Every earthy gal looks at the ingredients on hair care products and cringes these days.  There are plenty of ingredients that can be avoided if you are trying to go ‘clean’ with the chemicals that you allow into your home.  While a good shampoo and conditioner are must-haves, Kayla Fioravanti RA, Chief Formulator and co-founder of Essential Wholesale has a few hints that will cut down your exposure and some items in your kitchen that can be used for added conditioning.

Kayla explains, “Everyone has to wash their hair.  It takes two to four surfactants to formulate a good shampoo.  Without the surfactants you hair won’t come clean so they are a necessity and not a luxury item.  Most people can’t skip conditioner either, but you can cut back the exposure you have to the conditioning agents by only conditioning the last inch or two of your hair and not putting any conditioner on your scalp.  Conditioners fall under the “wash-off” category of products and they do require chemical ingredients to serve their function, however, your exposure can be greatly limited by changing the way you use conditioner.”

Your kitchen is a fabulous source for hair treatments:

• Baking soda works wonders in your hair.  While your hair is dry before you take a shower, mix one tablespoon of baking soda with a cup of warm water, mix thoroughly and work it into your hair by hand and with a comb.  Then jump in the shower and rinse it out.
• Apple Cider Vinegar is natures wonder for hair.  Mix two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with a cup of warm water and work it into your hair.  Then jump in the shower and rinse it out.
• Lemon juice can be added to your conditioner and applied.  Mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with one tablespoon of conditioner and apply to your hair.  If you want to lighten your hair naturally spend some time in the sun with your hair damp with this solution.  If not then skip to the next step in which you rinse it our thoroughly in the shower.
• Real Mayonnaise is a wonderful hair conditioner.  To use simply dampen your hair, apply a thick layer of mayonnaise from your scalp to the ends of your hair.  Comb it through your hair and then sit back for twenty minutes and relax, then rise and shampoo as usual.  (If you have kids and they are ever exposed to head lice, the very best treatment comes right out your kitchen too.  Use one cup of mayonnaise and add a teaspoon of tea tree oil and mix.  Apply to the hair the same way but add a plastic cap or plastic wrap to the head and leave it for twenty to sixty minutes and rise.)
• Beer makes is a great rinse conditioner that leaves your hair more manageable.  Simply bring a bottle of flat warm beer into the shower with you.  Wash your hair with your regular shampoo and then rinse with beer.  Rinse again thoroughly with water unless you want to smell like old beer later in the day.
• Salt is the secret to that windblown messy hair look that many people strive for.  The salt dries in your hair and leaves it full bodied and sexy.  You can get the same look by adding a tablespoon of salt to 4 oz of water in an empty spray bottle.  After washing and conditioning your hair simply spray salt solution over hair and allow to air dry.