Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I am not ready to go no 'poo, but have minimized in other areas to homemade deo (coconut oil and baking soda) and minimal soap usage (occassional Dr. Bronner's baby castile), and only coconut oil on skin. I am now trying to get away from my Aveda salon hair products. I still blow dry my hair and conform in that way, so I need the extra help in that area. I am switching to Bronner's Baby Castille soap for shampooing (but open to other suggestions there). I want to find more natural replacements for a deep conditioner and leave in serum/conditioner (dry hair).

I was excited to try Bronner's new conditioning rinses because of the simple ingredient lists, but they get very mixed reviews on Amazon (that's the worst!), and I don't want to waste money on filling up my recently vacated medicine cabinet with more natural products if I don't like their effects. (Burt's Bees Deep Conditioner was the first casualty..) Any recommendations for actually conditioning conditioners? I don't mean eggs, avo's, etc.. I want tried and true, as natural as possible products.

Suggestions? Thank you!

flag	asked Aug 23 2011 at 6:30 Jane 457●2●10

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I was totally pro Dr. Bronner's but I just can not use it on my hair, it has ruined so much of it, plus I have a hard time with the all the religious writing on the bottles. Sadly it is hard to find anything that works. My hair is past my butt, if you find something please pass it on! ;) I like body washes and hair soaps I personally do not want to go no poo. – Uggla Aug 23 2011 at 6:55

Thanks for the warning! Since my hair is long and dry, drying it out more is not an option. I'll keep you posted what I find. – Jane Aug 24 2011 at 0:08

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Dr. Bronners is really rough on hair. Really rough! I think you'll be very sorry. I would look more toward brands like Aubrey Organics and the like. They make some great natural options. Check the go green board on MUA for ideas. They have tried pretty much everything it seems to me. Great to ask question of for this sort of thing. makeupalley.com/board/j.asp?bid=19 – Shari Bambino Aug 24 2011 at 1:33

I love MUA so much. For me it's been a great, more indie/grassroots resource for cosmetics reviews. – familygrokumentarian Aug 24 2011 at 3:09

being · Answer 1 · 2011-08-23 11:41:08Z UTC

No poo does not work fir me. I have very curly, fine, dry hair and I could never use dr bronners or it would be like straw! Ive been using aubrey organixs forever and love it. Right now im using the chamomile hydrating shampoo with honeysuckle rose conditioner. I shampoo about 2-3 times per week and condition every day. They have a lot of different formulations though for different hair types. Vitacost has the best prices and rewiews and ingredients lists, too.

Lauren · Answer 2 · 2011-08-23 11:46:57Z UTC

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The only time I've been able to successfully use Dr. Bronner's as shampoo is now that my head is buzzed.

answered Aug 23 2011 at 11:46

Lauren
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Amanda · Answer 3 · 2011-08-23 15:17:55Z UTC

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www.skindeep.com

This site rates the neurotoxity levels of all beauty products. If a product isn't in their database, you can add the ingredients in yourself and the computer will rate it. A must see..

answered Aug 23 2011 at 15:17

Amanda
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BTW I love YEStoCucumbers Shampoo and Conditioner from Whole Foods, and it rates a 2 which is very safe. – Amanda Aug 23 2011 at 15:18

Lauren · Answer 4 · 2011-08-23 13:43:38Z UTC

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Bronners didn't work on my hair - it was way too concentrated, even though I only used a bit. The first day looked good, but after that it just got too greasy. I've been using Baking Soda and Vinegar for about a year and love it.

answered Aug 23 2011 at 13:43

Lauren
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	What kind of vinegar do you use? Would apple cider vinegar work? – JS Paleo Sep 11 2011 at 19:04
	I use white vinegar, but I imagine acv would work, too! I use 1 TB of baking soda to 1 cup of water, and spread it over my head, mostly in the spots that get the greasiest. Then I massage it all over my scalp. I 'condition' with 1 TB of vinegar to 1 cup of water, and rinse with more water. Feels fantastic - it did take some time for me to figure out what ratios worked best for me. – Lauren Sep 12 2011 at 19:37

familygrokumentarian · Answer 5 · 2011-08-23 14:31:15Z UTC

I have thick, straight, past shoulder length hair, can't ever conceive that no poo would work for me because of typical levels of sweat and that much more when I exercise. I've tried Bronner's too - it's great when my hair is really, REALLY greasy for a one-off power cleaning, but after a single application, it dries my hair fast because Dr. B's liquid soap is basically composed of 100% natural and organic oils.

