lots of comments here recommend it!
sunnywithasideof
I don’t think I’ve gone for more than 5 days, and that was when I was stranded on an island after a hurricane. Once I get to day 3… things start to get real nasty. Maybe I should try dry shampoo! Does that work really well?
Really cool scarf trick you did with your hair!! looks really neat!
Christy
Sunnywithasideof…
keiralennox
sunnywithasideofDry shampoo is a life saver! Another commenter here suggested using corn starch as dry shampoo, which I’m trying STAT! Right now, my favorite brand of dry shampoo is Got2b Rockin’ It. It’s available at drugstores, and runs around $6 per bottle.
Joanna
I’m a sucker for organic beauty products too! For hair I use Lush shampoo. I don’t know whether it’s organic enough though, but I get the feeling that it is haha especially for the bar shampoos. I’ve tried other brands as well but as you may have guessed, they don’t lather up well and made my hair tangled so bad since I have very fine hair. They have dry shampoo as well, maybe you can try it out ;)
I think 3 days was my best record for no shampooing. If you live in a tropical country you’d know why!
thighsonfire
I’ve been doing the ‘poo-free thing. Well. Kind of. If I don’t wash my hair around once a week (I use a sulphate-free shampoo but I think I’m going to switch to Castile soap), the baking soda gets built up in my hair and destroys all combs and brushes. But it does give you magical unicorn hair :)
Vanja
Thanks, I’ll give it a try!
Vanja
I’m definitely jealous you can go so long without washing your hair. I usually wash mine every 3-4 days and use Tresemme volumizing dry shampoo in between (I have fine hair so I need all the help I can get). Also, I have bangs and I wash those every other day above the sink…that sounds weird, doesn’t it?
keiralennox
VanjaHaha, not weird at all! When I had bangs, I did the exact same thing :-) I’ve also tried the Tresemme dry shampoo and liked it. I also recommend Got2b Rockin’ It, it’s about the same price and works great without lots of build-up.
Miranda
Hey I have used baking soda and apple cider vinegar. It feels really dirty for the first week then after that your hair is clean and you never need to condition! No crazy chemicals.
keiralennox
MirandaI’m hearing a lot of great things about this method! Thank you for sharing!
Ania
Loving the relaxed look! Ania 2 2lovebirdsblog.com
Cowboys and Crossbones
Judging? I’m JEALOUS! Unbelievable you can go so long without a wash. You look ultra chic AND your hair doesn’t look greasy!
keiralennox
Cowboys and CrossbonesThank you! Like another commenter mentioned, your scalp really does adjust and produce less oil over time when you shampoo less often!
Jessica
I think the longest I haven’t washed my hair was probably for about a week and half when I was on vacation. It’s true, not washing your hair leaves natural oils in it so it looks so much better. Doesn’t feel as great but most definitely leaving my hair looking a bit better than if it was washed every other day or so.
keiralennox
JessicaI think a vacation was the first time I really tested the limits on how far I could push my luck! ;-) Beach hair is far and away the best hair. If I could just dip my head in the ocean every few days I’d probably never shampoo again.
Lori Beth
I quit using traditional shampoo a couple years ago. I wash every 4-6 days with a tablespoon of baking soda, 5 drops tea tree oil, and 10 drops rose water in a small tupperware container. I add water from the shower, shake it up, and massage it into my scalp. Rinse well.
I rinse with a tablespoon of either white or cider vinegar that I have infused with essential oil or botanicals (to cut down on the vinegar smell in the shower). Same, put it in the tupperware, shake it up, and massage through the length of my hair. [If you skip the vinegar step, your hair will look fried. One natural blogger totally lambasted this method but was skipping the vinegar rinse. You have to do both.]
My hair is longer than it’s ever been, it has grown faster than ever, and it is shiny and strong. And no one ever complains that I smell like vinegar. I work out 4-6 times/week, bike to work, and bartend one night a week, and only on day 5 or 6 do I go with a maiden braid or other updo because of oil.
keiralennox
Lori BethThank you, thank you, thank you for this Lori!
