Dr Bronners for body

[basilico]

I've recently begun using Dr. Bronners for cleaning around the house.  I know it can be used for shampoo/body soap but I've heard that it dries out your skin and makes hair dry and straw-like.  Can anyone attest to this?  Have you used this on your children and babies?  We've used California Baby for the past few years but DD is getting a buildup in her hair so I'd like to switch to something else.  If DH and I (and baby on the way) can use it too, all the better!

[crazyms]

Subbing

[Monkey pants]

I buy a gallon of Lavendar Bronners every year and it lasts all year long. I shower with it, wash my hands and face with it, and baby. I do not wash my hair though it makes it feel really weird unless you rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar. Something about the acid in the vinegar gets it all out. I have very dry skin but it does not bother me like other soap does. I sometimes squirt a bit in my laundry if im out of my regular stuff. You can make house hold cleaners with it however dont mix it with vinegar. I mix a bit with a few Tbs of Borax, squirt of soap few drops of Tea Tree oil or what ever you like add water and shake it up. makes a nice hard surface cleaner. You can pretty much run the world with Dr. Bronners. I love Lavender, Almond and Peppermint.

[glassesgirlnj]

I use Dr. Bronner's as a shampoo and it hasn't made my hair too dry... I also use conditioner, though, and my hair runs toward the oily side anyway.

It does dry out my skin if I try to use it as a body wash, though.  For that reason, I haven't bathed my daughter with it yet (we prefer Shea Moisture for her).

[TracyGladRags]

I used Dr Bronner's as shampoo occasionally (when traveling, or staying at my boyfriend's house) and if I use it too frequently it definitely dries out my hair after a while. If you use conditioner it might be okay on a long-term basis. If I just use it every so often it doesn't dry out my hair though.

[fruitfulmomma]

Dh and I have used it exclusively for years for shampoo/body wash. My hair is not dry, but I don't wash it every day either. 

[basilico]

Thank you all for the replies!  Looks like I'll have to try it out and see.  I'm loving it as a household cleaner so it would be great if I could use it for body as well!  I'll see how it works on me before trying it on DD.

[nstewart]

Originally Posted by Monkey pants 

I buy a gallon of Lavendar Bronners every year and it lasts all year long. I shower with it, wash my hands and face with it, and baby. I do not wash my hair though it makes it feel really weird unless you rinse with Apple Cider Vinegar. Something about the acid in the vinegar gets it all out. I have very dry skin but it does not bother me like other soap does. I sometimes squirt a bit in my laundry if im out of my regular stuff. You can make house hold cleaners with it however dont mix it with vinegar. I mix a bit with a few Tbs of Borax, squirt of soap few drops of Tea Tree oil or what ever you like add water and shake it up. makes a nice hard surface cleaner. You can pretty much run the world with Dr. Bronners. I love Lavender, Almond and Peppermint.

Why no vinegar?  I usually clean with a mixture of vinegar, water and tea tree oil but sometimes squirt in lavendar Dr.Bronners too.  This is a no, no, I take it, but I don't know why?

Thanks!

[Monkey pants]

There is a strange chemical reaction between vinegar & Castile soap. It gets weird, greasy etc. Vinegar is awesome, Dr. Bronners is fantastic just not in the same bottle. I think on Dr. Bronners web site there is an explanation.

[owlhowl]

I added a few tablespoons of coconut oil to my Dr. Bronner's, if I use it as shampoo, I will follow up with an apple cider vinegar rinse. This is all I use for soap, the extra coconut oil cured any dryness I was experiencing.

[htcmom]

I use the Dr. Bronner's Baby Mild bar soap on my 3 year old and 1 month old and their hair and skin is just fine.

[justmama]

We've been using it for almost a year now for body wash.  I buy the bars and make them into liquid soap.  I love it.  I wouldn't use it on my hair because it would dry it out but I have no issues with it on my skin.  My 3 daughters all use it(think teenage down to kindergarten age) and while the younger ones get lotioned up after showers, the oldest hates lotion and still her skin is fine.