Natural Shampoo Alternatives

[mellie]

Since I started the "Natural Conditioner Alternatives" thread, I thought it might make sense to make another one for Shampoo!

Please list here your tried and tested all natural, homemade shampoos!

Here's mine (I can't take credit for it though, it is from the book "Beauty Secrets of India".)
***
Soapnut Shampoo

1 c. whole soapnuts
1 c. water
1 T. lemon or lime juice

Soak soapnuts in water overnight. Take out the soapnuts, dry them and save in a plastic bag for one more use. You should have 8 oz. soapnut liquid. If not, add enough water to make 8 oz. Add the lemon or lime juice, pour into a squirt bottle and keep in the fridge. Shake before use.

When using, shield your eyes with one hand as the liquid will burn your eyes if it gets in them. Squirt through your scalp and rub lightly (it will run down your ends so don't worry about them). Leave on a few minutes then rinse out.

***
P.S. This liquid is also great for handwashing dishes and wiping down counters, as it is antiseptic and antibacterial.

P.P.S. Also, I notice a LOT less shedding when I use soapnuts!

ETA: Here's a closeup pic of my hair after a few weeks of exclusive soapnut shampoos:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1886&pictureid=23299

[ChloeDharma]

I have some powdered soapnuts (reetha) that i've never used, i might try them though.
My reliable one is Shikakai, though i don't have just one way that i use it. The simplest one though is i add a few teaspoons to a jug and pour on some boiling water, stir, leave to cool down then pour over my hair working it into my scalp. I leave that on for a few minutes then rinse and apply whatever conditioning concoction i'm using that wash.

[mellie]

Your hair so pretty! Is Shikakai what you usually use?

[ChloeDharma]

Your hair so pretty! Is Shikakai what you usually use?

Oh bless your heart darlin! :flowers:
Recently i've been lazy and mainly CO washing, but yes, usually i use the shikakai as a wash then another blend of conditioning herbs afterwards, though i have added a teaspoon of shikakai to the conditioning herbs before as a kind of herbal 2 in 1 thing which can work ok.

Your hair is looking stunning i must say, you got the shine a pantene commercial promises!

[mellie]

Shucks, thank you! That's the soapnuts! :-)

[HotRag]

Recently i've been lazy and mainly CO washing, but yes, usually i use the shikakai as a wash then another blend of conditioning herbs afterwards, though i have added a teaspoon of shikakai to the conditioning herbs before as a kind of herbal 2 in 1 thing which can work ok.
What herbs do you use for conditioning?

And, doesn't your hair become dry from shikakai?
(I have just tried soapnuts, and just one time two days ago.)

[ChloeDharma]

What herbs do you use for conditioning?

And, doesn't your hair become dry from shikakai?
(I have just tried soapnuts, and just one time two days ago.)

No, it's never become dry from using shikakai, though i never have used it on hair that hasn't been thoroughly oiled.
The conditioning herbs i use vary, but powdered methi seed is always included (left overnight for it to swell and release the mucilage) others i include are amla, brahmi, bhringraj, kapur kachli. I sometimes mix some yogurt with it for extra conditioning, or aloe or honey...just depends on my mood really.

[Akiko]

I tried shikakai, amla, rice rinse water and combination of these.

Now I am pretty much settled with this recipe.

=========
300 ml of rice rinse water
2 teaspoons (10ml) of shikakai powder
1 teaspoon (5ml) of amla powder

Add shikakai and amla to rice rinse water. Bring to a boil. Simmer 5 minutes over low heat. Let it cool. Strain with tea strainer. Use half of it per hair wash. I pour the liquid in a Rubbermaid dressing bottle with small tip. Pour over my scalp and rub. Put on a shower cap. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Rinse.
=========

Rise rinse water is white translucent water you get when I rinse regular California rice before cooking. There is saponin in rice rinse water. When I shake rinse water, it bubbles up like very diluted shampoo.

When I used shikakai alone, or rice rinse water alone, it did not clean my oily scalp well. It was still oily. So I combined the two. Amla adds body to my hair. But if I add too much amla, my hair does not feel silky. So I just add half the amount of Shikakai.

Also I feel a significant difference when I boil and simmer shikakai soup (?). I wonder if someone else here has similar experience.

When I just added powder in hot water, the liquid was somewhat drying for me. So I needed to pre-oil my hair. But if I boil, shikakai liquid not only cleans but conditions my hair, making it easier to comb. My hair feels like I used regular conditioner. Smooth. Also it is not so drying. I don't need to pre-oil.

I seem to be able to extract something from powder when I bring to a boil and simmer.

Saponin is found in variety of grains, such as wheat, soybeans, red beans and chickpeas. But I have not tried any of them yet.

[HotRag]

No, it's never become dry from using shikakai, though i never have used it on hair that hasn't been thoroughly oiled.
The conditioning herbs i use vary, but powdered methi seed is always included (left overnight for it to swell and release the mucilage) others i include are amla, brahmi, bhringraj, kapur kachli. I sometimes mix some yogurt with it for extra conditioning, or aloe or honey...just depends on my mood really.
Thank you for your answer.

[Gilly]

Where in Australia can I get soapnuts?

[ChloeDharma]

Where in Australia can I get soapnuts?

Hiya Gilly :waving:
Is there anywhere near you that has a large Indian population? If so check out the grocers there and you might find it, though it tends to be called either reetha or aritha xx

[mellie]

I found whole soapnuts at my local health food co-op. They are getting popular for doing laundry, so you might find it near the laundry detergents.

[Finoriel]

When thinking about natural Shampoo Alternatives most people think about:
-herb washing (soapnut, yucca, soapwort) they clean chemically with rising the ph-level, lowering the surface tension and making it possible to dissolve grease and dirt better than it would be possible with plain water. In general the same way like shampoo, CO or soap do, just that the herbal detergent (saponin) is gentler and better for the environment because it´s gentler, faster degradable and without processing.
- rhassoul powder, which basically is a clay our of silicium and magnesium ions and iron, aluminium and calcium oxides and cleans in a physical way. The particles of it take up fat and dirt and are rinsed out then.
(Leaving out no-poo and soap on purpose as not natural ways of cleaning, imo.)

Another method which is not as common, but works equally to herb or mud washing is egg-cleansing. The cleansing agent here is lecithin, it has an effective but balanced mixture of protein - fat - cleanser and there are some other beneficial things in eggs like sulfur which decreases shedding and stimulates growth.
I wash my hair on and off with eggs since the beginning of ´06 and I used it as my one and only cleansing method since this year. Nothing else. My sebum production has constantly decreased since then and I now need to wash about every 13-14 days. One egg for my midtigh length hair is still enough to clean it if I do not oil heavily the night before, then a doubled recipe is needed.

The basic recipe is: 1 whole egg mixed with one teaspoon honey - mix well until the honey is dissolved and then add a squirt lemon juice (or citric acid or ascorbic acid or any other ingredient which is acidic). Mix well again.
Sometimes I add some henna or cassia to make it less runny and some skin-safe EOs if there are scalp imbalances of some sort or just for scent.
I apply it to wet and already rinsed hair under the shower and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how greasy my hair is. Rinse out with warm water. And following it with an acidic rinse, chamomile tea with a pinch of ascorbic-acid, in my case.

Myths: Rinsing egg-shampoo with freezing cold water is not necessary, even if rinsed warm/hot it will still not cook in your hair! Regardless how hot I shower it never cooked on my head. If you do not change the ratio of the shampoo drastically, it´s impossible to happen. Egg protein becomes hard / denatures at about 60°C / 140°F and I doubt that anybody showers that hot. Adding acid to the egg lowers that temperature to some degree, but if you do not add too much, it´s still safe and the honey seems to buffer that effect somehow.

[mellie]

Finoriel, thanks for adding your recipe!!

I tried an egg shampoo the other day and got little bits of egg albumen in my hair though....I didn't even use hot water, it was lukewarm. I think it was that stringy bit that connects the yolk to the albumen. Do you strain the egg first, Finoriel?

[HotRag]

Finoriel:
Isn't there a risk to get protein problems if one is using egg?
I mean problems like dry hair.

When I use CO, I do not use conditioners with proteins in them, because my hair got drier and felt "harder" (in a bad way, "strävt" in Swedish but I don't know the exact English word for this, maybe "opposite to silky").

I wonder if the egg white is doing anything good, or if that could been thrown away (or cooked and eaten) and one takes 2 yolks or something instead.

I have tried egg yolk in SMT but not too often. The last time I CO:ed, my hair got "hard" (not silky) and felt a little dry.

[longhairedfairy]

Finoriel, thanks for adding your recipe!!

I tried an egg shampoo the other day and got little bits of egg albumen in my hair though....I didn't even use hot water, it was lukewarm. I think it was that stringy bit that connects the yolk to the albumen. Do you strain the egg first, Finoriel?

Do you mean the membrane? I got that part stuck in my hair once and it was annoying to get out, lol. You can get most of it out with a fork before you put it in your hair. That's how my mom does it. She thinks that part is gross and won't eat it because it reminds her of an umbilical cord, so she always removes it, lol. *shrugs* I guess you could strain it, but I've never tried.

[Finoriel]

Yes the "string" connection between egg yolk and egg white (not sure about the English term) is a bit sticky, if it bothers you, just fish it out of the shampoo before using it. :p I´m too lazy to do that and just remove any leftover bits of it when my hair is dry again. I´m not bothered by them.
Maybe that´s what some people think it is "cooked" egg :shrug:

The protein is not a problem at all in this recipe. Hair is protein. I do not get the whole rave about how bad protein is. It is not. There are oils like coconut oil which help to protect the hair from protein-loss when it get´s older and a little worn out with time. So not loosing/adding a tiny bit of protein is a good thing for hair. Maybe there is a difference in processed protein and natural ones. Processed protein like wheat or silk protein which are used in shampoos or conditioner tend to overcondition the hair, build up and cling to older/rougher parts of it, which can make them feel dry because they stick so good to the hair and oils or other conditioning agents can not get through that layer that good. Similar to cones, just not as persistent. At least that´s my theory :wink:
I´m also not getting the point in just using egg yolk or just using egg white. Why? I mean what´s the reason? I know that many people seem to preach that the yolk is THE thing, but after having a close look at the components of it and many experiments, that´s just irreproducible for me. The balance in oils, lecithin and sulfur with yolk and white mixed is perfect for cleaning and conditioning scalp and hair. And what do you want to do with the leftover anyways? I do not like to waste food, so I avoid leftovers. And mind you this is supposed to be a cleaning method. Gentle but still cleaning the hair, not a mask or deep treatment. For this it may be beneficial to just use the yolk, but for cleaning purpose it´s not.
I have experimented with yolk only and I also have tried egg white only, left out the honey and/or the acidic component. Just out of interest and to check my thoughts. :shrug: All different options did not give results as good as the full recipe. And after using it one year, my hair is not stiff at all. Just make sure to rinse good after using and you should be fine.