I’ve been reading really vague info about baking soda and vinegar rinses, but wasn’t sure how to make it work. This is so very helpful, and I’ll definitely give this a try. And holy budget-friendly beauty!!
Rachel C
I might have a solution!! I did the no ‘poo method for about a year, (use baking soda to gently cleanse hair and scalp and apple cider vinegar to condition) but when my pregnancy and postpartum hormones made my scalp go crazy I had to find a better solution. I have recently discovered the Say Yes To Carrots line of natural body and hair products and absolutely love the scalp relief shampoo. Gentle enough to keep me on a shampoo every 4 days rythm (I don’t look greasy till the afternoon before my fourth night shampooing) yet strong enough to remove built up oil and random flakes. I also get winter time itchiness since I probably don’t eat enough good fat and the shampoo even resolves that! Good luck :)
keiralennox
Rachel CAwesome info, Rachel! My drugstore carries the Say Yes To Carrots brand. I’m adding it to my shopping list as we speak.
bethy
Yeah, I agree, what we put in our hair is a bit extreme. I wash my hair every other day, but I take showers everyday, just getting my hair wet is good on the days I skip. I just have to make sure I brush my hair very well to get the natural oils to the ends of my hair (which are very dry) and it makes my hair a bit less frizzy and it looked better than when I was washing my hair everyday.
Ohmigod I love your outfit! I wish I could afford stuff like that on my parent’s-allowance-budget.
keiralennox
bethyBrushing with a good boar bristle brush is a great way to get the natural oils through your hair! I try to do that myself a few times a week.
Psst, here’s my style secret: I try to dress in a way that just looks expensive. I stock my closet with basics that can be mixed and matched and played up with accessories. Here’s a head-to-toe breakdown of this outfit:
Scarf: outlet store, $9
Chambray shirt: Kohl’s sale, $17
Jeans: Target sale, $20
Shoes and bag: Hautelook, around $40 each
:-)
buckytheblog
Isn’t it funny how everything we were taught to do growing up doesn’t necessarily work anymore? I was taught to wash my hair every day (hello daily dose of scary chemicals!), don’t talk to strangers (talking to strangers has proven to boost happiness), and to always drink my milk (there have been multiple huge studies done showing a correlation between cancer and animal protein! Check out the book: The China Study by Dr. Colin Campbell). Some things still remain true…like: always call your momma and don’t skip church!
keiralennox
buckytheblogThis made me giggle :-)
And so true.
Lisa Marie
I love John Masters Organics hair care. I use the lavendar shampoo and citrus conditioner. You can buy at Whole Foods or direct from their website. Check it out! If u have not discovered the “No More Dirty Looks” website yet , you should def check it out. Tons of beauty product reviews & recommendations. I cleaned out all my dirty toxic beauty & skin/hair care products last year & loving the cleaner products. Finding a good deoderant was the biggest challenge – Soapwalla deodorant cream is my fav – local company from Brooklyn. Happy Shopping :)
keiralennox
Lisa MarieBlasted tiny town that doesn’t have a Whole Foods! The nearest one is about 45 minutes away, but one of these days I’m going to trek over there just to check out their beauty department. I feel like I need to smell and touch things before I buy them. Is that weird?
And I’ll definitely be checking out that website!
Thanks for all the great info, Lisa Marie!!
certifieddrea
The longest i go is for 14 days and then it must get a shampoo. I must also add that the scarf compliments the outfit and as such you look amazing! i am in love with the bag, good going.
keiralennox
certifieddreaThank you!! 14 days is my personal record, too.
citychickcountrylife
I only wash my hair every five days. I’ve been doing this for years and it rarely looks greasy! The last day I just wear a big headband! And I work out about five times a week, you just need to put all your hair away from your face and neck to make sure it doesn’t get sweaty :)
keiralennox
citychickcountrylifeThat’s great advice!!
