No 'poo' Day 5 - The one where I find a solution....

Okay, Day 5 of no shampoo and I wake up and expect to run my fingers through....well I didn't expect to 'run' my fingers through anything.  When I went to bed last night, my hair had congealed into a mass that had practically stuck to my pillow.

I was mildly surprised to find that although my hair felt a little off - it wasn't greasy at all.  It felt heavy and lifeless, but not greasy.  Perhaps true progress was being made and these women were really on to something. 

I decided to brave my day out with my friend Alla whilst sticking to my experiment and opted for a long shower with a baking soda rinse (unlike the paste I had used previously, this was about a teaspoon with 2 cups of very warm water).  I ran that through my hair and scrubbed my scalp until I thought it might bleed.  Then I followed it up with the Apple Cider Vinegar, which everyone has sworn by.  The ACV smelled pretty foul in the shower, but when I got out my hair felt AMAZING.  It had a squeaky clean, but not stripped feel to it.  The roots didn't feel laden with oil and it looked really shiny (okay it was wet, but it was really, really glossy).

I started to blow dry and actually saw a bit of volume (and this was with no product in it).  I kept blowdrying and realized that I was not really getting anywhere.  My hair was taking 10 times longer than normal to dry and still reaked of vinegar. 

I thought long and hard about some of the other research I had done on the subject and thought I would give my hair one last option.  The great news is that it worked a treat - my hair looked soft, shiny and smelled lovely. 

The wonder product in the end was - SHAMPOO!!!  Yeah, I caved, and I caved bad!!!  I didn't feel guilty either.  I felt that I had successfuly completed the experiment to my satisfaction.  2 of the biggest motivators for women to do this was time and money, I wasn't saving either of those.  I know that many women want to ditch all the chemicals in their shampoo, but I looked at mine - 80% organic with non of the bad stuff all these websites tell you to avoid.  I do feel that with the right hair style/type, and lots of time and self esteem this would probably work.  Since I never seem to have all of these at the same time, I think that I would never make it through long enough to reap the fruitful rewards of ditching the suds.

I have been loving on my hair all day - swishing, flaunting and running my fingers through non-greasy strands for hours.  I may have a bald patch by tomorrow from all the hair fondling, but it will be well worth it.  Tonight I am going to wash my nasty pillowcases and drift off to the sweet scent of my perfectly styled, silky coif!

Nighty Night!

No 'poo' Day 4 - Robert Palmer eat your heart out....

Day 4 of no shampoo - yes, Day 4.  I have to say that I felt really sluggish today and I am officially blaming it on my lack of hair volume.  Now that I got that off my chest here is how today played out. 

After yesterday's debacle I didn't have very high hopes for today from the get-go.  Maddie and I had NO plans today, so I decided to skip the wash and just do a rinse instead.  Also, because the ends of my hair felt so dry, I put a tiny bit of conditioner in.

Although my hair felt a bit better (still greasy but not so dirty) it looked derranged.  I decided that the only thing to do would be raid Maddie's hair band basket and grab some accessories.  I opted for two ponytails with a zig zag part down the middle.  I kept the 'tails' up high and slightly forward.  I looked like an insane mouseketeer - DO OVER!  I tried a headband but looked scary.  I finally settled for slicked back in a double banded ponytail.  Not terrible, but I kind of looked like somebody who had just given up on life or spent a week in the hospital.  I decided to overcompensate with makeup and went with  very smoky eyes and dark red lips.  Now, not only could nobody think I didn't care about my appearence, but might actually mistake me for one of the girls in the Addicted to Love video! 

A fantastic red silk scarf, swingy black mid length trench coat, jeans  and killer earrings later,  I decided to brave the real world with Maddie.  We went bowling.  I think this was a bit of a strategic move on my part because I was running on the assumption that many people at the bowling alley wouldn't be in full makeup with a bold wardrobe choice.  I was pretty much on the mark - although I was secretly coveting every woman's hair there.  The good news is I didn't get stared at with looks of distain or pity.  I gave today a 4.5 out of 10.

Tomorrow I may cave - I am meeting up with a friend of mind so our daughters can play at Rand Farm Park.  This friend is Ukranian and VERY stylish - I have never seen her look anything less than amazing.  She may not want to hang out with me anymore if I can't get my hair to pass muster and I really enjoy her company.

In a last ditch effort to follow this through and not look like a sleazebag tomorrow,  I did a bit more research today on how to manage manky hair. It seems that Apple Cider Vinegar is supposedly the way to go. Everyone has been swearing by it even the women with baby fine chin length bobs like mine.  I shall give it a go, but friends, I really do feel that this may be a lost battle.

