Beauty Bar Neutral Cleanser, Aroma Beauty Bars, and Beyond Shampoo Bar
are all made with natural and organic ingredients and are completely biodegradable. That means after a few minutes the lather will break down into nothing after its cleansing action is done. Rinsing the shampoo is immediate and you won’t see a big foamy residue in the tub. Void of the silicones and synthetic ingredients that create an artificial “silkiness” and “shine”, my shampoo bars cleanse and condition your hair with natural botanicals, oils, and butters. That being said, those are the conditioning qualities that are left behind once the cleansing lather has done it’s job.
Chemical ingredients like Dimethicone, Methicone, Amodimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Dimethiconol (ingredients ending in “cone”) coat the hair with a plastic like barrier to create a temporary silky/shiny effect. Big sudsing action accompanies these ingredients to distribute this coating evenly, but this actually impedes nutrients and conditioning from absorbing into the hair and skin.
If you are used to using shampoos with big sudsing action and fragrance (synthetic aromas that make the liver work double time to detox) you are set up for a transition period that I want you to be aware of. Once you stop the fake “shine” you will reveal hair that is thirsty for real moisture and nourishment.
Remember how everyone said you have to switch your shampoo every once in a while because it doesn’t work anymore? Well, that’s because it was never really caring for your hair in the first place and after a few months of coating your hair in synthetic glossing agents the hair starts to freak out underneath all of that “plastic” with brittle and frizzy characteristics.
Britta Aragon sums it up beautifully in her blog, describing how that artificial coating on the outside of skin and hair causes several issues:
- It traps everything under it—including bacteria, sebum, and impurities—which could lead to increased breakouts and blackheads in the skin and on the scalp.
- The coating action actually prevents the skin from performing its normal activities—like sweating, temperature regulating, sloughing off dead skin cells, etc.
- Prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant.
- Those with sensitive or reactive skin are at risk of an allergic reaction to dimethicone.
- On top of all this, dimethicone is a non-biodegradable chemical—bad for the environment.
She goes on to describe how using these types of ingredients on your skin/hair can actually exacerbate skin aging by inhibiting skin’s natural processes, creating a dependency on the coating product, disrupting the skin’s own hydrating processes, which in the end increases dryness, making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable- or in the case of your hair, dry and frizzy with possible breakage. The coating properties may increase breakouts, particularly if you’re susceptible to acne, which will lead to scars and older-looking skin and irritating bumps on the scalp. Without nourishing the health and vitality of the skin and hair, aging take its toll.
The Transition Period
Monsoon Nectar relies on oils (essential oils, fixed oils, butters) and botanicals to cleanse, nourish and condition the hair and scalp. Our skin secretes a natural moisturizer called sebum and these oils are most similar to our sebum and are readily absorbed and utilized.
Once you reveal the true condition of your hair it might take a little time to rejuvenate your locks, but trust the process. Just like any health regimen it might take a few weeks to see big results, but immediate changes will be taking place.
Think about how oils break down oils. If there is a gummy sticky glue-like mess you want to clean up, soap and water doesn’t work, because oil and water don’t mix. Using an oil breaks down that substance (oils mix with oils) and removal is easy. On a less extreme level that is how oils are great cleanser for the hair, scalp, and skin. Using high nutrient oils and botanicals imparts rejuvenating qualities in this process.
Gone are the days of a big foamy lather with the hair piled up on the head- that is only going to create tangles and stress on the hair when using a natural shampoo bar.
- Brush your hair out before you shampoo. This is stimulating to the scalp and distributes your natural sebum from the scalp down the hair shaft. We loose 80-120 hairs a day and brushing usually captures this hair so you don’t see it all over the house or at the bottom of the drain.
- Removing snarls and tangles before you shampoo ensures better distribution of your shampoo bar lather.
- Remember, your scalp is an extension of your complexion, so focus on your scalp for cleansing.
