Homesteading and Homekeeping at Whisper Wind Farm

Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Vinegar Rinse and No Poo!

Most of us have been taught that we need to wash our hair everyday. For some of us this is a bit true and for some of us creates terribly damaged hair. Mine is the kind of hair that is terribly damaged by shampooing everyday. God gave us oil glands at the base of every strand of hair to keep our hair healthy and shiny. When we shampoo everyday we strip these God given oils right out of our hair leaving it dry, dull and lifeless. No wonder we have bad hair days! So what are we to do. Instead of shampooing everyday, I have started rinsing my hair with a vinegar rinse. My hair is softer and shinier than ever and the vinegar gets rid of any yuckies your hair might have collected during the day without stripping all of the oil away. So here is my vinegar rinse recipe that I use on the days that I don't shampoo. I shampoo once a week and the rest of the week I just rinse and massage. My hair has never been healthier.
Dry Hair Rinse
9 parts water
1 part vinegar
5 drops peppermint essential oil
I use tablespoons to measure into a small jar that way I know I am getting the parts right. I usually use 2 tbls. vinegar and 18 tbls. water. I keep the jar in the shower so it is handy. You can use whatever essential oil you prefer, I like peppermint because it is tingly and invigorating.

Oily Hair Rinse
12 parts water
1 part vinegar
5 drops essential oil
Again it is easier for me to use tablespoons to get my parts correct and you may use whatever essential oil you prefer.

If you are having a real oil problem with your hair then you may want to skip the vinegar for a bit as it can make greasy looking hair look greasier.

Homemade Conditioners

Egg Yolk Conditioner
Needed:
1 tsp. olive oil
1 egg yolk
1 c. water
Beat egg yolk until frothy, add oil and beat again, add water and mix well. Massage into scalp and rinse well. This will keep in the refrigerator up to 1 week.

Deep Conditioner Treatment
1/8 c. olive oil
1 vitamin E capsule
Heat olive oil until just warm, puncture vitamin E capsule and mix liquid with olive oil. Apply to hair, really working into the ends. Wrap hair with saran wrap and towel. Leave in for 20 minutes, then only wash (no condition) hair as usual.

Chamomile Tea Shampoo

You need:
Chamomile tea bag
1 tbl. soap flakes
1 tsp. borax
3 tbls. white vinegar
1 pint hot water
Boil tea in water, then cut off heat, mix in the soap flakes and borax. When slightly cool mix in vinegar. Place in a jar and refrigerate up to one week.
Remember that homemade shampoo does not lather as much as store bought shampoo, but the cleaning is wonderful.