Butters: Handmade hair care

Have you ever stood in the shower with a shampoo bottle in your hand and thought, "There must be a better way"? I know I have. Over the years, I've lathered my locks while perusing the lists of ingredients on various shampoo bottles, wondering which of those chemicals were responsible for actually cleaning my hair. I have also imagined how big a pile of plastic shampoo bottles each of us has contributed to landfills and energy-consuming recycling plants, not to mention how much money we spend on these bottles.

Here's a bit of interesting hair-cleaning history: Shampoo wasn't introduced until the early 20th century; before that, many people used soap. Unfortunately, soap doesn't work that well for most people's hair, particularly when it's rinsed with mineral-laden hard water. The soap doesn't wash away clean, leaving scummy residue on the hair. Enter the "new-and-improved" formula we call shampoo.

There's no denying that shampoo's detergent additives help it rinse better, but it's also harsher. It strips the natural oils from hair, leaving us wanting something to replenish our soft, healthy-looking locks. So, along came conditioner -- yet another bottle to buy. But conditioner is merely a quick fix; its oils don't last long, and so we end up washing and conditioning again to keep looking our best. The trouble with this system is that we're playing catch-up, trying to mask the damage that shampoo causes our hair. And, worse yet, we're swimming in chemicals

like sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, isopropyl alcohol, propylene glycol, butylene glycol and others that carry heavy health risks over time.

Is no-poo for you?

A growing number of people are reclaiming their roots and shucking pricey bottled shampoos altogether. They're calling their concerted effort the "No-Poo" movement (no shampoo), and they swear by the scalp's natural ability to nurture a healthy and clean head of hair. On my Farmgirl Connection chat room, Babette from Minnesota told us, "My family has been shampoo-free for several months. I was worried initially about my long hair and keeping it soft. Once we stopped using shampoo, I was amazed by its own natural softness. I'll admit sometimes I miss the convenience of reaching for a premixed bottle. But mostly I am rewarded with a true feeling of nourishing and loving my body by making healthier choices."

There are a variety of no-poo hair care recipes bubbling around blogs and forums these days, but they boil down to the same basic formula of baking soda and vinegar rinses, tweaked to suit individual needs. While plain warm water will remove almost all the dirt we get in our hair, a little baking soda will not only remove the rest, but it also takes care of the build-up from commercial hair products. Ideally, wash with the baking soda solution once or twice a week, even less if your hair is in great condition or easy to manage.

Apple cider vinegar promotes circulation in the scalp, acts as a natural antiseptic, dissolves excessive fatty deposits, and reduces scaling or peeling of the skin. Plus, it untangles locks, balances hair's pH level and seals the cuticles to promote shiny, smooth hair. The smell will rinse away with the water, leaving you fresh and clean.

For more information on going "no-poo," visit www.naturemoms.com/no-shampoo-alternative.html.

Better than bottles

Of course, everyone is different. Maybe a no-poo 'do doesn't appeal to you, or maybe it simply doesn't work with your unique hair chemistry. Another hair-cleaning option that beats bottled shampoos is shampoo bars. They look just like bars of soap, but they come in planet-friendly paper packaging, and they have the added benefit of not being full of water, which is generally the No. 1 ingredient in bottled shampoos. Not to mention, they're terrific to tote along when traveling.

Not all shampoo bars are created equal. "Bad" bars can leave your hair with sticky soap residue, and some contain artificial fragrances and other icky additives. Look for handcrafted shampoo bars that are free of chemicals and scented with natural essential oils. Two farmgirl-approved crafters of superb shampoo bars are Heart of Iowa Soapworks (www.iasoaps.com) and Chagrin Valley Soap & Craft Company (www.chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com). Each offers a fabulous variety of fragrances and formulas tailored to different hair types, and their Web sites are chock full of helpful information about transitioning to shampoo bars. If you'd like to experiment with your favorite herbs and spices, try the Healthy Hair Shampoo Bar from Organic Creations (www.organic-creations.com). It's unscented and comes with instructions on how to "rebatch" by melting and making it your own.

How long does a shampoo bar last? According to Karla Moore of Heart of Iowa Soapworks, one bar will generally last about a month. "Handcrafted soaps require a little different handling so that they don't dissolve too fast," she says. "Extend the life of the soap by storing it in a well-drained soap dish up out of the puddle of water."