So. Hello again. It’s the dirty-haired girl! And this time my hair is actually probably a little dirty because it has been over a week since I washed it with anything except water. Just plain. old. water. Some observations:
1. Color
I was worried my hair would get significantly darker. I had previously been using John Frieda’s “Go Blonder” shampoo and conditioner, which made me a sunflower blonde, but I noticed some darkening after week one along with the oily-straw phenomenon. Happily, I’ve seen that dialed back since. My hair is a bit darker, but still wonderfully blond, except at the roots where it’s a) always been darker and b) is probably the dirtiest right now.
2. Texture
The oily-straw sensation is gone. My hair feels...kind of like Barbie hair. It’s smooth, but not necessarily soft. You can run your fingers through it, but it kind of holds its shape unnaturally...like hair play-doh. I wouldn’t say it has the most pleasant texture right now, but it’s not unbearable. If anything, I’m not sure what to do next. To keep not washing it or to give it a bit of baking soda/vinegar treatment.
3. Attention
People continue not to notice. I’ve been told several times that my hair looks great, including this weekend while berry picking. There’s no smell, nothing all that different, really, unless you touch it, and even if someone did touch my hair, I’m sure they probably wouldn’t notice the difference like I do.
In conclusion, my hair is fine. I will probably wash with baking soda tomorrow night and see how that goes in terms of cleaning the oils generated on my scalp. For the longer term, I haven’t decided how to move forward. I don’t have a great way of storing the baking soda mixture in my shower as the baking soda is more volatile than I’d like. I’m considering going “poo-light” with a shampoo bar or organic liquid shampoo in the future, but I think I need to stick this particular process out for a few more weeks before making a final decision.
Until then: onward! And no poo!
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Two Weeks Sans Poo
Wednesday, August 08, 2012
Get rid of all the poo!
It’s been a week since I last shampooed my hair.
This is not a joke. Google “no poo” and the internet will give you a host of information on the movement wherein people stop washing their hair – at least with commercial products.
In some ways, I’m still washing my hair. But it’s a bit touch-and-go still as to whether the results approach “clean.” I’m not too concerned about it as at this stage in the process, clean is not as important as it might otherwise be.
So what am I "washing" my hair with exactly? I’m following the standard "no poo" formula of water and baking soda for the wash and then water and apple cider vinegar for the rinse/condition. The thing is I don’t think I’ve gotten the proportions right yet, hence my sort-of-clean feeling. Is it possible for your hair to feel like straw but oily at the same time? Oh, is it ever, my friend!
So why am I not that concerned about my hair being clean? Well, because the point of "no poo" is to get your hair off its nasty commercial shampoo and conditioner drug habit so it can return to its theoretically natural and beautiful state. This means being able to regulate scalp oils all on its own without being stripped by sodium lauryl sulfates. THAT’S RIGHT. I SAID IT. SODIUM LAURYL SULFATES.
The good news is that nobody has really noticed the changes in my hair the way I have. Since it’s so long (which I think is part of what’s complicating my baking soda and vinegar ratios) I wear it up quite a bit – especially since it’s been such a hot summer. At that point, you’re really just getting roots, and although mine feel greasy, they don’t really look it. (Again, the straw-oily paradox).
The internet mostly claims that people have a two to four week adjustment period for their hair – some are even longer. I’m hopeful that I’ll get balanced by the fourth week because I have a birthday bonanza weekend coming up and I’d like my head to not feel crazy, but we’ll see. Either way I’m sticking it out.
More updates to come!
Wednesday, March 07, 2012
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Sunday, September 05, 2010
Unpaid Beauty Endorsement
Do you ever stop and think about the price of beauty? I've been looking back at the seemingly ridiculous amount of money I've spent in the past decade, trying to look my best. I've spent way too much for way too little. If I could get back all that money, well, let's just say that I would be way less worried about my spouse not working.
Anyway, I was looking at my beauty arsenal and realized that I'm perfectly content with what I have in there.
Here's a list of what I swear by, from head to toe.
