Soap Nuts for Hair

[GlimR]

I soaked three berries in about 2 cups of hot water for several hours today...washed my hair in the shower with it this afternoon.....very thin, like water...just scrubbed it gently into my scalp.......well...

.....my hair came out great!!!! Soft, full, no weird residue. I love it. Guess the real test will be tomorrow when I try it again. Cool huh??? The baking soda, vinegar routine NEVER worked for me...my hair was horrible with both. I think I will try an herbal infusion in it this weekend and see how that works.have to look up what herbs will be good for my hair.

[lafsalot]

Hmmm, might try some myself. Keep us posted ~ Cathy

[queenfluff]

thanks for the experiment results! :)

What kind of hair do you have btw?

I have been doing the no poo water rinsing for six months. Some days I like my hair and some days I don't. It is still dry and getting oily once and a while.

I have seen the soap nuts at the store - in the laundry section - but I remember some else saying they had tried it on their hair and it made their hair dry so I didn't try it on my hair and I was already way into my water only routine.

So, it doesn't suds up? Sounds like it might be quite natural then if it doesn't.

I might be up for trying it some day as a every once and a while cleaning. :)

[GlimR]

I have very fine straight hair, blond. I searched all over the net to get info before I did it today. It says you will probably use more than you should at first and that can make your hair feel a little stiff. I have very hard water here in Florida and on many of the "natural" shampoo site they say it causes things to not rinse out thoroughly. I might have used 1/4 cup of the solution on my hair and rinsed really well in lukewarm, then cold water. I never shower or wash my hair in hot water, always rinse in cold.
I tried the baking soda, vinegar thing for several weeks in a row and also just water...I couldn't stand it. Way tooo oiley and flat...yick.......when I move back to a softer water area I might try again...but the hipe for soap nuts says not only will your scalp feel healthier it will BE healthier.
I washed my face with some of the solution tonight...I have a little detox breakout on my face (I never break out!!)...blotted a little on that spot after I washed (with a wet cotton ball)...will see what it looks like in the morning....*keeping fingers crossed*
I'll tell you what though.righ now my hair looks like it does on my very best good hair day...clean, fluffed up....really good. Hope the results are constant....will let you know.

PS It does NOT suds up...just a thin, watery solution. It is as natural as a product can get...all it is is air dried berries...nothing at all added to that.

[lafsalot]

Might also want to check out Alba's blog - she has been conducting her own "hair experiments" and has quite a list of recipes. ~ Cathy

[Bobbie]

Chamomile makes hair lighter and adds blonde highlights
Rosemary makes it shinier
Marigold makes it softer
Nettle makes it stronger, good for dry and damaged hair

[GlimR]

lafsalot~
Thanks~:) I'll do that~

Bobbie~
Thanks for the great info!!:)

[Lady Green Jeans]

GlimR,

This sounds so interesting. Would love to know where to find these and more on how your hair is responding. My hair is shoulder length, blonde and wavy.

[queenfluff]

I have very fine straight hair, blond. I searched all over the net to get info before I did it today. It says you will probably use more than you should at first and that can make your hair feel a little stiff. I have very hard water here in Florida and on many of the "natural" shampoo site they say it causes things to not rinse out thoroughly. I might have used 1/4 cup of the solution on my hair and rinsed really well in lukewarm, then cold water. I never shower or wash my hair in hot water, always rinse in cold.
I tried the baking soda, vinegar thing for several weeks in a row and also just water...I couldn't stand it. Way tooo oiley and flat...yick.......when I move back to a softer water area I might try again...but the hipe for soap nuts says not only will your scalp feel healthier it will BE healthier.
I washed my face with some of the solution tonight...I have a little detox breakout on my face (I never break out!!)...blotted a little on that spot after I washed (with a wet cotton ball)...will see what it looks like in the morning....*keeping fingers crossed*
I'll tell you what though.righ now my hair looks like it does on my very best good hair day...clean, fluffed up....really good. Hope the results are constant....will let you know.

PS It does NOT suds up...just a thin, watery solution. It is as natural as a product can get...all it is is air dried berries...nothing at all added to that.


Hi Glimr!

Thanks! Yeah, I have never tried the baking soda routine myself but I have a feeling I wouldn't like it. I have heard several times people say it leaves their hair icky - the amount to use is different for everyone so it is hard to get to that balance.

I have very hard water too where I am at.. I think that is responsible for the dryness in my hair because I honestly have no other reason for it to be dry. I want to get a water softener for my shower when I have the extra $$. Also need a new shower filter (all that chlorine can be drying too).

My hair is probably close to what yours is like. It is straight, long, on the finer side (except brown) except now that i am not shampooing - it is more thicker than before on shampoo. It feels stronger.

Well, I wanted to try the soapnuts for my laundry anyhow so I think I might try it for a light cleaning for my hair and see how it goes. :) I won't want to use it every day though since they are expensive.

Thanks again!:)

[queenfluff]

Hey guys!

I tried the soapnuts on my hair and it feels pretty clean but still not overly clean as it is still feels soft like their is still some sebum in it! I used two soapnuts instead of three in 2 cups of warmish/hot water and used about 1/2 cup of the solution and massaged it in and rinsed out.

I had not water rinsed my hair for two days so I was pretty impressed with how clean my hair came out with no effort. Normally I spend 5 to ten minutes water rinsing to get my hair clean.

Pretty nice! I am going to try using it maybe once or twice a week to keep the excess sebum at bay! I also noticed tha their wasn't any excess sebum in my comb when I combed my hair afterwords. :)

Whee!

[Ama]

I'd love to know where you all get your soapnuts.

[queenfluff]

I'd love to know where you all get your soapnuts.

I bought mine at my local co-op - the brand is Maggie's. I haven't seen them at Whole Foods yet.

You can buy the Maggie's brand online or I have seen them in bulk on other online sites and also on Ebay.

http://maggiespureland.com/

[VeggieMel]

For those who live in San Diego, Rancho's market in North Park carries Maggie's soap nuts.

[carolg]

I have made my own soap over the years, thought I was going to be a rich lady making soap for dogs, unscented, but another story as the fair I went to was not advertised and hundreds of bars later I am full of soap.

However my hair is super dry regardless of mine having shea/cocoa butter generally one or other. I would love to do some nettles in powder or tincture eventually.

I even have a nice wooden mold that made 42 bars here and if I can find it again, great condition, it's up for sale hopefully.

Bobbi, thanks for nettle talk.

carolg