Good Seed: Sellwood Soap

It’s been way too long since my last post, and even longer since my last “good seed.” But what can I say – when you work with kids, you get sick! Thankfully, things are starting to get back to normal now, except for the massive catching up I have to do. New blog post: Check!

Copyright: Sellwood Soap

When I was at a seminar in Portland this summer, I had the privilege to meet Rachel, the owner of Sellwood Soap, who sells her products alongside mine at Tangible Gifts, in addition to other Portland locations. She is an actual chemist, which I find fascinating. You know her soaps have to be great, since she really knows what she’s doing!

Many people, including the awesome EcoGrrl, have been asking me about my experience with shampoo bars, assuming that I’ve tried most natural shampoos. And I’ve always had to confess that I had never tried them before. So when I saw Sellwood’s shampoo bars at Tangible Gifts, I didn’t think twice before purchasing one. The funny thing is, I grabbed a product that I later found out was regular soap – and yet it worked great! Later, I was able to try the actual shampoo bar and I loved that just as much. Before I continue with the review, here’s what Rachel has to say about herself and her business:

My journey toward a career in soap-making started in chemistry. Twelve years as an analytical chemist, I was always acutely aware of chemicals in household products.  I was “that” shopper at the grocery store reading all of the labels, even more annoying to shop owners because I understood what I was reading.  A laundry list of allergies and a family riddled with skin problems gave me the final push to go for it and start Sellwood Soap Company, dedicated to creating gentle and natural handmade soap and specializing in solid products such as bar shampoo (for dogs and humans), lotion bars, shaving soap and more.  No water means no preservatives necessary so those products have been our mainstay.

Teaching has also been a cornerstone of our business – we teach soap making classes at Portland Homestead Supply Company, a local Portland store in Sellwood that also carries our products.  These classes usually fill and are incredibly fun to teach – while not all go on to make their own products, they all know more about what is in the products they choose to buy, a little chemistry lesson comes with every class.  We also teach now through our blog, which has replaced our monthly newsletter.

I really admire Rachel and her business model. I think passing on the tradition of soap making is a wonderful way to inspire others and keep that art alive.

Rachel, mixing up some magic (Photo copyright Sellwood Soap)

As for me and my hair, I can honestly say it has never looked or felt better. Many readers here know that I have been using my own shampoo recipe for many years now, which I was plenty happy with. However, the down side was that my homemade shampoo tended to leave my hair quite static-y and a little heavy. My solution was to use baking soda and a vinegar rinse once a week or so, but it honestly had started to wear on me after so many years.

To my absolute surprise and delight, the shampoo bar (even the regular soap bar!) left my hair much, much smoother, with far less of a feeling of residue on my hair. The static is under control, as well! And my hair is smoother and easier to comb out. I know some people have felt that their hair is more oily with shampoo bars but I haven’t found that to be the case. My hair is on the oily side, anyway, and it seems to respond the same to this bar as to my former shampoo. I have been using a vinegar rinse far more often than I used to, but even when I don’t use it, the shampoo bar is far superior to my own little concoction.

I’d say that the only negative is that I tend to use a LOT of the bar each time I wash my hair. I like a lot of lather. So I’m going through my bar pretty quickly. I’d say it will last me 4-6 weeks – and I only shampoo my hair every other day. However, I used the same amount of my former shampoo in the same amount of time. The only difference is that the shampoo bar will end up costing more. But I am totally and completely fine with that because I think it’s 100% worth it. It “costs” less in other ways – it’s already made, so I don’t have to do any work and it cuts back on my plastic use (castile soap comes in plastic jugs and my shampoo bottle is a spray top with lots of not-so-eco-friendly plastic pieces that will one day have to be thrown away). I would also add that my own use of the bar may not reflect that of others’ – it really depends on how much lather you like! According to Sellwood Soap, a bar should last as long as three bottles of shampoo – so obviously, I overuse mine a little. But I can’t help it!

All in all, I am so incredibly pleased with this product and will definitely be coming back for more! I highly recommend trying a shampoo bar if you haven’t, already. If you are interested in trying some Sellwood Soap, you will find the links to the shop above. You can check out the blog here and visit Rachel on Facebook here.

