Friday, January 31, 2014

No Poo and OCM (with photos)



         It all started out oh so innocently. I had been on a Mad Men kick on Netflix, and I was admiring their beautifully coiffed hair and their flawless skin (good make-up and hair artists…ha ha), but when they were talking about how to sell Pond’s Cold Cream my ear pricked up. The nerdy side of me had to go and research what exactly cold cream was, and why it was so coveted in the 50s and 60s.

         Now, I should give a little bit of a background to my skin and hair. Starting in junior high I had been washing my hair religiously every morning and lathering my face up with any type of acne foaming cleanser – especially those with salicylic acid. Not surprisingly I suffered from extremely oily and acne-prone skin. And hair that looked like I had dumped a bucket of grease on it by the time 11:00 am rolled around. My hair is very blonde, and fine, but of normal thickness. These daily hair washings were not only causing excessive greasiness but they also caused a lot of friziness and split ends.

The Oil Cleansing Method (OCM)
Fast forward 10 years to  my 25 year old self watching that fated Mad Men episode (damn they really are good at advertising Ponds!), and my research made me wonder if I was doing things the right way. My skin had just started to act up in a whole new way………by 10:30 every morning my eyes were red, watery, and painful, and my skin was itchy and red on my cheeks and forhead. I was sick of people asking me if I had allergies or if I had been crying, and I was grasping at anything that might help.
So, one day I walked into the drugstore and saw Pond’s on the shelf and I went for it. It made a massive difference, and I used it for about 8 months.  I then started to become concerned about the ingredients. Enter the next stage of crunchiness, making my own cold cream. I used that and absolutely loved it. My skin was suddenly no longer shiny and slick by 10:00am…it was a miracle! My skin was now staying normal and not getting any type of shine until around 4:00 pm. And this was no longer an oil slick, but that desired "glowiness". My random acne, sometimes including cystic acne….was clearing up and my redness was lessening. I had the best skin I'd had since I was a child. I was ecstatic, but also felt a little duped by the cosmetic industry for leading me down the garden path for so many years. If you are interested in the science behind the OCM……..herehere and here are the links that I found the most helpful. This skincare discovery led me to do even more research…….which lead me to………..

No Poo = No Shampoo
          This is as easy as it sounds, it means that I have stopped using commercial shampoos and conditioners to cleanse my hair since November 1, 2013.  My reasons for this were partially because I was sick of having to wash my hair once, sometimes even twice a day. I had recently had it chemically treated (slapping my own fingers now) causing it to become dry and straw-like, and it was falling out a lot due to some extreme stress in my personal life. I had switched to some natural shampoos, but the very last straw was when my hairdresser asked me if I always have this much hair fall out at my last hair cut.
           
So, I did what I always do when I'm in doubt, I researched it. I stumbled across No Poo here here, and went on to read a plethora of blogs all touting dramatic changes this method imparted on their hair. I was sold. I started the next day. With my baking soda (BS) and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in hand, I strode into the shower full of confidence and hope. 
I was well aware of the transition period and how horrible it might have to be for a month or two before I reached my personal hair nirvana. So, I wasn’t surprised when my hair dried all gross and oily after my first wash. I also didn’t question anything until 3 weeks in and the oiliness had turned to a waxiness and my hair was clumping together.  I learned about how the mineral sediments in hard water can coat the hair follicle and prevent the BS from doing its cleansing magic and instead dump a bunch of the BS sediment onto your hair. So I started boiling the water I was using to wash my hair……still wasn’t working as good as it should.
 I found a handy group on Facebook and with their advice and this site, things changed. I am now using either Rhassoul Clay, Sopnuts, or Eggs to wash my hair and I am so so so so happy I stuck through it during both the Transition phase and the hard water debacle.  
Remember, that girl in junior high who used to wash her hair every day….well I'm laughing in pity at her. I now only wash my hair once a week. I decided to take picture for you guys this week to prove how not greasy my hair looks during the 7 days between my washes...... here they are!

This was late at night after I had washed my hair with my soapnut shampoo and herbal rinse (recipe to come later), and had let it air dry. As you can see there is still some frizziness, and some split ends....but much improved from 3 months ago.





I curled it in the morning for a coffee date with friends. (Working on finding a no-heat method) I hair-sprayed it with my homemade hairspray (recipe here).





This day I just woke up and went to school with messy 2nd day curls (I forgot to take a face shot), and I brushed it with my BBB before bed and used Macadamia Nut Oil on the ends, then slept with it in a loose bun on top of my head.





I woke up, took my bun out and pinned my bangs back as they were laying funny, but didn't do anything else again, didn't even brush my hair........looking pretty fresh still! Brushed it with a BBB at night again.





I probably could have left it down another day, but was feeling iffy about it, so threw half of it up instead and used some homemade dry shampoo where the part is. I brushed it with a BBB before bed and put Macadamia oil it in again.






It was starting to look a smidgen greasy at the roots and nape of the neck,  so I put it back into a low side chignon. I put a small amount of dry shampoo on the crown of my head, and added a hairband to jazz it up.