- Since the shampoo bar is loaded with moisturizing oils you can monitor this conditioning, or lessen it, depending on your application.
If you want a heavier finish with a more smoothing and conditioning action, massage your shampoo bar directly on the scalp. Distribute the lather by targeting the sides of the head, the top and the back. For long hair you might slide the shampoo bar down the hair a few times. Put the bar down and massage the lather and distribute evenly over your scalp and then finger comb or squeeze the lather down your hair. Keep your hair organized in a downward direction and not bundled up in tangles. The initial, foamy lather will start to biodegrade immediately, so squeeze the lather down your hair right away. As the lather disappears nourishing oils and butters are what is left behind on the hair. This will feel very different and you might think your hair feels waxy or greasy. Trust the process.
If you desire a light finish, lather the shampoo bar in your hands first and then apply to your scalp and hair following the directions above.
Try both versions above without conditioning your hair afterwards. Air dry or blow-dry and feel the effect.
On a different occasion, shampoo and then follow with a conditioner. Make sure you follow up with a natural product, like Beyond Condition, as to not reintroduce chemicals and synthetics that won’t be compatible with natural oils- a conventional conditioner full of chemicals and synthetics will not feel compatible.
Trust the process and try the shampoo bar first with out conditioning afterwards. On another occasion, use the shampoo bar and then use Beyond Condition afterwards in the shower. Experiment with air drying and then blow-drying. Compare the effects and results.
Hair that its thicker, thinner, textured, curly or straight will all react differently, so know your options for a fuller finish or a sleeker finish:
- Shampoo. Rinse. Comb out. Air dry or blow-dry.
- Shampoo. Rinse. Apply Beyond Conditioner. Rinse. Air dry or blow-dry.
- Shampoo. Rinse. Comb out. Apply and leave-in Beyond Conditioner to towel dry hair. Air dry or blow-dry.
- Shampoo. Rinse. Comb out and towel dry hair. Apply one of the Chakra Aroma Moisturizers as a serum on damp hair. Comb through hair and condition. Air dry or blow-dry. Experiment with a light and heavy application.
- Shampoo. Rinse. Comb out and towel dry hair. Apply a soft butter, like Dream Cream, to comb out hair and condition. Air dry or blow-dry.
- Shampoo. Comb out. Air dry or blow-dry. Then glaze dry hair with one of the Chakra Aroma Moisturizers or Dream Cream. Start mid hair strand and lightly apply moisturizer down and through hair. Your hands are like a tool, so distribute the moisturizer evenly on the front and back of your hands and lightly whisk your hands through your hair. You can always add more so start with a light application. If your scalp feels dry, massage your fingertips over your scalp after you have applied oil to hair. This is only a residual amount, so your hair will not look greasy. Mindful of your hairline.
Oils and butters will eventually weigh down your hair, so alternate with Beyond Shampoo when necessary. I do not use a shampoo bar every day. Once you see and feel the effects on your hair, you'll know when to use it according to the desired look you want to achieve.
My mantra
Get In Touch With Your Skin!
resounds here in the process of getting in touch with your hair and scalp by working your products differently. Different combinations of products and application techniques give you a variety of effects depending on your mood and look you are going for. Either way your hair will be bouncy and clean, rejuvenated and nourished for strength and shine- the hallmarks of healthy hair and scalp.
Check out my
blog
and the full story with more hair pics
to see the various effects you can get with the different combinations of shampooing with a shampoo bar and conditioning your hair by rinsing the conditioner out or leaving the conditioner in your hair, scrunching your conditioner in or smoothing it with a brush, blow drying or air drying, finishing with a serum or a butter.
Think of all of this moisturizing as a styling product to smooth and condition your locks! Experiment with a light or heavy application to easily style and manipulate your hair for your look and mood!
I gave up sticky, smelly, gummy gels, sprays, and hair styling products a long time ago for the natural feel and shine of healthy, happy hair.
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Beyond Shampoo Bar.
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