Coming Clean

My "Dirty Little Secret"
I have been trying to figure out when it's appropriate to share my "dirty little secret," and I have decided to just "come clean" and make it public knowledge to all three or so of the my regular readers (and anyone else who happens to read this). I haven't shampooed my hair in 7 weeks. There I said it. Okay, there have been two trips to the salon where my hair was shampooed by my stylist (despite my telling her both times that I had just washed it), but I personally have not used shampoo in 7 weeks. Before you get grossed out, let me explain that I am still washing my hair, just not in a "conventional" way. Aside from my husband's initial comment, "Your arms are getting tighter around that tree all the time," nobody has said anything. Maybe they haven't noticed a difference, even though I have. I suppose that is good since I have been trying to appear to be a "normal" person, however, I am really hoping to start getting some compliments soon because I want to share my "no 'poo" success.

A Seed is Planted
Sometime over the summer, my friend Jenifer announced on Facebook that she had stopped using shampoo. I had never heard of such a thing, so admittedly, I thought it sounded a bit odd. However, she is a very green person and I respect and admire that about her, so the idea stuck with me. Then, when I read that Green Grandma (one of my favorite new blogs) was also no 'pooing with positive results, I felt like it was time to give it a try.

I didn't even realize a person could wash her hair without shampoo, and since it had taken years of trial and error to find the commercial products that give me the best results, it was natural to have some reservations about ditching my Pantene. My biggest fear was that I would look like a greaseball and that was not going to be okay since I was just getting started with my chocolate business and I figured that people wouldn't want to eat or buy food from someone who looked like she hadn't showered in awhile. So I asked Jenifer for some advice, which she quickly provided. She joked that pony tails were her best friend for the first few weeks, which I can understand. And not to be shocked if my hair gets flakier. That's just the scalp getting back to normal (more on that later). Mostly, she gave me some reading to check out, and this helped me understand more about no 'pooing before I jumped in with both feet. Here is another blog that Jenifer suggested, and I found to be quite informative.

My other concerns were pertaining to the vinegar rinse. I worried that vinegar isn't the best smell on earth, and what if my hair ends up smelling like it? Jenifer assured me that rinsing helps get rid of the smell, and by the time my hair is dry, it will not smell like vinegar. And she's right. Also, most of the websites I looked at (including Green Grandma's) said to use apple cider vinegar and I only had distilled white vinegar in the house. I asked if this was okay to use, and Jenifer said yes. It's what she uses. I asked about the difference and she suggested that it was personal preference (and budget) comparing apple cider vinegar to sirloin and distilled white vinegar to hamburger.

Debunking the "Squeaky Clean" Myth
I'll let you in on a secret that the shampoo companies don't want you to know. Washing with shampoo, especially as frequently as they have led us to believe is necessary for clean hair, is actually bad for your scalp. It strips it of natural oils, which causes the oil glands to kick into overdrive, which is turn means that we have to wash our hair more often to keep up with the excess oil that is being produced. Your hair does NOT need to "squeak" to be clean. That is marketing, pure and simple, and most of us have bought into it for years because we didn't know there was an alternative.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat -- No Thanks!
Getting away from using shampoo is an eco-friendly choice. The amount of energy used to produce and package baking soda and vinegar is much less than what is involved in creating shampoos and conditioners. Using commercial shampoo guarantees that you will use commercial conditioner, because shampoo is so harsh, you will have to add moisture. Shampoo is essentially detergent. Detergent is not really good for your hair, and I assume this means it isn't good for the environment either since shampoos are filled with chemicals to do everything from produce extra suds (completely unnecessary for cleaning hair) to preserving the shampoo and preventing growth of bacteria (nice to know you aren't using bacteria-laden shampoo, but doesn't it make you wonder why this is needed in the first place?) to making it smell nice. In other words, by using shampoo, you are massaging chemicals right into your skin, which is your largest organ. Scary, huh?

In addition to saving me money by passing on the shampoo, my scalp is now healthier. I wouldn't be surprised if my overall health is better, too, given the toxins that are in that Pantene I was using. (Check this list of shampoo ingredients to avoid if you want to know more about your current shampoo.) I don't wash the kids' hair all that often since it doesn't really need it, but I am considering transitioning them over to no 'pooing. The biggest concern that has kept me from doing it is the vinegar rinse. I am afraid they will fight me on this because it doesn't smell fruity like what they are used to, and if it happens to get into their eyes (which, face it, it very likely will), it will burn. However, after learning more about the chemicals used in shampoos and how the FDA does little to regulate them, I may have to change this how we wash the kids' hair. The Suave Kids shampoo they currently use has the same bad ingredient as Pantene: sodium lauryl sulfate. When it comes down to it, exposing them to toxins is a much greater concern than the temporary stinging in the eyes, especially when the FDA is not going to protect consumers from known carcinogens.