Hope that makes things clearer :)

[HotRag]

Yes, thank you, Finoriel.

I will try this, but first try out soapnuts some more - adding amla and hibiscus, try different dilutions and so on.

I think you may very well have a point with protein issues and processed protein.
So at least I will try the egg wash for some time (after the soapnut testing).

BTW, the leftover (the white). I am happy to eat it (cooked). Or give my dog (cooked). So nothing is wasted here either :-)
I have not the facts about what eggwhite has in it (besides protein). I only know you should cook eggwhite before eating, because of avidin.
Do you know what the white gives to the egg mixture for hair wash?

[Heidi_234]

There's also the egg yolk shampoo. I tried it, and it made my hair very very soft.
Since the alkaline is mostly at the white of the egg, when using the yolk only there's no need for acidic addition.
So the recipe I made out for myself:
Take 1-2 eggs, separate the white from the yolk and keep it aside for your home cooked Japanese meals. Take a cup or a bowl, and put the yolk in it. Add little bit of water (NO hot water! You'll cook the yolk! Lukewarm is fine), we don't want our shampoo be too runny. Optional: Add a tablespoon of olive oil. Mix all the ingredients (with a fork or the special thingy for mixing eggs).

[mellie]

I tried JaneyTilllie's rosemary/nettle egg shampoo with rosemary/nettle rinse on YouTube the other day:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AylexfwkhUE&feature=channel

It worked well, (besides the little stringy egg bits) although I had some issues with my scalp burning (I think it was the rosemary which I might leave it if I were to try it again, rosemary has some safety issues, see my blog if you are interested). My hair was clean and pretty, maybe just the slightest tiniest bit greasy near my face, but I have very greasy scalp/hair.

Also, it smelled wonderful!

I do notice in the photos from my blog that my hair that day didn't seem as shiny as with the soapnuts though.

[Finoriel]

HotRag, do not tell me you eat egg white without the yolk :wink: I know it´s theoretically possible to do that... but... but... but they just taste better complete :lol: and I do not like to save up half an egg for baking sometime later, probably a long time later :wink:, when I can use it up complete and get better results with it, too. And general lack of dogs in my house, just a picky cat :rolleyes: who seems to hate eggs in general. She even avoids me on hairwash days - ahem... anyways.

I found this reference about egg-facts, maybe you´ll find them interesting:
Nutrient Breakdown (http://www.aeb.org/LearnMore/NutrientBreakdown.htm)
Learn more about eggs (http://www.aeb.org/LearnMore/EggFacts.htm#yolk)
In conclusion: The yolk contains all of the fat in an egg and with about 33% of the weight it contains a little less than half of it´s protein. It´s responsible for the emulsifying properties (lecithin) also. So the yolk is the protein and fat bomb in the egg and acts as the cleansing agent as well.
edited to add: If you have ever made your own mayonnaise you will know how much oil a simple egg yolk can emulsify "away". It´s a lot.
The egg white contains the majority of the sulfur (reduction of shedding and growth stimulating andsoon) and lowers the cleaning effect of the egg when used as a wholeeggshampoo. Makes the recipe less harsh. That´s why you do not need to add oil or water to my version of the egg shampoo. Egg yolk based shampoos are either very good cleansers which possibly act drying - or need to contain additional oil / be watered down to make the shampoo more balanced.

Sure you can get your hair clean with 1001 different methods, the point is more how gentle it is to long hair and how oneself personally likes the preparing, usage and result of a recipe. So it´s mainly just a matter of taste and that´s just how I prefer my eggs (sounds :eyebrows: , lol) and why.

[maliha]

Hi there,,

This is really intresting,,as i am using natural alternatives for hair washing,,,I found soapnut (Aritha) as a good cleanser but once a 2 week i sure like to do a egg protein treatment,,Mixing Egg and fenugreek powder (methi powder) for 30 min sumthing or more if one can tolerate and than washing it out ,,,ofcourse with little diluted SLS free shampoo..It does makes a good difference,, :)

[lora410]

Since I started the "Natural Conditioner Alternatives" thread, I thought it might make sense to make another one for Shampoo!

Please list here your tried and tested all natural, homemade shampoos!

Here's mine (I can't take credit for it though, it is from the book "Beauty Secrets of India".)
***
Soapnut Shampoo

1 c. whole soapnuts
1 c. water
1 T. lemon or lime juice

Soak soapnuts in water overnight. Take out the soapnuts, dry them and save in a plastic bag for one more use. You should have 8 oz. soapnut liquid. If not, add enough water to make 8 oz. Add the lemon or lime juice, pour into a squirt bottle and keep in the fridge. Shake before use.

When using, shield your eyes with one hand as the liquid will burn your eyes if it gets in them. Squirt through your scalp and rub lightly (it will run down your ends so don't worry about them). Leave on a few minutes then rinse out.

***
P.S. This liquid is also great for handwashing dishes and wiping down counters, as it is antiseptic and antibacterial.

P.P.S. Also, I notice a LOT less shedding when I use soapnuts!

ETA: Here's a closeup pic of my hair after a few weeks of exclusive soapnut shampoos:

http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1886&pictureid=23299


where do you buy your soapnuts from? I so want to try this

[mellie]

Lately I have found them locally at my local health food co-op in the laundry detergents area. But the first time, I ordered them online from Amazon.com. I got the "Lullwater" brand ones.

[lora410]

Lately I have found them locally at my local health food co-op in the laundry detergents area. But the first time, I ordered them online from Amazon.com. I got the "Lullwater" brand ones.

Thanks. I think I have the Aritha powder at my place. If I use powder how do I do it that way?

[mellie]

I've never used the powder, but from what I understand, you just add enough water to make a paste and apply to your hair then rinse out.

[Othala]

I'd like to try washing my hair with egg yolks but I am worried about the smell.

My scalp does not like essential oils so that is not a possibility for overcoming the smell issue.

Any advice?

[lora410]

I've never used the powder, but from what I understand, you just add enough water to make a paste and apply to your hair then rinse out.

yeah it didn't work so well this way. I just read somewhere to boil it and strain it..hmm I may try that with some orange peel powder I have. I plan to order whole soapnuts next week and use them for laundry as well :D how long does your soapnut shampoo last before going rancid?

[mellie]

I haven't had it go rancid on me yet...I usually use it within a week or so though. I wash my dishes with it too!

If you add in some EOs it might help make it last a little longer too!

[magpielaura]

I've been reading all the soapnut stuff but doubted I could buy some locally (not much of an Indian population nearby) until I checked in the clothes washing section of an independant health food shop today.....yey result! :disco:Some are soaking now. I've rubbed a bit of the liquid thats soaked a while on my neck and the inside of my elbow as a skin test overnight. I'm rubbish at testing things as I never normally react but I found recently that bicarbonate of soda made my neck and chest itchy as hell when I tried using it as a hair cleanser (it was not a strong solution, just the 1tbsp to one cup of water I've seen sugested in various places).

I'll be trying it tommorrow!

[catfish]

Oh Boy I Love This Place:D

Washing hair with egg? who knew, something I didn't know existed and now can't wait to try. This sounds so simple, tell me egg heads :p I mean that in the best way ;) do you need a conditioning rinse or oil afterwards? I am having a lot of tangle/dry issues at the moment and don't mind adding a conditioning/ moisture treatment if it's needed.

Finoriel- you said you use a chamomile tea and acid rinse after, if you don't mind me asking, is it for moisture? detangling? or just as a nice smelly end?

I am reminded every time I come to these boards of the wealth of information here, come hell, or high water, I will have great hair.:D

[rose_in_bloom]

Catfish, I do egg washes occasionally, and they work really well for me. My hair is very fine thin and prone to tangles, but I haven't noticed any more or less tangling when I do egg washes. I have tweaked various egg shampoo recipes that I've found online. Here is what I do:

ERIN'S EGG SHAMPOO

-1 egg yolk
-juice of 1/2 lemon (or a whole lemon if your hair is very oily)
-about 1/2 cup water

Mix all the ingredients in a bottle and shake well. Store any leftovers in the refrigerator and use within 3 days.

(note: sometimes I substitute rosemary tea for the lemon juice)

I don't put in any oil because my hair is very oily already, so you might need a few drops of oil if your hair is dry. Also, my hair is short, so if your hair is long you will need 2 egg yolks instead of just 1.

To use: I thoroughly wet my hair, and then apply about half of the egg mixture. I massage it into my hair and scalp, and rinse. Then I massage in the rest of the mixture, leave it in my hair for 3-5 minutes, and rinse thoroughly. You can use a mild vinegar rinse if desired, but it's not necessary.

Hope this helps! :)

Erin :blossom:

[mellie]

MagpieLaura, that's so cool!! Yay!! Keep us posted! :-)

[lora410]

quick qestion I am tryign to buy sopanuts but all i keep seeing is soapnut shells. Which one do I buy?

[mellie]

Yes, the soapnut shells is what I use! Are you able to find them locally?

[lora410]

Yes, the soapnut shells is what I use! Are you able to find them locally?

I just ordered whole soapnuts and I could have gotten a ton of shells cheaper:dizzy: now how the heck do i use whole soapnuts :confused: I had to order them online, but I guess $20 isnt bad for 68 soapnuts; plus we plan to use them as a laundry detergent :D

[Finoriel]

My hair is not tangle prone at all as it´s stick straight and medium thick. So, I´m sorry catfish that I can not say if egg washing is improving for that aspect or not. For me it stayed the same > not tangling.
Chamomile and ascorbic acid rinse has very simple reasons. Lemons are reported to be drying, they are expensive here and most times you would not find them in my house. Ascorbic acid is something I always have at home for my animals and me when dealing with a cold. It has no scent and is very easy to dose exact.
Chamomile is because it´s a skin safe herb and is even supporting a healthy scalp and of course :wink: I like the smell, but it disappears as soon as my hair is dry. I think it also gives my hair a slight golden shine which supports the copper tone I like, but that´s very subtle and could also be wishful thinking :p . Something I also like is birchleaf tea (not recommended for blond hair) as a rinse base, when my scalp is dry and a little more flaky in winter. It smells very "green and herby" though.
In general my experience was that herb rinses do not do much for my hair, except subtly changing it´s colour sometimes... hibiscus gave me lilac-auburn which looked hideous with my skin tone. So I tend to choose herb teas for rinses after their effects on the skin. Happy scalp = happy growing.
The only "conditioning" I sometimes need these days is oil for the very last tips of my hair... about past classic. And about every other month I do a yogurt deep treatment, but it´s not really necessary more some sort of habit from the sulphate days. So depending on how stressed you hair is, it´s possible that you do not need much conditioning with this washing method.

