Prenatals

No, I am not prego.  Today while I was browsing through the store I stumbled into the vitamin aisle and remembered reading that Lauren Conrad swears by taking prenatal vitamins for expedited hair growth and health.  Seeing that I am slightly obsessed with Lauren Conrad and since her hair is absolutely stunning and beautiful and longgg, I'm not going to argue with her logic.  I have always wanted long hair, I often long (see what I did there?) for lengthy hair that I can twist into a beachy side fishtail braid or sweep up into a romantic updo.  But I just never seem to have the patience.  My hair grows out just longer than my shoulders and I get so bored that I need a dramatic change and just chop it all off.  Not anymore my friends!  I solemnly swear (that I'm up to no good...as always) that I will grow my hair long and I will not cave into a dramatic change.  If I need a dramatic change in my life, I will go back to blonde or change my makeup or reinvent my personality or something other than cutting my locks.  My goal is to grow my hair long and luscious and have beautiful bouncy curls and hair health that means my hair will stop falling out and a gross rate and these prenatal vitamins are my medium of doing it.  Not to mention that these pills are actually adorable and pink and not too big.  I'm supposed to take them once a day, with meals.  So tomorrow morning, while I am pouring my big bowl of lucky charms (case and point of why I'm not ready to be an actual mother) I will pause and think of my long hair as I wash down my new vitamin.  Stay turned for more wacky ideas that I randomly come up with and commit to, it's always interesting to be maryFREAKINGhalpin. ;]

Ps.  Lauren Conrad's hair stylist also recommends rinsing your hair with apple cider vinegar once a week, which I use as my "conditioner" for No Poo!

Remember to subscribe to my lovely blog, and twitter, and tumblr xoxo, mfh

No Poo Challenge: Month 3

I have spent my entire life, hating my hair.  I have thick, curly mousy brown hair and I have spent most of my life trying to change it.  I have been dying my hair since 7th grade and straightening to death every day for years.  This summer, I took a risk at letting nature work itself out and not washing my hair.  Now, it has been three months since using shampoo and I could not be happier.  My curls are actual...curls!  They are perfect ringlets.  They are bouncy and voluminous and beautiful.My hair is not greasy at all.  Not the slightest bit.

Unfortunately, there are a few downsides.  I am still shedding like crazy.  I don't know if this is more or less than normal with shampoo or what.  Maybe it's all the dead hair finally leaving my scalp to make room for all the non-damaged hair in result of going no poo.  Also, I have noticed that my hair actually got too dry and lacked moisture and grease.  So I bought some sulfate-free conditioner (note to self:  Suave shampoos and conditioners do not contain sulfates) and have been using that.  Now, my routine consists of using my baking soda mixture once a week or once every other week and using conditioner about every other day.

My hair is soft and supple and has beautiful curls days after getting it wet.  I absolutely ADORE my no poo routine.  It has significantly cut down on my shower and primping time and has given me great results.  This may possibly have partly to do with spending my summer on a lake and being in the water every single day and air-drying my hair in the wind off boats.  I am curious to see how my hair adjusts once I go back to Boston and am no longer rinsing my hair in the mineral-rich lake and have the winter havoc left on my hair.

Remember to subscribe to my lovely blog, and twitter, and tumblr xoxo, mfh

No Poo Challenge: Day 29

Another update on my No Poo challenge.  It has now been 29 days and I have used Baby Power to dry out my roots 3 times, used baking soda once, and apple cider vinegar once.  I have noticed that my hair is noticeably softer and shinier.  It has been three days since I have used the baking soda and vinegar and my hair is not greasy at all.  I have noticed though, that my hair has been falling out.  Every time I run my fingers through my hair or brush it, several hairs fall out.  I don't know if this is normal or not.  My best guess is that I'm getting rid of the dead and damaged hair, but I'm really not sure.  Does this happen to anyone else?

45 in 45

This is becoming my summer of challenges.  First it was No Poo, then 101 in 1001, and now it’s 45 in 45.  That means I have 45 articles of clothing (including shoes, not including belts, jewelry, under-things, or workout clothes/pajamas) for 45 days.  I can only wear those pieces.  This will be interesting.  This challenge is inspired by the blog Kendi Everyday who is doing 30 in 30.  At Culver, I wanted to pack lightly and only bring the necessities while I’m in my interim housing in the forest, and was planning on bringing more later when I move into my actual dorm.  Now, I plan on skipping the extra load of clothes and rethinking my current collection.  Luckily, I am an expert packer and have a diverse mix of light summery pieces, neutral work clothes, and a few basics (do hot pink ballet flats with rhinestones count as basics?)  Anyway, I have these clothes and these clothes only until July 25.  I will try to post pictures everyday to keep track.  I’d love your feedback on what you think of this latest challenge as well as feedback on any of my outfits!

No Poo- Day 26

Today is day 26 of my No Poo challenge.  And a challenge it has been.  Last week was the worst week, by far.  When I left my hair curly, it was completely greasy, unmanageable, and disgusting.  For most of the week I simply threw my hair up in a bun.  When I brushed my hair out and straightened it, the roots looked greasy, but was not too bad.  After straightening it, I rubbed baby powder into all of my roots, and then it was all good and fine.  Tuesday night, I used the baking soda + water = shampoo method during my shower and although kind of a pain in the butt to work through all of my hair, it felt clean.   Ya know that feeling when your hair feels squeaky clean?  It was just like that, but better since I haven’t felt that way in a month now.  Afterwards, I used the apple cider vinegar + water = conditioner method.  It was not as difficult to work through my hair as the baking soda, so maybe it just requires practice.  I was really worried about the smell though.  Apple Cider vinegar definitely smells better than regular vinegar, but it definitely still smells rank.  Luckily, once diluted with water then rinsed out, my hair didn’t smell like anything. Phew!  I wore my hair curly on Wednesday and straightened it Wednesday afternoon.  My hair was not greasy at all and looked like fresh, clean hair.  It was awesome.  I asked my friend if it smelled, and they said that it smelled like my perfume (I spray it in my hair, the scent lasts longer) and hair; neither of which were bad scents.  I will probably only use the baking soda/vinegar method once a week or as needed and then wean myself off of that too.  My goal is to have no hair products when I study abroad next spring.  I’ll keep you updated, but I strongly recommend the baking soda and vinegar concoctions, they really definitely are worth the trouble.

No Poo Challenge

I've joined the No Poo bandwagon, or simply, have stopped using shampoo. This is my day 8 update.