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[girl_rage]

Hello

Comments

[virtualannette]

So this isn't what you asked buuut... you said you don't want to leave the comfort of menstrual products, but I just feel compelled to tell you how freaking amazing my Diva Cup has been. Like, it's incredibly comfortable, no leaks--ever!, can leave it in 12 hours at a time, is incredibly clean (unlike icky tampon strings), stands up to really high activity things like marathon running, and well, it's 100% been life-changing. AND i've been using it 2 years and in that time it's saved me around $200 in tampons. Whether it's "natural" or not is a complete side-point for me, since it's so amazing of an option.

Not trying to persuade you to change something you don't want to change--at all! But I just wanted to tell you how fabulous some "alternative" things can be. Menstrual cups totally rock.

Good luck with your soap search :)

[i_luv_hipp0s]

i wholeheartedly agree with this comment.

[girl_rage]

That does sound really incredible... My only worry is that tampons sometimes make me physically uncomfortable. But, you know, I will give it a try because you're not the first person to tell me how amazing they are. If I waste twenty dollars, I waste twenty dollars. I'll have to get it after my next paycheck. :D

[virtualannette]

There's a community on LJ called menstrual_cups... you should check it out! Lots of info.
(Also, my cup doesn't feel anything like tampons to me, really. It doesn't go in as far so I don't get the weird back pains and back cramps that I do from tampons, and it's not as drying. But, ymmv! :)

[violet_dragon]

Agreed with the Diva Cup comment...totally life changing...WAYY more convenient and cleaner than tampons, imho.

Also, why the no-poo thing? Just curious. That's been life changing for me too. I'll never, ever go back to using shampoo ever again even if I had all the money in the world to buy the organic, no chemical stuff.

Btw, I'm totally a prissy girl...not your typical hippie type at all!

[girl_rage]

Why do the no 'poo thing if already using all natural shampoo? I guess I don't understand it.

Also, I read about the "phases" your hair can go through while starting out, getting really oily and stuff. That's one of the things I hate the most because I like to look nice and professional for my job.

[violet_dragon]

Basically, shampoo's job is to strip your hair of it's natural oils and then you use conditioner to add those oils back in. No such thing as "natural" shampoo because what it does is totally unnatural. After doing the no-poo thing, your hair finds its natural balance and doesn't look greasy.

I never had the "oily phase" with my hair and honestly, I don't know a lot of people who do. I was in an office job, working with a ton of clients when I switched over and I never looked dirty or unprofessional. Also, I add essential oils to the vinegar so it smells like good shampoo, and not like vinegar! It's made my hair shinier and stronger and I don't have dandruff anymore!

[girl_rage]

Ah, I thought the shampoos that were considered to be natural didn't do that. Do you just do the basic baking soda wash/apple cider vinegar rinse? What essential oils are the best for hair?

I suppose it's worth a try. How often are you supposed to wash your hair?

[atalanta0jess]

Soap is not going to be easy to make, unfortunately. It's just the nature of the beast. I looked into doing some soap making earlier this year, and in the end concluded that it was just too involved for me. Which doesn't mean it's too involved for YOU of course! But it is a fairly complex process, in the sense that it requires obtaining ingredients that are somewhat harder to come by, and dealing with lye.

[girl_rage]

I know, it all looked very complicated. I was hoping I just wasn't looking in the right place and that there'd be an easier way. :p I just hate that the bottles of soap around here that are natural cost like eight dollars when I'm used to paying three.

[atalanta0jess]

Have you looked at something like Dr. Bronners? It's expensiveish, but it stretches a really long way, so in the end it's not *actually* expensive...it just feels like a lot when you're buying it. ;)

[girl_rage]

I have, and it seems about the same price as what we have now. Also, there are a lot of vegan soaps on etsy that are fairly cheap.

[i_luv_hipp0s]

as far as soap, i just recommend getting some dr. bronner's and calling it a day,

[dealatedwren]

I HATE Dr. B's for my hair, it makes my hair stickyyyy no matter how much I'd rinse it

[i_luv_hipp0s]

i didn't mean for shampoo. i thought she wanted to make soap and since it's such a big job i was suggesting dr. bronner's to use instead of making the soap herself.

[katrina_splat]

Do you dilute it? Do you do a vinegar rinse afterwards? These might help :)

[happytree923]

Just so you know, menstrual cups and cloth pads are far more comfortable than disposables, and cups are more convenient. My cups changed my life. Seriously. I'm pretty sure it's difficult to make shampoo from scratch, because the detergents in them (even the natural ones) aren't exactly normal kitchen ingredients. Most of the recipes I've seen use soap as a base, and using soap in your hair isn't a fantastic idea if you have hard water, in my experience. If you want natural liquid soap, Dr. Bronner's soap comes in ridiculous gallon-sized bulk and it's concentrated, so if you're only using it for your body it would probably last for the rest of your life.