Coconut Oil - wow!!

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Hair Update

As a curly girl, my hair needs to be wet to restyle it, so I tend to rinse with water and use my fingertips to scrub my scalp and I call that a WO or a water only rinse. Some days I follow up with a 50/50% apple cider vinegar/water rinse, sometimes I don't. Because of time and work and life, I've been washing with the argan oil soap bar and following up with the ACV/water rinse and sometimes instead of adding oil for moisture, I was putting that small amount ing squeeze bottle with hot water and my fave essential oil and adding it to the length of my hair, avoiding the scalp and brushing it through. I found I got an excellent distribution, my tangles just fell away and my hair was looking great!

But in my last post I mentioned I think my hair reached its saturation point... So weird! It became lifeless, yet shiny.

So I've been thinking about that and decided since the weather is getting colder and even my skin is feeling more dry, I'd skip the routine of washing this weekend and try for 14 days instead of 7 knowing full well that 9 days is my tipping point.

Wish me luck!

Update: To solve my saturation problem, I didn't use egg... I did nothing - it worked!!

A setback

I'm 14 weeks into no poo using SoapNuts successfully and now the Argan Oil handmade Castille soap bar - both successfully with an ACV rinse. As a curly girl, I tried DWV once and pretty much knew we were never going to get along ;)

Here's my issue. I think my hair has gotten used to the argan oil soap. It sounds weird but the first few times my hair just sucked it up, then a much needed trim and my curls were smiling.

It may just be possible that I'm too oiled up, using hair friendly oils, with lustre but what I think has happened is since my hair looked great, I wore it curly most days versus previously wearing it in a bun.... That meant less time BBBing and therein lies the problem.

I think my hair is lacking natural sebum and has reached a saturation point with the oils I'm adding!

It's lighter, more flyaway curls, it doesn't look as healthy...

I find this very interesting. I'm going up do an egg wash on the weekend, and in the meantine, back to my slick and stylish up do, and some BBB me-time.

Hair Update

July 7 - last shampoo wash
July 14 - first BSV (baking soda and vinegar) wash
... WO washes almost daily, dry hair and scalp.
July 21 - second BSV wash
July 23 - 50/50 vinegar water rinse - happy hair!
July 26 - egg rinse (shiny, smooth, happy hair)
July 28 - Water wash and 20% vinegar and 5 drops Lime EO rinse
Aug 3 - soapnuts wash, 50% ACV, half tbsp coconut oil, 5 drops lime EO with equal parts water for the rinse. CO added liberally.
Aug 4 - SoapNuts wash, 50%ACV, 50% water rinse. CO mid and ends.
Aug 8 - 1 part ACV, 5drops lime EO with 9 parts water rinse only. (CO added to ends only once since last wash. None added today.)

Aug 13 - Egg wash. 3 eggs to equal parts water with a lukewarm shower and a good long rinse. I also did a coconut milk rinse and an ACV rinse with 10 drops tangerine EO. Felt oily and heavy and yuck!

Aug 16 I did a SoapNuts wash with 20% ACV to water with 7 drops of tangerine EO rinse. I rinsed a very very long time. It was easy to detangle, but ever so slightly waxy/squeeky while wet, but I let it dry all out, no braids or elastics. It looked great and felt light and soft. It dried quicker than I'm used to with "product" in it though. 

Aug 28 - SoapNuts wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.  Added Jojoba on day 2 and then day 5, on the ends after WO washes as well.

Sept 7 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

Sept 12 - Rinsed with 50% ACV and used the argan oil soap on lower half and ends only.  Great for oil distribution. 

Sept 15 - SoapNuts wash and 50% ACV with 5 drops lime EO and a capful of jojoba oil with very warm water as a rinse.

Sept 22 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to very warm water with 7 drops of Lime EO and four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my moisturizer normally) as my rinse.

Sept 27 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Tangerine EO and combed out tangles before rinsing out with water.  Then refilled my rinse bottle half way with very warm water and about four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my manually added moisturizer normally) as my second rinse.
Oct 6th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 7 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.
Oct 10th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 7 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.
Oct 18th - WO wash with a 50% ACV to water rinse with 5 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water as a leave in conditioner/detangler; used fingers to detangle hair.

Happy curls!!

Oct 20th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 5 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.

Curl definition...

Ok I did a WO the other day, and detangled with my fingers. My curls looked way better than when I brush when wet to detangle it, but I had a looooot of frizz. I think I need an old fashioned sleeping cap to ward off the frizzies!

Note to self, finger detangle and plop to dry for the day I want great defined luscious curls!!!

It'll be in a pouffy ponytail by the next day, and a messy bun by the third day, then a good brush out will be necessary!! Good to know... I love when I have predictable outcomes.

Argan Oil Castille Soap Bar

This is my shameless plug for the Argan Oil handmade Castille soap bar that I use to wash my hair. The Canadian Soap Company's owner, the SoapBoss has allowed me to watch soap being made, and even to assist in the process which is soooooo fun!

Despite my adoration for the scents and essential oils that envelop you in the soap kitchen - sheeee is truly an earth angel! She is not only gifted and a 5th generation soap maker, she's a sweet sweet soul. When I take a bar of her soap home, I feel like I get to take a piece of her shop home to continue to enjoy! My favourite part is when the soap is almost finished, I get to go back!!!!

The SoapBoss at the Canadian Soap Company is on ETSY, YouTube, FaceBook and of course, she has her website.

Speaking of Christmas, why not go shopping and buy a few gifts! Her soaps are delightful!!!!

Here's the brand new look of the Argan Oil Castille Soap Bar - gorgeous!