A few drops lathered up for body washing is great, but Bronner's basic unscented (and peppermint) liquid soaps ruin my hair, make it scraggly and straw-like.

I've tried Yes to Carrots conditioner, and despite rinsing it left my hair lank and greasy looking.

Nothing else to add - just throwing my experiences so far out here and reading this thread with interest. I want a "No 'no-poo'"-friendly alternative that still lets me have a fresh head of hair on a every 1-2 days basis, that can work with an exercise heavy lifestyle.

Karen · Answer 6 · 2011-08-24 01:28:58Z UTC

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Liggett's bar shampoo http://www.amazon.com/Original-Formula-Bar-Shampoo-Liggetts/dp/B000GJL22K/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314149126&sr=8-1 followed by a diluted vinegar rinse (I add some lavender oil for scent)

Coconut oil for deep conditioning once a week. A tiny, tiny amount of coconut oil mostly on ends if necessary daily.

answered Aug 24 2011 at 1:28

Karen
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	Karen, when you deep condition with the coconut oil, how long do you leave it in? AND does your hair feel extra oily after it's all rinsed and dry? I have tried tiny amounts on my ends before and the oiliness was not cool.. – Jane Aug 24 2011 at 18:56
	Overnight and then wash in the morning. It seems to be fine afterwards. The tiny amount I use on ends is after the same tiny amount goes on my face, hands and elbows. Anything still adhering goes onto my damp ends. I'm 54 though, and my hair has finally entered the dry zone. – Karen Aug 25 2011 at 0:31

Geoff · Answer 7 · 2011-08-24 00:10:19Z UTC

I use shampoo and conditioner because I have fine frizzy hair so I use pomade. I also want to prevent hairloss so I was using Nioxin to get the DHT off of the scalp. I switched to a 100% natural shampoo and conditioner that works better then the Nioxin. (they also have formulas for all types of hair).

I also use a nice face lotion and face wash as having nice skin that resists aging wasnt necessarily programed into being a hunter-gatherer (no pooers dont jump on me, maybe it was. But Im a light skinned person living in a very sunny environment so I figure my skin needs some extra help).

This is the company I use. Paleohackers will recognize a lot of the ingredients as coconut oil is in many of her formulas. I used straight coconut oil for awhile but it started to irritate my skin. These products are much better.

I believe that the lady grows all her own herbs on her own land.

http://www.herbaliz.com/

Edit: This website rates her products to be the most safe you can use. http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/

I am no way affiliated with this company. The lady just makes a good product, seems very nice (she personally responds to emails) and it is cool to help small biz.

Wings o' Change · Answer 8 · 2011-09-11 17:43:41Z UTC

Thank you for the Ligget's tip, I'd forgotten about them! I tried them years ago, but got away from them. I'll try it again. The Aubrey Organics line has the same problem of all others: soy protein. If I don't want it in me, I'm not putting it on me since "on = in". I know of a wonderful and very effective shampoo and conditioner that I refuse to use because it has soy protein and brown rice in it, the rest being 100% Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils...but again, "on = in" and I don't want those in. Other shampoos and conditioners use dectyl glucose from corn, so again they have a grain.

Those who mentioned the damage from Dr. Bonner's to hair are correct...mine is dry despite the daily use of coconut oil afterwards to condition it. Back to JR Ligget's this New England gal goes!

Blessings, ~Rev. Diane Jarecki co-owner, Wings o' Change www.wingsochange.com http://blog.wingsochange.com

Still love to 'poo AND condition… Hack Dr. Bronner for hair and other brands?

8 Answers