[magpielaura]

My hair is drying after my first try at soapnut washing!

Fingers crossed... I found from other washing experiments that you never really know until it dries. Shampoo is easy - bung it on, it lathers, hair is clean (maybe too clean!). I've been CO washing for about 6 months and tried BS a few times too and have definately learnt not to just go out with wet hair and let it dry in public until you've sorted out your technique! I'm at home alone all day and if nessesary can devise a hairdo that hides any weirdness or even wash in again some other way this afternoon. It didn't really feel like it was cleaning much because there in no lather or "slip" and there wasn't the slightly squeaky feel I've got from BS but so far its looking promising. I followed it with a cider vingar rinse with a dab of honey and (because of the odd smell the soapnut liquid had) a couple of drops of lavender EO.

My hair feels quite thick and I found the ends difficult to comb through so I put a bit of coconut oil on (ends only) to ease detangleing.

:cheese:Will report back further later!:cheese:

[mellie]

Lora410, the shells and whole soapnuts are usually the same thing (just different wording). Unless somehow you got actually whole soapnuts with the seeds still inside, but they don't normally sell them that way.

Did you look around locally? I have been seeing them at the health food co-op in the laundry detergent area!

MagpieLaura, I can't wait to see/hear your results!! :-)

[lora410]

Lora410, the shells and whole soapnuts are usually the same thing (just different wording). Unless somehow you got actually whole soapnuts with the seeds still inside, but they don't normally sell them that way.

Did you look around locally? I have been seeing them at the health food co-op in the laundry detergent area!

MagpieLaura, I can't wait to see/hear your results!! :-)


They actually are WHOLE..lol so I am assuming I need to de-seed them before soaking or using them? I haven't looked at our health food store because it is a bit of a cummute as well as our indian food store. Oh I coudl plant a soapnut tree :D

[mellie]

I am surprised! I have never seen them for sale that way. Wherever did you find them?

[lora410]

I am surprised! I have never seen them for sale that way. Wherever did you find them?

Ebay but there was only 1 listing for whole ones and she only had two available. I looked on other website and compared priced but other websites shipping was ridiculous. There is still one left if you are intrested.


HERE (http://cgi.ebay.com/Soapnuts-Nautral-Eco-friendly-Laundry-Alternative-19-c_W0QQitemZ300187267333QQihZ020QQcategoryZ20685QQs sPageNameZWD1VQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1638Q 2em118Q2el1247)

[mellie]

Hm, they look just like what I have, and they don't mention having to take the seeds out, so I think it is probably just the shells.

[lora410]

Hm, they look just like what I have, and they don't mention having to take the seeds out, so I think it is probably just the shells.


I will let you know when I get them. I found this amazing site I wanted to share with everyone about how to use and even oreserve soapnut liquid :cheese: http://www.buysoapnuts.com/howtouse.html

[mellie]

Wow, that's cool! I never thought of preserving the liquid in canning jars!

[lora410]

Wow, that's cool! I never thought of preserving the liquid in canning jars!


Now I can make big bathches because I have canning jars. You have started and epidemic there mellie :D

[mellie]

Haha, well you don't know if you like it yet though! :-)

[lora410]

Haha, well you don't know if you like it yet though! :-)


Either way we plan to use it as a laundry detergent because it is so Eco friendly and I have sensitive skin when it comes to detergent. So If I don't like it on my hair it sure wont go to waste. :) Plus I have some aritha powder I plan to boil and try out thsi weekend:p

[mellie]

It works great for laundry. The only things I've noticed are that whites will need something more or they get dingy, and for some reason I seem to get a bit more "pilling" of my fabrics than with conventional detergent. However, it is super great still!

Also it washes my dishes way better than Ecover brand dish detergent.

[magpielaura]

The soapnut wash was great! Will post more when I've more time. I'm off to the pub now. MMMMM Cider............

[mellie]

Yay!!! I wanna see! :-)

[Heidi_234]

I just took a shower and used soapnuts (1 cup f water 4 soapnuts, soaked overnight).
Well, the smell does leave to hope for the best, but it's gone as soon as I walked out of the shower. I wonder if it could be possible to add a scent or something, like soaking them in rose water instead of just water.
The smell made me thinking while I showered what if somebody's having a laugh by making unsuspecting innocent women take the smelliest fruit out there and wash their hair with it. But then I got some of it in my eye, and it hurt like ol' good soap, so it's no doubt cleansing hehe. :lol: So that's how I got a red eye for being paranoid :P

[mellie]

Yes, shield your eyes when you use it! It burns like the dickens, huh???!!

It is a funky smell but it goes away as soon as it dries. I tried putting in some orange EO and it smelled much nicer although it was a bit more stripping than just on its own. Also i sneezed about a hundred times, no fun!! I don't know if rose water would be strong enough to overcome the soapnut smell.

I think I'll just leave it in its natural state. I have gotten used to the smell and kind of like it, in a weird, perverse way, haha!

[mellie]

Update on my cleaning method with the soapnut liquid:

I am experimenting with a new cleaning method. Before I would just squirt it on, rub through lightly and let it sit for a few minutes while finishing up my shower, then rinse out.

After seeing how it works when washing dishes, I am experimenting with a new method, where I squirt it on, put my hair under some water and rub through using water, then rinse out.

I'll keep you posted!!

P.S. Hm, I'm not sure if I like this new method as well. The old method seemed to give me more shine!

P.P.S. Wow!! Check out this site for Soapnut Paste!! Interesting!

http://www.fuzing.com/vli/0028385bc325/100-pure-natural-traditional-Soapnut-Paste

[magpielaura]

I just took a shower and used soapnuts (1 cup f water 4 soapnuts, soaked overnight).
Well, the smell does leave to hope for the best, but it's gone as soon as I walked out of the shower. I wonder if it could be possible to add a scent or something, like soaking them in rose water instead of just water.
The smell made me thinking while I showered what if somebody's having a laugh by making unsuspecting innocent women take the smelliest fruit out there and wash their hair with it. But then I got some of it in my eye, and it hurt like ol' good soap, so it's no doubt cleansing hehe. :lol: So that's how I got a red eye for being paranoid :P


There are some benifits to having a poor sense of smell! It not too bad to me. I'm glad the smell doesn't linger...I wouldn't know if it was or not unless I started to get weird looks!

[lora410]

well I boiled my reetha powder for 30 mins, double strained, clarified and washed my hair with it and the results were AWESOME. My hair was knot free but with volume. i didn't even add condish. My hair felt like straw when drying but once dry it was great. I can't wait to get the soapnuts :)

[mellie]

Yay!! That's great!

[lora410]

well i got the soapnuts today and indeed they are whole soapnuts with the seed in the middle. I plan to plant one if anyone wants a seed I can mail them one if they want.

[mellie]

Wow, that is so cool!!!

I don't think it is warm enough to grow them here, otherwise I would totally take you up on the seed offer!

[lora410]

well you could save the seed. I looked it up and it says soak the seed overnight and then plant in 1 inch soil. I plant to start it in a pot inside the house by a window

[mellie]

OK, you convinced me! (Although I am notorious for killing plants!) I'll PM you.

[lora410]

OK, you convinced me! (Although I am notorious for killing plants!) I'll PM you.


me to ;) we should look up how to grow a soapnut tree :lol:

[SeaPhoenix]

http://exeterra.blogspot.com/2007/08/how-to-grow-soap-nut-trees.html

Here's a blog posted on how to grow soapnut trees :-)

[mellie]

Thank you!

I've got my seeds planted now!! Hopefully my house isn't too cold for them!

[Henna Sooq]

If I could anything for a more natural cleansing item for your hair, I'd have to say shikakai powder from India or ghassoul (rhassoul) clay from Morocco.

[tina1025]

I used aritha (soapnut) powder mixed in with water to wash my hair this morning. I was a lil skeptical because i have very oily hair and i wash my hair every other day so on the 2nd day they look very oily and almost feels like i have oily in my hair but my hair is not oily at all after washing it. It went in my eyes and that was not fun at all. I need to be careful next time. I am planning on putting oil in my hair this weekend and will try to wash with aritha powder to see the results.

[mellie]

Yes, it burns if you get it in your eyes! But I am very happy with whole soapnuts for my oily hair too! I have never tried the aritha powder, but I assume it works just as nicely!

[lora410]

I used aritha (soapnut) powder mixed in with water to wash my hair this morning. I was a lil skeptical because i have very oily hair and i wash my hair every other day so on the 2nd day they look very oily and almost feels like i have oily in my hair but my hair is not oily at all after washing it. It went in my eyes and that was not fun at all. I need to be careful next time. I am planning on putting oil in my hair this weekend and will try to wash with aritha powder to see the results.


with the aritha powder I boiled mine in about 6 cups of water for 30mins. Be sure to strain it well. I used a stocking. It worked great on my hair :)

[tina1025]

hmm how much powder did you use? Mine was a thick paste....I am not 100% sure but I believe i used about 4 tbs powder and 4 tbs water. I mixed water right before taking a shower. I am just curious as to why you boiled it?
with the aritha powder I boiled mine in about 6 cups of water for 30mins. Be sure to strain it well. I used a stocking. It worked great on my hair :)

[tina1025]

Have you tried it after heavy oiling?
Yes, it burns if you get it in your eyes! But I am very happy with whole soapnuts for my oily hair too! I have never tried the aritha powder, but I assume it works just as nicely!

[mellie]

No, I never oil my hair, it is very oily naturally, haha! :-)

[tina1025]

I do too however i do heavy oiling on the weekends after washing my hair. I am sure it will work though.

[tina1025]

I washed my hair again today with soapnut powder and i absolutely love the way they feel. They look shiny, more body and i experienced less shedding. YAY

[rose_in_bloom]

I washed my hair again today with soapnut powder and i absolutely love the way they feel. They look shiny, more body and i experienced less shedding. YAY

Yay, I'm so happy you like soapnuts! They really are fantastic. :)

[tina1025]

I had soapnut powder sitting in my basement for over 10 years ....Yes 10 years...I finally started using it and i am glad i did. I mainly used it every time i hennaed my hair but even that i didnt do it as much but lately i have been doing it once every month. Thanks to LHC :)
Yay, I'm so happy you like soapnuts! They really are fantastic. :)

[catfish]

I have a question about egg washing please:pray:

Finoriel stated that part of the reason egg washing works is due to the lecithin, do I have this right? If this is right then would adding liquid lecithin to an egg recipe like Finoriel's work? (whole egg recipe opposed to yolk only) I have a whole jar of liquid lecithin. :o

Also, do I have to use a acid rinse after egg washing or is the acid in the egg wash recipe enough? Oddly enough my hair isn't really fond of acid rinses. I would prefer to finish with a filtered water rinse if possible. Or maybe a catnip tea rinse?

