Tips For Transitioning To Non-Toxic Haircare

Most shampoos and conditioners are filled with unnecessary toxic chemicals that aren’t good for your hair. When transitioning from conventional shampoo to natural methods, theres often a “detox phase”. Meaning for a few days to several weeks, your hair may feel waxy, greasy, or even dry. This doesn’t happen because you’re using natural soap, but because your body needs to adjust and detox from the buildup of chemicals. Washing it more often will help make this phase shorter.

Tips for Transitioning:

• Try using a natural soap bar instead of shampoo, such as goat milk soap (code RACH), tallow soap, or lard soap. Make sure to get a good “suds”. This will take a little longer than using shampoo from a bottle, but is very easy.
• To balance the PH of your hair after using one of these soap bars, after washing spray your hair with a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water (1 part ACV to 2 parts water). I use a glass spray bottle for this. Leave it on for 2-5 minutes, then rinse your hair. This will NOT leave your hair smelling like vinegar.
• Once your hair gets used to natural soaps, you likely won’t need to wash it very often. I wash mine about once a week, or less.
• Many people find that just washing with water works really well for them. You may want to experiment with that!
• DON’T brush your hair while its wet! This could damage your hair and lead to breakage.
• Use a wooden comb or brush instead of a plastic one. I was shocked at how much of a difference this made for me.
• To distribute the natural oils in your hair, try using a 100% boar bristle brush. Start at the root and brush to the ends of your hair. This has been a game-changer for me and makes it so I don’t need to wash my hair very often.
• Minimize using heat on your hair (ex. blow dryer, straightener, curling iron, etc)
• Another important part of hair health actually comes from our diet. Bone broth and bone marrow are great for hair health. Cutting out seed oils and processed foods can really improve the health, shine, and thickness of hair.
• Be patient with it and willing to experiment. Different methods will work better for different hair types!

Personally, its been over a year since I used chemical shampoo, and I’ve tried all sorts of natural methods to wash my hair, including:

• Egg yolks
• Egg whites
• Baking soda & water
• ACV
• Tallow soap
• Lard soap
• Goat milk soap
• Castile soap

After lots of experimentation, I’ve found my hair feels best when I wash it once a week with an unscented goat milk soap bar (code “RACH”), and then spray it with an apple cider vinegar & water mixture (1 part ACV: 2 part water). I leave the ACV on my hair for 5 minutes in the shower, then rinse it off. I don’t brush my hair when wet. When its dry, I use a wooden comb and a boar bristle brush to distribute the oils in my hair. My hair feels healthier than ever!