Sadly, this blog is a bit sleepier than I'd like these days. Pop over here if you'd like to know why.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Trying To Be Greener / Shampoo Update

I came across an interesting new blog the other day. I got so excited I added it to my "Delights" list right away.

Trying To Be Greener
is dedicated to the pursuit of being eco-friendly... not at all what you expected from the name, right? (Nikki I think it will interest you, minus the baby/mommy references.) A few posts immediately caught my attention and seemed applicable to me and my pursuit of late- going shampoo free.

Here's the deal. There's a site out there, Skin Deep, that has done all the work classifying products and the chemicals that claim to make our lives easier but really just slowly kill us. You can enter products you use and see how safe they are considered on a 0-10 scale (10 is deadliest). It even breaks down the dangers for you into the following categories:

Cancer

Developmental/reproductive toxicity

Violations, restrictions & warnings

Allergies/immunotoxicity

Other concerns for ingredients used in this product:
Organ system toxicity (non-reproductive), Irritation (skin, eyes, or lungs), Contamination concerns
What an awesome resource! Visit here to read a much more eloquent and informational lead in.

Products I Use:
Burts Bees Orange Essence Facial Cleanser - low hazard (2)
Burts Bees Moisturizing Cream - moderate hazard (4)
Tom's of Maine Spearmint Toothpaste - low hazard (1)

When Trying To Be Greener pointed out that one of the most hazardous shampoos was L’Oreal Kids 2 in 1 Shampoo, (Extra Gentle, Burst of Fruity Apricot)... I was even happier that I decided to drop that whole shampoo business. And here's how it's going:

It has been a full month of being shampoo free... and I still love the baking soda. My hair (almost always) dries very clean and natural feeling. There have been a few bad days but I think I've caught on to the problem. If the water I rinse with is too hot, my hair will feel a little stiff. Using the vinegar rinse makes it super soft. I plan on using it more frequently (I've only done it two or three times). My only complaint is that my hair is starting to carry a lot of static... and I kind of do miss the lather.

If you're wondering what I'm talking about, click here!

In short, drop in at Trying To Be Greener. I think you'll learn something.

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