[mellie]

I haven't had much luck with egg washing - it did strange things to my hair (compare to my siggy with soapnuts):
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/picture.php?albumid=1886&pictureid=24525

However, I did do a vinegar rinse - and for me, it was absolutely necessary, because otherwise my hair was very, very greasy and lank.

[Alley Cat]

Where in Australia can I get soapnuts?

Answering this late as I have only just read this thread but I got some online and have only just used them on my hair today.
I got them from this place :

http://www.soapinanutshell.com.au/http://

You can get soapnuts in a sample size and powder. I might try some powder too.
Not sure what I think yet , they did clean my hair though.:)

[catfish]

Quinoa anyone?

I have some Quinoa soaking right now to cook for dinner later. Do you think I could uses the water for washing my hair?

For those who are unfamiliar with quinoa, it is a seed, very rich in iron and fiber and protein, almost grain like. Quinoa has saponins in it which are very bitter to eat and therefore need to be soaked off before the quinoa is cooked. I cook it much like grits, it's very tasty:D

Anywho, the water left over from quinoa soaking is essentially saponin rich, so do you think it would make a good wash?

I'm going to try it tonight and see what happens, I'll let you guys know.;)

[Heidi_234]

Quinoa anyone?

I have some Quinoa soaking right now to cook for dinner later. Do you think I could uses the water for washing my hair?

For those who are unfamiliar with quinoa, it is a seed, very rich in iron and fiber and protein, almost grain like. Quinoa has saponins in it which are very bitter to eat and therefore need to be soaked off before the quinoa is cooked. I cook it much like grits, it's very tasty:D

Anywho, the water left over from quinoa soaking is essentially saponin rich, so do you think it would make a good wash?

I'm going to try it tonight and see what happens, I'll let you guys know.;)
Interesting! keep us posted :)

[catfish]

So, update about the Quinoa, I 'washed' hair with about two cups of quinoa water which had a 1/3 cup of quinoa soaked in it for two hours. I lightly scrubbed the quinoa water into my scalp and length, then rinsed with plain water. After towel drying I detangled with a few drops of avocado oil and now hair is in a sleep braid.

So far so good. My hair feels fine. It is less oily than with WO, but I can't tell much more yet as my hair is still a bit damp. I'll know more in the morning;)

As far as specs about washing with quinoa goes:

It smells very green, and slightly bean like, think fresh sprouts.
It did not burn my eyes, felt just like water.
My skin was only a tiny bit dry feeling. (opposed to the soft, clean feeling I get from catnip)
After leaving it on my head ( and consequently, my back) for about three min, my skin started feeling itchy so I rinsed.
No suds in my hair, but there were some suds in the quinoa water.
My hair was easy to detangle wet, just like with catnip.

My purpose for experimenting is to see if quinoa is more cleansing than catnip due to the higher percentage of saponins. I only shampoo once a week as it is, but I like experimenting so there you go:p

I will post how my hair looks in the morning.:D

[Upside Down]

Another method which is not as common, but works equally to herb or mud washing is egg-cleansing. The cleansing agent here is lecithin, it has an effective but balanced mixture of protein - fat - cleanser and there are some other beneficial things in eggs like sulfur which decreases shedding and stimulates growth.
I wash my hair on and off with eggs since the beginning of ´06 and I used it as my one and only cleansing method since this year. Nothing else. My sebum production has constantly decreased since then and I now need to wash about every 13-14 days. One egg for my midtigh length hair is still enough to clean it if I do not oil heavily the night before, then a doubled recipe is needed.

The basic recipe is: 1 whole egg mixed with one teaspoon honey - mix well until the honey is dissolved and then add a squirt lemon juice (or citric acid or ascorbic acid or any other ingredient which is acidic). Mix well again.
Sometimes I add some henna or cassia to make it less runny and some skin-safe EOs if there are scalp imbalances of some sort or just for scent.
I apply it to wet and already rinsed hair under the shower and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how greasy my hair is. Rinse out with warm water. And following it with an acidic rinse, chamomile tea with a pinch of ascorbic-acid, in my case.

Myths: Rinsing egg-shampoo with freezing cold water is not necessary, even if rinsed warm/hot it will still not cook in your hair! Regardless how hot I shower it never cooked on my head. If you do not change the ratio of the shampoo drastically, it´s impossible to happen. Egg protein becomes hard / denatures at about 60°C / 140°F and I doubt that anybody showers that hot. Adding acid to the egg lowers that temperature to some degree, but if you do not add too much, it´s still safe and the honey seems to buffer that effect somehow.

Mmm great, I am trying this today. Thanks.
I never seem to get my hair clean with just yolks, so i combine with soap bar, but let's see if this works for me.

[ktani]

So, update about the Quinoa, I 'washed' hair with about two cups of quinoa water which had a 1/3 cup of quinoa soaked in it for two hours. I lightly scrubbed the quinoa water into my scalp and length, then rinsed with plain water. After towel drying I detangled with a few drops of avocado oil and now hair is in a sleep braid.

So far so good. My hair feels fine. It is less oily than with WO, but I can't tell much more yet as my hair is still a bit damp. I'll know more in the morning;)

As far as specs about washing with quinoa goes:

It smells very green, and slightly bean like, think fresh sprouts.
It did not burn my eyes, felt just like water.
My skin was only a tiny bit dry feeling. (opposed to the soft, clean feeling I get from catnip)
After leaving it on my head ( and consequently, my back) for about three min, my skin started feeling itchy so I rinsed.
No suds in my hair, but there were some suds in the quinoa water.
My hair was easy to detangle wet, just like with catnip.

My purpose for experimenting is to see if quinoa is more cleansing than catnip due to the higher percentage of saponins. I only shampoo once a week as it is, but I like experimenting so there you go:p

I will post how my hair looks in the morning.:D

Catnip does not contain any saponins. Just so you know.

[mellie]

Catfish, how did it go?

[Autumnberry]

No, I never oil my hair, it is very oily naturally, haha! :-)

Do soapnuts make the scalp less oily? My scalp is so oily that I need to wash it every day. After 24 hours, the oil is very visible on the length of my hair (except on my dry ends :)). I've tried various SLS and non-SLS shampoos, shampoo bars, baking soda/ACV rinses, and CO, and nothing has allowed me to skip a day washing my hair without "oil discomfort." Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[ktani]

catfish has had some success CO'ing with catnip. I have not tried it yet.
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=379183&postcount=634

The thread
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=476

[mellie]

Autumnberry, the soapnuts don't help me with oily scalp - mine is still oily and I generally still have to wash every day when I use soapnuts. They just make my hair really pretty and lustrous, and shed a lot less.

[catfish]

original post by mellie
Catfish, how did it go?

Here's the skinny mellie:D As I stated in my post last night, my hair felt cleaner than if I had done a WO, but it was hard to tell anything else. Today, once fully dry, my hair doesn't feel bad. It is very smooth, almost no frizz, but it is also very straight. It detangled easily this morning, but the ends did feel a bit dry, so I used a few drops of almond oil and that fixed it. I am a little discouraged by the straightness as I just don't look like myself without the wave and frizz:p However, I don't have any thing bad to say about the results. All in all it worked, granted I only used it once, but at least there was no disasters. It is something I would do again:)



original post by ktani
Catnip does not contain any saponins. Just so you know.

Oh, my bad:o Thanks ktani. I guess that since I use catnip as a CO and find it moisturizing and cleansing that I assumed it had saponins. Hope I didn't mislead anyone;)

[ktani]

Here's the skinny mellie:D As I stated in my post last night, my hair felt cleaner than if I had done a WO, but it was hard to tell anything else. Today, once fully dry, my hair doesn't feel bad. It is very smooth, almost no frizz, but it is also very straight. It detangled easily this morning, but the ends did feel a bit dry, so I used a few drops of almond oil and that fixed it. I am a little discouraged by the straightness as I just don't look like myself without the wave and frizz:p However, I don't have any thing bad to say about the results. All in all it worked, granted I only used it once, but at least there was no disasters. It is something I would do again:)




Oh, my bad:o Thanks ktani. I guess that since I use catnip as a CO and find it moisturizing and cleansing that I assumed it had saponins. Hope I didn't mislead anyone;)

Great to hear that the quinoa worked out.

No, you did not mislead anyone about catnip. It would be easily to think that it may contain saponins because it cleaned your hair and it cleanses my skin, but it dosen't.

[speakyword]

applesauce! We have an orchard and an abundance of last years applesauce which needs to be used up so I tried it and totally love it. It's a very balanced cleanser and my hair feels super soft afterwards. I usually follow up these days with cat nip tea for conditioner.

[intothemist1999]

I guess that since I use catnip as a CO and find it moisturizing and cleansing that I assumed it had saponins. Hope I didn't mislead anyone;)


So....are you saying gives sort of a "lathering" effect? I'm INTRIGUED! :)

If I use this, will my cats be attacking my head while I sleep?? :D Seriously :)

ETA: can it be used as a long-term hair cleanser (normally I'm a CO kinda gal)?

[catfish]

original post by intothemist1999

So....are you saying gives sort of a "lathering" effect? I'm INTRIGUED!

If I use this, will my cats be attacking my head while I sleep?? Seriously

ETA: can it be used as a long-term hair cleanser (normally I'm a CO kinda gal)?

It is cleaning for me, but I do also use shampoo about once a week.
It does not lather! Think WO washing except with cleansing and moisturizing effects;)

I have cats and while they like to puurr into the cup I use in the shower and will sometimes jump in the tub and lick the tub floor:p I have not had any ninja cat head attacks...yet:silly:

[ktani]

So....are you saying gives sort of a "lathering" effect? I'm INTRIGUED! :)

If I use this, will my cats be attacking my head while I sleep?? :D Seriously :)

ETA: can it be used as a long-term hair cleanser (normally I'm a CO kinda gal)?

Catnip does not contain saponins. It does have antibacterial/antifungal properties though. It will bubble a bit when shaken, but it is not lather.

[intothemist1999]

deleted because I'm a goof :D

[intothemist1999]

I found the instructions for catnip on the split ends thread. Sounds too fiddly for me :o

If it's used for a CO rather than for split ends, is it done differently ((hoping!!)) ?

[catfish]

intothemist1999
I found the instructions for catnip on the split ends thread. Sounds too fiddly for me

If it's used for a CO rather than for split ends, is it done differently ((hoping!!)) ?
Yesterday 11:49 PM

It's really not hard,;) The instructions are the same, I use a teaspoon of dried catnip to 2 cups(300ml) of boiling water. Basically, make tea, wash with cooled tea. :p

I say it's my 'CO' wash because I use it in the same style as washing with conditioner only, I wash with catnip tea only 1-3 times a week, sometimes more if my hair feels dry, then once a week I shampoo.

