Say No To Single Use
Dry Shampoo
In the winter my hair feels dry & I only like to wash it every 3 days…
On the 3rd day it can look a bit oily in my bangs…so glad to find this recipe!
Mix in equal amounts CORNSTARCH and the ingredient below for your hair color:
For Black hair: Charcoal
For Brown Hair: Cocoa powder
For Red hair: Cinnamon
For Blonde hair: Arrowroot
***Patch test on your scalp 1st. If no reaction, go ahead & use mixture.
With on old make-up brush or your fingers, apply the powder to your roots or oily parts of your hair. Comb the powder through & style as normal.
I mixed 1/4 cup each of cocoa & cornstarch for my brown hair in a small jar with a lid & shook it up to combine. (It also smells really good!) Works so great!
INFO From Luxyhair.com
Why Should You Use Dry Shampoo?
Everybody wants their hair to look fresh but instead of jumping in the shower every day & using shampoo, you can use a DIY dry shampoo solution to remove dirt, grease, & build up without leaving your hair dry or weak.
How Does It Work?
All dry shampoos, whether bought in a store or homemade, serve the same purpose. The ingredients within them are designed to soak up oil quickly & effectively. In homemade solutions, the starch absorbs grease & any excess oils. Within store bought solutions, alcohol is used to soak up the excess oil. They also contain drying agents to cancel out the chemicals being sprayed into your hair.
Why Go With A Natural Solution?
While it's easier to just go out and purchase over the counter products, understand that they come with a long list of harmful ingredients. Some include butane, isobutane, propane, or other gases that some studies have deemed unsafe. These are not ingredients you really want to be freely applying to your hair or scalp.
Pretty much all oil-absorbing products have “fragrance”, which in reality is a blanket term for hundreds of different ingredients. This can cause a problem because without knowing what is included, you are leaving yourself exposed to possible side effects while using these products.
This bottle is like an old friend...
I take it with me wherever I go. I’ve had it for many years!
Now it is adorned with a super cool holographic sticker from my friend Aimy @atomicfreckles
Do you have a favorite water bottle you don’t leave home without? Try to adopt one and avoid buying bottled water.
Sheets Laundry Club
In my quest to reduce my plastic pollution (those laundry jugs are the worst!!!) I found these!
Instead of liquid or powder laundry detergent, these are a sheet.
Arrived in a few days in a recyclable cardboard box- NO PLASTIC!
Super easy to use- toss a sheet (or two) in the washing machine & watch it dissolve!
My laundry smelled just plain clean- no overwhelming fragrance.
I recommend you try these & get 20% off your 1st order.
Get 20% off your first order at Sheets Laundry Club.
Use coupon: REFMENAVYY97Q
Sheets Laundry Club
Face Silks
For my daughter‘s birthday, I found these wonderful make up removers by FACE SILK. They come in a package of four round soft pads. They are a premium microfiber pad made up of millions of tiny fibers that work as “suction“ for all dirt, makeup & oil in your pores. Anti-microbial, machine washable & each pad is reusable 200 times. Ultra soft, great for sensitive skin. No wipes. No cleaners. You just soak them in water & squeeze out excess. Gently rub your face to remove make up. It works like a charm. She loves them & feels like her skin has been healthier after using them. Better for you & our planet! Facesilk.com
DIVA menstrual cup
Six reasons you should use a DivaCup, or one like it.
Less waste- Eco-friendly. 300 LBS!! That’s how much waste the average person creates in a lifetime using disposable period products.
Less $$$-Cost effective. Want to save money? The DivaCup can be reused again & again. No more spending tons of money on tampons & pads.
More time-Up to 12 hours of protection. The DivaCup can be worn for up to 12 hours, depending on your menstrual flow.
Chemical free-Happy vagina. It’s BPA free, with no added chemicals, plastics or dyes.
Medical grade silicone-No nastiness. The DivaCup is the better choice for your body.
Canadian made-100% Canadian & proud.
Shampoo Bar
Another way to reduce plastic pollution is to use a Shampoo & Conditioner Bar.
I found this one from The Soap Works at the East Aurora Cooperative Market.
