Hippie Dippie

I am a hair product snob.  It's a well known fact.  I will occasionally try to be cheap and grab something at Walmart or Target and it always becomes a total waste of my money.  And I refuse to buy salon brands other than from a salon or beauty supply store.  I'm not going to get on my soapbox about that.  I'm nicely stepping away from my soapbox. 

I've always been a Biolage girl.  The smell of the Hydrating Shampoo makes me think of my childhood.  Okay, maybe it's weird to associate the smell of shampoo with childhood but I do.  My aunt worked for a beauty supply company and we always had salon products.  So I'm a little spoiled.  A lot spoiled.  These days I try to wait until Beauty Brands has a sale and I stock up. 

Despite using really good hair products I have a serious hair issue.  It's so gross and embarrassing.  I blame it on having the driest skin on earth.  The dry skin has always been a problem.  But this winter that has morphed into serious dandruff.  Gross!  Why did I just tell you guys about that? 

So I've been using Coconut Oil from Trader Joe's because that is supposed to help.

And it does.  I heat it up a little and rub it into my scalp especially and a little more throughout my hair.  It's also supposed to make your hair grow faster.  I can't tell you that for a fact though.  My hair grows pretty fast on its own.

So, the coconut oil was helping, but not enough.  Then I remembered I'd heard vinegar was supposed to help get rid of dandruff.  After a little search on pinterest, I found lots of suggestions of how to use vinegar for dandruff prevention.  Then I hit on a pin that used both apple cider vinegar and coconut oil.  Sold!  Go here to read more about it.

Here's a run down:
-Before you get in the shower, mix up 1 cup of apple cider vinegar and 1/2 a cup of hot hot hot water.  *I made it super hot so that by the time I was ready to use it, it was still warm.  And since the apple cider is just room temp, you're going to need a little help in the warmth department.  I just did it all in a plastic measuring cup and sat it on the side of the shower until I was ready to use it.
-Wash your hair like normal.  I always wash twice because my hair is super thick.  That's just personal preference though.  I did not condition.
-After your hair is rinsed, pour the apple cider vinegar mixture through your hair.  Rub it in really well.
-Rinse out the vinegar and towel dry your hair.
-Rub in a couple table spoons of coconut oil and let it set for 2 hours.
-Wash your hair again.  I recommend rubbing in the shampoo before you get your hair wet.  This will make the oil come out more easily so you don't look all greasy after you wash your hair.  I would definitely shampoo twice.  You can condition if you want, but you don't have to.

I'm in love.  I'm a total believer.  My scalp is so much happier.  And the vinegar strips all the build up and junk out of your hair.  I did it right before I got a color because the vinegar can potentially damage your color and I didn't want to run the risk of wasting tons of money.  The dandruff situation is much better.  My hair is nice and soft.  My hair smelled a little rough until I put the coconut oil on but after that it was fine. 

As a bonus, coconut oil smells amazing.  And you can use it for thousands of things.  I like to use it as lotion when my legs are super dry.

Any natural "products" you love?  I'm also a big fan of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap.  I used to only be able to buy it at the health food store but now I pick it up at Target.  I seriously swear by this soap.  It's kind of tingly.  But it's great on a sunburn, I swear it keeps me from peeling.  It cures heat rash in the summer.  I also never get bug bites when I use this soap.  I tell everyone I know that they should use it.  I don't use it as shampoo though.  It says you can but....  Just not my personal preference.

So, are you a hair product snob like me?  Or are you less picky?  Do you love natural products?  Or love finding weird natural remedies for stuff on Pinterest?  Has anybody tried the homemade laundry soap, and do you like it?