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So far my little experiment is going pretty well. I've been doing nothing to my skin except using the OCM on it, and it is clearer than it has been my whole life, I think. Oh, I have been applying a few drops of grapeseed oil into it in places after doing the OCM, plus in the morning after my shower (during which I rinse my face thoroughly under the water but don't use soap or cleanser) I've been using some Clinique eye cream that I've had for awhile. I have some dry, flaky patches on my chin, but I think that's from over-scrubbing it over the weekend. (I use a washcloth to steam my face and to wipe away the oil, and I rubbed my chin a little too hard Saturday night--it stung a bit, and was kind of red the next day.) Other than that, it looks good. My pores seem smaller, and my skin feels smooth to the touch.
For my hair, I used the baking soda and vinegar regimen on Monday and Tuesday, and yesterday I just rinsed it with water. By last night it was looking very greasy, so I was curious to see how well the regimen would work when I showered this morning. It worked like a charm--my hair is soft and well-behaved today, not the least bit greasy, yet shiny and bouncy. Oh, I meant to say too, that in addition to the regimen, I'm also putting a tiny bit of Bumble & Bumble's Brilliantine hair product in it while it's still damp, mainly on the ends and the pieces around my face. It's like a styling cream, and I use it because it controls static, to which my hair is extremely prone. It has some natural oils in it, and I can't see any silicone-like chemicals listed in the ingredients, so it should be fine. (Silicone is bad for hair because it clogs up the scales and won't let any moisture into the hair shaft--it's a very common ingredient in shine products and hair straighteners. I remember my dad forbidding the use of silicone-containing products on wood furniture, too, for basically the same reason.) I've been reading a little bit more about the no-shampoo, aka "no-poo," lifestyle (I cringe at that usage of the word, though), and another trick that they recommend is to use just conditioner to clean the hair. Apparently baking soda can be somewhat harsh to hair, and cause the ends to dry out. I haven't noticed that yet, but it does seem to be very effective at removing excess oil, so I'm wondering if it will end up being just as bad as shampoo, in the long run--but of course it's much better in terms of reducing the number of noxious chemicals one applies to one's body. Some people out there have tried cutting back on the amount of baking soda they use, in order to reduce the drying effect, so I might try that as well. So far, though, my hair feels much softer and looks much shinier than when I was using shampoo and conditioner. Until I started this experiment, I was using Bumble & Bumble's Thickening shampoo and conditioner, probably 4-5 times per week.
OK, that's it for today. I have lots more to talk/write about, particularly regarding my dad and mom, but I don't have time today. I need to eat some lunch and get my ass on a bus to Bothell, ASAP!
For my hair, I used the baking soda and vinegar regimen on Monday and Tuesday, and yesterday I just rinsed it with water. By last night it was looking very greasy, so I was curious to see how well the regimen would work when I showered this morning. It worked like a charm--my hair is soft and well-behaved today, not the least bit greasy, yet shiny and bouncy. Oh, I meant to say too, that in addition to the regimen, I'm also putting a tiny bit of Bumble & Bumble's Brilliantine hair product in it while it's still damp, mainly on the ends and the pieces around my face. It's like a styling cream, and I use it because it controls static, to which my hair is extremely prone. It has some natural oils in it, and I can't see any silicone-like chemicals listed in the ingredients, so it should be fine. (Silicone is bad for hair because it clogs up the scales and won't let any moisture into the hair shaft--it's a very common ingredient in shine products and hair straighteners. I remember my dad forbidding the use of silicone-containing products on wood furniture, too, for basically the same reason.) I've been reading a little bit more about the no-shampoo, aka "no-poo," lifestyle (I cringe at that usage of the word, though), and another trick that they recommend is to use just conditioner to clean the hair. Apparently baking soda can be somewhat harsh to hair, and cause the ends to dry out. I haven't noticed that yet, but it does seem to be very effective at removing excess oil, so I'm wondering if it will end up being just as bad as shampoo, in the long run--but of course it's much better in terms of reducing the number of noxious chemicals one applies to one's body. Some people out there have tried cutting back on the amount of baking soda they use, in order to reduce the drying effect, so I might try that as well. So far, though, my hair feels much softer and looks much shinier than when I was using shampoo and conditioner. Until I started this experiment, I was using Bumble & Bumble's Thickening shampoo and conditioner, probably 4-5 times per week.
OK, that's it for today. I have lots more to talk/write about, particularly regarding my dad and mom, but I don't have time today. I need to eat some lunch and get my ass on a bus to Bothell, ASAP!