TGFRL
I have gone up to 14 days. But as a mixed race curly girl I think I have wiggle room and scarves! Things go better(health, color retention, breakage) when I wash it less. I pin curl it for workouts and let the wild loops down later. I am with you on the freaky chemicals. Lost a mom to cancer and became a mom around the same time- so I went through a super low-chem period a few years ago. I have let some some less favorable items creep in since then but still keep hair washing to once a week!
keiralennox
TGFRLSo sorry to hear about your mom.
I let some things creep back into my beauty regimen, too. It’s tough (and sometimes expensive!) to do a totally natural overhaul. I need to tackle my makeup drawer next!
chloepastell
I wish that would work for me.. I tried it so fen already but never make it 2 days without washing it… I love your pictures and the idea with the scarf though by the way, maybe I’ll try that next time! x
keiralennox
chloepastellIf you can just get on an every-other-day routine, I think you’ll be in good shape. Your scalp adjusts to the change over time and produces less oil. Dry shampoo is a life saver, too!
Rochefabrique
Re natural cosmetics, I hear yer. I live in Berlin and the Germans seem to have a lot of this stuff figured out. My bathroom cabinet stalwarts are Weleda, Lavera, and Dr Hauschka (all of which I think are available internationally), but there are many more. What can be tricky here is getting my hands on good natural afro-care products and organic make-up for darker skin…
keiralennox
RochefabriqueFirst of all, you are just stunning.
Second, thank you for these great recommendations! I’m going to do some searching and see if they’re available here. Makeup is a tricky one for me, too. I try to wear as little as possible, but my makeup drawer really needs some greening attention…
Erin
What brand of dry shampoo do you use? I’m sure you have posted on your blog before I just can’t remember.
Thanks!
keiralennox
ErinI usually buy drugstore dry shampoos, because I go through them pretty quickly and I’ve found some that work just as well as salon brands. My favorite is Got2b Rockin’ It. It runs around $7 a bottle and really refreshes my hair without leaving all kinds of powdery residue.
Sarah's Real Life
Maybe I just have weird hair, but I can actually FEEL the oil in my scalp after 2 days. I wash every other day, but the non-wash days I always wear it up because it just feels gross when it’s down. Every once in a while I will go a third day (as in wash on Friday, don’t wash again til Monday…crazy right?) but that’s only when I spend all day at home and don’t even get out of my PJs. I don’t think I could ever go 9 days. That’s amazing.
~Sarah of Sarah’s Real Life
keiralennox
Sarah’s Real LifeEveryone’s scalp is different, and 9 days is pretty extreme. But even washing on an every-other-day schedule is better than lathering up every day. I would sneak in those weekend wash breaks as often as possible. I do the same thing. I usually wash on Sunday or Monday, so by the time it’s at its worst, it’s the weekend and I can cover it with a hat or something :-)
Local and Opulent
You should write a post about the organic products that you use… I for one would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know!
A new outfit post is up on Local & Opulent – spring finally comes to Canada!!!
http://localandopulent.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/430/
keiralennox
Local and OpulentHappy to! I will work on that ASAP!
Local and Opulent
keiralennoxLove it! Can’t wait!
Kendra Rozett
I only wash my hair once or twice a week and find it definitely helps keep it healthier and shinier!
I am also about to try out the Oil Cleanser method. The method is all over the interwebs, but this post finally convinced me to try it: http://www.healthydiaries.com/2012/07/17/how-i-improved-my-skin-acne-scaring-overall-complexion/
keiralennox
Kendra RozettI just read that post, and I agree with the author on all points! I use oil-based cleansers at night to cleanse my skin, and I love moisturizing with argan and olive oils. I once read some skin care tips from a successful makeup artist with beautiful skin, and she said that our skin needs to be nourished with oils every day.
