Hair Care

Hello my fellow environmentalish friends! Today I want to talk about shampoo and conditioner.  I bring these up a lot because they were the most difficult purchase to make.  Everyone’s hair is different, and everyone’s hair has different needs.  I personally have very long hair with dry ends and an oily scalp.  Definitely not ideal for zero waste! I went through 5 or 6 different shampoo bars from different vendors until I found one that works for me.  I need a shampoo that is not super moisturizing because I have oily hair, so I need something made for that. On the other hand, I do need a moisturizing conditioner for the ends of my hair.  I tried to cut out even using a conditioner, but with hair more than halfway down my back that I only cut once or twice a year, cutting out conditioner just isn’t an option. There are so many options out there for a variety of prices, so I had to experiment and spend a little money in order to find something that works for me.  I buy shampoo bars and conditioner bars from two different zero waste companies because they are what works for me, and I managed to find bars that are at a comparative cost to the bottles of hair products I was previously using. I have a lavender shampoo bar option for oily hair from Vunella that cleans my hair without leaving it feeling filmy or too oily.  I then use a moisturizing conditioner bar from Ethique on the ends of my hair to keep them from drying out.   I did notice that when I wash my hair, there is a fine line between too little and too much shampoo, both of which leave my hair extra oily. As long as I use the right amount, it stays clean and soft for a couple days. When it does get a little dry, I use argan oil to condition the ends, which I have always loved. Hopefully this process continues to work over the summer months!

So, now I have bars that clean my hair and leave it feeling soft and looking clean. My sister gave me a bamboo comb and brush set for my birthday this year, and as long as I use conditioner, it works well in getting through my long and thick hair. It doesn’t break my hair, either, which is a plus. I didn’t want to get rid of my old plastic brush, but since it was falling apart anyway, it is now being used to brush and fluff up my rugs and fleece blankets!

There are some other benefits to this new hair care system that I did not expect as well.  I have some dandruff and dermatitis issues that flare up sometimes where my scalp gets flaky and itchy.  With using a shampoo option that is basically stripped down to only the essential oils, I don’t have any flakes anymore.  I am also able to wash my hair less often.  I used to wash my hair every single day when I was in my early 20s, then I started stretching to every other day.  I am up to washing my hair every 3 days now without needing any dry shampoo to help me get by, and I can’t wait to see how far I can stretch that out.  I also noticed that since switching to these bars that less of my hair is falling out.  I tend to pull a good bit of hair out when I wash it and the pile of lost hair has definitely gotten smaller! After a few months of an adjustment period, my hair is healthier than it has ever been, and healthier for the planet too!