Poo Free and Proud

I have been Poo Free for 2 years. This may sound odd to most of you.  “What is she talking about?”  I know where your mind is going, and that is NOT what I am talking about.  Let me clarify.  I am shamPOO free and have been for 2 years.  I realize that sounds strange to most of you, but this choice has simplified my life and has given me the opportunity to commit to this journey of detoxifying my body and home.  

“So, you haven't washed you in 2 years?”

I wash my hair.  I just don’t use mainstream shampoo products to do it.  I started this process by washing my hair with baking soda and water, until the natural oils of my scalp found their balance again.  Now I use a bar that consists of olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, herbs and essential oils.  

“Isn’t your hair greasy all the time?”

Actually, no - it tends to be on the drier side.  You see, when you are consistently stripping your scalp and skin of its natural oils the body creates more and more to make up for its lack of them. This is why when you are in the habit of using shampoo and then don’t use it for a couple of days your hair feels very greasy.  But it is not because you NEED shampoo for your hair and scalp to be healthy and clean.  It is because the body is seeking to regain balance and creates more oil than necessary.  If you give your body enough time to figure this out, balance will be restored.

“What about conditioner?”

I ditched my conditioner when I ditched my shampoo.  Now I use an apple cider vinegar rinse which is a natural detangler, so brushing my long and wavy hair is never an issue.  Apple cider vinegar balances the PH in your hair which gives it everything it needs to feel soft, look shiny and be totally manageable.  Sometimes I add a drop of lavender or rosemary essential oil when I want to enrich my experience.  

“How does your hair look?”

I’ll be honest.  It took about a month for my hair to figure out what the heck was going on.  But I think about how long I had been inhibiting its natural process with putting products all over it, and a month doesn’t seem so long to get back to its natural state.  During that time it kept swinging from feeling dry and frizzy to feeling extra greasy.  When it was feeling dry, I added a little coconut oil to the ends to help with those frizzies.  When it was greasy, I wore a scarf as a headband to cover up.  And then one magical day, sort of out of the blue, my hair finally felt awesome.  It looked healthy, soft and my waves were prettier than they have ever been.  I felt like I met my hair in its natural state for the first time.  

So there you have it.  My experience with the No Poo Method.  It has been working great for me and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to take that step in the direction of simplifying the products in your life.  

5 Natural Alternatives to Common Household Products

So, you are ready to start simplifying your life and want to cut out the toxic products in your home.  But what should you replace them with?  I have found 5 simple ingredients that can easily be swapped out for ALL your home care products.  

Vinegar (white)

You can switch out every single toxic cleaning product in your home for white vinegar.  It is an inexpensive and a powerful cleanser.  I use it to clean my kitchen counters, tile floors, bathroom counters and bathtub.  For extra scrubbing power sprinkle baking soda onto vinegar covered surface and let it soak together for 10 minutes before wiping off. For super disinfectant power, spray hydrogen peroxide on surface after vinegar has been used (do not mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide together).  Vinegar also makes a great glass cleaner!

Coconut Oil

This super oil is packed with essential fatty acids and antioxidants which make it an extremely healthy choice to add to your diet.  It is a great oil to cook with due to its high temperature resistance.  Coconut oil is also a useful home body product alternative! I use it as a skin moisturizer, in my hair for an oil treatment and as a natural diaper rash ointment for my baby (I have never had to use another product to treat his diaper rash).

Baking Soda

This simple kitchen ingredient is a natural deodorizer and cleaner!  Put a box in the fridge or cupboard to help absorb odors, sprinkle on your carpet before vacuuming to freshen up your carpet, and add to your kitchen sinks and bathtubs for extra scrubbing and cleaning power.  Baking soda can also be used  for brushing your teeth by mixing it with water until you form a paste.  I have also used baking soda to clean my hair and scalp in lieu of shampoo.  

Hydrogen Peroxide

A staple in everyone’s home, hydrogen peroxide is a powerful stain remover and disinfectant that has many uses.  Add a cup to your laundry instead of bleach to fight stains.  Most people don’t realize that hydrogen peroxide makes a very effective and inexpensive mouthwash.  It fights germs and bacteria.  That is why it is also a great natural choice for wound care!  Hydrogen peroxide has super hero sanitizing powers which makes it a great tool for disinfecting bathroom counters, toilets, floors and tubs.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Oh, the many benefits and uses of apple cider vinegar!  It can be used as a natural heartburn remedy due to its enzyme packed properties which also help to balance out candida in the body.  It has been known to aid in detoxifying the body which comes in handy when feeling ill and trying to lose weight.   It also makes a great natural conditioner and hair detangler since it naturally balances the PH in your skin and hair.  This is my #1 choice for an all natural hair conditioner.  I dilute one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with approximately one cup of water to use as my conditioning rinse.  My hair comes out soft, manageable and shiny!

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