My mom also has amazing skin, and for as long as I can remember she’s taken vitamin E supplements every day. She also used to break them open and put the oil on my skin when I had cystic acne in my teens.
Alex
check out http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ for information on the products you use! It allows you to see just how many harmful chemicals are in your usual shampoo, conditioner, makeup, everything. Some brands have little information, but there are SO MANY OTHERS!
keiralennox
AlexThank you, Alex!
ljaneallen
A week and I’m terrified of leaving it any longer, especially now that it’s darker. Well done though, that’s impressive! :)
keiralennox
ljaneallenHey, a week is impressive! That’s usually as far as I go, too. I was definitely pushing my comfort zone this time. :-)
Organizational Specialist
Love the look! I use Simply pure products on myself and my baby. http://www.simplypureproducts.com/
keiralennox
Organizational SpecialistI’m going to check this out! Thank you, Kristin!
vmugarte
keiralennoxHave you tried Lush products? They are actually affordable AND last forever.
keiralennox
vmugarteI haven’t!! What are your favorites?
Lindsay (@LM_Soprano)
I have super fine hair, so the most I’ve gone before it’s inexcusable is about 5 days. It took a little bit of time to “condition” my scalp so that it didn’t produce as much oil, but it’s definitely worth doing! I have yet to figure out how to get scarves to stay on my head though, they always slide!
keiralennox
Lindsay (@LM_Soprano)5 days is awesome!
Scarves slide off of my head, too. I sometimes secure them with bobby pins so they’ll stay put. This time, wrapping it tightly around my side pony kept it in place without pins. I only lost it once when I as reaching over my head for something ;-)
melissajplum
I have went a week. My hair never looks good on the day I shampoo it!
Kay BeeBee
I know my hair looks better when I wash it less often … but I do such a lot of sport and sweat so much that its impossible not to wash it all the time sadly x
keiralennox
Kay BeeBeeMy friend, Katie, is really into Crossfit and plays a lot of other sports, and we just recently had this conversation! She was always an everyday washer, but now she’s switched it up to every-other day and says it’s helped her hair a lot. I also wonder of a conditioning cleanser would work, like Wen or this drugstore version: http://www.walgreens.com/store/c/renpure-solutions-ren-cleansing-conditioner/ID=prod6144518-product
musingsoftheamusingmuse
keiralennoxI work out 5-7 days a week and yeah, my scalp gets nasty sweaty so I always wash it. If I could go every 3-4 days I’d be happy, but beyond that my eczema gets out of hand and I’m scratching at an itchy scalp too much.
I have been researching cosmetics, hair products, etc., more now because I can’t eat gluten, and I’m finding that gluten is used in a TON of fragrances (for years I was told I had an allergy to “fragrance” – guessing I was reacting to the gluten in them), and gluten can and will make eczema worse.
keiralennox
musingsoftheamusingmuseI have mild eczema myself (inherited from my momma) and it has improved so much since switching to natural chem-free body products.
I have friends that have major gluten intolerance, and it’s incredible now many beauty products have gluten in them! I’m glad you found out that you had a problem with it before it caused more damage, and I hope you find some products that really work for you. I will ask my friends what they use, too, and share as much as I can!
kate @ undeniable style
keiralennoxI came to comment on the adorable styling and outfit and found this note about gluten in beauty products. Blew my mind. I have eczema on my face as a result of crohn’s. I just started a new diet that is basically gluten and lactose free – and now I’m wondering if the eczema on my face can be helped by switching to gluten free products too! Thanks for the education!!
Max S
Kay BeeBeeI use Yes to Carrots shampoo, 99.4% natural!! Makes my hair feel so healthy
keiralennox
Max SI just picked up a bottle last week, because a few readers recommended it. I love the smell, and that it’s natural, but I noticed that I have to wash more often during the week? Not that this is a bad thing — since I feel better about the ingredients. I’m just curious why it doesn’t get my hair as “clean” as I’m used to… What’s your experience with this?