Grannies Gems No. 7

Consider switching from conventional shampoo to a natural shampoo bar.  According to Lush, one of the industry’s leading beauty brands, shampoo bars can last up to 80 washes. This is equivalent to two to three bottles of conventional liquid shampoo. One of the best things about shampoo bars is they are great for the environment. Since 2010, close to 10 million shampoo bars have been sold across the globe saving the environment approximately 30 million plastic bottles that would have ended up landfilled.  Here are three that are moderately priced:

Love Beauty And Planet – This organic, naturally sourced bar with plant based cleansers, is safe for color treated hair. It is not tested on animals and contains no sulfate cleansers, silicones, parabens or dyes. lovebeautyandplanet.com

J.R. Liggett’s All Natural Shampoo Bar – This shampoo bar is made from an old New England bygone era recipe. They also make earth friendly shampoo bars for pets. J.R. Liggett’s is a ZERO WASTE company. jrliggett.com/shampoobars

Heali Kiwi from Ethique – This shampoo bar is 100% soap-free and completely vegan. It is made from ingredients which work in tandem to prevent your hair from drying out while nourishing and hydrating it in the process. One Ethique conditioner bar = 5 plastic bottle. ethique.com/shampoobars

TruEarth.com and MightyNest.com makes/sells many types of ecofriendly products.

Shampoo and conditioner bars will turn to mush if left wet. Stand them up to dry, hang them in a soap bag, place them on a piece of dry flannel, or place them in a draining soap dish. You can also put them in a tray on a window ledge. The fresh air will dry them in minutes.

If you are interested in making a natural rinse for your hair, mix ½ to 4 Tbsp. of apple cider vinegar with 8 oz. of water. Dry hair likes less – oily hair likes more vinegar. Or mix 1 Tbsp. of lemon juice with 2 cups of water.