"no poo"

{ my curly hair-do on week 5 -- no shower day }

Ok, here's the deal.  I've been doing my best to go "all natural" for a while now... and some may think this is going to far.  But I think it is a great idea.  Possibly genius.

Here's what's going on with your "lovely" shampoo....
(via Living in another language)

1. Shampoo is a detergent, and like most detergents, it not only cleans, but it strips everything (including the natural healthy oils that keep your hair soft and strong) out of your hair.

2. The fact from point number one makes your scalp overcompensate for the lack of natural oils, producing too much…and making your hair greasy feeling in a matter of a couple days. (mine is oily by the next day, wah wah)

3. Shampoo/Conditioner manufactures love this, because you’ll continually wash your hair every couple days, if not every day, for the rest of your life. Cha ching! 

After transition you’ll notice 3 life-changing major things.

1. Your hair has less frizz and flyaways (this is GREAT for women who have curl)
2.  Your hair will (hopefully) start growing like a weed. All the women I’ve talked to have experienced this along with myself.
3. You will save a ton of time by only having to wash it 1-2 times a week!

A few facts...

+ You still wash your hair... but only with baking soda & vinegar.  And the goal would be that you only need to use that once every week!

+ You still can shower, even every day!... you just either pull your hair up OR you "wash it with just HOT water & style as usual (I do this sometimes... have to admit, my hair isn't so lovely when I do it. I'd rather just pull it up in the shower)

+ No, your hair will not smell like vinegar. The baking soda and vinegar cancel each other out so it doesn't smell like either once you are out of the shower.

To begin...

* note: your hair will be in "transition" = really oily, really gross, maybe really dry (depends on your hair)... but just bare with it! YOU CAN DO IT!!!!  It's worth the nastiness for a little while for pure beauty in the long run!  This transition could be a week to a few weeks... just pull your hair back, where hats, scarves, ect.  It will be ok.  Just start when you don't have any hot dates planned!  

+ read the 4 links below (under "Read this...") so you know more details, but here's the way I chose: Have a small air tight bottle filled with baking soda & a small spray bottle (8 oz) with one cup water + 2 T vinegar (shake well). I bought both my bottles for a dollar each in the travel section at the grocery store.

+ pour about 1T baking soda (I use a little more because I have thick hair) into your wet hand (add a little more water to get a paste) then rub it into your scalp.  Leave it on for about a minute (do something else) till it is dissolved & slippery feeling. Wash it out, scrub scalp well.

+ spray the length of your hair (not your roots) with the water+vinegar, leave on for about a minute then wash it out.

+ style as usual.  

Tips...
+ Go as long as you can between your bs+vinegar washings before you do it again.  This is how you get your hair used to this new way & allow the oil to produce what it should produce to last multiple days.  I'm up to 5 days (as in bs+v wash my hair Sunday, water rinse only Wednesday,  then bs+v Thursday)

+ AFTER YOU STYLE YOUR HAIR WITH HEAT (blowdryer, straightner, ect).... You can rub a little coconut oil onto your palms then over your hair for extra moisture & shine.  You can also rub in a little essential oil if you miss having a pretty smell.  (If you do this before heat styling, you will fry your hair. Bad idea)

+ (everyone else probably knows this) You are not supposed to brush your hair while it is wet! What?! (thanks friends for filling me in on life) It damages it!  But, you can use a large tooth comb to gently get out tangles while wet.  I just dry my hair a decent amount with my fingers then start using my large brush.  But the blogs I read suggested to buy this comb & this brush (I may do that soon).

+ If your hair is oily...  Apply a dry shampoo to your hair. Blondes and Reds use corn starch or arrow root powder on your roots and brush through. This will absorb the excess oil. Brunettes use coco-powder if you find that corn starch or arrow root leave your hair looking “grey”.  (via) (I use coco-powder & love it)

My hair...
It is getting there.  I started this June 12 & it is July 20 (so about 5 weeks).  I still wouldn't say its stunning by the 5th day... usually by day 5 I'm dying to wash my hair!  But I'm also happy with it on the days prior.  It feels incredible when I wash it.  Lighter, cleaner, healthier.  I also just feel so good knowing I'm doing something healthy for my hair (and nice on the budget too!)  AND literally my hair hasn't looked good curly in... ever!  But, you may actually see me in public with my curly hair now... I think my curly hair likes the no poo & I'm getting less fly-aways/frizz which means the curls will work for me! Here's to "no poo" for life!

Read this...
(Here are the blog posts I read to learn about all this -- I would read all 4 blog posts so you have the best knowledge!)

+ Never Shampoo Again! How to Wash Your Hair Using the No Poo Method (Code Red Hat)

+ I don't use shampoo (Living in another language)

+ "no poo" FAQ (Living in another language)

+ tips & tricks (Living in another language)

*more "all natural" posts coming soon (makeup & other beauty products of choice!)

This is why.

* Disclaimer: Don't quote me on all this because THIS IS MY OPINION.  I personally have strongly concluded the following based on my research & experience-- but I love you & I urge YOU to do your own research & decide for yourself.  