I don't bag my hair while washing or let it sit for long periods of time. Just dump the tea on my head, scrub, let sit for the rest of my bath, and rinse. Simple.

To save time, I make up a few cups before hand and let it sit in my bathroom in a huge tea pitcher. ( It should be refrigerated but my bathroom is so cold now that I think it counts as refrigerating and does not go bad :rolleyes:)
That way all I have to do is hop in the bath, grab the pitcher, and use what I need. (which turns out to be about two cups per shower)

Hope this helps a little:)

[intothemist1999]

Hope this helps a little:)


Thank you, it does!! :)

[ktani]

To save time, I make up a few cups before hand and let it sit in my bathroom in a huge tea pitcher. ( It should be refrigerated but my bathroom is so cold now that I think it counts as refrigerating and does not go bad :rolleyes:)

As lucky as you have been with this, I do not recommend contuinuing to not refridgerate the catnip tea that you make in advance. It is best kept refridgerated to prevent bacterial growth. Regardless of catnip's antibacterial properties, I do not think that what you are doing is a good idea.

I take mine out of the fridge about an hour before I use it, to let it "warm up" to room temperature.

[catfish]

original post by ktani

As lucky as you have been with this, I do not recommend contuinuing to not refridgerate the catnip tea that you make in advance. It is best kept refridgerated to prevent bacterial growth. Regardless of catnip's antibacterial properties, I do not think that what you are doing is a good idea.


So true, refrigeration is best.;)

[ktani]

original post by ktani


So true, refrigeration is best.;)

I have used refridgerated catnip past 10 days old, that has not gone off. I have never had catnip go off but I do not recommend that either. Once a herb/plant or honey has been mixed with water, the possibility for bacterial growth is there, over time. I have only used catnip that old on my skin (the leftovers) from a batch that I have prepared for my hair, that I have saved. I never use the full amount I prepare, on my hair. Still, not a wise decision on my part, when it is that old. I just hate throwing it out. I do not add anything to preserve the catnip tea I make because it should, I believe, be used within a reasonable amount of time (a few days). I do not want to start measuring preservative quantities, or risk adulterating the tea. I prefer to use catnip tea, fresh and pure. The catnip itself is dried. It is inexpensive enough for me to do that.

[ktani]

Aside from refridgeration, I take certain precautions with preparing catnip tea. I do not steralize anything with chemicals but I do follow this precedure; wash out the shampoo bottle I use with liquid soap evey time between use, same with the mug, creamer (to pour with), tea strainer, saucer (used to cover the mug, pour boiled water into/over and rinse the mug, tea strainer, saucer and pyrex measureing cup before making a new batch. I do not use boiled water for the creamer (I do give it a fresh rinse with water though.

[Nizhoni]

The basic recipe is: 1 whole egg mixed with one teaspoon honey - mix well until the honey is dissolved and then add a squirt lemon juice (or citric acid or ascorbic acid or any other ingredient which is acidic). Mix well again.
Sometimes I add some henna or cassia to make it less runny and some skin-safe EOs if there are scalp imbalances of some sort or just for scent.
I apply it to wet and already rinsed hair under the shower and let it sit for about 5-10 minutes, depending on how greasy my hair is. Rinse out with warm water. And following it with an acidic rinse, chamomile tea with a pinch of ascorbic-acid, in my case.

Okey, now I have lots of questions here. :o
How much ascorbic acid to you use for the shampoo? And where do you buy it, is it those blue little bags att the grocery store? Do you dissolve the grains before use? And can I do the rinse with only ascorbic acid and water, if so, what ratios? :)

[Finoriel]

I hope I can help you here, but being a fellow European may still not help with stores and package colour :wink:. I bought my ascorbic acid at a chemist´s shop and it´s a powder in a white plastic container. Usually you should get it at the supplements aisle of most food stores or at a pharmacy. As long as it says 100% ascorbic acid / vitamin C it´s the same stuff.
For the shampoo I use just a tiny pinch of it. Acid in combination with egg lowers the temperature where the protein denatures > the infamous cooked egg effekt. Not sure how brave you are, but I hate washing my hair with cold water :p so mixing too much ascorbic acid into the egg would be a bad idea. I prefer warm water and as long as the shapoo is not too acidic I never had problems with the egg becoming scrambledegg textured. A small pinch is safe, makes the cuticle ly smooth while washing and you can still use warm water. No need to torture oneself with cold water in winter :wink:
For the rinse I use a more generous amount of ascorbic acid on half a liter water/tea. I just go by what my hair seems to ´prefer´ (as much as necessary to be effective) which is about 1/4 tea spoon of ascorbic acid. The mixture tastes noticeably sour, but not as sour as vinegar would for example, sorry no pH level tested. Your hair may show good results with less acid, or you may need a bit more, that´s something which varys from head to head. Just try and start with a smaller amount working your way up until you reach a good concentration for your hair.

[Nizhoni]

Thanks, then I can look for the ascorbic acid the next time I'm grocery shopping. :)

Can I use conditioner after the egg wash? Is there no need for it? My hair of generally dry and always need conditioning. What is the difference between vinegar rinses and ascorbic/citric acid rinses, can they be used the same way? (I am not considering vinegar washes instead of ascorbic acid, I really hate the smell.) Sorry for all the questions. :o

But I guess I have to give up my routine of washing my hair when in the sauna if I'm going to use egg washes. :D

[Finoriel]

Don´t worry about asking many questions :wink: that´s what a forum is made for.

For me there is no need to use conditioner after an egg-wash. Eggs are cleaning very gentle and also have conditioning properties (think of mayonnaise deep treatment). I would say, first time try it without conditioning, to see if it works for you. If not you can still condition afterwards the next time.
For me an acidic rinse completely replaces conditioner, because I´m cleaning my hair as gentle as possible, which does not strip my hair from all oils, so there is simply no need to add oils or other film-building things afterwards. I rarely need deep-treatments any more. If it happens that I leave on the egg-shampoo for too long and it cleaned too good, I can still add some oil as a leave in after my hair has dried. But most times there´s no need to do that... :gabigrin: and I´m a low maintenance person, I refuse to do unnecessary things.
Depending on the vinegar (apple cider for example) some people swear it has good properties for the skin. I myself did not notice a difference, besides the fact that I find the smell unpleasant and prefer to use red or white vine vinegar for cooking so rarely have it at home anyways. Same with lemon or other citrus fruit juice.
The powdered stuff like ascorbic acid or citric acid has a shelf live for ages. I have ascorbic acid at home anyways and the citric acid I use for cleaning and to decalcify my coffee machine. They do not smell at all, are very cheap, long lasting and they do not stain my hair, shower or towel. I prefer to use the ascorbic acid though, it´s not as acidic as citric acid so I do not need to be that careful with the amount I use. Citric acid used slarvig can become too strong easily, causing unpleasant effects.
Generally all acidic rinses can be used the same way. Pour over head after you are finished with the cleansing part of hair-washing. Some prefer to have the acidic rinse as final part and do not rinse out the rinse with water, some do. Matter of taste I guess. Just be careful with the pH-level when experimenting with different acid sources, some vinegars are more concentrated than others.

:p depends on how hot your sauna is. I avoid any treatments in there because of the wooden benches and possibly staining them. Just shower and egg-wash your hair before entering the sauna and when you are finished with the sauna, shower / wet down your hair again and finish off with the acidic rinse.

[Nizhoni]

Thank you so much for all your answers! :flowers:

I'll be back if I have more questions. :D

[HotRag]

About ascorbic acid in egg wash:

[...]A small pinch is safe, makes the cuticle ly smooth while washing and you can still use warm water.
I wonder if you know if the effect on the cuticle is due to the pH only in this case (I guess so, but ask anyway to hear opinion from others).
If so, do you know what pH is "safe" for not "open" the cuticle?

I tested the pH on my "whipped" egg, and it was about 8.
First time i added ACV until I got to pH 4.
Second time I just squirted a bit ACV in it, and tested. It had pH 6. I went for that, cause low pH seams to dry my hair and scalp.

[Finoriel]

You and more questions are always welcome Nizhoni :).

Hmm, HotRag I´m not sure if I got the exact point of your question. Sorry if I´m explaining something you did not ask. :wink: It´s been a long brain freezing cold day and I´m on my way to sauna.
My "safe" comment was regarding the amount of acid lowering the cooking-point of the egg :wink: . And more than a small pinch of acid is not needed to make the cuticle lie smooth.
I checked that once under the microscope and as soon as the mixture tasted slightly sour the cuticle looked "very dense packed", if that makes sense.
I do not have a pH-level where the exact point is where the cuticle does that, sorry. Nor do I know if that would work for every hair... depending on how healthy/damaged/old/worn out the cuticle is, I guess that could be different.

[HotRag]

Hmm, HotRag I´m not sure if I got the exact point of your question. Sorry if I´m explaining something you did not ask. :wink: It´s been a long brain freezing cold day and I´m on my way to sauna.
My "safe" comment was regarding the amount of acid lowering the cooking-point of the egg :wink: . And more than a small pinch of acid is not needed to make the cuticle lie smooth.
I checked that once under the microscope and as soon as the mixture tasted slightly sour the cuticle looked "very dense packed", if that makes sense.
I do not have a pH-level where the exact point is where the cuticle does that, sorry. Nor do I know if that would work for every hair... depending on how healthy/damaged/old/worn out the cuticle is, I guess that could be different.
I think you got my question right.

I would like a microscope ^_^ Aah, my kids have a cheap toy microscope, I will try if I can see cuticle with it.

For now I just have pH tester, and of course I will taste the mixture and test what different pH-levels tastes like. :stirpot:

[HotRag]

Ok, I found the microscope. But nope, couldn't see the cuticle.
I then washed one hair with SLS and one with regular hard soap. They did not look any different in the microscope.
So I assume the micsoscope is not good enough.

It says X100 but is a cheap one. I guess it is the same as with cheap telescopes (I have one cheap and one not cheap telescope - both with same opening size in front, but big difference in quality of observed objects).

[Nizhoni]

Can the honey in the egg shampoo do any lightening? :confused:

And how do I avoid smelling like a wet dog? Conditioner? Essential oils? Where do I buy them and how much should I use?

I did my first egg wash today and my hair is still a bit damp and smells like a wet dog, but it actually feels clean and not too dry. Though I think I might try with conditioner the next time, I do have really dry hair and right now it is very cold here which makes it even more dry. My scalp does look really nice so far and the egg shampoo did not itch at all while applied. :joy:

I did notice that my hair had even more waves (and a light curl or two) while damp than usual. :confused:

[HotRag]

Can the honey in the egg shampoo do any lightening? :confused:

And how do I avoid smelling like a wet dog? Conditioner? Essential oils? Where do I buy them and how much should I use?

