Entries Tagged as 'how to'

SHAMPOO FREE

0

01.5.13

You guys, I’m doing it. I’ve been shampoo-free for about a month now. Inspired by stuff all over the internet like this and this and this, as well as a boyfriend who hasn’t used shampoo in years, I made the jump. The shocker: it was a relatively painless transition. Yes, there were some gross greasy days, but I feel like my hair is really adjusting now. I have a lot of very fine, slightly wavy, easily tangled hair, and the oil levels are evening out nicely now. Obviously, everyone has a different experience with this, but if it’s helpful to anyone, here’s what worked for me…

CONSIDER WHY YOUR DOING IT

There are a lot of reasons to try going off shampoo. For me, it was mostly curiosity, but among the more valid are: ridding your regimen of harmful chemicals, being more earth-friendly, improving your hair’s health, and saving money. Keep your motives in mind as you adjust your routine to A) stay strong through the icky days and B) see if it’s working out.

TRANSITION GRADUALLY

If you go off shampoo completely cold-turkey, your scalp will probably freak out. Try stretching out the time between washings as much as you can bear for a week or so, and switch to a natural shampoo (if you aren’t already using one). A natural shampoo won’t strip oils the same way conventional shampoos do, and will help wean you off of “detergents.” I think part of the reason my adjustment period has been so quick is because I was using Eufora shampoo, which, ironically for this post, I couldn’t recommend more. It’s aloe-based instead of water-based, and smells amazing. It’s just pretty expensive.

[SIDEBAR: This is an old article, but because it's still one of the first that pops up when you google "Eufora natural?", I think it's worth clarifying the author's confusion over the ingredient sodium lauryl sulfoacetate. Turns out, it's just a palm and coconut oil-derived foaming agent.]

You can also switch to (plant-based) soap washing, which cleans dirt without totally stripping oils. One danger of soap-based shampooing is that soap leaves behind soap scum, but if you’re skipping days between washes and rinsing well, you shouldn’t have too much build up.

Eventually, try the baking soda wash. Some people like to put a spoonful in their hand and add water until they form a paste to massage into very wet hair, but I’ve had better luck mixing the baking soda with water in a bottle, shaking it up, and pouring directly over my head in the shower. It doesn’t lather, so make sure you get all the sides and back spot, and not just the top. Rinse thoroughly. In the earlier days, I would sometimes rinse my hair really with just water on days in between baking soda washes, but I no longer need to.

BEYOND THE WASH

All over the internet, you’ll find an apple cider vinegar rinse as the complement to the baking soda wash. I never tried it, mostly because my hair was pretty oily in the beginning, and any extra conditioning would have been overkill. I did continue using natural hair products like this shine mist. Make sure you use products without silicone, because baking soda can’t wash that out.

A boar bristle brush is a great way to evenly distribute oils from roots to ends. And my savior for the ultimate icky days: dry shampoo. I’ve tried about 6 different kinds of dry shampoo in my life from the fancy to cheap-o, and Lulu’s Organics is by far, my favorite. It rubs in nicely without leaving the hair grey or stiff or sticky, and smells pretty good. Its ingredients are just as harmless as any homemade remedy I’ve found from the hardcore no-pooers. Plus, I’m a sucker for the pretty lady label. Baby powder will also do the trick on a budget, but with a bit more static–and the smell of baby powder.

I’ve also been growing out my bangs during this phase, because nothing bugs me more than a greasy straight-down fringe. I plan on chopping them again soon, but in the meantime, having them long enough to pull back or sweep aside has been helpful. Deep parts are your friend, because they allow you to literally mask the slippery little wispys with longer hair on top to control it.

There are a ton of forums and other resources for going shampoo free, with advice for all hair types and problems. The common thread is to experiment and see what works for you. Good luck to anyone trying it too!

[top photo by Andrea Hubner]

NATURAL MIGRAINE REMEDIES

5

14.2.13

This past year, I’ve had the supreme joy of learning what a migraine is. The first time, I lost almost all vision for about 30 minutes, and was pretty much terrified. I never knew this was a symptom, and man, is it inconvenient. But now I know the “aura”–which will pass within an hour–is a helpful little cue from my body that a horrible headache is on the way, and I should immediately pop an Excedrin and have a little caffeine to minimize it. Inevitably, this will not be enough. I tend to get hit pretty hard with the nausea part. I’m not sure whether it’s hormonal, dietary, or stress-triggered–and of course, major life changes, prescription medications, or acupuncture may be in order if severe cases persist. But a little research and experience has led me to these simple, natural migraine remedies for immediate comfort.

water / sleep mask / pillow / feverfew / teas / massage tips

Do you have any other ideas or tips?

3-WAY // HOW TO WEAR LEATHER LEGGINGS

2

04.2.13

As part of my effort to streamline (and save money) lately, I have to really convince myself I need something before I bite the bullet. So when I dream of (faux) leather leggings, I consider how they’ll fit into my wardrobe, and how they’ll reinvent the items I already have. Basically, it’s an only-staples rule. 3 easy, go-to outfits, minimum. So here’s a little collection–using only items I already had–showing how to wear leather leggings in three different ways:

Because these babies are edgier than almost all of my other pants, my instinct is to downplay with everyday basics and neutrals. Shown are these faux leather leggings, and all other items pictured are linked below.

LOOK 1. white tee + army jacket + Chuck Taylors + red lip // This works for my casual office, and is surprisingly easy to wear. I also love that it gives me a good way to wear those sneakers, which I’ve had forever, but always passed over for my solid black ones. But here, they add a little pattern to an otherwise plain palette.

LOOK 2. denim shirt + cozy sweater + colored ankle boot + ceramic ring // Also work-appropriate. The denim-sweater combo is sort of sweet and rustic, which is fun to mix up with the leggings.

LOOK 3. slouchy black top + (vintage or) faux fur jacket + black heels + gold necklace // The real dress-up outfit. No color, no sparkle, now pattern, and only minimal jewelry here, because the jacket-legging paring does enough statement-making for me. I have a vintage fur jacket left over from Snow Jacket, and still haven’t gotten totally comfortable wearing it. (Any other suggestions?)

And just for fun, here’s how to wear leather leggings in an outfit I’m still dreaming of…

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GEOMETRIC DIYs FOR THE UNCRAFTY

2

31.1.13

Despite the fact that I’m terribly uncrafty, I can help but be attracted to these (somewhat) easy-seeming geometric DIY projects. The chandelier, which you may remember from this renovation post, may not be exactly shape-based, but with flexible lines, it’s still a graphic statement. That kind of blending vintage materials and very modern, clean aesthetic is what I love most in design. I may try to work my way up to that gorgeous lamp, starting with these cute, understated earrings.

1 / 2 / 3

ALSO: Love Rachel’s collection of DIY projects, especially the mountain pillow.

ALSO: How to make fake snow + frost

MAKING SNOW IN LA

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29.1.13

While production designing Snow Jacket, I had the challenge of creating snow and frost for the crucial first few shots of the film–which was set in Brooklyn in the dead of winter, and shot in downtown Los Angeles. The story is about a long-distance couple who, over the course of the film, start to fall apart under the pressure of their own baggage and external forces, and the weather is a key symbol for those external forces.

Because of our microbudget, profesional film snow wasn’t an option, but I put Google–and a lot of trial and error–to work. The solutions I found were ultimately SO SIMPLE.