(no subject)

[stellar_muddle]

Info: Shampoo Free
No Shampoo routine from MotownGirl.com. Comes from a distinct curly hair perspective.
Apple Cider vinigar rinses and here
Already now (over the past month) just shampooing the scalp only, often with conditioner over the rest of the length, before rinsing and fully conditioning. Definitely helps the full length. Mind you, I am only washing my hair once a week, so cumulatively, this hasn't been going on for long.
Also using Aloe Vera on the ends, after having trimmed about 1 inch off to get rid of the dead and dried split end collection. Definitely happier now - will have to remember to trim more often. Self trim instructions available at hereish (the websites everyone recommends and I managed to find once are apparently down...)
Summary for hair trimming from http://s7.invisionfree.com/The_Hair_Care_Family/index.php?showtopic=771

First after detangling your hair as much as possible make a low ponytail with a band that will hold the hair tight. It is up to you whether you cut dry or damp hair. Wet hair may shrink when it dries and if you have wavy or curly hair it may be a bit uneven when dry. Try not to cut to your final length in one cut if you are new to this. Most people have good results but a few have done it wrong or weren't satisfied.

Reach over your shoulder and slide the band down as far as you can.
Then reach behind you (not over your shoulder) and pull the band down the ponytail to the end. You may want to hold the tail with your other hand.
Try to keep your head still. It's hard to do but it will keep the hair from being pulled unevenly.

When you get the band near the tip like shown carefully grab the tip and band and bring it up over the shoulder to the front. Don't let the hair or band slide around. Now snip off your desired amount.
Note: When you go to cut the scissors should be cutting hair on the ends side of the band and not above the band. As long as you are

Don't cut the hair unless you are confident that you did it right. It might take some practtise with making the tail and sliding the band down. Or you might need a tighter band.
When you go to cut try doing small snips. Don't gnaw at the hair trying to cut the whole tip at once. All that does is push the hair around and cuts it uneven. You can also ruin your scissors that way.

The longhair discussion things have been interesting, but I do have a bee in my bonnet re the occasional fluffy all natural chemical free fruit loop. Yes, I henna my hair, dying it red in a "natural" process. No, this is not chemical free, otherwise the henna would have no effect and indeed no substance. It is an acid based dying proceedure, using acidic material eg vingar or red wine to enhance the effectiveness of the staining compounds in the raw henna powder. Most commercially available modern dyes use an alkali based dying compound. This does tend to be harsher on the hair cf repeated henna-ing, but both are chemical processes... And as for the lack of awareness of how dyes (and mordanting) works...

Despite such a rant, I do rather like the idea of being able to go commercial haircare product usage reduced/free. A little from the using simpler, less chemically complicated substances point of view (I will not say "Natural=chemical free" cause it ain't), but a lot from the avoiding advertising, saving time and money, trying to let the hair be as healthy as possibly by itself with only a little assistance point of view.



Thank you to the LJ draft saving facility...

Oh dear. Second girly (hair and clothing) post in less than a week. May be slightly mitigated by the shifting rocks and car driving posts over the weekend, but still... Back to shock wave propagation in Type II Cepheids...