Tooth-powder

It has been awhile ... like weeks ... woah. (Edited by Momma on 3/2/16. Lyssa was waiting for me to grab some photos and I kept misplacing the cord to my camera to load pictures onto the computer, so better late than never, and on a Wellness Wednesday no less.)
Life has definitely been busy lately. Mom got back to work and is trying to build up a business for massage, maybe we can get some posts about stress relief in. I've been fight training, and doing that required thing called school. Yippee.

I figured it's been all too long since our last post, and while mom is super busy doing work I can post some short blurbs with recipes. Such as today's which is a homemade tooth-powder. ONWARD!

A couple of months ago I began to notice that I was getting little tiny breakouts in the corners of my mouth. Attractive, I know. I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. I was eating well, drinking water, using natural products on my face. Then one day I got an extremely unsightly blemish on my forehead. (Again, attractive, I know.) So I decided to do the well known put some toothpaste on it over night trick.

I woke up the next morning, and to my teenage hormonal horror I had three blemishes where the old on once stood. It was like the ghost of zits past had attacked me ... lovely. Then as I accepted the reality that I would be going outside with the Triforce on my face I came to a realization. Maybe ... just maybe ... something in the toothpaste was reacting with my skin.

I decided to hunt the Internet for an alternative until my mother bought a new tube of toothpaste. I came across the concept of tooth powder. It's literally powder for your teeth. One of the most popular DIY tooth-powders was baking soda with some sort of essential oil in it. I tried it for the next few days, and almost immediately the breakouts on my mouth cleared up.

I loved it so much that I didn't even try the new toothpaste my mom got, and continued use of the powder.

One day while browsing the inter webs I came across a blog post talking about how charcoal could be used to whiten teeth. Not the charcoal that you find in a fire pit though ... please don't whiten your teeth with the charcoal in the fire ... It was activated charcoal which specialized in pulling impurities from what it comes in contact with.

I danced with joy at the prospect of a tooth whitening substance that wasn't abrasive to tooth enamel, unlike peroxide, lemon, mouth wash, and laser whitening.

The only drawback is it's effects aren't immediate. It takes a few weeks, but it's worth it.

So after a long introduction here's the recipe:

1 tablespoon baking soda

3-4 capsules of Activated Charcoal (found as a health supplement in stores)
Essential oil (I usually use Peppermint)

Mix those all together in a resealable container. Keep in a dry place.

To use it, you literally use it as you would regular toothpaste. It is dry to begin with, but eventually it'll turn to a black liquid in your mouth. Brush for a few minutes then admire your demonic teeth in the mirror.

Try to brush and spit as much of the mixture as possible ... because it tastes gross.

Now wasn't that just a post full of absolutely lovely imagery. You're welcome.

Homemade Deodorant

Have you ever picked up a container of commercial deodorant and read the ingredients? I can guarantee there will be at least one ingredient in there would put any tongue twister to shame. I've always had sensitive skin, and words like "fragrance" are a sure fire way to irritate my skin. Let me just say, my armpits are the last place I want itchy, painful, irritation. 

Once I hit puberty I began to use deodorant. I remember my first stick was some off-brand commercial kind advertised specifically for teenage girls, the scent was something along the lines of waterfall mist ... or something. The biggest thing I remember about it was the red bumps my armpit broke out in; effectively halting my use of that brand.

Tree here, I had already been thinking about ditching my commercial deodorant for different reasons. I had stopped using antiperspirant and switched exclusively to deodorant. Take a moment to think about why you sweat. The skin is the body's largest organ and its purpose is to protect the body. It protects the body by keeping foreign bodies out and by sweating toxins out. So if you prevent your body from sweating out toxins through your armpits what happens to those toxins. It was also around this time that we learned that aluminum (the primary pore clogging sweat blocker) may have a connection to breast cancer. 

Me and my mother hunted the grocery stores for a less irritating option, and we discovered natural brands. I tried many, some worked better than others, but none of them had the effect I desired. 

When it comes to "natural" deodorants the consumer bears the burden of doing their own research and bringing a dictionary with them. Many "natural" deodorants are no better than the commercial ones. I tried a number of them, some irritated my skin and others just didn't feel like they worked. I needed to reapply several times throughout the day (even when all I was doing was going to work).

Finally I decided to make my own. I read many internet resources, some praising the effects of it, some cursing it to the grave.

By the time Lulu had found her deodorant recipe I had decided on just powdered deodorant. I had scoured the internet myself and found the same things she did. People either loved it or hated it. I decided to skip the extras (needing to melt down a solid oil) and just use baking soda cut with a small amount of corn starch and peppermint essential oil. Now keep in mind peppermint eo is considered a hot oil and many people may find applying it directly to the skin irritating, especially to the sensitive armpits. I also learned that in many recipes baking soda can be an irritant, so if you try a recipe and it irritates you try melting it down again and adding more solid oil to cut the baking soda. 

