Dr. Bronner's as a shampoo?

[Indoobidubly]

I currently use the unscented Dr. Bronner's (4:1 water:soap ratio) as a body wash, but I'm afraid to try it on my hair.

Does anyone know if this will be okay to use as a shampoo?

If not, can anyone recommend a fragrance free/unscented shampoo?

Thanks.

[aradia]

I used it once as a shampoo and it made my hair a crazy, dry, frizzy rat's nest. I only diluted it by about half. i have straight hair normally and it took about a week to go back to normal.

Dilute more, maybe?

I used it once as toothpaste, crazy bad too.

[PGNPORTLAND]

Argh! yes, I too have been let down by Dr. Bronner's. I got the baby kind thinking it was a good deal for fair traded, organic, baby soap. But, it is not no tears so it stings her eyes - can't use as shampoo. It made her body really dry too. The only thing I use it for is just a drop or two in her cloth wipes solution. That seems to work fine.

If I were in the middle of nowhere camping or something, it would probably be nice to have around.

[nonniecita]

It made my hair greasy.

[nonniecita]

but you can try it and see how it works for your hair

[dharmamama]

When I had long hair, I could not use it as a shampoo. It made my hair feel like cotton candy.

Now that I have short (one inch long) hair, it works great. I have started adding a bit of apricot kernel oil to it, and it works well as a shampoo/conditioner.

dm

[aradia]

Originally Posted by PGNPORTLAND

If I were in the middle of nowhere camping or something, it would probably be nice to have around.

Its funny that you bring that up becsaue it was when I was aiming for a lighter backpack that I thought that I would try it as toothpaste, and I ended up using lots of water to wash it out of my mouth. dh was laughing at me as he pulled his real toothpaste out and told me to go filter some water for him.

[mavery]

I use it as a shampoo and it works fine. I find it depends on the water though. I was staying somewhere last week where the water was much softer (I think) than where I live and my hair felt very sticky.

ETA I don't dilute it, I use it just like regular shampoo.

[Naturalyst]

Most shampoos and mass marketed "beauty bars" are detergent based. True soap, including Dr. Bronner's, will deposit glycerin on your hair. While glycerin is great for your skin (leaving it soft and moisturized), it can make hair tacky and give you that wild, can't-get-a-comb-through-it look . If your hair is short and straight, it's probably not going to be an issue. My mother has been using Dr. B's liquid peppermint for 25 years! I used it like this when my hair was shorter too - the added "thickness" from the glycerin was a benefit to me.

Glycerin is a by-product of saponification (the process of combining oil/fat with lye and getting soap). Makers of mass-marketed soaps remove the glycerin and sell it. Glycerin is valuable in the cosmetics and food industries. Anyhow ... (getting back on track) ...

If you want to use true soap (including Dr. B's) on your hair and the glycerin is a problem, rinse a little apple cider vinegar through your hair after washing. The glycerin will rinse away and the ACV will leave your hair incredibly soft to the touch.

Since my hair grew longer, I keep a pint-sized spray bottle filled with ACV in my shower to use when I wash my hair with soap. (Remember to close your eyes when you spray or that stings!). After working it around with my fingers, I rinse lightly - problem solved.

BTW, the same works for getting rid of residue when washing clothes with soap. You'll see threads here with mothers complaining about dingy clothes after washing with soap. Putting a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar in the rinse can prevent the problem by doing the same thing ACV does for your hair - breaking down the glycerin residue and letting it rinse away.