No 'Poo Hair Care

Ugh, I have the worst hair.  Thin and boring, it gets tangled so easily and I have to use heavy conditioners just to brush it.  And it falls out - even when I'm using my biotin.  Add to that, I hate the conditioners.  I know they are the reason why I have breakouts on my chin and back. 

So this spring I started using the baking soda and vinegar method to clean my hair.  I did love it, but when summer got here (I live in the hot hot south) I thought I needed to go back to shampoo (and of course, then conditioner).  Inevitably, the breakouts came back, and my hair was limp and nasty again.  So back to the cheap and easy method I went.  Oh, I am so much happier.  And my hair looks surprisingly good for mid July. 

To get started using this method to clean your hair, re-purpose two old shampoo bottles to mix your ingredients.  Since it's hot and I am getting sweaty just going to the car, I am using more of a paste of baking soda and water.  But when I first started I used about a tablespoon of baking soda to a cup of water.  Adjust according to your needs.  Shake it up before applying to your hair.  I don't even wet my hair first, I just squirt enough on to almost saturate my roots and massage my head then rinse.  Your hair will not feel squeaky clean after you do this.  It will feel soft and smooth.  Not at all what I was used to. 

 I did feel self conscious about the smell, so I asked lots of people to give me a sniff.  My loving and supportive husband said it didn't smell like anything at all, but I don't think he would tell me unless I smelled really offensive.  I asked some moms at ballet what they thought.  They had noticed my hair looked very different, very full.  They couldn't smell anything either, not even the vinegar, which brings me to the next step.

After rinsing the baking soda concoction out of  your hair, rinse with a solution of apple cider vinegar and water.  I use one part ACV to five parts water.  Theoretically this is to balance the pH of your hair after using such a strong base to clean it.  Sometimes I don't use it, I don't notice a difference, but I will keep using it because I put a stick of cinnamon in the bottle that has my solution, and I like the smell in the shower.  I'm a stickler for smells.  Which reminds me....

If you like pretty smells too, feel free to add some essential oils to your mix.  I like Tea Tree Oil when I feel really grimy, or lavender for a date or eucalyptus when I am stuffy.

I haven't started using the no 'poo method on my kids yet.  I have tried to talk my teen into it since I really think it has made my hair less oily and I have stopped having breakouts.  He's not convinced yet.  Plus, he likes smelling like Axe Body Wash anyway.  Go figure.

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Little Helpers

 

During a recent trip to Marshall's the girls spotted these cute little broom and dustpan sets.  The bright colors and miniature design just sucked them in, and the "oh please, mommy" sucked me in.  I love these little sets more than I expected.

I borrow a lot from Charlotte Mason in my homeschooling and child rearing.  I read once in a book of hers that a child should be able to run the house around the age of twelve.  Although we haven't achieved that goal, I am still working towards it.  Also, since I am dealing with chronic back pain, I try to get the kids (who are closer to the floor) to do things that otherwise would have me bending over.

The girls are always working with something that ends up under foot, whether it is perler beads or cutting paper or sharpening pencils, they are always getting messes on the floor.  Add that to the dirt tracked in from the big kid, the fur from the dog and general kitchen messiness, my floor is always in need of a sweeping.  Only now, my daughters are excited to do it.  I wouldn't have thought that a 6 year old would be so excited to model mommy's housecleaning!  I encourage you to do more than giving your four year old the washcloths to fold.  Set the bar a little higher and see if your kids can jump to it!

To learn more about us go to my Bio Page.