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Dr. Bronners as body soap and shampoo?  

post #1 of 16
3/31/08 at 3:10pm
Thread Starter 
I bought some Dr. B the other day because it came so highly recommended here on mdc. I thought I'd try it as a shampoo but I'm obviously doing something wrong. I washed my hair with it and my hair felt gross. Literally icky. It was tangly and impossible to brush. It felt like it was coated in grime and it was really heavy. What did I do wrong? Does anyone else use Dr. B's as shampoo and body soap? Any recommendations you could make would be helpful. TIA.
post #2 of 16
3/31/08 at 4:04pm
Dr B's is NOT recommended as shampoo, although some do use it. It even says so on their site, and I think they add that it sometimes works well for short hair and/or curly hair (can't remember). I only use it for making diluted hand soap. I like their bar soaps for the shower. They are just coming out with a hair care line, but it won't be as affordable as the huge quantities of liquid soap can be. Great company.
post #3 of 16
3/31/08 at 4:21pm
I/we use it for soap/shampoo/toothpaste(combined with other ingred's) and love it. But I love it because I then only have to buy one thing.

I *was* growing my hair out and it was getting increasingly difficult to get clean. Everything you said about its grossness was happening to me. Something about it's reactions to the oils I imagine. Anyhow, I shaved my head to solve the problem (among other reasons lol.)

If you're gonna keep your long hair and enjoy it-- I imagine Dr. B's isn't for you. *sigh*
post #4 of 16
3/31/08 at 4:31pm
DB's is soap, not detergent like shampoo is. thus, the pH is much higher than a detergent based shampoo...the icky feeling in your hair is the cuticles of your hair shaft standing on end freaking out...they are screaming to have their pH restored...this is accomplished with an acid rinse. you can use either a vinegar rinse or a citric acid rinse. these will resote the pH of your hair shaft and allow the cuticles to lay down and you should be left with smooth feeling hair rather than the icky feeling you had before using the soap. HTH!
post #5 of 16
3/31/08 at 4:38pm
The same thing happened to me So I don't use it anymore for shampoo.
post #6 of 16
3/31/08 at 5:12pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3bees~1flower View Post
DB's is soap, not detergent like shampoo is. thus, the pH is much higher than a detergent based shampoo...the icky feeling in your hair is the cuticles of your hair shaft standing on end freaking out...they are screaming to have their pH restored...this is accomplished with an acid rinse. you can use either a vinegar rinse or a citric acid rinse. these will resote the pH of your hair shaft and allow the cuticles to lay down and you should be left with smooth feeling hair rather than the icky feeling you had before using the soap. HTH!
So I could use it as shampoo if I just rinse with vinegar afterwards? I'm looking for some natural alternatives to what's out there.
post #7 of 16
3/31/08 at 5:31pm
That's what I do. I keep a spray bottle of plain white vinegar in the shower and use that as "conditioner" after I use Dr. B's
post #8 of 16
3/31/08 at 6:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by PreciousTreasures View Post
So I could use it as shampoo if I just rinse with vinegar afterwards? I'm looking for some natural alternatives to what's out there.
yep! i use my own liquid soap that i make as shampoo and follow it with my conditioner that contains citric acid.
post #9 of 16
3/31/08 at 6:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by WhitBC View Post
That's what I do. I keep a spray bottle of plain white vinegar in the shower and use that as "conditioner" after I use Dr. B's
Good Suggestion. I will try it again.
post #10 of 16
3/31/08 at 10:35pm
well, you learn something new every day. Thanks for the tips
post #11 of 16
4/1/08 at 12:53am
I know they came out with a hair creme/rinse. I imagine it works well with the Dr. B's.
post #12 of 16
4/20/08 at 2:10pm
I have been using Dr.B liquid almond and I dilute it with water. If you use right out of the bottle it way to oily. My daughters I have been using for a month now and love it. My daughter has long beautiful hair done to buttocks. We just use fragrance fee plain choloesterol conditioner as well.
Old Fashion shampoo
Make 9 1/2 ounces
1 cup distilled water
3 Tablespoon Castile Soap, shredded
10 drops fragrance oil (optional)

Bring water to boil in a heavy saucepan, then reduce the heat to a simmer. Add the shredded Castile soap and stir until the soap has dissolved. Add the fragrance oil ( if desired). Let cool to room temperature and bottle.

Since I am using the liquid form I don't have heat and we don't use fragrance because we bought it with almond smell already in it.
post #13 of 16
4/20/08 at 7:16pm
What is "cholesterol conditioner"? I am looking for a cheaper natural conditioner for DDs. We tried nopoo for them, but it didn't work well with their hair. DD1 is 10, so I need something she can do herself without having to monitor amounts of this & that. It's hard enough to get her to do it correctly when it is premixed in a bottle!
post #14 of 16
4/21/08 at 2:11am
:
post #15 of 16
4/21/08 at 10:46am
I've been using the Dr. B's on my son's hair in the bath (he's 11 mos. and doesn't have much!).. Do you think I'm ruining it?
post #16 of 16
4/21/08 at 1:26pm
Dr. Bronner's recommends using their soaps for shampoo, BUT they recommend that you used their hair rinse after shampooing each time. Here's some info.

http://www.drbronner.com/DBMS/HAIR.htm
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