For the last almost-year I’ve been eschewing store bought hair products in favour of shampoo bars, hair serums, balms, and gels I can make myself. I’ve also been stretching out my washes, and using only wooden combs and boar bristle brushes. And here are a few things I’ve noticed over the last 11 months.
- The longer your wash cycle, the longer it will take to add another day. I was able to go from every other day to every third day in a few weeks, but it took me about three full months to switch from every 7th day to every 8th day. Chances are the number of wash cycles stays more or less consistent (I haven’t been keeping track), but it will feel much, much longer (because it is, of course—don’t try to force it).
- Slightly contradictory to what I just said, sometimes it will take three washes before you can add another day, and sometimes it will take 15, and this isn’t strictly linear. I think it took me four months to go from every 5th day to every 6th, and only one or two months to go from every 6th to every 7th. Just wait it out. It will happen.
- Figure out what level of greasy you can handle before you start. It can’t be zero or you’ll never get anywhere, but if your grease tolerance is fairly low, keep in mind you’ll be moving pretty slow.
- If your hair tends towards being very greasy, you might have to start out with 12 hour increments rather than 24. Also, dry shampoo and hats.
- Updos are more forgiving to dirty hair.
- Your hair will start looking different when its dirty after 10 months or so. It won’t go as flat and dull looking, but will actually stay shiny. Not the same shiny as freshly washed, but still a rather nice gloss compared to the alternative.
- Positive changes will take time to materialize. Your hair should feel softer and be scent-free and shiny, but it will take a few months. But what’s a few months in a lifelong change?
- Your time investment in your hair will shift. If you’re used to hot curling, flat ironing, and blow drying your hair in the morning, that time will swap to the evening as you boar bristle brush, comb and braid, and/or put in curlers/pin curls the night before.
- You hair care costs should go way down. Your hair cuts should even be cheaper if you can find a place that won’t charge you for the wash and blowout if you don’t get them.
Hey I have been silently following your blog (especially thehair care) for slightly over a month n after reading many of your post I am thinking to go all natural but at the same time I am apprehensive.
I have dull n dry Indian hairs n though I don’t use much heat (straightening/blow dry once in 2-3 months) I feel that my hairs are too much damaged as I have to get frequent hair cut (once in 3 months) due to dry n damaged/split ends and so I don’t have nice length…
I read about the Hair balm on your blog and I am gonna try it for my damaged ends… Right now I am trying to find all the raw materials… 🙂
Thanks a lot for sharing all this with us… 😀
Awesome! Congratulations on deciding to take the plunge! If you’re not using much heat and you haven’t dyed your hair much, it doesn’t sound like your hair needs frequent trims because it is damaged—you may have simply reached your breaking point, where your hair just won’t grow any longer. You may be able to help this by amping up the moisture to help prevent breakage, and by cutting out hair products that contain silicone byproducts (like dimethicone) that coat your hair and gradually weaken it. However, if your hair is bound and determined to break at a certain point, you may not be able to change its mind 🙁
That said, you can still have healthy, shiny, happy hair! The hair balm is excellent for dry ends, and I also love my hair serum, which is diluted so it’s easier to spread over the length of your hair without getting greasy too quickly.
I get all of my ingredients from New Directions Aromatics. They have online shops based out of Canada, the USA, the UK, and Australia, so there’s a good chance they’ll be able to help you out 🙂
Enjoy your journey and feel free to reach out if you have any questions, I’d love to help if I can!
I found all the ingredients I use on NATURALLYTHINKING,CO,UK
such a nice website and amazing products!
Claire
I am also noo poo. Only use water 🙂 and maybe once or twice a month I use BS and ACV.. I dont think I had a transition period I guess I was lucky. I use a boar bristle brush and I love it, gives me really nice shine.
I use clay to wash my body.. Green/Bentonite clay.
I’d encourage you to read this interesting article on the baking soda washing method and why it may be harmful to your hair—just so you know!
Hello Marie!
I’m so in love with your blog, you have so many great recipes and ideas. Keep up the awesome work!!
I’m having a question. My hair is pretty short and mostly healthy, after chopping of all bleached parts. I’m used to wash my hair every day -due to greasyness- but my scalp cant handle it anymore, thanks to neurodermatitis and eczema. Now I need/want to wash my hair only every other day or every three days. How long was your transition period, and did your hair get overly gross? My Doc told me that I need to wash my hair less frequent, but I’m afraid to look like a grease-ball the first weeks, even with dry-shampoo :X
please excuse my poor english and the length of my text ^^***
Greets, Anna
Hi Anna! Thanks for reading 🙂 I stretched out my washes, rather than jumping straight to 4 or 5 five days, so that really helped. Once my last day didn’t look too awful anymore, I’d add another day. I’ve got an entire article here on stretching out your washes that should help 🙂