This all sounds so as utterly un-fancy as it is. So, here is my new and improved beauty regime these days (I’ve nearly given up makeup!)
Basically instead of lotion after showering, I slather on a thin layer of almond or olive oil before toweling off. The oil traps the water next to your skin and keeps your skin incredibly soft. And the same goes for after I cleanse my face. It’s inexpensive and I know what all the ingredients are – it makes more sense to me to use clean ingredients on my skin with names I can easily pronounce. 
A quick note here, I never use coconut oil as moisturizer. Rumor is that in small amounts it’s moisturizing, but in larger doses it has the opposite effect. I kind of think being able to use it as deodorant supports that theory.
For my hair, I’ve been rinsing it for years with vinegar about once a month, to clean out all the residue left behind from the masses and masses of hair products I’ve used in the past. Now I use it about 3x per week, after shampooing to make my hair soft and shiny. Just a tablespoon or so, stirred into a half cup of water, and worked through clean hair. I let it sit for a little bit, but I don’t really time it. Then I rinse it out; easy right? My hair is healthier than it’s been in ages, since I’ve foresaken hairspray and mousse and wax and shine sprays and straightening serums/curl enhancers (what can I say? I’m a fickle girl). So, whether it’s the vinegar or the lack of hair product, my hair looks fab!
I haven’t gone “no ‘poo” yet, but tonly because I tried it a few years ago, did it completely wrong (rubbed TONS of straight baking soda into my scalp instead of diluting mightily with water) and ended up with a head full of really angry, nearly waist-length hair. It never pays to piss off your crowning glory, as you ladies will surely agree. It took me ages to make it happy and healthy again and to be honest, I’m scared to go that route again. I’m sure I’ll get there eventually, but it ain’t happenin’ today.
Anyway, I hope this answers a few questions!
Yeah- I am too scared to go no ‘poo. I have pretty long hair (that I am growing out longer to donate)- but maybe after i donate it and it is wicked short- I will try it. or maybe not. I don’t know.
How do you not but too much oil on your skin? I have tried and end up like a grease ball!
There IS a trick to it! You put the oil on your hands like you are putting on lotion, but sparingly, and after rubbing it into your hands, you use your palms and fingertips to put the thinnest veil of oil on your face – basically your face gets your hands’ leftovers!
I did the baking soda as you did in the beginning, too! Oops! I learned to dilute about a teaspoon in about a cup of water and now love it! I’ll never go back. I also use apple cider vinegar instead of conditioner.
Face–olive oil and castor oil, or a sugar scrub made from sugar, sweet almond oil and lavender oil. I do use the coconut oil to moisturize without any trouble personally. I’ve been using homemade deodorant for a few weeks and love it.
My bathroom vanity has all sorts of little jars on it with my concoctions. I love it! It’s also nice to know it wont harm me or my little ones.
PS- I just got my hair cut this morning for the first time in seven months. It’s now to past my bra in the back. My hairdresser commented on how wonderful my hair is. I know it’s because of what I use–and don’t use–on it. That to say–the baking soda/vinegar works great on my long, thick, kinda wavy hair.
Hi Kimberly!
I love that you are a natural product user, too! Our great grandmothers, or maybe more like their grandmothers, didn’t have the luxury of having all their beauty products shipped in to the local grocery store and wrapped up in plastic containers! My new way of doing things insists that I use products on my skin that I wouldn’t mind eating. lol (guess that leaves castor oil out… yech!) And honestly, it’s likely I won’t ever ingest lye, but I’ve eaten my fair share of soap (as a kid) and once it’s saponified, it’s safe, if not exactly tasty.
Jami
Hi,
I thought I’d post as I’ve now been doing the baking soda/ vinegar thing with my hair for about 3 months, and it’s great! My hair is not quite as far as my waist, but not far off
I make up a bottle with about a quarter baking soda, top up with water, and just shake every time I use it (most days). I squirt a bit onto just the top of dry hair, rub in, and let it sit for a bit while I wash etc.
Then rinse out, and work in a bit of vinegar mix (about a quarter vinegar to a bottle of water), leave that for a bit, then rinse.
I do that pretty much every day, more out of habit than anything else, as my hair’s always been greasy. I’ve found though, when I haven’t been able to wash it, that after the first day of looking a bit rough, it actually looks fine!
Good luck!
Jenni
Hi Jenni!
Thanks for the great reply! Can you tell me this though? How long did you have to go through the “ugly hair” phase when you started? I’ve heard lots of that on the net, too, and I know I was doing it wrong so my hair was indeed hideous for days and days, but if you do it right, how long till your hair is gorgeous again?
Jami
Hi Jinman,
I didn’t have an ugly hair phase! I tried it once, and it was gorgeous, then went back to shampoo to finish off the bottle, then switched straight to baking soda. No idea why I didn’t have that phase, I’ve read about that too.
I do wash it pretty much every day though, so maybe that has something to do with it? I’ve read somewhere that eventually you can leave it a few days between washes, but mine always goes horrid the day after I’ve washed it, so I always end up washing it again, lol!
Sorry, that’s probably no help at all! I guess everyone’s hair is different
Jenni
x
I did the baking soda thing for six months last year like you described (not much in the way of diluting it), and never really had a problem with it, but I suspect that it might depend on the scalp and hair of the person involved. I also used a very diluted vinegar rinse as well, for what it’s worth. I’m not sure how I lucked out (and I’m probably jinxing myself for when i go back to it again soon), but I never actually went through the ugly hair stage. It just seemed to adapt well.
I also love oil as moisturizer and cleanser. Unfortunately, my skin doesn’t always respond well (it’s very, very sensitive to change), but it did stay soft. So, now I save the oil for when I really need the moisture and, if I’m not too dirty, I just try to wash my face with a cloth and warm water, which has been working fairly well to date. If not, I tend to use baking soda or oatmeal on my skin, both of which are very nice.
If anyone is interested, I did a post on my experiences with switching to baking soda and vinegar. I never had the ugly hair phase and my hair is really thick, wavy with a tendency towards frizz. I linked to a site that explains all the how to and why.
http://kimberlys-cup.blogspot.com/2009/02/more-simple-living-links-recipes.html