* They are natural soaps-Specially formulated with Aloe Vera as a conditioner this bar leaves hair “squeaky” clean, contains no detergents, and doesn’t come in a bottle.
* Unwrapped Bars are very economical and convenient for sports, camping, workout, cottages, or reducing your bottle footprint in the shower.
* Keeping you & your environment clean.
Try A Safety Razor
In my quest to reduce my plastic pollution, I have looked at my hair products (see earlier posts on Dry Shampoo, ACV hair rinse, Shampoo bars) Now I am considering my razor.
To be honest, my razor & I don’t see much of each other in the winter… But with warmer weather promising to be on the way, it was time.
For some time, I’ve wondered if those old-timey razors — technically known as “safety razors,” which have recently come back into fashion in male grooming — might be the ticket for me. First appearing in the 1800s, safety razors got their name for being more consumer-friendly than the terrifying straight razors used in professional barber shops (you know, the ones that look like street weapons). On a big shopping trip to Wegmans, my husband & I bought this all metal razor made by Van Der Hagen for about $15. Comes with 5 razor blades. Don’t love the plastic packaging, but in theory we will not have to buy anymore pricey $$$ cartridges double packaged. They’re sleeker than drugstore cartridge razors, and the replacement blades are more environmentally friendly, not to mention dirt cheap — anywhere from a basic $0.12 to an ultra premium $0.40 each. There are many kinds of these, but I opted for what I could buy locally.
Let’s just say- IT DID THE JOB! Splendidly…. my legs are SO smooth & soft. I did nick myself near the bend of ankle, maybe cause I was a bit careless. ++You do need to pay more attention when using these razors, but here’s some good tips to consider:
The Advantages
* It’s a Better Shave-having with a safety razor reduces skin irritation, shave bumps, and ingrown hairs that are common with cartridge or electric razors. The main reason is that with a safety razor you only have one blade against your skin at any time.
* It is Enjoyable-It’ll glide smoothly across your skin, without that tugging on your hairs that can happen with a cartridge razor.
* It is Less Expensive-The replacement blades are dirt cheap, so you save cash.
* It is Traditional-Let’s face it: a safety razor is just plain cool.
* It is Environmentally Friendly-The biggest environmental issue with disposable razors is that they are not recyclable. According to the EPA, 2 billion disposable razors end up in land fills every year. That’s billion, with a “b”. The steel DE razor blades are recyclable, which can drastically reduce the negative environmental impact. And the razor itself can last a lifetime. In addition, shaving soap often comes in reusable bowls or refill pucks.
+Before you shave, you want to steam your skin to loosen the hairs and open up your pores. The best way to do that is by shaving while you’re taking a hot shower.
Ok, here’s the important part. Finding the right angle and pressure for your skin may take a bit of trial and error, since everyone’s different. But it’s dead simple once you’ve gotten the hang of things, so don’t stress.
* Aim for a 30-35 degree angle between the razor and your skin.
* Use a light touch, letting the weight of the safety razor do the work. You don’t need to apply much, if any, pressure.
* Use lots of small strokes, rather than dragging the razor across a large section.
* Always shave with the grain on your first pass.
* If your skin isn’t too sensitive and you want an extra close shave, you can reapply lather and go for round 2. Shave across or against the grain this time.
Bite Toothpaste Bits
Ditch the toothpaste tube!
For years, I have been a fan of Tom’s of Maine toothpaste. In my quest to reduce my plastic waste, I found these toothpaste tablets.
Zero paste, Zero waste!
All natural, sulfate free, cruelty free & plastic free!
More than 1 billion plastic toothpaste tubes are thrown out each year, with harsh chemical residues. By 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish!
Bites come in glass bottles, which unlike plastic, glass is infinitely recyclable, looks great, & breaks down into sand at the end of its life. They send your refill Bites in 100% home compostable pouches every four months with a subscription. Yep, still no plastic.
They take a bit getting used to... just place 1 bit in your mouth, bite down & brush with wet toothbrush. Several great flavors. Low abrasivity, no harsh chemicals & naturally whitening. Check them out!
Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse
In researching ways to reduce my plastic pollution in regards to my hair care, I found this recipe for a hair rinse. Wanting to try it out before I suggested it, I have to say IT’S AWESOME!!!
My hair feels so soft & happy after I use this rinse & it has more shine & less static.
I do a final rinse (of just my hair) with cold water, then douse it with a healthy splash of ACV rinse, leave it in (don’t rinse it out) & style as normal- as in let it dry & brush it (!!)
I noticed right away how easily the comb went thru my long hair- fewer tangles!
It helps to:
- decrease residue
- clarify & stimulate the scalp
- decrease dandruff
- unclog hair follicles which may help with excess shedding or hair loss
- & It is especially helpful for those new to shampoo bars! See my previous post.
Apparently ACV is the bomb for many home health beauty & recipes, which I intend to explore further & share.
Simple Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse Recipe
* Mix 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar (ACV) with 1 cup of water in a plastic squeeze bottle, spray bottle or other container ( I use an old shampoo bottle)
* Experiment to find a dilution that works best for your hair type (dry hair likes less ACV and oily hair likes more).
* I added some Rosemary essential oil 5-10 drops. You could experiment with other oils as well.
Save Your Pasta Water
WAIT! Don’t let your pasta water go down the drain! It is rich in vitamins & minerals!
Here are a few clever ideas how to use it.
*For the hair-Damaged hair will always welcome special treatment. Using the pasta water will make it beautifully smooth. Simply massage it into the hair, leave it for 10 minutes & then rinse it out. Now use your normal shampoo & you'll be astounded by the results. <I tried this! Made my hair very soft & full bodied.>
*For watering the flowers. Unsalted water only. Your plants will appreciate it-pasta water is perfect for watering due to its mineral content. Best poured when only lukewarm.
*For sauce and pesto-As a special ingredient for the tomato sauce, add the pasta water right at the last minute. Your tasty pesto will also benefit from it. The warm liquid is a perfect combining agent.
*For bread & pizza dough-All yeast doughs require some liquid with a pinch of salt. With your pasta water, you're already one step ahead. Simply use however much of it you need for the dough recipe.
*To soften legumes-Beans, peas, linseed — they're all good for the immune system. But to make them taste better, you should allow them to soften before the preparation. Use the pasta water & let the legumes simply soak overnight. Perfect!
*For washing up-The extract from pasta starch acts as a natural detergent. Warm pasta water is therefore, perfect for washing up. Even the really dirty pots & pans can be cleaned with it!
*For a foot spa-For those that suffer from sore or swollen feet after a hard day at work, you should definitely try out a foot spa using your warm pasta water. Both the warm water & the minerals it contains, will leave your feet feeling soft & refreshed.
*For steaming vegetables-Steaming is a great method for preparing vegetables. Simply take the pasta water as a base, place a steamer basket in the pot & begin. Cooking doesn't get much healthier.
*As a soup base-Whether for a hearty broth or a soup, the pasta water is a great place to start.
Make your Own Beeswax Wraps
Here is my technique & recipe for making beeswax wraps. I found a cute double boiler at my local thrift shop. I have a lot of fabric in my stash, so I didn’t need to buy any :-) I bought all the other ingredients through Amazon.
Cut squares or circles out of cotton fabric. I made 8 x 8, 10 x 10 & 14 x 14 squares... I used a rotary cutter with a pinking blade, or you could just use plain scissors. In my cute double boiler, I melted one cup of the beeswax. Once melted, I added 1/3 cup of pine resin. I used a spatula to help mix & stir the resin into the beeswax as it melted. Then I added 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil. Mix well. I laid out my cotton square on a piece of parchment paper over a folded towel and with a bristle brush, I brushed on a layer of wax on both sides. Then I placed another piece of parchment paper over that & ironed gently on medium heat. This way the fabric was saturated evenly with the wax mixture. And then I carefully peeled everything apart and waved the wax wrap in the air for a bit. Note: this can be a messy process. Despite my best attempts, I did get some wax on my counter & floor. Cleaned up pretty easily with some jojoba oil or coconut oil. My wraps are a bit tacky, but they hold super well around bowls & around leftover veggies.