Mail Call: Shampoo Planet
Here’s a letter we recieved from reader Melanie:
Dear Chekhov,
I have been having issues with beauty packaging lately. I ran out of the hair goop I like to use and I am looking for a refillable replacement or something that doesn’t come in a plastic container. Ideally I would like to be able to make some myself because I think that would be better for the environment and better for my budget. Any suggestions?
Dear Melanie,
The beauty and cosmetics industry is definitely guilty for laying on the packaging a bit thick, so bravo for deciding to stick it to them and busting yourself free from their plastic purgatory. Unfortunately, unless you’re a gung-ho frontiersperson (or a cat), it’s almost next to impossible to avoid all packaging. There are definitely ways to cull our contributions to the waste stream, however.
One solution is to check with your neighborhood Body Shop to see if it still refills bottles that customers bring in. A note of caution, however: Body Shop-aficionado Green LA Girl found that her products ran the gamut of low to high toxicity, so I would recommend checking your particular item against the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep site. In fact, I would exercise the same caution when purchasing any kind of conventional bottle shampoo because they tend to contain undisclosed contaminants, a boatload of preservatives, immunotoxins, neurotoxins, synthetic fragrances, and both possible and probable carcinogens, which are quickly absorbed into your scalp with the aid of warm water and detergent.
My human is a fan of Aubrey Organics, but we’ve also heard good things about Dr. Bronner’s liquid castile soaps—made with organic coconut, olive, hemp, and jojoba oils—which claim 18 different uses, including as a shampoo. Because you need to dilute one part soap to 10 parts warm water before applying it to your hair, it’d be a while before you have to call on the good doctor again. Bonus: The bottles are made with 100 percent post-consumer recycled plastic so you can stick it to the petroleum industry, too.
If you have a deep and uncontrollable loathing for bottles of any kind, try using shampoo bars made with natural or organic oils from companies such as Alpine Naturals (also doubles up as a body bar), Elayne’s Garden, Lush, Rawganique, and Vermont Soap. (Tip: Visit Spot Organics for organic shampoo bars for sudsing smelly pooches.) Unless you’re ordering online and having your bar shipped to you, the only packaging you’d have to contend with is likely a strip of paper you can easily recycle.
Making your own shampoo is also less complicated than you might think. A basic shampoo formula, according to Greta Breedlove, author of The Herbal Home Spa, comprises liquid soap, water, herbs, a vegetable oil, and your favorite essential oils. Recipes abound online and a number of home-made skin- and hair-care manuals are also available by seasoned professionals. By going the DIY route, you’ll know exactly what’s going into your products, not to mention save a bunch of dough.
And guess what? You could also join the swelling ranks of people who are saying poo poo to ‘poo. (Why anyone would need anything more than their tongue and some spit is beyond me, personally.) Traci Hukill talks about “the myth of shampoo” in the Oct/Nov 2006 issue of Plenty, and with God as her witness, she’ll never use shampoo again (your mileage may vary). You can also find a detailed primer on going shampoo-free here if you’re feeling particularly kinky (hur hur).
Sudsily,
Chekhov
Have a burning question about health and the environment? Leave a comment or e-mail chehov-at-worstedwitch-dot-com.
Dustywheat said,
October 11, 2006 at 4:28 pm
Hmm… I’ll have to check these out. I stopped using a particular brand of direct sale shampoo because I noticed more, um, shedding than I did with other shampoos. Also, is there an earth-friendly alternative to conventional hair dye?
Jasmin said,
October 11, 2006 at 4:43 pm
Reposting from e-mail:
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I know that if you want to darken your hair, you can steep two bags of black tea and use it as a rinse.
Most health stores also have vegetable, henna-based hair dyes.
Also, from The Green Guide:
Brianne said,
October 12, 2006 at 5:37 am
I speak from experience that Dr. Bronner’s rocks so hard it hurts. It’s not the tastiest toothpaste but I use it for damn near everything else, including the rat cage and cat box with a little GSE
thissinglespark said,
October 12, 2006 at 10:59 am
This doesn’t answer the original question of what to do about packaging, but there is lots of good info (including on personal care products) by brand name on this site: http://www.lesstoxicguide.ca/index.asp
They do have some recipes for making your own stuff as well, but not for everything.
melanie said,
October 12, 2006 at 11:07 am
Thanks Chekov! My husband stopped washing his hair years ago because of a scalp condition and he says it is much better than it used to be - also, his hair looks fine (think and curly) and doesn’t smell (although it is messy but I chalk that up to him being a mad-scientist and not combing it and not because he doesn’t wash it). I am tempted to try the no-wash challenge for a while myself although I am letting my hair go grey for a while and I am not sure I can handle having greasy grey hair (I’m only 30 after all!)
You have definitely given me some things to think about.
aleta said,
October 13, 2006 at 7:10 pm
FYI, The no-poo link goes to a site about alternatives to clumping cat litter. I’d be interested to read more about the no-poo method, I’ve heard of it but I have no idea HOW it works.