I did my first egg wash today and my hair is still a bit damp and smells like a wet dog, but it actually feels clean and not to dry. Though I think I might try with conditioner the next time, I do have really dry hair and right now it is very cold here which makes it even more dry. My scalp does look really nice so far and the egg shampoo did not itch at all while applied. :joy:

I did notice that my hair had even more waves (and a light curl or two) while damp than usual. :confused:
I also had more waves in my hair after this. I have 1b/c but it looked 1c/2a before combing.

Maybe some oil, coconut oil, shea butter or camellia oil can be added to condition and make the wash less drying. Or dilute and use one half of the egg for washing, and cook the rest :)
Or just SMT, catnip tea treatment or condition in other way, after the wash.

Your descrition of the wash, sounds similar to my experiance.

[Nizhoni]

I also had more waves in my hair after this. I have 1b/c but it looked 1c/2a before combing.

Maybe some oil, coconut oil, shea butter or camellia oil can be added to condition and make the wash less drying. Or dilute and use one half of the egg for washing, and cook the rest :)
Or just SMT, catnip tea treatment or condition in other way, after the wash.

Your descrition of the wash, sounds similar to my experiance.

Now my hair is just slightly damp and I can feel that I will need some conditioning, no surprise there though. :p

Thanks for the advice! The conditioning part I think I can figure out, but the smelling like a wet dog thing I don't know how to handle. :(

[HotRag]

Now my hair is just slightly damp and I can feel that I will need some conditioning, no surprise there though. :p

Thanks for the advice! The conditioning part I think I can figure out, but the smelling like a wet dog thing I don't know how to handle. :(
I didn't feel any wet dog smell, but maybe you can try an EO.

[Finoriel]

My microscope is from my grandpa who was a veterinary :wink: even though it is about 60 years old, it should still be better than one for children use.

Honey is just lightening when left on for a looong time > several hours, even then it´s not lightening much. Leaving on egg with honey for hours is not recommended, growth of bacterias and such, egg goes off fast when it´s kept as warm as it is on your head. Honey is only producing peroxide when the enzymes in it can work > it has to be diluted enough and the pH-level should not be too acidic.
No, the mixture will not lighten your hair at all.

The wet dog smell seems to be a very individual thing. I do not notice any bad smell when washing with eggs, smells more like Christmas bakery with egg and honey :wink: . But it´s perfume free so to say, not adding any smell. My hair only smells like "me" :gabigrin: and I´m not smelling like wet dog, just like wet human. Similar to using washing powder without scent for laundry... mine smells like "nothing", while other body chemistry seems to develop awful stinkiness sometimes. Not sure what causes this, but you mention itching... so possibly your skin is a little out of balance after using harsher cleansers for a long time and there are very active bacterias producing this smell. Normally any smell should disappear when your hair is dry. Be careful with EOs, patch test them before usage and do not overdose them. EOs are drying oils and can leave sticky residues on your hair.
When using conditioner afterwards your hair will smell like conditioner, that would avoid the unpleasant smell. If you have a sensitive skin you should check if it´s the conditioner which causes the itching, though. Conditioner usually is gentle to hair, but not necessarily good for the skin.

[Nizhoni]

Honey is just lightening when left on for a looong time > several hours, even then it´s not lightening much. Leaving on egg with honey for hours is not recommended, growth of bacterias and such, egg goes off fast when it´s kept as warm as it is on your head. Honey is only producing peroxide when the enzymes in it can work > it has to be diluted enough and the pH-level should not be too acidic.
No, the mixture will not lighten your hair at all.

The wet dog smell seems to be a very individual thing. I do not notice any bad smell when washing with eggs, smells more like Christmas bakery with egg and honey :wink: . But it´s perfume free so to say, not adding any smell. My hair only smells like "me" :gabigrin: and I´m not smelling like wet dog, just like wet human. Similar to using washing powder without scent for laundry... mine smells like "nothing", while other body chemistry seems to develop awful stinkiness sometimes. Not sure what causes this, but you mention itching... so possibly your skin is a little out of balance after using harsher cleansers for a long time and there are very active bacterias producing this smell. Normally any smell should disappear when your hair is dry. Be careful with EOs, patch test them before usage and do not overdose them. EOs are drying oils and can leave sticky residues on your hair.
When using conditioner afterwards your hair will smell like conditioner, that would avoid the unpleasant smell. If you have a sensitive skin you should check if it´s the conditioner which causes the itching, though. Conditioner usually is gentle to hair, but not necessarily good for the skin.

So I can stop worrying about the lightening effects then, yay! :)

I have been COing for over a year now and do avoid any conditioner that my scalp says no to, which is most conditioners with perfume so right now I have only one option and it does not work prefectly. I don't feel like being dependant on conditioners that I have to order online.

I can't really tell if my scalp smells like wet dog but the lengths definitely do smell! So far my scalp seem kind of happy, which makes me really happy! :)

Maybe a very stupid question, but could adding a tiny amount of cocoa to the egg mixture help with the smell and also make the mixture less runny? I do love chocolate!

[HotRag]

My microscope is from my grandpa who was a veterinary :wink: even though it is about 60 years old, it should still be better than one for children use.
Yea, it sure doesn't has plastic lenses like my kid's has. :D

*gone googling for microscopes*

[GlassEyes]

Actually, the peroxide in honey only laster for an hour or two, usually, if I recall ktani's posts in the honey thread correctly.

I wouldn't worry about it lightening though. Certain kinds of enzymes and other things counteract adn destroy the peroxide, and I doubt that it would survive for long mixed with egg. Plus, you aren't leaving the shampoo on for an hour. XD'

[ktani]

When honey is diluted with any liquid that contains water, it slowly releases peroxide.

However, there are a number of factors that affect how much peroxide is released and what happens to it, when it is released.

For lightening, 1 hour is all that is needed and recommended on very wet hair, preferrably covered or continuously misted, with the right dilution and ingredients, distilled water and honey lightening boosters. (See the Honey thread for details). You also need a good peroxide producing honey. Not all honeys are equal in this respect.

Then there is the pH factor of the solution (honey produces optimum peroxide at pH 6). If a solution contains minerals or Vitamin C or heat is used, either the enzyme that generates the peroxide (affected by heat, is damaged) or the peroxide itself is depleted (the minerals or Vitamin C).

Using honey for a short time on wet hair mixed with egg or conditioner, should not affect hair colour. To be sure that no lightening can take place, microwave the honey first, for 30 seconds to under 1 minute, to destroy the enzyme in it that generates peroxide.

[Finoriel]

Cocoa sounds yummy smellwise :) and I think I read somewhere that cocoa powder has low anti-fungal properties. (Not sure here, so please double check that.) The fat in there will make the egg less cleansing, too. Which may be great for dry length. Your hair looks dark enough to not be in danger to get stained from it. Seems like it could work. Don´t forget to report if you decide to try it :wink:
You could also use sifted cassia to make it less runny or any food quality kitchen thickener which works with cold liquids (gelatin powder for example). I tried this without ill effects as long as I rinsed extra well.

The problems sensitive people have with conditioners may come from perfume, that´s true, but it can also be caused from the kind of surfactants used in them. Most surfactants used in conditioners are on the more skin-unfriendly side, that´s why conditioner-bottles in the 80s and early 90s recommended something like "use on length only" and "do not put on scalp", you may remember that. Most conditioners are simply not developed to be put on the skin, especially not for a longer time frame like CO requires. The surfactants in there are not for cleaning properties, they are supposed to act as emulsifiers to keep the oily and watery parts of it from already separating in the bottle and help rinsing out the excess oils and other "care"-ingredients. Sure you can use that effect to clean hair, like discovered for CO and dry hair indeed reacts well to that, but that does not make it good or gentle for skin. Most scalps tolerate CO, but some more sensitive people also react with excessive shedding, itching and flaking. Even when not using conditioner on the scalp directly, some people suddenly develop more pimples than usual on their shoulders and back when using conditioner. Strange, huh? I myself would rather use some diluted sodium laureth sulfate on my skalp for a minute, than having on conditioner for thirty minutes. :shrug: Just saying, because with all the people raving about CO, this downside of the routine gets not mentioned that often.

[ktani]

Cocoa sounds yummy smellwise :) and I think I read somewhere that cocoa powder has low anti-fungal properties. (Not sure here, so please double check that.) The fat in there will make the egg less cleansing, too. Which may be great for dry length. Your hair looks dark enough to not be in danger to get stained from it. Seems like it could work. Don´t forget to report if you decide to try it :wink:
You could also use sifted cassia to make it less runny or any food quality kitchen thickener which works with cold liquids (gelatin powder for example). I tried this without ill effects as long as I rinsed extra well.

The problems sensitive people have with conditioners may come from perfume, that´s true, but it can also be caused from the kind of surfactants used in them. Most surfactants used in conditioners are on the more skin-unfriendly side, that´s why conditioner-bottles in the 80s and early 90s recommended something like "use on length only" and "do not put on scalp", you may remember that. Most conditioners are simply not developed to be put on the skin, especially not for a longer time frame like CO requires. The surfactants in there are not for cleaning properties, they are supposed to act as emulsifiers to keep the oily and watery parts of it from already separating in the bottle and help rinsing out the excess oils and other "care"-ingredients. Sure you can use that effect to clean hair, like discovered for CO and dry hair indeed reacts well to that, but that does not make it good or gentle for skin. Most scalps tolerate CO, but some more sensitive people also react with excessive shedding, itching and flaking. Even when not using conditioner on the scalp directly, some people suddenly develop more pimples than usual on their shoulders and back when using conditioner. Strange, huh? I myself would rather use some diluted sodium laureth sulfate on my skalp for a minute, than having on conditioner for thirty minutes. :shrug: Just saying, because with all the people raving about CO, this downside of the routine gets not mentioned that often.

Excellent points all, IMO. Actually from what I have read, some of the otherwise sensitizing ingredients in conditioners, are used in the concentrations they are, because it is a product that is rinsed off the hair in a short period of time, like shampoo, not left on the scalp for extended periods of time or left on the hair. Many conditioners are better used without contact with the scalp as they can be "too rich" and may clog pores. With thinner conditioners, that is less of a problem.

There are recommended concentration restrictions for ingredients used in rinsed-off and leave-in products. There can be possible irritation consequenes, using a product differently from how it is intended to be used.

New recommendations and restrictions, Europe. See pages18 onward.
E.G.
"Benzoic acid .... and its sodium salt .....
Rinse-off products, except oral care products: 2.5% ....
Leave-on products: 0.5% ...."
http://www.berr.gov.uk/files/file39431.pdf

[Nizhoni]

Thank you all so much for your answers! :flower:

If I decide to try the cocoa I will post results. :)




To be sure that no lightening can take place, microwave the honey first, for 30 seconds to under 1 minute, to destroy the enzyme in it that generates peroxide.

