By ERIN TURNER
I have undertaken the daunting task of growing out my short hair. I am a super impatient person when it comes to my hair so I’m not sure how much luck I’m going to have accomplishing this goal. But as I agonize with others who either are doing the same thing or have grown their hair long, I have heard various tips and techniques. Some a little stranger than others.
But in my research for effective and of course, frugal methods of healthy, fast growing hair I have discovered a few common things which I thought I would share with you.
Less shampooing. Not only is this better for your hair but it is the ultimate frugal method! Research suggests that we should only be shampooing 3 times a week. For those of us over-shampooers, this means our bottles of shampoo should last more than twice as long. And our hair will be better off because it won’t be stripped of necessary oils every day.
Shampooing less frequently is not only better for your hair, it saves you money!
Using natural ingredients eliminates over use of commercial shampoos. So, you can either only use natural ingredients or in between commercial shampoo days. Baking soda is powerful enough to completely replace shampoo all together! It removes styling product buildup and leaves behind naturally beautiful hair. When your hair is wet, sprinkle 1 tablespoon of baking soda onto your scalp and begin to massage into the roots of your hair. Rinse well. Then follow with an apple cider vinegar rinse. This balances the effect of the baking soda, removes any buildup left behind and closes the hair cuticle. Pour about a ½ cup over your hair and gently massage then finish with a good rinse of water.
As far as a conditioner for your hair, I have actually tried using coconut oil and love the results. This technique only requires twice a week application. Massage a spoonful of coconut oil throughout your locks…starting at your scalp and moving to the tips of your hair. Wrap it in a towel for 15-30 minutes then wash it out with a gentle shampoo.
Essential oils are another alternative to enhance your hair. For shiny silky hair, rub 1 drop of rosemary or lavender oil into your natural bristle brush and lightly brush your hair from the scalp to the tips.
Aloe vera has emollient and moisturizing elements and has even shown the ability to regenerate cells. Use aloe gel in between washings by gently massaging it into wet hair and then rinsing well. This method will help the overall health of your hair.
Natural ingredients like baking soda, apple cider vinegar and coconut oil make your hair shiny and healthy.
If you really want to go all natural and eliminate commercial shampoos, here is a recipe I found:
- ¼ cup water
- ¼ cup liquid castile soap
- ½ tsp light vegetable oil.
Mix together all ingredients. Pour shampoo into a squeeze bottle or an empty shampoo bottle. To use: shampoo as you normally would and rinse well with cool water (Recipe courtesy of Janice Cox).
Whatever the length of your hair, these techniques will help improve the health of your tresses and many of them will keep a little more cash in your wallet. I know I’m looking forward to more manageable and healthier hair by not washing every single day plus I’ll be saving over twice as much money by cutting my shampooing in half! That gives me a little more motivation to stick to my goal of growing longer hair.
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Erin’s got tons of tips for saving money, couponing, sticking to a budget, and living sustainably in her blog archive.
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Erin Eisenman-Turner is proud to be a native Missoulian. Along with her husband and three sons, they raise chickens, pigs, rabbits, and vegetables at Turner Family Farms in the Orchard Homes area. When the farm chores are done, the coupons clipped, and the blog written, you can find Erin exploring Montana, collecting antiques, and trying to maintain a well-run, happy, and organized home for her family.
