Wednesday 28 April 2010

Say no to ''poo''

I know I am really really late with this post....it's just been impossible to get things done with a teething baby hanging around my legs{HELP!!}Anyway.....

Yes .....I'm saying goodbye to ''poo''...that's shampoo.Since the birth of my third son & hitting 30 my hair has gone downhill! It just isn't looking healthy anymore.......I've been using a variety of natural shop bought shampoos.....I've never been happy with the result,but grudgingly carried on.

I came across this post..... which amazed and intrigued me.So I'm joining the 'no-poo'movement.It's so liberating to know that we can create our own natural products from food and not spend a fortune on 'natural' products or cause damage with the not so natural.I'm going to use the baking soda and vinegar method to start with.
Here are a few points I found interesting from the article
  • Shampoo cleans out the dirt in your hair, but is very harsh and also takes the natural oils that make your hair shiny, soft and strong.{even natural shampoos have this effect}
  • The Materials Safety Data Sheet cautions to avoid body contact with SLS,{sodium lauryl sulfate} it also puts infants and children (whose eye are developing at a more rapid rate) at risk for improper eye development when it's absorbed through the skin and accumulates in eye tissues.
  • The oils in your hair come naturally out of your scalp to nourish it. Stripping them away causes damage, and breakage over time. In a way you do need conditioner, if you use shampoo - because it covers up the damage that's been done. But you don't need shampoo in the first place, all you're spending your money on is a big bottle of perfumed detergent.
  • you'll find that the more shampoo you use, the more often you need to use it. In the long run, coating your hair with mineral oil makes it weaker, and more prone to damage.
  • Anyone with small children who hasn't used baby shampoo will be aware of how, even after days and days of toddler mayhem, even after playing and sweating, their hair does not get greasy.

    So that discovery was all exciting but.....what I'm really excited about is this product- Rhassoul Clay
    Found deep beneath the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, Rhassoul comes from the Arabic word "rassala" meaning "washing’’.
    It can used for washing the body and hair.My husband is on a trip to Algeria{North Africa}...so I have put my order in!I am so excited about this product,especially since it has been used for over 1400 years,its really really natural,good for the environment......going back to simplicity.
    So I'm setting myself a challenge of 'no-poo' for one month ........ anyone want to join me? anyone tried it?
    Thought for day....

    Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English
    language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and
    enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in
    having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.
    -   Elise Boulding

    6 comments:

    1. I got Rhassoul from sil last time and have almost used it all up ....didnt know I could use it on my face and hair....is the algerian one the same as the moroccan?....mine is gray and when its wet its dark brown???

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    2. I've been using natural shampoo without SLS and chemicals for a while - 'normal' shampoos are terribly bad for our hair! I love the idea of the no-poo challenge. I might try it!! Thanks for the informations, they are very useful. I have ghassoul at home, never really knew what to do with it *flushing* ;)

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    3. Just to let you know... I'm in my first week of no-poo. I've used Ghassoul instead. What about you?

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    4. I'm glad you are trying it with me....I have been doing it for two weeks now....hows it going? mmmmmm.....think it's ok....need to wash my hair every 3rd day i would say! I am going to keep going as I am determined to not use shampoo again.....husband is back saturday and will be bringing me rhassoul clay which I can't wait to try.How is it going for you?

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    5. As my husband is actually in Morocco, I don't really care about what my hair look like - especially because I wear hijab (but I think they look a little greasy!). I tried Ghassoul the first time, then soda/cider vinegar the second time. I always washed my hair once a week, even with shampoo, as they tend to be dry.

      Had a wedding during the week-end and I wasn't sure if I should wash with shampoo or not before - but I decided not to, even if my hair look not 'normal'. I guess it's like that in the first weeks!

      So for now, I'm not so happy about the result but I keep up, as I heard it's perfectly normal to get weird hair in the beginning due to the change.

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    6. I tried this out for about 5m ... but eventually went back to using shampoo baby savon de marseilles this time! my hair was very oily to the point i could have cooked with it subhanallah!

      but i do use vingear to rinse with ...

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