If you’ve tried shampoo bars before, how did you like them?

Summer Self Care

I think a lot of people push themselves too hard in the summer without realizing it. The sun is out so early and so late – who wants to stay in bed when it’s sunny and warm outside? There are sports to play, family to visit, barbeques to plan, gardens to weed… It’s such a pleasant time of year that I don’t think we realize how hard it can be on our bodies. Heat, sun exposure, long hours of physical activity and allergies can all conspire to wear us out.

Copyright: Five Seed

Are you taking care of yourself? Here are a few things to try to keep yourself healthy this summer.

::Carry a spray bottle of hydrosol with you when you go out. It is a great way to refresh yourself and hydrate your skin. I like lavender and rose. (This is especially great for those of you who bicycle a lot, like me. A little spritz of hydrosol after a hot ride is incredibly refreshing!)

::Practice yin yoga. Many people are much more active during the summer doing all the things we don’t always get to do in colder temperatures – including biking, walking, hiking, jogging, rafting, etc. These are all great for our health, but you may start to feel certain muscle groups getting tense from all the repetitive movements. Yin yoga really helps stretch the large muscles in your body, counter joint stress and it can help “reset” everything so that you feel fresh and rejuvenated.

::Use a clay facial mask once or twice a month. This will help draw out the excess oil, sweat and dirt that can accumulate on your face during active summer months. It feels so great on the skin, as well. I highly recommend using rhassoul or french green clay, as neither dry out the skin. Just be careful not to overuse clay masks, or you will cause your sebaceous glands to overcompensate by creating more oil.

::Wash the pollen out. If you suffer from major allergies, wash your hair more often, use a neti pot and change your pillowcase frequently. These are all common pollen traps (it gets into our sinuses, and into our hair, which is rubbed all over our pillows each night), so keeping your hair and sinuses clean can help to alleviate some allergy symptoms. Again, though, just be careful not to wash your hair too much, as it will become oilier if you strip it of its natural oils!

::Get some rest. This is a hard one for me. When it’s so sunny and nice outside, I don’t want to go to bed and I sure don’t want to linger in bed in the mornings! But we still need a good 6-8 hours each day, so try to keep yourself on a consistent sleep schedule.

::Stay hydrated. This is an obvious one, but it bears repeating. It never fails, every year, that I let myself get dehydrated without realizing it until my body forces me to stop and get some water. I think this is because I just want to be out and about, doing, doing, doing. I don’t want to stop for a glass of water unless I’m riding my bike (which makes me super thirsty). Big mistake, though! Water keeps us going.

::Let your skin breathe. I cannot emphasize this one enough. You don’t need a lot of heavy moisturizers or makeup during the summer. The less you wear, the more your skin can breathe and maintain its natural balance. Further, if you wear less makeup, you can splash your face with cool water during the day – which feels GREAT – and not have to worry about your makeup running!

::When you have time off – whether it’s a vacation or just downtime – take the time to relax! This is a time to stroll, not walk. To read out on the patio, not spend all day on your computer. To laugh with family and friends, not sit alone texting everyone on your iPhone. There’s nothing to get done. Just relax and have fun.

::Indulge your skin. With the heat and sun exposure, our skin can take a beating during summer months. It is a great time to make infusions with plants from your herb garden and take some time out every single day to massage it into your skin. And don’t forget to exfoliate! Use scrubs, skin brushes, coarse washcloths, or whatever else you have around.

Hope you’re enjoying the warm weather!

Natural Haircolor: Henna

Like many women, I have always loved to play around with my appearance. Whether it was makeup, clothes or hair color, I tried just about everything. In my early twenties, hair color was my favorite way to change my appearance. I liked browns and reds, but I very often experimented with shades of blond. Or should I say orange. I could never afford to get my hair professionally colored, so I did it on my own – and as many of you probably know, bleaching your own hair can have disastrous results.