My Wash Routine
When I began no 'pooing I tried to go 3 or 4 days between washings like Green Grandma, but it just didn't seem to work and I wasn't all that happy with how I looked. (My pony tails look like weird stubs, not really cute, so I really wanted to avoid that option.) At this point, I am washing every other day, which is half as often as I used to wash when I was using shampoo. Online, you will find many different variations of how to no 'poo. This is mainly due to the fact that everybody has unique hair, so your washing needs may vary from mine. It may take a bit of trial and error before you get it figured out. Here is my routine:

1. Before washing, I brush my hair and scalp well. This is actually very new to me. Having curly hair has meant that I formally did not brush it since it would create frizz and damage the hair. I haven't noticed any damage, and since I am washing immediately after, frizz isn't a concern. The brushing helps distribute the natural oils before washing. Note: Natural bristle brushes are recommended, although I haven't purchased one yet.
2. Next, I add 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda to a measuring cup and get in the shower. (Initially, I used a full tablespoon, but I have tweaked it to fit my needs.) I fill the rest of the measuring cup with warm water, and mix the baking soda in with my finger. To wash, I just pour small amounts at a time all over my scalp, gently massaging as I go. I then rinse out my hair as usual. 
3. In place of conditioner, I use about 1/2 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar (again, I started out with a full tablespoon, and I have tweaked the amount as I've gone along). I pour it into my measuring cup, and then fill the rest with warm water. I pour this mixture over my entire scalp, and then wait a few minutes before rinsing it out. Since I am only washing every other day, I use this time to shave my legs, which works out nicely. Lastly, I rinse. Note: Since I'm on a "hamburger budget", I've been using the distilled white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
4. That's it. I let my hair air dry, and I no longer need to use styling products to make my hair behave.

Ready for My Close Up
My naturally curly hair looks different depending on what point in the "wash cycle" I am at, but it's actually more predictable now than it ever has been before. I've always joked that my hair has a mind of it's own, which I am sure other curly-haired people can relate to. Now, I know that it will be curlier on the days I wash it -- really nice, almost controlled looking curls that are soft, shiny, and very nearly frizz-free. (And believe me that last detail is enough to convince me this no 'poo business is a good thing that I am doing for myself. I never would have guessed I would have such beautiful hair without the use of styling products considering that I was never able to get it to behave with any of the commercial products that I have tried over the years.) On the off days, it loses some curl, but it is fuller than before and it looks nice when I finger comb it and fluff it out.  

I have never been as happy with my curls as I have since I gave up shampoo. I think my hair is beautiful, and honestly, I don't know if I have ever felt that way before. The funny thing is, I am not buying expensive salon products-- just plain old vinegar and baking soda: safe, cheap, and effective. What more could I ask for from a shampoo and conditioner?

{I washed my hair the day of this photo.}

{See how happy I am with my hair?}

{Close-up of hair on day after washing.}

{Best bed head ever.}

By the way, stay tuned to the blog for an upcoming review and giveaway of the book Vinegar Fridays by Green Grandma. Vinegar has more uses than you can even imagine, so I can't wait to share.

Paper Snow Globe Craft

Mia came home with this construction paper snow globe that she had made in preschool and I thought it was a cute idea. I think this could also be done with 2 paper plates, (one whole and one cut in half) but we haven't tried it yet. I could also see this modified to be a fish bowl craft or even a crystal ball to make at a Wizard of Oz themed birthday party, for example.

{Snow Globe by Mia, Age 4}

Materials:

• 2 colors of construction paper OR 2 paper plates
• scissors
• something round to trace
• pencil
• clear contact paper
• crayons
• glitter
• glue

Directions:

1. On a piece of construction paper, trace around a plastic lid, plate, cup, or bowl to get a circle shape. 
2. Using crayons, draw a design on the paper circle. Mia made a snowman, but you could make anything that you would like to have in a snow globe: Santa, snowy houses, trees, reindeer, etc.
3. Trace a second circle onto another color of construction paper. Cut out the circle. Fold it in half and then cut into two pieces. Save one for the snow globe's base.
4. Trace a third circle onto a piece of clear contact paper and cut it out. Don't peel off the backing yet.
5. Glue your paper circle onto your paper half circle, which serves as the base for the snow globe.
6. Carefully peel the backing off of the contact paper. Sprinkle a little bit of glitter onto it, not too much, though, or it won't stick to your paper. Adhere the clear contact paper on top of the paper circle to complete your snow globe, which looks like it has snow flakes swirling around inside.
7. Once glue is dry, display your project.
   

