Earth is Love

Body Care that’s Good for You and the Environment

Taking care of your body doesn't have to be done with chemicals that are harmful to both yourself and the earth. There are many products, from shampoo to deodorant to even hair wax, which are all natural. Some you can even make yourself using items you may have in your cupboard.

Deodorant NEW!!!
Hair care NEW!!!
Lex waxing

The following list is a work in progress.
Last updated 1/6/09

Deodorant
There is a lot of talk in the green community about the safety of deodorant. I won’t go into the details because I don’t know what to believe. However I prefer to err on the side of caution. So I no longer use store bought deodorant.

I’ve been washing my under arms with a paste made from baking soda and water. This works so well that even I, who had terrible body odor before, have found that my underarms no longer smell. I haven’t felt the need for deodorant yet (however I haven’t tried this in the summer. We’ll see how well that goes)

Aside from baking soda you can also buy deodorant that is healthy for you and the environment. I have terressentials deodorant that works wonderfully (was using it before I started the baking soda routine). I had bought one of the scented ones though next time I think I’ll get unscented. The scent went away after about half an hour leaving me smell free.

There are other deodorant products that are natural as well. However the terressentials is the one that I found to be totally free of chemicals.

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Hair Care NEW!!!
Shampoo tends to strip the hair of its natural oils, causing the scalp to produce these oils in overdrive. Most shampoos are full of chemicals that are harmful to the environment as well. After washing your hair the shampoo goes down the drain and eventually back to nature.

There are other products that can be used in washing hair other than shampoo. Those who do such things call it “no poo”. These products include, but are not limited to, baking soda (BS), apple cider vinegar (ACV), apple sauce, milk, clay, etc.

I personally use baking soda and apple cider vinegar in my hair. Since I’ve been using this I’ve noticed that my hair is softer, doesn’t tangle easily, and is cleaner. It was quite a leap of faith at first, and a bit scary. But now that I’ve been no poo I’m not going back. Also I’ve been using baking soda to clean my under arms and feet and have noticed that I no longer have any body odor. Though I haven’t tried this in Summer yet so we’ll see how well it works.

Basically I bring two cups into the shower with me. One with baking soda and one with a bit of apple cider vinegar. After getting my hair and body wet I put some water into the cup with the baking soda. Just enough to make a paste. I then massage the paste into my scalp and my underarms and feet. I wash the rest of my body as usual, leaving the baking soda in for as long as possible.

I then rinse out the baking soda with the shower water. It’s important to make sure you get all of the baking soda out or it can be very drying for the scalp. I suggest rinsing to the point where it feels like you’ve over rinsed.

I then take the cup with the apple cider vinegar. I add water to it (one part vinegar to 3 parts water). I slowly pour this over my hair and massage again. I then rinse the apple cider vinegar off (the smell is gone by the time my hair dries).

I should warn you that this will not strip your hair. So your hair may go through a detox period where it is a little oily feeling. This usually lasts about 6-8 weeks. It didn’t happen with my hair though. So not everyone goes through detox. I also suggest not using the baking soda and apple cider vinegar every day. Every 3 days to once a week should be fine. You can do just water the rest of the days or keep it dry. Basically I wash mine as it needs it. It doesn’t need to be washed every day anymore.

I used to have very oily hair. Not any more. My hair is also lighter and softer. I love it! Plus the ingredients are inexpensive and natural. They won’t harm your body or the environment.

You also shouldn't use chemcial products in your hair while no poo. It will make the detox last forever.

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Leg Waxing:
You can wax your legs (or whatever) using just sugar, water, lemon juice, and strips of cloth. It's less irritating then store bought waxes and is good for the environment. You can even wash the cloth strips and reuse them.

To find out more click here

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