It wasn’t until nearly ten years later that I started to become aware of the chemicals in these hair dyes. The streaking kits are the worst, as many of you may have found. The fumes from those can knock you out, not to mention the irritation they cause the scalp. By the time I was 28, I promised myself I would not dye my hair anymore – I didn’t want those chemicals in my system. I also wanted my hair to be as healthy as possible – and pouring chemicals onto my scalp was definitely not contributing to the health of my hair.

I didn’t much think about it after that. I have to admit, I have been blessed with a naturally beautiful shade of hair (if I do say so myself). It is dark brown in back with light brown and dark blond natural highlights in front. These natural highlights hide the few gray hairs that have cropped up over the years, thankfully.

Despite this blessing from Mother Nature, I do get bored from time to time. Back in January, I found myself so bored with my appearance that I felt the desire to color my hair for the first time in many years. However, I never considered using the chemical-based dyes. Thanks to yoga blogger Callah, who wrote a guest post here about her experience with henna, I was dying to try it for myself.

Callah used Lush’s henna, which includes the dubious ingredient “perfume.” She talks about that a bit in her post. I decided to try to find a brand that was 100% pure henna, and ended up choosing Light Mountain, a brand carried by Whole Foods. I didn’t want to go too red (and that can definitely be a danger with henna), so I chose the auburn shade, rather than red (they have a surprisingly wide spectrum of color choices).

Callah’s post illustrated that using henna is definitely a messy experience. But I was up for the task. All I can say, though, is to make sure you have at least 5 hours to invest in this process.

Every henna product is different, so make sure you read the directions carefully, well ahead of time. This brand recommended pre-mixing the henna with water THREE HOURS before application. (This was not the only option, but it was the one I chose.) I foolishly did not take the time to set out newspapers in the bathroom as Callah wisely did – a big mistake! Applying this muddy mixture certainly creates a big mess no matter how careful you are! Once applied to my damp hair, I let it set for about two hours. Unlike with normal dyes, I was not at all worried about leaving it on for too long – I knew it wouldn’t hurt my hair and I wasn’t really concerned that it would get too red or too dark. It turned out to be a pretty relaxing experience (except for the mess, of course), allowing me the time to sit around and read for a bit.

The end result: fantastic. These pictures don’t do it justice, I have to say. I made two photo mistakes. 1) The pictures were taken indoors, and only natural light does henna-colored hair justice. 2) The pictures were taken from behind, where my hair is dark to begin with. The henna darkened the front of my hair significantly, which of course, you can’t see in these pictures.

(C) Five Seed

I couldn’t believe how much I loved the way the henna made my hair look. It started out super dark brown with an undertone of red. Within four washings, the color lightened a bit, and two weeks after that, the color had lightened significantly. Now, three months later, it is mostly back to normal, though I can still see a beautiful red tinge to it.

I love that you can use henna much more often than regular hair dye. It also – somewhat surprisingly – made my hair feel really soft and healthy.

There was one major downside for me, though (aside from the mess and how long it took). The smell. Now I know why Lush uses perfume in their henna! Henna smells a bit like alfalfa, a smell very familiar to me, having spent half my childhood on a goat ranch. It didn’t bother me at all for the first few hours. I expected the smell to wash out when I rinsed out the henna – but it didn’t. Later that night, when I went to bed, the scent was as strong as ever. And another day passed and another and another…yes, my hair smelled strongly of alfalfa for about a week. I got really sick of the smell and did not enjoy that at all!

However…I was happy enough with this product that I will definitely be using it again, alfalfa smell or not.

There is just something magical about henna. Rosemary Gladstar notes: “A wise old man told me that henna aligned with the polarities of the earth and attracted lay lines, powerful magnetic forces of the earth… I use henna as a transformation tool, not to cover natural hair color but to enhance it; to change not the way you look but the way you feel about yourself.”

Call me crazy, but I felt the henna magic when I used it. It is truly amazing, and I highly recommend it!

Your Stories on Skin Care

From the lovely Leanne Daharja (NZ) of Hazeltree Farm (formerly known as Cluttercut):

1. Washing my hair less often.

I have dry hair, and find that washing my hair once a week is absolutely often enough to keep oiliness at bay. Any more, and the chlorine and contaminants in our tap water start to dry my hair out. I also never use shop-bought shampoo and conditioner (except very rarely when travelling) – I’ve been using bicarbonate soda (baking soda) and apple cider vinegar for nearly three years now, and my hair has never been better.