Bingo Marker Christmas Tree Craft

Here is a simple Christmas craft that would work for toddlers on up.

{Christmas Tree by Mia, Age 4}

Materials:

• green construction paper
• pencil
• scissors
• Bingo markers
• newspaper 
• tape
• glue (optional)
• yellow construction paper (optional)
• brown construction paper (optional)

Directions:

1. Fold a piece of green construction paper in half like a hot dog. Draw half of a Christmas tree shape, including the trunk at the bottom. Cut out the tree shape and unfold it.
2. Protect your work surface with newspaper. Dot Bingo markers onto the tree shape. We used orange, red, blue, and purple Bingo markers from Dollar Tree. Logan decorated his tree with "ornaments" and Mia made "garland" and "ornaments" for hers. She also used lots of orange dots to make the tree trunk look brown instead of green. Allow ink to dry.
3. If desired, draw and cut out a star from yellow construction paper. Tape (or glue) on top of your tree. You could also cut a trunk from brown construction paper and tape (or glue) it onto the green paper.
4. Display your Christmas tree. Ours are now affixed to a window with clear tape.

   

   {Christmas Tree by Logan, Age 2}

Little Stinker

Yesterday morning while I was applying makeup, Logan entertained himself by unrolling all of the toilet paper. I figured this would keep him busy, and it wasn't hurting anything, so I let him continue. (It wasn't the first time it's happened in our house, and I am sure it won't be the last time, either.) That is, until I noticed a tell-tale odor and I informed him, "I think you pooped." His response was, "No! You poop." I took him downstairs to check, and sure enough, he needed changing. The whole time I was changing his diaper, Logan continued to insist, "You poop!" I think it is amusing that he tried to pass the blame on this one, and I am hoping that this means he will be a terrible liar.

Learn Something New Every Day

Mia has her own take on everything. Her four-year-old perspective often makes me stop and think twice about what I already know to be "true." I know this will change as she gets older, so it is always entertaining to look back at the end of the month and see the things I have jotted down in my notebook. How else would I learn that bike helmets don't like pigtails or the "truth" about getting everything we want? And although, I did already know that ice cream is "delectable," a reminder doesn't hurt.


11/7/11

"Mmmmm. Ice cream is delectable, Mama!" 

(Vocabulary courtesy of Fancy Nancy.)

11/21/11 
Said while feeling frustrated about putting on her bike helmet:

Mia: "These things need to come out."

Me: "What things need to come out?"

Mia: "These!" {points to braids} "This helmet doesn't like pigtails!"

Said while showing me something in the Toys 'R Us catalog:

Mia: "I'm getting this."

Me: "You are?"
Mia: "Yeah. Because I circled it so I'm getting it!"

(If I had only known that this was how it worked, I would have been circling a lot more things in catalogs. Wonder where the Home Depot ad is? I really want some new flooring.)

Fancy Nancy Would be Proud!

I promised Mia that if she cleaned her room she could have a small Christmas tree that I used to keep in my classroom (a lifetime ago when I still had a job that paid money). Honestly, I had forgotten about this from one day to the next. (Things get crazy, you know?) But, of course, the girl has the memory of an elephant and she asked about it as soon as Logan went to take his nap yesterday. So now, she has her very own Christmas tree for her bedroom. She even decorated it herself using items from her jewelry box (and a string of purple and white lights Daddy found for her). A paper tiara left over from a birthday party makes a perfect tree topper. This is one fancy little tree for one fancy little girl. Fancy Nancy would be so proud of her resourcefulness and creativity.

A Child-Proof Christmas?

Our tree is up! It's our annual Black Friday event to get the tree out and have it trimmed before bedtime. Like last year, the ornaments are only on the top half. We did originally have them lower. In fact, most were clustered toward the base of the tree as we allowed the kids to put them up. But then we had a new development for this year: a certain 2 year old thought it was okay to pull the metal caps off of the glass ornaments, after which he stuck the narrow end of the glass bulbs into his mouth and tried eat them! That is something I never thought I would have to deal with! After the second time I caught him doing that, ALL of the ornaments migrated up the tree (not just the glass ones, which were the first to get moved). However, even after we moved them up to what I thought was out-of-toddler-range, we have caught him pulling ornaments off the tree and throwing them. One thing is for sure; he is a determined little mischief maker! 

Meanwhile, Mia asks why we haven't put up the stockings. Well, we're kind of afraid that they will pull them down and conk themselves in the head with those pretty, but quite heavy, stocking holders. It made me think about how I have spent so much time over the past four years worrying about whether or not my kids will be well-adjusted, but I think for the holiday season, my goal will just be for them to survive without sustaining any serious injuries.

{A Child-Proof Christmas Tree? Perhaps, if there is such a thing...}