Aloe Hair Gel

How cool is that?? My hair and skin loves aloe! I'm going to try this Gelatine & Aloe Hair Gel recipe!!! I wasn't totally happy with the Flax Seed gel I made, so this is exciting!!

Hair Update

July 7 - last shampoo wash
July 14 - first BSV (baking soda and vinegar) wash
... WO washes almost daily, dry hair and scalp.
July 21 - second BSV wash
July 23 - 50/50 vinegar water rinse - happy hair!
July 26 - egg rinse (shiny, smooth, happy hair)
July 28 - Water wash and 20% vinegar and 5 drops Lime EO rinse
Aug 3 - soapnuts wash, 50% ACV, half tbsp coconut oil, 5 drops lime EO with equal parts water for the rinse. CO added liberally.
Aug 4 - SoapNuts wash, 50%ACV, 50% water rinse. CO mid and ends.
Aug 8 - 1 part ACV, 5drops lime EO with 9 parts water rinse only. (CO added to ends only once since last wash. None added today.)

Aug 13 - Egg wash. 3 eggs to equal parts water with a lukewarm shower and a good long rinse. I also did a coconut milk rinse and an ACV rinse with 10 drops tangerine EO. Felt oily and heavy and yuck!

Aug 16 I did a SoapNuts wash with 20% ACV to water with 7 drops of tangerine EO rinse. I rinsed a very very long time. It was easy to detangle, but ever so slightly waxy/squeeky while wet, but I let it dry all out, no braids or elastics. It looked great and felt light and soft. It dried quicker than I'm used to with "product" in it though. 

Aug 28 - SoapNuts wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.  Added Jojoba on day 2 and then day 5, on the ends after WO washes as well.

Sept 7 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap wash with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Lime EO rinse.

Sept 12 - Rinsed with 50% ACV and used the argan oil soap on lower half and ends only.  Great for oil distribution. 

Sept 15 - SoapNuts wash and 50% ACV with 5 drops lime EO and a capful of jojoba oil with very warm water as a rinse.

Sept 22 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to very warm water with 7 drops of Lime EO and four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my moisturizer normally) as my rinse.

Sept 27 - Washed with an Argan oil castille soap bar with 50% ACV to water with 7 drops of Tangerine EO and combed out tangles before rinsing out with water.  Then refilled my rinse bottle half way with very warm water and about four spritzes of jojoba oil (which I use as my manually added moisturizer normally) as my second rinse.
Oct 6th - Argan oil soap bar wash and 50% ACV to water rinse with 7 drops of Tangerine EO followed by a mid section and ends rinse of 4 drops jojoba oil in hot water.

WOW! Thicker, Softer Hair Rinse

Thicker, Softer Hair with Rosemary, Lavender & Apple Cider Vinegar

Click here...

My hair routine ...

I use an argan oil handmade Castile soap bar with 50% apple cider vinegar to 50% warm water in a squirt bottle as my conditioning rinse. Sometimes I switch to SoapNuts/ apple cider vinegar, depending on my mood. I'm sticking with the Argan Oil bar for the dry/cold upcoming winter most likely and will switch back to SoapNuts in the spring.

I also add about 5 drops of essential oils to my rinse. My favourites are lime and tangerine, they effectively mask the apple cider vinegar smell and leave my hair smelling pretty.

I'm almost 3 months no poo and my hair is happy. I just got a major trim last week so my ends are gone and my hair looks awesome!

I use a boar bristle brush and brush with my hair flipped over from the nape of the neck forward for a good ole fashioned 100 strokes, flipping and sectioning it half way through. I braid or twist it while sleeping.

I use aloe butter, rubbed vigorously between my hands to emulsify to a sheen and then apply it along my hairline to keep the frizzies or flyaways controlled, it's way better than gel!!

I'm a curly girl with hair to my mid-back, now with long layers. When I want my brushed out curls back, I wash with just water (about 2x per week) with a good brushing first, and then a good fingertip scrub in the shower with warm water, then I rinse with 50% apple cider vinegar/ 50% warm water and then add my jojoba oil into my squirt bottle (a dime sized tiny bit) in hot water, shake well and often, and apply only to my bottom half and ends. Some people add oil manually, I've found this way quicker and I get better coverage. Then I finger detangle and sometimes use my tangle tamer brush or wide tooth comb. (Similar to a wash but no soap). Then I plop with a long sleeved t-shirt to dry curly or let it dry naturally before using fabric hair ties or plastic clips of any kind. The vinegar smell almost rinses out completely, and once my hair is dry, not even my 5 year old can detect a vinegar smell - she's as honest as they get!!!

I now have happy, healthy hair and scalp!!!

Egg Shampoo

Here's a good link on a moisturizing Egg Shampoo!

5 Home Frizzy Hair Remedies

These are awesome home made frizzy hair recipes

pH Balanced Shampoo Recipe

This looks interesting, a pH Balanced Shampoo Recipe

Click here for 

3 Homemade Hair Tonics for Strong, Healthy & Shiny Hair

Curly Girl Tips...

Advice...

Wash less, brush very often, and WO wash to restyle

I have noticed I spend way too much time brushing the top of my head (naturally) so I rest my head on my lap as I sit in a low chair and brush from the underside and sides.

Then I WO wash and have started putting the amount of oil I normally add by hand into my rinse bottle with very very warm water and after I WO and massage my scalp I shake and apply the watered down oil (I use jojoba, closest to natural sebum) through my hair, detangle, and continue adding. I find it spreads evenly, even in the ends and makes detangling extremely easy. It's also way faster to style since I'm already ready to go!!

I use a T-shirt to squeeze out excess water and another one to plop while it dries.