2. Rarely using soap, unless I’m truly dirty! And showering less often.

I don’t use soap. Water and a loofah work fine most days. I only use soap if I’m truly dirty i.e. have ground in dirt from the garden. Soap – no matter what claims it has or its maker has – dried out my skin and causes me to have rashes.

I’ve also started showering less often, and find that in our cool New Zealand climate that works brilliant for me. Apparently the Norwegians only shower once a week – I’m building up to that, but even showering less than daily is helping my skin improve as it re-establishes natural oil balance.

From the lovely Chandelle (California) of Chicken Tender:

Photo used with permission.

Yarrow, lavender and peppermint liniment

***Please submit YOUR natural beauty tips to five5seed@gmail.com. I am happy to include links to your blog and/or store. Just include the following: your name (or initials, screen name, etc.), location & age (optional), link, and of course, at least one natural beauty tip!

Flowing, Growing, Changing Nature

As the equinox approaches and we transition into another season, it is important to remember that our bodies, like any part of nature, are always changing. If you have begun using natural ingredients in your beauty routine, you will likely find, at some point, that they don’t work consistently throughout the year. I’ve known many people to give up at this point and think that it was just a fluke that it worked at all in the first place. But we have to remember that we change and therefore, what we use on our bodies will have to change with us. This is particularly true when the weather/season changes or when we experience a transition in our lives.

We often don’t realize just how much our bodies change not just seasonally, but every single day. This is particularly true for women. What are we dealing with?

::Hormonal fluctuations

::Stress (this literally changes our bodies’ chemistry)

::Nutritional imbalances/changes

::Amount of sleep we get each night

::Exposure to pollutants (ingested, inhaled, etc.)

::Amount of exercise we get each day

::Exposure to (or lack of) fresh air

::Hydration levels

::Humidity, sun exposure, temperature

This short list covers a few of the many things that affect our bodies every single day.

I think in this culture, we are taught to strive for static perfection when it comes to our bodies. Clean, clear, healthy skin, the ideal weight for our body type  and height, etc. We have to realize that that ideal is completely unrealistic. In the wise words of Greek philosopher Heraclitus: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.”

It’s a miraculous thought to realize how much change we experience from moment to moment, and how the changes in our bodies are influenced by external events. And how the changes our bodies experience go on to influence MORE change in the world.

Try to remember this when your routine of baking soda and ACV doesn’t work on your hair one day, or your natural deodorant recipe fails you out of the blue. Don’t give up on your natural skin care if your skin suddenly becomes flaky or you break out more than usual. Breathe and adjust. It often only takes the slightest change to “fix” the problem.

::Switch back and forth between homemade shampoo (or organic baby shampoo) and baking soda/ACV when your hair seems unresponsive. Or try just washing it out with water.

::If you use a homemade deodorant recipe like the one I use and it stops working suddenly, try simply dusting your underarms with plain baking soda, or try a commercial brand, like Terressentials roll-ons.

::If your skin becomes too dry or too oily, try different oils, oil combinations, or try eliminating or reducing your moisturizer for a while. Make your own lotions using cocoa or shea butter and oils in the winter, and just plain oil in the summer. Use less, use more, cut back on one application here or there (or daily) and see what happens.

Don’t be afraid, discouraged or frustrated if (when) a natural routine seems to stop working. This is…well, natural. By altering your routine just a little bit, you will often find a quick solution, and will likely be able to go back to your normal routine after a short period of time. Experiment and have fun – don’t give up!

Henna How-to

I’m excited to present this post written by the absolutely beautiful Callah from My Yoga Life. She recently dyed her hair with henna and was generous enough to share her experience with me and the readers of Five Seed. Thanks, Callah!

I have been colouring my hair since I was about 11 years old. Seriously. It started with temporary dyes, graduated in high school to bleaching my hair and dying it blue, purple and bright red, and just about every other “natural” colour in between- blonde, brunette, redhead, highlights, pink streaks (ok, that’s not natural), you name it. Safe to say I’ve loaded tons of chemicals onto my scalp on average probably 4-6x a year… for 13 years… that’s a lot of chemicals!