1. Clairol Nice n Easy Root Touch Up in Medium Golden Brown. Perfect for covering my increasingly noticeable gray roots.
2. Loreal Sulfate Free shampoo and conditioner. Love. It. I was a long-time user of Trader Joe's shampoo and conditioner, but my hair, though it was healthy, still had some frizz factor going on. I purchased the Loreal when it was on sale and was hooked. I prefer the Smoothing formula, but the others are fine, too.
Side note: I don't know if Loreal tests this product on animals. I hope not.
And FYI: Malibu Shampoo or Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo are a must after swimming. I had a lot of chlorine buildup (swimming 40-50 laps will do that, especially when I'm lazy about wearing a swim cap), and though I definitely prefer the Malibu, the Neutrogena works in a pinch, but it does contain sulfates.
3. Design Line Curl Lock Cream (for my wavy hair days) and Satin Cream (for my straight hair days). I don't like a lot of product in my hair, but if there's something special going on, these two are great.
4. Daniel Kern/acne.org--Love the face cleanser. It's gentle and effective and takes all my makup off in one wash. Perfect for my makeup brushes, too. Because I'm starting to show some wrinkles and dull skin, I also like Olay Regenerist Detoxifying Pore Scrub.
Daniel Kern also makes a fantastic benzoyl peroxide treatment gel and it's very nice to my skin. My rosacea medicine made me break out something fierce, and this product helps clear that up AND doesn't irritate my rosacea. Nice!
I used to use Alpha Hydrox Oil Free lotion for a little extra "oompf" if my face looked dull or if I had a breakout on my chest or back, but once again, Daniel Kern comes to the rescue with his AHA lotion. Less irritating and more moisturizing than Alpha Hydrox.
5. Signature Minerals. Best mineral makeup ever. EVER. I'll never go back to those other big-name brands. Nuh uh.
I love Cover Girl Lash Blast mascara and it's still good for daily use, but I am a partial convert to Dior Iconic Show Waterproof mascara. It lasts 50 laps in the pool, which is amazing, but after wearing it all day, my eyes sometimes get itchy.
6. Dove Sensitive Skin Soap. I used Cetaphil for a while, but it was too moisturizing and made me break out. A little Dove mixed with a tablespoon of Epsom salts makes for a nice, scrubby experience that results in soft, glowing skin, even on knees and elbows.
7. Trader Joe's "A Midsummer Night's Cream" Extra Moisturizing Lotion. Perfectly hydrating and no greasy residue.
That being said, Nivea makes an awesome anti-cellulite lotion with lotus flower extract that smells divine. At the risk of TMI, I use it on my hips, thighs, belly and butt. It made swimsuit season a little less frightening this year.
8. Dove Clinical Protection anti-perspirant. This is new for me. I had sworn by Secret Clinical Protection, but I didn't really like the scents and the unscented...well...if I was sweating badly, it did nothing for the stink factor. My two favorites from Dove are the original clean and yesterday, I bought the wild rose. Very nice.
9. Schick Quattro razors. Stupidly expensive, but a nice, clean shave.
10. Now, if nothing else on this list makes a bit of difference to you, pay attention to at least this one must-have item. The Ped Egg. I know, I know, some crazy TV product (but it's available in stores now), but I am hard on my feet and this product kicks a$$. I bought one last year in a moment of desperation, then ironically, received a second one from my sister-in-law for Christmas. I cannot say enough good things about it. My heels are as soft as they would be after a professional pedicure. Now, this does not replace a professional pedicure, but use it, then use some OPI to paint your nails and...poof! Pretty feet.
I wouldn't consider this a regular expense, but I do wear perfume on occasion and I adore Acqua di Gio and Code by Armani and Amazing Grace by Philosophy. Estee Lauder has some decent scents and my two favorites are Sensuous and Intuition.
Over the course of a year, the price of my beauty averages out to between $12 and $16 per month, depending on whether I'm using more or less of a certain product. It's still a lot of money, but nothing compared to what I used to spend when I was younger.