I was using the powder with relative success (sucked for actual workouts) and it could be messy, then .....

I've decided I like it, and here I will share two recipes I've tried. I love both of them.

Recipe number one I made a while back.

You will need equal parts:

Shea Butter

Coconut oil

Baking soda

Beeswax

Arrowroot powder

If you so choose you can add a few essential oils.

Directions:

1. Melt down the oils in a double boiler.

2. Take oils off heat, and combine dry ingredients with the oils.

3. Stir and allow to cool a little.

4. Add essential oils of your choice.

Lulu as an athlete was loving the recipe above so I decided to accept her offer to make me my own. I LOVED this recipe. It worked great. I did find on my 12 hour days of class followed by clinic I needed to reapply, but it was easy to bring with me and easy to apply.  Then my container dwindled and so it was time to make more. However we did not have and Shae Butter. I had read a recipe that was just coconut oil and essential oils. This is my kind of simple.

The second one is my moms favorite.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1 teaspoon arrowroot

1 tablespoon baking soda

Essential oil of your choice

Directions:

1. Melt down coconut oil.

2. Add dry ingredients to oil

3. Allow to cool a bit and add oil.

As Lu pointed out this is my favorite recipe so far. This recipe could be poured into an old deodorant container and used just like real deodorant (or you can purchase new deodorant containers online). This recipe goes the distance. I wore it to an interview with no issues. At the end of my day I am still clean and fresh. I am still thinking of trying a recipe that is just coconut oil and eos, because I am all about simplicity, but right now this is the clear winner for me. 

Some really great essential oil combinations are ...

Melaluca and Clove

Melaluce and Lavender

Rosemary and Lavender 

Orange and Rosemary

Peppermint and Orange

Shampoo Freedom

I have to confess that I do not wash my hair daily. I don't even wash it every other day. I wash it 1-2 times a week AND I don't use shampoo. I use a Baking Soda Wash and a Vinegar Rinse. This is super easy but still takes a little bit of time. Before I get into the specifics of the wash and rinse, let me back up. 

More than 5 years ago I started to shy away from traditional (aka commercial) shampoo. I searched the internet for shampoo free options. What I found scared me. The reviews for baking soda wash were mixed. Some people loved them, but other people were having serious problems with the baking soda wash. Some people noticed thinning patches or scalp issues. This was enough to keep me away from baking soda washing for a while. 

Instead I found a "natural" shampoo, one that did not contain SLS.  Without the SLS there would be little sudsing and I was prepared for that. I trudged ahead. The first wash my hair felt dirtier than before I washed it. It felt and looked like it was coated with a layer of grime. I repeated the wash with twice as much shampoo. I was able to make "natural" shampoo work, but I had to shampoo my hair twice using 3 times the normal amount of shampoo each time. But I wanted to be good to myself and the environment so I trudged on. I had read about a detoxification period so I incorrectly chalked this up to that. 

In the meantime I tried tea rinses (no good for me), a honey wash (no good for me) and even a beer wash (no good for me). Then I cut my hair super short (donated it to a charity event).  I was at a local craft show where there was a soap artisan who had bar shampoo. The bar shampoo worked like a dream. Even better I could get the bar shampoo at Abundance Co-op. What worked so well about the bar shampoo was that I was able to apply the lather to the underside, tops side and in the middle of my VERY thick hair. 

I loved the bar shampoo but at some point I just got lazy. I was tired of buying one shampoo for the hubs (traditional), natural shampoo for the girls and the shampoo bar for me. Then a miraculous thing happened....

I returned to the internet and found an article that explained why many people had experienced problems with their baking soda wash. The author explained why I had a layer of grime and why I have to wash my hair twice with "natural" shampoo. 

The culprit was hard water. Hard water + sebum = a layer of grease or grime.

So I ordered a water test strip through the internet. I honestly don't remember what company from, but I know it was a company that sold water softeners. You can get a free test strip here.  Given the results I had in the shower I was not the least bit surprised when the test showed moderately hard water. We do get some water spots on our glassware. We don't have cloudy glassware, but we also don't have a dishwasher. 

Moderately hard water meant that I could not use the typical baking soda method.  The typical baking soda method is to mix Baking Soda with water and just pour the solution over your head. You can google for more information on this or read this blog post about two women's experiences with going shampoo free for 31 days. 

Instead of the typical method I used the hard water method. I started with the full 2 Tbsp of Baking Soda, but eventually worked it back to less than 1 Tbsp.  However, I was supremely LAZY. Since you have to boil the water you also have to let the solution cool before you wash you hair. This means planning ahead, which I am not always good at. AND I did not regularly use the vinegar rinse. I don't mind the smell of vinegar, but it was one more thing to mix up when I showered and take with me to the bathroom. 