Is anything else but the lightening properties effected by heating the honey? Oh, and I don't own a microwave so how many degrees celsius is needed for the enzyme to be destoyed? Or is there any other way to tell, like when the honey starts bubbling? :confused:

[ktani]

Thank you all so much for your answers! :flower:

Is anything else but the lightening properties effected by heating the honey? Oh, and I don't own a microwave so how many degrees celsius is needed for the enzyme to be destoyed? Or is there any other way to tell, like when the honey starts bubbling? :confused:

Without a microwave, you need to heat the honey to a high degree for 40 minutes. Glucose-oxidase is the peroxide generating enzyme in honey.

"Of all the enzymes in honey .... glucose-oxidase .... the most volatile (most sensitive for heating) Heating for 40 minutes at 70°C (160°F) .... eliminate glucose-oxidase."
http://www.xs4all.nl/~jtemp/H2O2.html

Some people feel that microwaved honey is not as conditioning. Others do not feel that way.

[Finoriel]

Wait, I guess you missed this over the whole lot of information:
As long as you use ascorbic acid = vitamin C in the mixture, the peroxide reacts with the ascorbic acid first, not with your hair.
The pH-level of the egg-honey-acid-mixture is too acidic for the enzymes to become fully active.
Many honeys are produced with heating the honey-combs to maximise the production, which depending on the temperature, at least damages the peroxide releasing enzymes, if not kills them completely. Just buy one which does not explicit state "cold centrifuged".
Even if you would use a peroxide producing honey and use another acid source or leave out the acid completely, the time the mixture spends on your head (5-10 minutes) will not be long enough to lighten an earthworm :wink: ahem.

Quote Douglas Adams and imagine some big friendly letters :cool: "Don´t panic!"
No complicated honey-self-heating or micro-waving needed here.

[ktani]

Wait, I guess you missed this over the whole lot of information:
As long as you use ascorbic acid = vitamin C in the mixture, the peroxide reacts with the ascorbic acid first, not with your hair.
The pH-level of the egg-honey-acid-mixture is too acidic for the enzymes to become fully active.
Many honeys are produced with heating the honey-combs to maximise the production, which depending on the temperature, at least damages the peroxide releasing enzymes, if not kills them completely. Just buy one which does not explicit state "cold centrifuged".
Even if you would use a peroxide producing honey and use another acid source or leave out the acid completely, the time the mixture spends on your head (5-10 minutes) will not be long enough to lighten an earthworm :wink: ahem.

Quote Douglas Adams and imagine some big friendly letters :cool: "Don´t panic!"
No complicated honey-self-heating or micro-waving needed here.

That says it neatly. Many honeys on the market though have been shown in the Honey thread to lighten hair colour to some degree and the pasteurization used most often these days does not damage glucose-oxidase.

I missed parts of your text. Honey lightening does not necessarily have to take a long time per treatment, as reported with the new recommendations in the Honey thread, and the results are much better than reported with previous dilutions.

Some unmicrowaved SMT's with aloe gel, which contains Vitamin C, 3 x more than raw lemon juice, have been reported to lighten hair colour somewhat. It depends on how much Vitamin C to how much peroxide released and of course, the time the solution is on the hair.

Also, there are minerals and Vitamin C naturally in some honeys, that react with and deplete any peroxide produced.

For the purposes of a shampoo or a honey rinse, I do not think even the Vitamon C is needed. The mixture is not on the hair long enough to make a difference, in terms of lightening hair colour, IMO.

[ktani]

Actually, the peroxide in honey only laster for an hour or two, usually, if I recall ktani's posts in the honey thread correctly.

I wouldn't worry about it lightening though. Certain kinds of enzymes and other things counteract adn destroy the peroxide, and I doubt that it would survive for long mixed with egg. Plus, you aren't leaving the shampoo on for an hour. XD'

The peroxide level of a honey lightening recipe can last for a long time once at maximum, but it varies with the honey. Stored in the fridge, I do not recommend keeping one longer than a day or so.

[Girltron]

Boy. Thanks for mentioning that about heating honey on the stove, ktani. I wasn't sure how to do it, so when my microwave bit the big one I stopped using my usual henna mix for fear a stovetop heating wasn't good enough.

I'm awfully glad I made that choice.

[ktani]

Boy. Thanks for mentioning that about heating honey on the stove, ktani. I wasn't sure how to do it, so when my microwave bit the big one I stopped using my usual henna mix for fear a stovetop heating wasn't good enough.

I'm awfully glad I made that choice.

You are most welcome.

[RetroKitten]

In the past days I tried some recipes from the *Indian Herbs for Hair Care* article.

The first one was

Icydove's Wash Mix

2 tbsp. shikakai powder
2 tbsp. amla powder

Made it completely with straining etc. No pre - oiling. Was kind of time consuming, I think I am too lazy to do that everytime I wash my hair... Hair felt a bit dry, but very strong.

The second attempt was

Shell's Wash Mix

2 tablespoons of shikakai
3 tablespoons of amla

The recipe didn't say if it had to be applied to dry or wet hair, so I put the paste on my pre - oiled hair. The result after washing out was very dry and greasy hair at the same time.

In both cases my hair was hard to manage.
I am sure I need to experiment a lot more, what would you recommend to me?

[eaglefeather71]

In the past days I tried some recipes from the *Indian Herbs for Hair Care* article.

The first one was

Icydove's Wash Mix

2 tbsp. shikakai powder
2 tbsp. amla powder

Made it completely with straining etc. No pre - oiling. Was kind of time consuming, I think I am too lazy to do that everytime I wash my hair... Hair felt a bit dry, but very strong.

The second attempt was

Shell's Wash Mix

2 tablespoons of shikakai
3 tablespoons of amla

The recipe didn't say if it had to be applied to dry or wet hair, so I put the paste on my pre - oiled hair. The result after washing out was very dry and greasy hair at the same time.

In both cases my hair was hard to manage.
I am sure I need to experiment a lot more, what would you recommend to me?

Before I give any advise, I have a couple questions. In the first attempt, did you have pre-oiled hair?

In the second attempt, how long did you let it sit before rinsing out?

For both attempts, did you make a thick paste or a thin paste?

Check out my siggy link for some additional information and experiences (good and bad) with using different Indian Herbs.

[RetroKitten]

Before I give any advise, I have a couple questions. In the first attempt, did you have pre-oiled hair?

In the second attempt, how long did you let it sit before rinsing out?

For both attempts, did you make a thick paste or a thin paste?

Check out my siggy link for some additional information and experiences (good and bad) with using different Indian Herbs.


1. attempt: I made the "tea"(no paste!) exactly like it was descriped, 4 cups water, strained...No, I didn't pre - oil!

2. attempt: Like recommended in the recipe I let it sit somewhere between 5-10 minutes. I don't know if it works better on wet hair...?
The consistency was similar to a thick pudding.
Today is the second day and my hair feels even more dry and greasy.

[curly girl fla]

My favorite cleanser/conditioner as of late is Bindi's Herbal Hairwash. It has only natural ayurvedic powders that you mix into a paste and use on wet hair. I get fantastic results. I have been mixing my own with Hesh herbs: shikakai, aritha, neem, brahmi, amla and orange peel powder. It works very well and is a bit cheaper in the long run, but I think Bindi's mix has stolen my heart (and my hair). The cleansing and conditioning and strengthening is just perfect and so simple...However, I use the Hesh herbs in different combinations on my face, and I love it, too!

[eaglefeather71]

1. attempt: I made the "tea"(no paste!) exactly like it was descriped, 4 cups water, strained...No, I didn't pre - oil!

2. attempt: Like recommended in the recipe I let it sit somewhere between 5-10 minutes. I don't know if it works better on wet hair...?
The consistency was similar to a thick pudding.
Today is the second day and my hair feels even more dry and greasy.Based on your answers, it may benefit you to do a medium/light pre-oil and scalp massage and leave overnight or all day depending on when you wash, and re-try the first one. I personally use soapnut/aritha only for my wash and use the other herbs as conditioner once a week or so. You can look at the link in my siggy to see some of the experiences of people currently experimenting with Indian Herbs.

[lailmil]

I use ghassoul powder+savon noir to wash my hair and it works well. my recipe is:
1 teaspoon of ghassoul
1 teaspoon of savon noire (but it works well also without this one)
1 teaspoon of honey

anothe recipe (for dry shampoo)
I find aloe gel great to clean my scalp. i put it on in the evening, alone or with a little of lavander or tea tree eo, massage and let it stay overnight.in the morning i massage again and brush to remove it.

and I have a question: is soy lecithin the same as egg in washing hair?if yes, do you know any nice recipe to give me?

[Henna Sooq]

very interesting recipe. for me I don't particularly like the powdered ghassoul, it feels too much like cornstarch. The clay pieces are nice and smooth, and muddy!

[lailmil]

I don't particularly like the powdered ghassoul, it feels too much like cornstarch
mm, mine is more similar to sand, but it become a cream in this mix.sometimes I also add some phytokeratine and I want to try to substitute the honey with a bit of glycerin

[Henna Sooq]

It's like sand interesting! I'd have to try your variation, but not sure if I have a sample left of the powdered ghassoul anymore.

[Finoriel]

and I have a question: is soy lecithin the same as egg ...
No it´s not, just similar. Lecithin names a whole group of slightly different substances and soy lecithin is not exactly the same as egg lecithin. It still is an emulsifier and should be usable for washing purposes though. I´ve not yet seen any homemade hair wash recipes with processed soy lecithin.
:wink: I have own chickens and prefer to use fresh eggs from them to wash my hair. (Actually I avoid buying soy-stuff because of ecological reasons... :flower: just in case you did not know about the problematic, it may be interesting to read about it. Keywords soy farms & rain forest.)

[freznow]

No it´s not, just similar. Lecithin names a whole group of slightly different substances and soy lecithin is not exactly the same as egg lecithin. It still is an emulsifier and should be usable for washing purposes though. I´ve not yet seen any homemade hair wash recipes with processed soy lecithin.
:wink: I have own chickens and prefer to use fresh eggs from them to wash my hair. (Actually I avoid buying soy-stuff because of ecological reasons... :flower: just in case you did not know about the problematic, it may be interesting to read about it. Keywords soy farms & rain forest.)

See this post (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=442229&postcount=30) in this thread (http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=10246) for info about soy lecithin. I believe that conditioner ought to be just as cleansing as any other commercial conditioner in a CO, depending on ingredients.