Funny how I bought so much junk in my teens and 20s, ironically enough, when I didn't really need the stuff. Of course, I suppose that money was the cost of experience, so that now that I'm in my 30s, I'm working on perfecting Marfa Version 3.2 (almost 3.3).
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
So True
Can Stylish Clothes Make You More Successful?
Do clothes make the man? Or in this case, the woman?We can talk all day about how brains and work ethic are more important than looks and fashion. But humans are visual creatures by nature. Like it or not, we make instant assessments of people based on what they’re wearing.
It’s not just a chick thing. Male wardrobes may be less complicated, but they’re no less relevant.
My father, who spent 40 years in banking says, “The people with the good suits are always the ones who get promoted.”
The question is, do they get promoted because they look like leaders? Or does looking like a power player inspire you to act like one?
It’s both.
Have you ever watched a young man try on his first real suit? There’s a moment when he sees himself in the mirror, and he transforms before your very eyes. He stands taller, he squares his shoulders, and he juts his chin forward as he realizes that he looks strong and competent.
READ: 10 Easy Style Tricks To Look Ten Pounds Thinner
The same thing happens to women. I remember the first time I tried on a fancy black cocktail dress. As I gazed at the grown-up-looking girl in the glass, it suddenly dawned on me that I might be pretty.
When I was a college senior, my grandmother offered to buy me an interview suit. From the moment I slipped on the jacket, I felt smarter. As I stood in front of the mirror practicing my imaginary interview handshake, I thought, “Wow, that girl looks like she could actually get a job.”
It’s an odd paradox. When you’re wearing the right clothes, it becomes less about the clothes and more about you. The clothes give you a visual jolt that awakens you to your own possibilities.I had a recent experience that reminded me just how much clothes can matter. I spent an afternoon with a few stylists from Ann Taylor, and I have to say, I was shocked by the positive impact it had on my self-confidence.
READ: Fall Beauty Trends To Try Now
As a professional speaker, I know that first impressions are important, so I’ve always paid some level of attention to my wardrobe. However, as my life got busier (and my body got lumpier), looking decent had become yet another item on my seemingly endless to-do list. Good suit, check; brush teeth, check; back-up batteries, check. I had forgotten that one of the people I was making an impression on was me.
When I put on one of their stylish, sleek suits and looked at myself in the dressing mirror, for the first time in a long time, I didn’t see an overworked woman who worries about her payroll, her business, her weight, and her kids. I saw a confident person who could walk into a room and own it.
It was that magic moment in the mirror when you quit worrying about how you look and start thinking about what you can do.
Ironic isn’t it?
READ: Professional Stylist Offers 7 Tips to Revive Your Wardrobe
Not surprisingly, I bought several suits that day. The next week, I went on the road and had three of the most successful professional engagements of my entire career.
Coincidence? Probably not.
The image you see in the mirror matters. It’s not shallow to care about how you look; it’s smart. Because when you look better, you feel better, and when you feel better, you do better.
Cool clothes aren’t a substitute for competence, kindness, curiosity, or compassion.
But sometimes it takes a killer suit to remind you just how fabulous you already are.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
The Internet Teaches You Everything
So you know the rockin' shoes I got for the wedding?
(The middle pair)
Well, they fit my foot perfectly, but they were so tight in the toe! Several people in the reviews/comments also noted that the toe was so tight that they were barely peep-toes because their toes didn't really have room to sneak out. One of these helpful commenters also taught me the greatest trick in the world! (Yes, I tried something written in a random review on Zappos. I'm convinced of the benevolence of the Internet, except WebMD, which wants you to know you are dying of whatever ailment you decided to look up there).
Anyway, the commenter said she/he used the "age old trick" of filling two ziplock bags with water, putting them in the shoes and then popping them in the freezer. Because water expands when it freezes! And will gently stretch the shoe!
OMGGENIUS! Worked like a charm. It stretched these shoes just a tiny bit in all the right places. Now my toes can peep, the little rough patches that were threatening to give me blisters are gone and all is well again. Hurray! Thank you, Internet!