Eventually I returned to "natural" shampoo and when I lost my job I returned to commercial shampoo (because Suave is super cheap). Then Lu picked up the Baking Soda Wash method and even did her homework because she boiled her solution. She tried tea rinses and a few other methods that I hope she will chime in about. 

So in the New Year I was determined to return to the Baking Soda Wash and Vinegar Rinse Method. 

Some things to keep in mind. If you have a bottle of commercial or "natural" shampoo feel free to use it up. I know most people tell you to ditch the commercial and get away from the nasty ingredients.  If you are up for a rough 6 week transition then go for it. From what I read people who had the hardest transition periods were daily shampooers. When I first went shampoo free I was washing every other or third day. If you read reviews MANY people recommend getting to that point first.

I do not use the Baking Soda wash daily, I use it 1-2 times a week. Lu uses it more because of her MMA Fight Training and the need to get rid of the sweat and salt in her hairline.  I do use the Vinegar Rinse after every Baking Soda Wash. To my Vinegar I add 1 drop of Rosemary (supposedly really good for the hair) and 1 drop of Melaluca. I add the Melaluca for my dandruff. Even with commercial dandruff shampoo I still suffered from dandruff. My dandruff is actually very light. 

A few tips:

1. Comb or brush your hair before you wash it
2. Do NOT skip the vinegar (you need the acid to balance the scalp pH)
3. Try not to comb or brush wet hair (let it get to a damp or even dry state first)
4. Try not to touch your hair during the day, this increases the oil transfer from your hands to your hair. 

My routine:
I make my Baking Soda Wash the night before and let it cool overnight. Sometimes I reheat it on the floor vent in the morning before I shower. I pour the Wash over my dry hair making sure to saturate and then massage the scalp. I leave the wash on for a few minutes and then I rinse under running water.  After the rinse I use the Vinegar Rinse which I simply dump over my head and allow it to saturate all my hair. I do not rinse out the vinegar.

When I get out of the shower I towel dry my hair as best as I can and I put it up (in the summer when it is warmer out then I tend to just leave it down).

Before I Baking Soda Wash

Back Before I Baking Soda Wash

The Wash and the Rinse. I put the wash in a glass bottle because it is hot, I use a plastic bottle for the rinse because it is cold.

After - Nice and Clean (24 Hours Later)

After - Nice and Clean

48 Hours After

72 Hours Later - Still in Good Shape

A Close Up 

96 Hours Later - Time to Wash or put my hair up
No Flash

96 Hours Later - Wish Flash

I have a few recipes to try and help with the dandruff, but dandruff is essentially dry skin and it is a sign that something is missing from my diet.

Hello! This is Lu. Just chiming in with what I discovered on my no-poo journey.

I started no-poo because I was going through a period of complete detox (more to come in later posts.) Everything from my diet to my lotion was researched, switched, and eventually home-made. Everything except ... my shampoo.

I read so many articles about no-poo and the trials and tribulations those who tried it faced. I was so afraid of that dreaded transition period that I began to avoid the subject completely. All the while my poor, limp, dried out, hair called for an alternative.

First I tried shampoo bars ..and hated them. Something about using a soap bar and rubbing it on my head really bothered me, and I always managed to miss a spot. So yeah ... greasy patches ... yum.

Then I tried a series of rinses, everything from tea rinses to egg white and beer rinses. The rinses, while they work great as a hair conditioning treatment, did not clean my hair the way I wanted. 

Then I read something on a crunchy blog (right here) about a coconut milk and castile soap shampoo that suds-ed and worked like real shampoo. It probably worked for a lot of people, but it just left me with a greasy residue all over my hair. Damn you hard water!

So disappointed and with a greasy head I turned back to store bought shampoo. This was an organic all-natural shampoo, but I found myself facing the same issues my mother did with natural shampoo. 

Eventually a long break came along and I decided .... screw it. How bad can this really be? I did my research and found the hard water method and went to trying. I can't say I went through a really intense adjustment period, but I did need to do some experimenting. I had to mess with the frequency I washed my hair and how much baking soda and vinegar to use. 

If my hair was super dry, I decreased my baking soda and increased my vinegar. If it was oily I did the reverse. 

So what I do now is every two to three days I use a table spoon of baking soda dissolved in about two cups of water.
Then I take regular water and add about 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar to about two cups of regular (unboiled) water. I use this as a rinse after my baking soda. 

You can choose to leave the apple cider vinegar rinse in for awhile if you so choose, but the smell is STRONG. It's a great conditioner.

Are you looking to do No-Poo? If so leave any questions or experiences with it in the comments!