I believe that there is a trifecta affecting each of our lives.  Each day I am convinced more & more of it's negative effects on us & I feel I must share it.  It involves the following:

1. What you put ON your body
2. What you put IN your body
3. What you DO

I also am convinced that we are whole people.  You can't pick parts of your life OR body & say that one does not effect the other.  That would be false.  With this belief, the trifecta is absolutely necessary to examine & make the appropriate changes.

Why?

Because if the following isn't you, it's probably someone you love.

I wonder if SOME (some -- not all -- we are each individuals with our own pasts & unique bodies with many different reasons why we could be dealing with the following) of the reasons why so many of us deal with depression, anxiety, doubt & stomach/digestion issues is due to this trifecta.  And that if we pursue healing in these 3 areas, the other areas that are affecting these issues will actually stand a chance to heal!

So this is why I believe what I do about this bad trifecta:

1.  What you put ON your body: 
In case you didn't know this already... the products you rub into your skin DAILY are filled with a bunch of bad chemicals that you can't even pronounce.  That means every day you are having toxic chemicals seep into your skin, into your bloodstream... SICK!  ...Apparently this is more dangerous than what you eat!! What goes into your skin affects your organs, your immune system & more.

* PRINT THIS:  EWG wallet guide

Article: Sodium Lauryl Sulfate: Facts verses Fairytales

EWG Skin Deep: * You can type in products & see how toxic they are or aren't!!!
"It's our mission at Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment. EWG's Skin Deep database gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from everyday exposures to chemicals."  

EWG Tips for safe products  

EWG Skin Deep cosmetic guide

EWG Shoppers guide to pesticides in produce

2. What you put IN your body:
I hope I don't need to say much about this one. I'm sure you know enough to know that you need to eat right to be healthy.  But what you may not know is the crazy connection between your mind & gut.  When one's got issues, most likely so does the other.  Hmm... is that why my stomach hurst when I'm nervous?  Yes. 

...Anxioussness lead you to the bathroom?  Can't get over a mental block/fear in your mind + you have IBS?  

If you want to heal your mind/brain you have to heal your GUT!  

2b. Beware: the drugs and medications we take damage our entire gut ecosystem.  So THINK TWICE before taking drugs/meds next time!  Maybe try something else first.

Article: The brain gut connection

3. What you DO:
You didn't think I was going to leave the real bad guy out did you?  That would be satan.

Yes, I believe he plays a big part in this.  I can only speak for Americans since I am one, living in America.  And I believe that satan specifically has targeted us with busyness.  

For me, when I am busy, there is no room left for Jesus.  I don't think about Him. I don't talk to Him.  My life is not affected by Him.  I am focused on me & what I need to do & where I need to go. 

STOP.

Just stop. Think. Pray. Listen. Relax.  BE REFRESHED by the One who wants to refresh you! The Only One who truly can refresh you. He made you. He knows you.  He'll provide.  He'll provide the time.  He'll provide the answers. Whatever it is, He's got it under control.  It may look 100% different than what you thought it would be.  But trust me, His way is better.  So it's OK to let the Only One who is actually in control be in control.  God wants to heal you. He wants to be a part of every part of your life & in every minute because He loves you.  

It will be really hard to believe Truth if you don't know it, if you don't know Him. It will be really hard to figure out the best way to live life if you never know what the One who created life says about it.

What do you need to do slow down? To be refreshed?  

For my family we have found these things to be true...
... we need to say "no" to good things, sometimes great things (the bad things are usually easy to say no to).
... scheduling time with Jesus in our daily plans.
... scheduling working out (back to #2).
... not filling every minute of our day with a schedule!
... saying "yes" to fun things.
... inviting people into our home, our daily life - COMMUNITY!
... taking a Sabbath.  A real one. It's a command.

^{" 15} Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And do not get drunk with wine, for that isdebauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." Ephesians 5:15-21

Examine your life-- make the BEST use of your time, not just good use, the BEST.
Know/understand what God's will is for your life -- don't TRY to decide your own, it will fail, I promise (by the way, God makes His will pretty clear in scripture -- this simple word search can get you started)
Be filled with the Spirit -- cause that's the only way you can live the way God talks about, the way we are designed to.
Live in community-- one of the best ways God chooses to love us & teach us is through OTHERS.
Give thanks always-- a thankful heart can change your world, I also promise that.

When our bodies are healthy, our mind can think correctly.  Correct thinking comes from Jesus.  And that is why we need to slow down & choose to live our lives possibly very different from others.  When we think correctly, your heart can heal (I think its pretty stinking hard to heal your heart when your thinking is wrong).  I hope that you experience freedom from whatever it is that may be holding you down, healing where you are broken.

Jesus is our ultimate healer.  He can & will heal, He WILL redeem ALL things.  We just have to wait... 

Good things are worth waiting for... waiting with a thankful heart.

* Personal testimony to come.
* Products I use (now) to come.