In the past few months (with much inspiration from Yancy at Five Seed!) I started my own journey phasing chemicals out of my life. I started with the easiest switches… shampoos and face washes. But, my roots were beginning to get pretty obvious to the point where my sister told me it was time to do something about my hair! The henna investigation began.

Some things you should know:

-henna is a plant (Lawsonia Inermis)

-true, pure henna is red and red only. Any variation of colour is done by adding different plant and sometimes even chemical (eek!) compounds. Read the ingredients carefully before buying anything!

-the process is kind of messy, and long. But isn’t spending a little time worth it to save a bunch of chemicals from absorbing into your scalp?

-in the first 24-48 hours, you may experience a green tinge to your hair. This should go away. I think this is only an issue who haven’t waited the 6+ weeks after chemically altering their hair colour. The colour continues to develop into a rich deep shade in the first few days.

-if you’ve chemically coloured your hair, wait a MINIMUM 6+ weeks before henna-ing, and probably a couple months after henna-ing. The chemicals react with the henna and can cause funky things to happen. It’s a commitment!

-If you don’t love the results, do NOT bleach it out- it only opens the hair follicles more, causing the henna to sink in even deeper.

After much investigation, I decided to use the Lush Caca hennas- I know a lot of their products have chemicals such as SLS and perfumes despite being touted a “green” products, but their hennas appear to be natural and easy* to use. (The ingredients from Caca Brun: Fair Trade Cocoa Butter (Theobroma cacao), Indigo Henna (Indigofera Tintctoria), Red Henna (Lawsonia inermis), Ground Coffee, Nettle Powder (Urtica dioica), Irish Moss Powder (Chondrus crispus), Clove Bud Oil (Eugenia caryophyllus), Citral, Eugenol, Geraniol, Citronellol, Limonene, Linalool, Perfume.) Ok, the perfume is a bit questionable but it’s my first time.

Preparing the henna.

I started with a strand test, since my hair has been previously coloured. I decided to mix the Caca Brun & Caca Noir since I’m going for a deep brown shade over previously lightened hair, but black is too dark for what I’m after. Nothing funky happened, so…

D-Day! I chopped up the remainder of the squares I used for the strand text from each block, grated it up (using a knife to cut the last tiny ends into fine bits) and used strong brewed coffee in lieu of the boiled water for a richer brown tone. I added the coffee to the grated henna inside a pyrex bowl, just enough to saturate the powdered mix rather than drown it. It’s a little bit off-putting because the outside of the blocks look dark brown but inside it is green! You then mix up the henna until it is a thick, creamy texture.

I had boiled a big saucepan of water, and prepared the bathroom beforehand by covering it (literally) with newspaper. I had a few trivets on the counter, allowing me to bring the saucepan of water into the bathroom to keep the mixed henna warm and therefore easier to apply. Apparently the hotter the henna is, the brighter the colour (without burning your head of course!) I used a big hair clip and a brush with a fine pick for dividing the hair into sections, starting at the back and working forward- roots first, and then saturating the ends last. Gloves are absolutely necessary and I slathered some thick lotion around my hairline to make post-colour cleanup quick & easy). It was somewhat messy since the henna crumbles a bit- but cleaning up was very quick thanks to the newspaper. It took me about an hour from jumping in the shower to wash my hair, drying it, preparing the henna and applying it. Not as long as I thought. (Although I can see this being quite the task for long-haired beauties

Now, to sit and wait! Some people leave it on for ages (I’m talking 6-8 hours) – but since I’m pretty short on free time I decided to start with 2 hours. You can leave it uncovered for a richer, deeper brown shade, or cover it with saran wrap for a redder tone. I decided to leave it uncovered. You can also build up the colour over multiple sessions. It’s the perfect time to watch a movie… or blog!