I was feeling more vintage-y today so I decided to go with a messy bun with a head scarf. It is looking a bit greasy at this point, but nothing compared to what my second-day hair used to look like. I didn't use any dry shampoo today. 

Tomorrow is Wash Day!



Pretty good for 7 days in between washes, I think! Here are my other few details on how I handle a week without washing my hair. 


1.) I dont brush my hair with a BBB until the 3rd day, when my hair is only slightly less fresh feeling. 

2.) I always brush with the BBB at night because of how flat and static-y it makes my hair look.  But then I sleep on it, and voila, the next morning it looks tenfolds better.

3.) I leave my hair down for the first four days. The 5th day I always either do a half-up or braided  
up- do. And then wear it in some version of a pony-tail or a bun for day 6 or 7.

4.)  My friend taught me the tip that the greasier your hair is the less parts you should have in it. So, I    
make sure not to do my french braids on day 6 or 7 as I find that they showcase the grease more than a ponytail or bun would

5.) I wash my BBB once a week, but I would suggest washing it more often if you are still in the
 transition phase

6.) I try and use dry shampoo very sparingly, the less you use dry shampoo the more the natural scalp 
 oils will work their magic and your scalp will adjust to producing less grease

7.) My ends are still quite dry from the chemical treatment, and I find Macadamia Oil to be the best for my hair. I find it sinks in quickly and doesn't leave an oily coating around the follicles like I found coconut oil to do. For my fine hair, it seems to be the best, although I know a lot of people have great results with coconut oil.


So that is my story with my initial foray into Crunchy-ville. I am loving the results, and I cant wait to see how much better my hair, skin, and overall health will get!


What are your guys' thoughts on the OCM and the No Poo Method? Have you guys tried either of them? What have your results been?

Erika   xo





Tuesday, December 3, 2013

My Christmas Essentials

When it comes to Christmas and the holiday season surrounding it, I am like a fly to trash. 
December is by far the month I look forward to the most, with it being filled with family, friends, food, good cheer, white winter scenery, and errrr……more food?!??!  However, it isn’t just the satisfaction of my belly that draws me to this month of the year above all others, it’s the general coziness, good will, good cheer, great make-up looks, and fabulous holiday party outfits….. to mention just a few.

Ever since I have been waist high to a grasshopper, my memories of Christmas have entailed some reoccurring “must-haves” to set the scene for the big day.  So to start December off I wanted to share with you lovelies some of my favourites that really help to make this month the star of the year.

As much as food is a focal point during the Christmas Season…..to me the heavy hitter of the holiday season is the festive decorations. There is something magical about the combination of red, green, and gold that bring with them the fluttering palpitations in my Christmas-adoring heart.

Christmas Tree






I love the color contrast of red christmas ornaments against the chocolately-brown of pine cones in this basket I have on my kitchen table!





Poinsettias





Another thing that makes my heart glad is to be able to wail along (singing doesn’t express my lack of being able to carry a tune) with some Christmas carols, I enjoy both the classics as well as newer renditions of those classics.  Here are some of the ones that I have been listening to…..

PTXmas…..for all you acapella fans out there…..you’re welcome! 
Michael Buble's Christmas Album – Micheal Buble + Christmas = True Love
 Kenny G's Christmas Album – this one is the perfect backdrop for some Gingerbread decorating parties, and any other festive get-togethers of the season


Pine Smell – I don’t think any other holiday as such a singular smell that is associated with it. To me the smell of pine or fir trees is an instant mood-elevator in the Christmas Season. For my entire childhood my parents always bought a real Christmas tree. However my apartment complex doesn't allow real Christmas Trees (due to a fire hazard), so I have found the next best thing....... Pine-Scented Christmas Candles!  These are the two I am loving right now!

 



Red Lipstick – as clichéd as this may be, I feel that christmas parties and even just the month of December, is the perfect time to rock the classic red lip. Not only is this a fabulously low-effort way to chic-up any outfit or make-up look, it also is a really festive way to join in the Christmas spirit if garish Christmas sweaters, and the red/green combo are just not your style! 


My favorite is a particularly bold one this time of year, which is Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Fiery 01. I love this shade because it just adds that extra oomph of color that makes it stand out from any every-day red lip I might wear







Sparkly Nails – this is a must-have for any festive parties you might be attending this holiday season. I love either a good classic red-winey color, or a solid gold sparkle. My two favorites are both from Butter London. I just really love their formula. For the Christmas Season  Stratford Honey Overcoat and Chancer are my two picks!

Gingerbread House – for me this is often a way to share the festive spirit with friends or family who cannot be there on the actual day. In my books creativity wins - not necessarily the most aesthetically pleasing one.

 


















Mulled Wine – this is an absolute must-have for any party I may be throwing OR attending. My family has always had this as their alcoholic drink of choice, and therefore it was something I couldn’t be wait to be old enough to drink. This is my recommended recipe!

Well, what did you think of my Christmas essentials! I would also love to hear what your guys’ Christmas essentials are


Erika   xo