No 'poo' Day 3 - Introducing the Hair Apparent

Okay, so on Sunday I began what was to be a week of hair experimentation - namely me ditching commercial shampoo.  I had read up on advice, tips, and testimonials of all of the wonderful things that this would apparently do for my hair in the long run.  The trick was making it through the short-term process of jumping off the shampoo rollercoaster.

Day 1 went reasonably well.  I rated my hair a 6.5 out of 10 - not bad at all.  I used a paste of baking soda and water to wash my hair and a vinegar rinse.  It was manageable, stylable and didn't smell badly like I thought it would.

I decided to really go cold turkey yesterday with nothing but a rinse in the shower.  That was - not so fine.  My hair felt quite greasy at the roots and the ends felt quite dry.  I was still able to style it, but it didn't look great.  I would rate it a 5/10.  I was confortable enough in the village (went to the shop and post office) and taking the dog out for a walk.  It helped that the weather was horrid and drizzly and I took comfort in the fact that everyone's hair looked a bit worse for the wear.

I woke up this morning with the day planned out.  I was supposed to go into town to meet with woman who is putting together a womens' wellbeing convention where I am speaking.  I was basically going to bring Maddie down to the centre where she was going to show me the layout and we would figure out where I would be set up.  The bonus was I knew this women (she's one of my members).  I guessed it would take about 15 minutes. After that Maddie had a playdate to go to with our neighbor's daughter.

Because I was going into town I decided to re-try the baking soda and vinegar trick again.  My hair was beginning to take on a life of its own and not in a good way.  I had such decent results on Day 1 that I figured it would be good enough to get me through my morning.

I 'washed' and rinsed then started to blowdry.  Lets say that my hair didn't respond as well as the first go round.  My hair felt like a thick lump of oil and yet was also so dry that anything that came near it set it off like a Van de Graaff generator.  It was bad enough that I had to dig out one of those pinchy-type hair clippy things and do a half-up/half-down 'do'.  The result was less than flattering, but would work - its not like I was going anywhere that I needed to impress people with my tresses.  Aside from that I didn't have time to do anything else.

What actually happened that morning when I got the the Convention Centre was mortifying.  Imagine showing up at a place where you expect to be shown a couple of rooms (by somebody you know), discuss a couple of needs and then leave - and instead walking into your worst nightmare.

For instance a full-blown, sit down formal meeting with 20 of the most fabulous women in the area (all professionals who will be presenting at the event). These women are all dressed to the 9's, made up and bejewelled with perfectly coiffed hair done up in fashionable hair accessories that match their outfits and nails.  Imagine the horror as you slink in 5 minutes late (with your 4 year old none the less) and find 20 pairs of eyes looking at you with a mixture of pity and disdain.  Imagine the mortification as your daughter decides to occupy herself by playing with your 80's themed hair clip and breaking it, leaving the hair that was clipped into it standing up at a jaunty angle.  You've seen 'Something about Mary', yes? 

I fought off the need to speak up in the middle of this meeting to explain my hair plight (maybe they would find it amusing), by slowling twirling a finger around  the patch of runaway hair that had escaped from behind my ear.  (Note to self - don't try to distract people from an embarrasing situation by drawing attention to the problem).  I tried to meet each and every woman's gaze with a bright smile and devil may care attitude.  At one point during the 2 hour meeting I ran to the toilets with Maddie and glimpsed at my hair...........

Holy crap how was I ever talked in to doing this?  My hair was beyond sad looking and quite frankly, brought my whole look down a notch (or 5). To make penance I now have to show up at this event looking abso-frickin-lutely fabulous which will probably set me back some serious cash at my hairdressers and some more serious cash finding an outfit to compliment my expensive hair.

Because the meeting went so long I took Maddie out to lunch where I ran into several old co-workers - another hit to my self esteem - and by the time we returned home I wanted to jump in the shower and shampoo my hair until my scalp bled.  But I prevailed.  After all - we just had to go to a playdate across the street and I could slink back into my home with my head of yuck.  The playdate was great - although my neighbor had just had her hair 'done' and was so obviously enjoying her new hair affair - flaunting her flaxen mane in my general direction every time she turned to speak......


All in all I would rate today a 3/10.  This is not hair I would really want to be seen in public with - but not quite bad enough to want to shave it off.  Also I think I have come to the conclusion that I am much to shallow for this to have any real money saving effect (unless of course this takes a giant turn around at some point) as I will have to fork over a load of dough to salvage my self esteem when I go to this convention.  Here is a picutre - shocking isn't it.