Washing it out can be a process as well. The longer you leave it on, the more it dries. Mine was about half dried, so I just rinsed really well and then slathered on some (organic) shampoo a few times to work it out. I conditioned (which I usually skip) and let it soak in a few minutes, and then it was complete! My hair feels pretty soft (and felt even better the next day) and it definitely looks shiny. I don’t really notice any green tinge at all, and I’m really satisfied with the results! I think the time and effort are totally worth keeping it natural. I’ll definitely henna again and recommend it to anyone who asks!!

So, what are you waiting for? Next time you are tempted to add some colour to your hair, take the natural route and try henna!

(Note: there is also neutral, uncoloured henna which can be used to make your hair soft & shiny without the colour! Also, I used the Lush brand which is a solid bar- that powdered henna might have a different consistency when followed and to read the instructions carefully for whatever type they purchase!)

*Well, as easy as henna can get!

Why are we afraid of our hair dressers?

Okay, “afraid” might be too strong of a word, but how many times have you suppressed your feelings when sitting in “the chair”? How many times did you get a bad haircut because you were too afraid to say: “Hey, I don’t like the way this is turning out.” How many times did you bite your tongue when you just wanted to say something, and then spent the next two months crying every time you looked in the mirror?

If you’re like me, you’ve done this a lot. Too many times. I’m sorry to say that in the past fifteen years, I have switched stylists after every haircut in an effort to find someone who “got” me. I could’ve tried to speak up for myself, but I found it easier to just find new salons. And yes, I’m embarrassed to admit that.

Getting a haircut can be difficult for all of us. It puts us in a vulnerable position. I don’t think any of us enjoy walking into the salon, getting our hair wet down, parted into sections, and pinned up, and then glancing up at the mirror in that state. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! Especially when many of the stylists out there are young and extremely hip. (Mine is about six years younger than I am, with streaked hair and an asymmetrical cut. I love her, but I feel positively matronly whenever I see her.)  And of course, you are putting yourself in the hands of someone who, in most cases, knows more about hair than you do, which can be intimidating. And if that all isn’t enough, you will not likely find a stylist who is on the same page as you are. They have their opinions on hair care and style, and you have yours.

I have personally been struggling with this lately. A little over a year ago, I found a stylist whom I love. (The young, hip gal I mentioned.) I have never had a person cut my hair so well, so consistently. I always leave the salon feeling good about the haircut. BUT…there are a few other things I don’t like about getting a haircut.

1. I hate having to get shampooed with traditional products, when I’ve gone two years without using them in everyday life. Believe it or not, I hate the fake smooth feeling it leaves on my hair, and I hate the way it smells.

2. I hate having products put in my hair. Hate, hate, hate. I never, ever use hair spray or gel or serum on my hair, and when my stylist puts it in my hair in preparation for the post-haircut blow-day/straightening, I cringe. I can’t STAND the way it feels in my hair (sticky and heavy), and the smell makes me sick. I also can’t bear to think of what those chemicals are doing to my beautiful, toxin-free hair. Plus, it makes my scalp itch.

3. I hate having my hair styled after a cut. I don’t ever style it at home, so what’s the point of styling it once every two months? I feel that blow-drying and straightening my hair (and melting all those gross products into the hair shaft) ruins the healthy fresh ends of my haircut. And it makes me feel hyper-aware of my hair – I find myself constantly fidgeting with it to make sure the wind hasn’t blown it astray. Too much to worry about!

Every time I go in for a cut, I tell myself that I will ask for no products or styling, and every time, I crumble. I don’t know why – it just feels like I’m “making trouble.” Today, I decided I was going to do it and there’d be no wussing out. It was easy, though because I had an excuse – I was in a hurry. So I just told her that I didn’t have time for styling, and I also mentioned that I’d been having reactions to the products, and would like to avoid them. I didn’t even think about tackling the issue of shampoo, but when I mentioned my reactions to the products, she told me she has a client who brings in her own shampoo and conditioner! Hmmm….something to think about for next time.

In any case, I am partially proud of myself for walking out of the salon with clean (product-free), wet hair (no styling, or blow-drying). But I realize it is time to take it to the next level. No more products, no more styling (whether I have time or not), and I’d like to bring in my own shampoo. What am I so afraid of? I think I’m worried that she’ll think I’m a crazy granola-munching, hairy-armpitted, tree-hugger! (And I am, minus the hairy armpits.) I don’t know WHY I care what she thinks, though. (The disease of the modern woman – caring about what other people think.)