[lailmil]

@freznow: thankyou for the links and the tip about CO =)
@Finoriel:what a fortune to have your own chickens!anyway, I don't buy soy too, because I prefer to eat things whose I know the origin and possibly grow near me ;) but a friend of mine gave me some of this lecythin, and I don't like the smell/consistence of eggs, so I was thinking to use it to replace egg. but thanks a lot for your reply, its useful to know about brazilian soy and rain forest!

another little recipefor cleansing scalp: add to aloe gel a teaspoon of cinnamon and massage it as I wrote some posts ago.it works well, and leaves a lovely smell ♥ . I'm trying cinnamon because it stimulates blood circulation

[Fethenwen]

Wow, this thread is the thing! I really love experimenting with natural solution for my skin and hair. Hopefully I will find something that works the best.

[Milui Elenath]

Answering this late as I have only just read this thread but I got some online and have only just used them on my hair today.
I got them from this place :

http://www.soapinanutshell.com.au/http://

You can get soapnuts in a sample size and powder. I might try some powder too.
Not sure what I think yet , they did clean my hair though.:)

I just bought some from this site also. They were extremely fast in delivering I got them the next day! I haven't used them yet.

[Nizhoni]

Finoriels egg shampoo works very well, my hair and scalp is better than ever. Thank you so much Finoriel for posting that recipe! :)
All I need now is egg shampoo, acidic rinse, some of my shea/coconut/aloe-mix (in damp hair) and my hair is happy for almost a week! :happydance:

I did always forget the cocoa and now I don't need it, the smell of wet dog went away after a few washes. At the most it can smell just a little like eggs at times, but I can live with that!

[hmmm]

I have a question... recently I bought a shampoo that claimed to have soapnut in it and no detergents, chemical ingredients, or 'non biodegradable' ingredients. It lathered decently though, and I read that natural shampoos aren't supposed to lather. Does soapnut lather? Could it be that this brand (Biotique) doesn't really use all-natural ingredients?

[florenonite]

I have a question... recently I bought a shampoo that claimed to have soapnut in it and no detergents, chemical ingredients, or 'non biodegradable' ingredients. It lathered decently though, and I read that natural shampoos aren't supposed to lather. Does soapnut lather? Could it be that this brand (Biotique) doesn't really use all-natural ingredients?

I don't know whether or not soapnuts lather, but I use a natural shampoo bar and it produces a lather comparable to a commercial brand. Its ingredients are:

Sodium Olivate/Saponified Olive Oil, Sodium Palmate/Saponified Palm Oil, Sodium Cocoate/Saponified Coconut Oil, Sodium Cocoa Butterate/Saponified Cocoa Butter, Olea Europaea Oil/Olive Oil, Rosemary Essential Oil, Lavender Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Sage Powder, Rosemary Powder (from the website (http://www.theremustbeabetterway.co.uk/acatalog/Trevarno_Rosemary_Shampoo_Bar.html#top) whence I bought it).

I think it's the saponified oils that produce the lather, so if your product contains such a thing that might explain it.

[hmmm]

It doesn't say so on the bottle. It's got Walnut Bark Extract, Ritha Extract, Amla Extract and a herb called Jatamansi. Apart from those it says 'Purified Water'. Aisha told me that the product is completely natural, so is it the soapnut that is causing the lather? I have to use slightly more than with ordinary shampoo though. My hair seems to like it very much :D

[Gulbahar]

Soapnuts can lather. Yes.

[hmmm]

Thanks for clearing that up :)

[Henna Sooq]

It can lather but some natural shampoos won't lather as much as others.

[indigonight]

for those using the egg shampoo... does it remove the oils from heavily oiled hair?

[Upside Down]

Yes. I use Fiorinel's egg shampoo for about half a year now. Usually I use one egg, but when I heavy oil before I use two.
I don't think I really need the two, but one is not enough, and I do not know what to do with the half of an egg that would remain :)

I don't use acidic rinse (my hair does not like it) and since I put a bit of citric acid in the shampoo mix, my scalp and hair are just fine.

[HotRag]

Yes. I use Fiorinel's egg shampoo for about half a year now. Usually I use one egg, but when I heavy oil before I use two.
I don't think I really need the two, but one is not enough, and I do not know what to do with the half of an egg that would remain :)
Make the smallest omelett in the world ;)


I don't use acidic rinse (my hair does not like it) and since I put a bit of citric acid in the shampoo mix, my scalp and hair are just fine.
My hair does not like acidic stuff either. But I found it hard to get a balance of acid and alkalines in the egg blend.
How much citric acid do you use?

Scalps seams to really looove egg wash.

[ALICIA]

Do you think this will help my very thin, balding in the top of my head hair?

I have just recently learned about 'transitioning' and have not had a perm since 4-24-09.

I am asking for help, ladies and thanks so very much for any advice, tips, etc. to get my

hair to grow.

I love this forum, btw!

TIA

Alicia

[Upside Down]

Make the smallest omelett in the world ;)

Hehehe :)



My hair does not like acidic stuff either. But I found it hard to get a balance of acid and alkalines in the egg blend.
How much citric acid do you use?

Scalps seams to really looove egg wash.

Auf, my best answer is "a little". I never measure it, just put a pinch of the powder in... and have not had any scalp or hair problems with using this acidic egg shampoo and just plain tap water with rosemary tea as a rinse...
I tried not using acid in the egg mix, but my scalp feels waxy after two washes or so.

In fact, water here is hard and I tried to use distilled water, but my hair just felt flat. Also, I tried to make acidic rinse with tap water and distilled water, but it felt dry. The best thing for me is tap water and no acid in the rinse.


To sum it up, here is how I see it:
It takes optimisation because water differs in different parts of the world (not that I use water in the recipee, but it is a factor in washing), eggs differ from chicken to chicken, and honey is probably the biggest source of variation in this recipee.

So play around with it, that is the best thing I can say. :shrug:

[wahmof9]

Shucks, thank you! That's the soapnuts! :-)
Where do you buy the soapnuts?

[Fractalsofhair]

Do you think this will help my very thin, balding in the top of my head hair?

I have just recently learned about 'transitioning' and have not had a perm since 4-24-09.

I am asking for help, ladies and thanks so very much for any advice, tips, etc. to get my

hair to grow.

I love this forum, btw!

TIA

Alicia

Well, it might take quite a while for your hair and scalp to recover from a perm. A gentle shampoo certainly won't hurt the process, but if you're balding from a perm, all you can really do is wait, and maybe try some rograine.

[ratgirldjh]

I love how egg shampoo makes my hair feel. I've used it in the winter but in the summer here no matter how much I rinse or even if I do an acid rinse after my hair starts to smell of egg. In the winter I don't notice it as much - but here in the summer it gets over 100 degrees F every day and I guess this cooks whatever protein is left in the hair somewhere... how do you deal with the smell issue - or are you egg shampoo users all in a colder climate than me?
I would LOVE to use eggs.

also - thinking it might just be my cheap grocery store eggs LOL - i bought fresh eggs from the farmers market - same thing! even when i do an egg mask on my face which i love, i smell the egg smell later.

I also gave a thought that it might just be me (i have a very sensitive nose) but my boyfriend notices it too - and then one day my lawyer asked me what that smell was... so i stopped.

About the only way I have found to combat this is to do an acidic rinse with quite a bit of lavender essential oil in it after - and then I still get whiffs of egg sometimes.

I do see that you Fiorinel use a rosemary rinse afterwards... hmmm rosemary is smellier and i have a rosemary plant... well perhaps i will try this next!

[Upside Down]

ratgirldjh, I do not combat the smell of eggs. I do not mind it, thank god.
But my boyfriend really minds it and he keeps complaining about it. (so we made a packt. I will not smoke except when I drink beer, and he will stop complaining about the natural smells :) )
So if someone finds a good solution, I am very interested.

Btw, it is I who uses the rosemary rinse, and though it smells wonderful, and is plain magic on my hair, it does not dull the egg smell.

Good luck though!

[ratgirldjh]

Well no eggs for me I guess - last time I tried it everyone around me complained and I was starting to feel ill - but I am super sensitive to smells - even good ones ;) and eggs dont smell good to me but they sure make my hair feel nice.

Actually I even had to give up using my egg masks on my face because the lingering odor (in the summer) just got to me after a while... even my hands seemed to retain this odor.

One thing I did find to help was to put a few drops of lavender or rosemary or even better patchouli EO in the egg mixture before using...

But then you just smell EO and eggs LOL

Same thing happened to me when I tried yogurt.

I guess that it is just too hot here most of the year to use protein substances for washing. :(

[juliesglory]

hi mellie :)
thanks for the great info on using soapnuts for hairwashing.

i only wash my hair once every 2 weeks, and so i would prefer to have a fresh soapnut liquid ready for hair washing day as opposed to making a huge amount of liquid that would go rancid probably before i would get the chance of using it :D

how many soapnuts should i use with how much water to make the liquid for one wash of let's say 1 ounce?

[clairenewcastle]

I was going to try washing my hair with the egg recipe but now I've read about the lingering after-smell of egg I've suddenly changed my mind.....it honestly hadn't occured to me that would happen. Ugh!
Thanks for pointing it out ratgirldjh.

[melikai]

I've just started using Finoriel's egg shampoo and am having great results! As for the smell issue, I find that if I use chamomile tea and lemon juice (as my acid) as a final rinse, it's fine, and I have a very sensitive sense of smell. The bigger thing for me is getting the smell out of my bathtub! :p

[clairenewcastle]

I've just started using Finoriel's egg shampoo and am having great results! As for the smell issue, I find that if I use chamomile tea and lemon juice (as my acid) as a final rinse, it's fine, and I have a very sensitive sense of smell. The bigger thing for me is getting the smell out of my bathtub! :p


Glad to hear that it's working so well for you Melikai. Love your hair by the way! :)
Finoriel's egg recipe seems to be giving a lot of people great results which is why I'm so keen to try it, so to hear that a final herbal rinse can mask the smell is very interesting. You've convinced me to try it but I've found lemon juice to be extremely drying on my hair when used as a final rinse in the past. Do you think that using a final herbal rinse on its' own would mask the smell? I'm about to start experimenting with catnip as a conditioner so perhaps it would work.

[melikai]

It's probably the scent of the chamomile that masks any remaining egg smell - I'm sure rosemary (if you have darker hair) would work very well too. I do CWC, so the smell of my conditioner on my length might be helping here too. I also rinse out the egg shampoo VERY well.

Here's what I do:

~wet hair, squeeze out excess water on length
~apply conditioner to length
~apply egg, honey, and lemon or citric acid mixture to scalp only, massage in well, leave for 5 minutes
~rinse out very well with warm water, squeeze out excess water on length
~apply conditioner to length
~rinse, then do final rinse with chamomile tea and lemon juice. I've used citric acid in place of lemon juice and it works well.

Make sure you're putting in enough honey with the egg - for some reason I feel like this can mask the egg smell too. I used a double recipe the last time and I don't think I put in enough honey, and the smell was stronger (but still didn't linger after washing).
I've never used catnip, so I'm not sure how strong of a scent it has.

ETA: and thanks for the compliment :)