new to natural- where to start?

Pippa8668

Hey everyone-

I am finally at my wits end and ready to make a big change. I admit I am mostly motivated by how awful my hair has been looking, but I am trying to go completely natural. Now I just need to figure out where to start. I read all the detox threads and some about shampoo bars and am not sure where to take the next step.

the idea of detox sounds intriguing for me, but I am not sure how people did with it after the initial detox period- is it a long term thing? I forget who but someone wanted to try detox but needed to look professional at work and I have that problem too. Did you really not need conditioner?? Do shampoo bar users condition? I can't even pull up into a ponytail if I have a terrible hair day because I get frizzies more that way all over my head, do any of you get that as well? I basically have to glue my hair to my head with gel, ick. And I just started a new job so I really have to look presentable every day.

also i am dying to try out FSG, going to buy flax seeds at the store today if I can. I might do this in combination with the terresentials lavender garden cleanser... by the way how much cleanser did you guys need to finish the detox period (and if it took you longer than a week did you go back to the initial three washes from the first day on the second week, or just go to one wash and keep going?)

Sorry for the rambling questions, I am TRYING not to repeat things already asked, but its hard to catch everything in those long threads! You guys have totally inspired me though, I'm crossing my fingers this helps me make a change (for my hair and my wallet and the environment, haha)

MissConstrued

I personally don't know anything about hair detox, but if you go to the search and type in detox you will find some info here. Good luck.

miralaluna

These are my favourite no 'poo/natural hair-care resources
http://community.livejournal.com/no_poo/ - have a look through the tags further down the left-hand column to view topics you're interested in.
And http://community.livejournal.com/naturalliving/ - this covers all aspects of 'natural living' as well as hair/beauty

Also, for an overview, read through this:
http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html?page=1#comments

kathymack

I use mostly natural products. My hair has gotten much curlier since I started the transition last August. Most are in my signature. While I was intrigued by the detoxing last summer, I thought it was too much. I occasionally do a clay mask detox. I described it in this thread:

http://www.naturallycurly.com/curltalk/showthread.php?t=56075

I do use conditioner after my soap bars, but a lot of people don't. You have to do what works for your hair.

Pippa8668

thanks for the info! I have been using the TE clay cleanser with a lot of luck. I also have some of BB's flax seed gel, which I THINK is natural. I have been using that combo with some luck but now I want to know what shampoo bars/cleansers others have been using (and whether they have been able to do so without conditioner). I have heard about karen's body beautiful and the dairy whip people have tried... I would love to hear more about those, or about [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]KCCC[/buylink], which people seem to LOVE. Do people use [buylink=http://www.curlmart.com/Kinky-Curly-Curling-Custard-p-778.html?utm_source=naturallycurly.com&utm_medium=text-link&utm_content=curltalk-post-text&utm_campaign=kinkycurly-curling-custard]KCCC[/buylink] alone? I have always been a gel user in the past. What is amazing to me is how much softer my hair has been since giving up other products, including conditioner, and sticking with the terressentials and either FOTE (which I know isn't quite 100% natural, but doesn't have copolymers either) or the flax gel.

curlymaybe

If you want to keep using aloe vera gel, Lily of the Desert has more natural ingredients:
Aloe Vera, Carrageenan (thickening agent), Citric Acid (pH stabilizer), Potassium Sorbate (mold inhibitor)

Pippa8668

where can I find lily of the desert aloe vera gel?

kathymack

Health food store, natural grocery store--depending where you live. I got mine at Wegmans.