the pledge: no shampoo or conditioner – wrap up

Congratulations!  We made it!   We completed the 16 week No Shampoo or Conditioner challenge!   Give yourself a round of self-high fives.  You’ve earned it.

I am so glad that I chose to wean myself from shampoo and conditioner this summer.   I wasn’t a shampoo snob before I started this.   I’ve been known to use pharmacy brands,  like Herbal Essences and John Frieda,  and more expensive salon brands, like Aveda and Biolage.   My hair is much softer and easier to manage than it ever was when I was loading up on those toxins and slathering my scalp.    The compliments continue about how great my hair looks.   Of course, I’ve received a fair amount of  “What?  You’re not shampooing?  Are you nuts?”    Those are the people who often want to touch my hair.

Not only is giving up shampoo and conditioner great for the environment, no more toxins running into the groundwater supply!  It is also great for your wallet, too.    When I started this challenge,  I was using the affordable Trader Joe’s Shampoo and Conditioner.  I would purchase them every six weeks or so, because I had this horrible habit/problem of squeezing out way too much product into my hand.  Every. Single.  Time.    To date,  I think I’ve saved between $25 – $30 this summer.   Since I’ve decided to continue this,  that savings adds up to $100 – $120 per year!    It doesn’t sound like much,  but as the saying goes – every little bit counts!

I’ve found that these Wilton Squeeze Bottles are the best for storing your “shampoo” and “conditioner.”   I purchased mine at Joann Fabrics – using a coupon – and paid about $3.00 for two.   Prior to purchasing those,  I tried to recycle a water bottle with a sport top, but the opening in the top was too large.   Because of a store sale,  I switched to Arm & Hammer baking soda from our store brand.   I couldn’t see a difference in how clean my hair was.   I’m still using white vinegar,  and continue to hear from people using Apple Cider Vinegar.   It is all your personal preference.   For some reason,  I can’t get past the smell of the cider vinegar!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the challenge.    And,  if you were thinking about it,  go ahead and challenge yourself to do now!   Try it for a few weeks,   you’ll be pleased with the results.  I am sure.   And, if you missed any posts in this series, you can read them here.    Look for more healthy living challenges from Nap Time is My Time in the future.

For now,  I’ll leave you with my favorite glam photo from the summer!