Alternative Hair "Products" That Really Work

Article #2 in the guest post series by Imahni. Make sure to read why “Conventional Beauty Products are Health Hazards.”

Did you know some of the best beauty products are the cheapest and most undervalued?

They are also probably sitting in your fridge or pantry. In truth, unless you’re consistently using a lot of product on your hair, it doesn’t even need to be washed. Your scalp naturally secretes just enough oil to nourish your hair without making it greasy.

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However, if you choose to go completely without washing your hair (no alternative products either) it may take a couple weeks before your scalp secretes the right amount of oil again. When you were using all those harsh hair products, your body had to create a lot more oil in order to replenish the hair. This balance needs to be reestablished. The time is different for everyone as some people don’t even experience that transition. If you do have to undergo that rather awkward stage these natural products will make the transition from conventional products to none at all much smoother.

In general, these recipes will also provide your hair with extra nutrients regardless of whether or not your main goal is to “clean.”

Here are some simple recipes for creating your own alternative hair products:

Shampoo: Using 1 cup of water for every 1 tbsp. of baking soda, combine the ingredients and shake or stir until the baking soda is dissolved. Shampoo by massaging the scalp (which is where product and oils build up). Rinse with water.

Tip: Depending on your hair, it may feel a bit coarse after using the baking soda. Follow up with the ACV (Apple Cider Vinegar – ideally organic) rinse if that’s you. (If that’s not you, you might as well follow up with ACV anyways because your hair will really benefit regardless!)

Conditioning Rinse: Rinsing your hair with 50/50 combination of Apple Cider vinegar and water makes your hair smooth and shiny and helps balance your hair’s Ph levels. The smell is gone after it’s rinsed out. One large bottle of Organic ACV is less than $6 at a health food store and it’ll last much longer, provide less toxins, and greater benefits than the small bottle of designer shampoo you may be currently using.

Deep Condition: Massage scalp with a beaten egg yolk(s) and let it sit for a while before rinsing. You can also deep condition by massaging the scalp with oil(s) and leaving it in for a while for a while before rinsing.

Shampoo for Oily Hair: Mix together a beaten egg yolk and some of the baking soda shampoo. Massage scalp with mixture and work through hair. Put it on at the start of your shower so you can leave it on while you do everything else, then your hair can really soak up the nutrients. This leaves your hair feeling super soft and feathery. The egg binds to the oil so when you rinse out the mixture they come out together. Tip: Whenever using egg on your body, always use cold water to rinse it out. Hot water can cook the egg and make a mess.

Styling Product: Oil. Some use coconut oil (which many Indian women swear by), olive oil, jojoba oil or argan oil. I personally prefer jojoba oil because it’s very light and doesn’t make my hair too heavy or greasy, but it still gives my hair some body and tames frizz. The thing to remember about oil is that a little bit goes a long way.

Isn’t It Weird?

Okay, I know you may be thinking, isn’t it weird to put eggs or vinegar on your hair? Perhaps, given society’s definition you may be right.

However, I think it’s time to reframe that.

It SHOULD be weird to put ingredients on your hair and scalp that you don’t know or understand.
It SHOULD be weird to spend money on products that are known carcinogens, toxins and allergy-causing.
It SHOULD be weird to spend a significant amount of your budget on “beauty” products when you can use less expensive, more natural products to enhance rather than hide or mask your natural beauty.

Just a thought. What do you think? Are you willing to give any of these options a go?

We read and researched using the following books and definitely recommend picking up a copy and doing some research yourself!

no more dirty looks Alternative Hair Products That Really Work No More Dirty Looks: The Truth about Your Beauty Products–and the Ultimate Guide to Safe and Clean Cosmetics