Here is a picture of my hair looking lovely just to balance out the universe and to look at my awesome summer ball gown again........

So far I have not saved any time, nor any money with this crazy scheme and am beginning to lose the plot. The prospects for tomorrow are frightening and I am not really sure I can do this for another 5 days.  Wish me luck!

No 'poo' for a week?!?

This post is not possibly as gross as the title implies - or maybe it is, but just not in the way you thought when you read it.  I was reading an interesting article a couple of weeks ago about a movement of women who were ditching their shampoo and soap in favor of more skin and scalp friendly alternatives.  Many of these women are not dread-locked, granola eating hippy-types, but those more classically prone to NOT wearing patchouli oil and wearing their armpit hair au-naturel. 

BTW - I have nothing against women who wear patchouli oil, refrain from shaving, or eat granola - hell - I alomst became one of those women during a brief period of insanity when I almost moved to kauai to sleep on a beach in a tent.....but I digress.....

These women decided that between the many nasty chemicals in shampoo, the cost and the time spent shampooing they were going to give it a rest.  The interesting thing was that many of them decided it worked for them.  After a week or so of greasy uneasiness, their hair settled in to a more natural rhythm of being.  According to many studies, the chemicals in modern day shampoo force your scalp to produce more sebum (oil) therefor perpetuating the need to shampoo more frequently.  By stopping this cycle you can get away with washing your hair far less often and (here's the kicker) it will actually look and feel better.

I brought this topic up at the gym and was met by a very divided group of women.  Many said that yes the science sounds probable and some said - please, that is disgusting, nobody could ever convince me that not shampooing would work.  The debate grew for a few days with women bringing in 'tidbits' of info that they had gatherered whilst doing some 'research' on the subject.  Vehement arguments broke out on whether to 'poo' or not and at the end of last week I would say that it was pretty split down the middle.

Here is where I came in (again).  I decided that I would take one for the team and test drive this theory to prove for once and for all if it works.  If I'm being honest I was kind of bullied into it but - semantics.

Let me preface this experiment by explaining a few things:

1.  I have a love/hate relationship with my hair.  See my last hair blog for more proof.
2. I have shampooed every day if not more for the better part of 25 years.
3.  I have baby fine hair that has not an ounce of volume without some serious products (which require washing out).
4.  The hair fairies work mysteriously at night to my hair into an intricate weave of knots, necessitating a good shampoo and bucketful of conditioner to fix it.
5.   If left to its own devices, my hair would solidify into a single, pathetic, limp noodle.
6. One of my favorite things in life is finding my next great shampoo/conditioner combo - perfect shine, swishability, volume, style prospects and scent.

To go without shampoo was not a challenge I undertook lightly - so several members had to sweeten the deal by backing me financially (jokingly threatening to quit).  I decided that this week would be the perfect week undertake such an experiment because Maddie was on half-term and I wouldn't be working and therefore could hide out in my house with the curtains closed.

I read up on some tips and tricks for getting through the first few days.  These included washing your hair with a paste made from baking soda and then rinsing it with vinegar, squeezing lemons through your hair while showering, wearing a hat, and spritzing witch hazel in your roots when you got up in the morning. 

Today was DAY  1 and I decided to go the baking soda and vinegar route because the whole lemon thing sounding like it might sting in the shower and I haven't held witch hazel in my possession since the early 80s.

I made a paste and schlepped it on my scalp.  I was not only disappointed to not get a sudsy lather, but disgusted at the fact that my head felt covered in gritty sand......sand that would not wash out.....sand that would not go away. After rinsing for what felt like 30 minutes (note to self this might not be the most environmentally friendly experiement) I followed up with the vinegar rinse.  Again - NOT what I wanted to smell at 8am.  I thought to myself that these women were either nuts or had way to much time (and water) on their hands. 

I was mildly suprised though, at how soft my hair felt when I got out and combed through it - wait - could this possibly work???

I got out the blowdryer because that really is the final test for me - and I have to say that aside from feeling very slightly 'fly away' my hair actually looked decent enough to be seen in public.  I took Maddie and her friend out to Crazee Bongos and nobody stared or held their nose as I walked by, withering from the stink of vinegar.  I gave today a 6.5/10 rating on the scale of great hair.  None of the WOW factor, but decent and admissable in public - done and done!


Tomorrow should be interesting because I am going to not shampoo at all and just rinse.  Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm........

Pictures to come!