It was some time in September 2017 when we enjoyed our time on a lovely organic farm, near Bowling Green, Kentucky. One day I just woke up and had this urge inside of me to stop using soap and shampoo. I am not sure how exactly I came to this thought, but it possibly was just a build-up of various discussions, researches and debates over the past few years, and even more intensively over the past few months since we started our second cycle trip. Every time it came to shopping for toiletries, both back in Scotland and on the road, Jamie and I (more so me) would look at the labels for a long time, reading the ingredient list, trying to avoid all SLS, parabens, fragrances and so on. Furthermore, because we intended to use these products outside, they had to be eco-friendly and biodegradable. Undoubtedly, the packaging came into consideration as well. However long I spent in the shop trying to read a label after a label, I was never fully satisfied with the ingredient list and/or packaging.
Thus I suddenly asked myself - Why on earth am I using soap to wash myself!? It is not good for me or the environment.
I was raised up in this society that used all these very often chemical-laden products, therefore I was not quite aware of how my body might react if I suddenly stop using any of these products. I knew a little about people using more natural toothpaste and some people who have stopped using shampoos, but had no information about anyone not using soap or body wash. I decided to do a wee research before heading into this (for some) crazy adventure to a purer existence. I decided that this was something I was willing to do for my own body and for the environment around me, since I liked spending time outdoors and was responsible for any (intentional or not) pollution I could cause to air, soil and water by using commercial products.
I raised my concerns to Jamie, and he (without any hesitation or questioning as he can be a wee bit of a tinker just like me..,) agreed to join me on "a no-soap experiement". We knew that the hair and body would take some time to detoxify from all the products we have used for the past twenty odd years. With shorter hair it is so much easier, it takes less time for the hair to sort themselves out, but it can take 2-4 weeks with longer hair. Although it has been over half a year since I stopped using shampoo, my hair is naturally very greasy and I have to make my own shampoo time to time to get them clean. I will share my shampoo recipe with you later.
We reflected to our shopping in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, when we arrived to the USA. We went to a healthy food co-op to do some toiletry shopping. We spent more than one hour just looking for a toothpaste that had satisfactory healthy and biodegradable ingredients. After reading the endless ingredient labels of hundreds of various toothpastes, we opted out for Toms "natural" toothpaste, which still did not live up to our expectations. Then, the time to make a choice for the right soap and shampoo came, and when the shopping was done and okay choices were made, we felt so exhausted and frustrated. Needless to say that we wasted a lot of our time, energy and money.. However, now when we reflected to that experience, we were astonished that we put ourselves through it and didn't just drop the whole soap and shampoo thing right then and there.
It was time for us to hand out Toms toothpaste to someone else to use, our shampoo had ran out and would not be replaced, and our biodegradable black African soap was kept for washing our clothes when needed (we are not total tinkers, I even have made my own deodarant by now to use from time to time). Debbie, our HelpX host at the time and our new American mum, helped us in making our first all-natural toothpaste batch for the road. It was as simple as just 2 ingredients - cold-pressed and unrefined coconut oil and all well-known Baking Soda. And yes, I am aware of the processes involved in producing the Baking Soda, which is not ideal, but it is the best I can find so far, and the amount of it I use is insignificant. Baking soda just like other minerals is mined and extracted from our beloved earth. But the main thing, as we mention in our Bin Blog, is to REFUSE (bad and harmful chemicals and packaging) and to REDUCE the use of pretty much anything. Even using eco-friendly and harmless components in unnecessary excess can cause harm. I doubt it needs explanation, but, for example, increased usage of bicarbonate just because it is safe to use it, can lead to increased mining, depletion of resources, pollution and so on. Although the companies mining bicarbonate claim that there is abundance of this mineral, it does not mean we should be wasting it and using it without any caution and limitations.
If you are interested to read more about where the baking soda comes from, you can follow this link: https://www.treehugger.com/green-home/we-all-love-baking-soda-where-does-it-come.html, however, I am not satisfied with their closing paragraph "But when you consider that everything has a footprint on this earth and all products come with an intrinsic production cost – and that baking soda is capable of replacing countless other, much worse, lab-contrived substances in our daily lives – it remains a pretty decent option. In other words, you can go forward in your baking soda-fueled life without feeling terribly guilty."
These were the first more drastic steps we took towards a healthier lifestyle that benefits not only our health, but the health of others and the environment around us. And so far we have met countless people who have developed various allergies towards the chemicals in commercial products. They have been so thankful that we do not expose them to these chemicals, and we are thankful for any person we meet that does the same.
We need to admit, since we stopped using perfumes, shampoos and soaps, we have become more intolerant and sensitive towards all the smells and perfumes other people wear. Some of them can seem so intense that we could not spend any length of time with the person in one room.. But the near chemical-free lifestyle does lift your spirit, increase your well-being and gives you a sense of doing a good-deed for the planet.