Ultimately, I don’t think she’d mind these requests. She’s very kind and accommodating. Plus, the no-styling issue has benefits for her. I have found that cutting out the styling knocks about $4 off the price of the cut. Whether I get it styled or not, I try to pay her the same every time, which means she gets a bigger tip when I don’t get the styling. I would much rather give her a big tip for being such a great stylist than endure 15 minutes of blow-drying and straightening. I think she’d be more than amenable to that, as well, if I would just honestly explain it to her.

So what are you afraid of? It’s time for us to speak up in the salon. Your concerns might be different than mine, but we have every right to say what’s on our minds. We are paying for a service, so it’s okay for us to be clear about what we want. If you aren’t happy with your stylist, don’t torture yourself – find a new one! Look for someone who asks you lots of questions about what you want, and who is open and receptive to what you tell them.

Imagine going to the salon and getting exactly what you want. I’m almost there…

Green Lathering in the Shower

We’ve gone through our shampoos and conditioners here on our green beauty journey. But what about the body? Traditional bar soaps aren’t that green, and body washes are an even bigger chemical nightmare! Luckily, there are lots of alternatives.

Make your own body wash. This is easier than it sounds. Just mix a 1:4 ratio of liquid castile soap to filtered water and put it in an old water bottle, or other container. You can add anything you want to this mixture to customize it – aloe vera gel, lavender essential oil, jojoba oil. Just squeeze it onto a washcloth, and viola, you have your own body wash. Admittedly, it is very thin, but it works! Best of all, you can use this for shaving, as well. The castile soap gives the skin a nice, slick surface for your razor. You can even make your own body wash with soap ends. Check out this great tutorial at EcoYogini.

If you prefer soap bars (as I do), I highly recommend Dr. Bronner’s. They are a little pricey at about $4 a bar, but they are one of the safest bar soaps I have found. (You can even find them at Target these days.) I would also recommend looking on Etsy, where you will find many great sellers who make beautiful, affordable, natural bar soaps, like Mirasol Farm.

And here’s a great recipe for DIY shampoo bar if you want to try something other than no-poo or making your own liquid shampoo.

Dreading It

If we’re talking about hair, we might as well cover it all. But before I continue, I want to assure you that I don’t think dreads are the only eco-friendly hair style! If you have been considering it, however, read on.

I don’t want to write about how to dread your hair here, as I have never had dreads. Describing the process should be left to the people with experience. However, I do want to discuss the spiritual and green aspects of dreads. (Yes, I said spiritual.)

Anne Lamott (photo: Jo Anne Hertz / ITVS)

Let’s start with Anne Lamott. First, if you haven’t yet read her books, go pick them up. They’re amazing. All of them. (And no, I’m not receiving compensation to say that!) Anyway, in her early work, she details her frustrating relationship with her hair – curly, frizzy, and a daily zap of her self-esteem. Her solution? Dreadlocks. Super tiny, adorable dreads. She chronicles her journey into dreadlocked hair here – a hilarious and insightful read if you have the time. One of my favorite passages:

A few weeks later I saw “The Shawshank Redemption,” where, at the end, Tim Robbins escapes from prison via the sewers, after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. He emerges from the pipes into a rushing rain-swollen river, and he staggers through the current with his face turned towards the sky, his arms held up to heaven as the rains pour down.

I sat in the movie theater crying until it occurred to me that if I were the prisoner being baptized by torrential rain, half of my mind would be on how short my bangs were going to be after they dried.

I went home and I called Marlene. “Okay, baby,” I said. “I’m ready.” The next day she and her dreadlocked teenage daughter came over to my house with a little jar of beeswax…

The transition was apparently scary, anxious, and soul-shaking, as I’ve heard it can be for many people. It challenges our perceptions of ourselves. It rebels against our culture’s definition of beauty. It can even stir up judgments and stereotypes – especially from others. Lamott made it through this process and came out on the other side feeling like she had embraced her true self.

They’re so cool: each dreadlock is different, has its own configuration, its own breadth and feel. It’s like having very safe multiple personalities. It’s been two years and they are growing past my shoulders. Sometimes I wear them up, sometimes down. I wake up most mornings looking fabulous. I used to look at people with normal white people’s hair, and their bangs always stayed long and they got to hide behind the satin curtain, and I was so jealous. But now my bangs are always long, too. I peer out at the world from behind my dreadlocks, as through a beautiful hand-made fence, in every kind of weather and every kind of car. I remember Nora Ephron saying a long time ago that she was one of those women who was gaining her looks, and it turns out that I am one, too. It was a long time coming, and I have to say, it is incredibly sweet.

Years after reading Lamott’s journey into dreads, I found myself a regular visitor at The Organic Sister – another dreadlocked mama. I remember reading her one-year “dreadiversary” post and being fascinated with the insights she had had during the past year of her dread journey. I highly suggest reading her posts on this subject, especially if you want to dreadlock your hair. She gives very detailed tips on what to do, and would be a wonderful resource. Even if you don’t want to dread your hair, these posts are very interesting, and I think anyone going through any transition in their appearance can relate. (And read her thoughts on no-poo here. Yay for no-poo!)

Tara, aka "The Organic Sister" (Permission to use photos graciously granted by The Organic Sis, herself.)

I even noticed that one of my favorite food bloggers, Sara Janssen, has dreads. I’ve been reading her blog, Happy Foody, for quite some time. Imagine my surprise when I saw a picture of Sara on The Organic Sister’s blog documenting a visit between the two families! It turns out that Sara has two other very enjoyable blogs that I highly recommend (Happy Janssens and Walk Slowly, Live Wildly), and her posts on dreads are yet another fascinating peek into this process.

So dreads: eco-friendly? Sure. You won’t need to wash your hair as much, won’t need more “stuff” in the form of combs, brushes, and styling products… All of that is wonderful.

But I think the best thing about dreads (if you are considering them) is the journey of realization that each woman takes. Realizing one’s freedom to look the way they want to look. Surrendering to the natural inclinations of one’s hair. Seeing true inner and outer beauty shine back in the reflection of the mirror.

Conditioned to Condition

Regular visitors to 5 Seed know that we don’t believe that you need to use conditioners in your hair care routine. If you like them, by all means, use them. But remember there are some potential hazards to consider, and besides – a vinegar rinse is all you need.

If your scalp is feeling dry, however, and your hair is lacking its luster, there are plenty of natural items you can use to moisturize.

First, try organic oils. The best are jojoba, coconut, and olive. There are three ways you can do this. The first two are for light moisturizing. Massage into the scalp and down the hair shaft (1) after washing, when the hair is still wet, or (2) when it’s dry, at night, before your morning shower.

Mountain Rose Herb's organic, unrefined, virgin coconut oil

There are a few things to note here. First of all, use very sparingly, as you don’t want to weigh your hair down. Second, is your hair light-colored? If so, then remember the oil may cause your hair to look dirty and greasy – the opposite of what you want. This is why I suggest moisturizing at night for light-haired people, and washing the oil out during your morning shampoo.

If your hair is dark, you likely won’t have as much of a problem with this, and can work some oil into your hair after your shower. Dark-haired Lindsay Edmonds at Passionate Homemaking claims coconut oil also makes a fabulous natural gel that keeps her curls bouncy.

If you want to give your hair a (3) super moisturizing treatment, lube up your entire head with warm olive oil, pin up to keep it off your shoulders/clothing, and let it sit for one hour. Then shampoo out. You may have to lather up 2 or 3 times to get this out, but it’s a great treatment. Just be sure you don’t over-wash your hair afterward, or you’ll be defeating the purpose.

Other moisturizing treats for the hair include “hair masks” (just like facial masks) made out of mashed avocado, organic egg yolks, organic mayonnaise, or aloe vera gel. You can even combine some of these ingredients and experiment with different mixtures. And for shine? Try that vinegar rinse…or a mashed banana!

The best way to keep your scalp and hair well-hydrated? Wash your hair less often.