Long hair, short hair, straight hair, blue hair. No, this isn’t a long lost Dr. Seuss book, but I’m pondering the many, many ways we describe our hair, and how hair-status is one of the first descriptors we use for appearance, whether for ourselves or others.
The hundreds of conversations I’ve had in the comments across my various hair care posts are testament to how much of a priority hair and our care for it is. Hair is front and center.
Fifteen years ago, I described my own switch from washing my hair with conventional detergent-based shampoo to washing my hair with Dr. Bronner’s Castile Magic Soap. However, I have only one head of hair to manage and one set of opinions to consider: mine. That is hardly helpful to everyone else, with different hair types, lifestyles, environments, and styles.
Therefore, I wanted to introduce you to three other heads of hair that happened to be attached to three of my colleagues here at Dr. Bronner’s, my family’s company. Sofia, Garrison, and Monique all wash and care for their hair with various Dr. Bronner’s products. Each uses a slightly different combination of Dr. Bronner’s products and have their own techniques for caring for their hair. My hope is that in hearing all these different methods, you will get ideas that work for your hair and desired look.
Table of Contents:
- Why I wash my hair with soap
- Lisa Bronner—long, fine, wavy, highlighted hair
- Sofia Wolak—fine, wavy, frizzy, dry hair
- Garrison Goode—Afro-esque hair with dreadlocks and wicks
- Monique Rodriguez—thick, heavy, full, straight hair
Why I wash my hair with soap
All of the people I interviewed for this video gave me a different answer to why they started washing their hair with Dr. Bronner’s soap, from the ease of having one product to wash head to toe, to loving how their hair looked, to knowing the ingredients. These are all excellent reasons.
Since I’m the one with the keyboard here, I want to emphasize the point of ingredient integrity. Many conventional shampoos and conditioners use synthetic detergents, silicones, and synthetic fragrances that may persist in the environment or cause irritation for some users. I switched to Dr. Bronner’s products for my hair care because they are made with plant-based, readily biodegradable ingredients and simple, organic oils, plus they are scented only with essential oils and naturally derived ingredients.
But as I say in the video, I also do love being able to shower with one soap for hair, face, and body. That’s about all the complexity I can handle first thing in the morning.
You can find all the products mentioned by me and my colleagues, here on the Dr. Bronner’s webstore. Many are also available at your natural grocery store or other retailers near you.
Lisa Bronner—long, fine, wavy, highlighted hair
I describe my hair as:
- Long, thick, fine textured, little bit wavy, prone to dryness, highlighted
I switched to using soap more than 15 years ago, and my hair is healthy and strong. While I have read accounts of how soap isn’t as good for hair as shampoo, but my experience testifies otherwise. I love how my hair looks these days, and it is so easy to care for. Take note, though—it does not have that slippery feel that conventional conditioners give. However, it brushes out easily and dries nicely.
My Hair Products:
- Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap in Almond (or in extra dry weather, Dr. Bronner’s Organic Sugar Soap in Lemongrass Lime, or Dr. Bronner’s Organic Shaving Soap in Peppermint)
- Lemon juice, strained to be pulp-free, diluted in half with water.
- Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hair Crème in Lavender
- Dr. Bronner’s Organic Unscented Magic Balm
My Hair Routine
- Wash hair every three days with about ½ Tbsp. (7.5 mL) Magic Soap or 1 Tbsp. (15 mL) Sugar/Shaving Soap. Rinse.
- Pour 1 c. (240 mL) diluted lemon juice over hair and work through.
- Rinse, towel dry, and brush.
- Finger comb 1 ½ pumps of Hair Crème through hair, lightly at the roots, and more so at the ends.
- Brush and let air dry.
For light styling and to tame any frizzies up top, I use the Unscented Magic Balm. Just a bit on my fingertips is enough to apply.
Sofia Wolak—fine, wavy, frizzy, dry hair
Sofia describes her hair as:
- Fine, wavy, a bit frizzy, on the dryer side
Sofia switched over to soap for hair washing last year. The transition was not difficult for her, though she did have to experiment a bit to find the right amount and type of acidic rinse. It turned out she didn’t need much.
Sofia’s Hair Products
- Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Magic Bar Soap in Tea Tree
- Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hair Crème in Peppermint
- Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Organic Hair Rinse
- Dr. Bronner’s Organic Unscented Magic Balm
Sofia’s Hair Routine
- Twice a week, lather Magic Bar Soap in hands and run through wet hair, from scalp to ends.
- Once a week or every two weeks, apply a hair masque with 2 pumps of Hair Crème to just-washed wet hair. Work Crème through hair focusing on middle to ends. Let sit 5-10 minutes. Rinse out.
- After washing or applying the hair masque, dilute ¼ capful of Citrus Hair Rinse in 1 cup (240 mL) water. Work through hair. Let sit 1-2 minutes. Rinse out.
- Towel dry and let air dry.
On dry hair in between wash days, Sofia uses ¼ pump of the Hair Crème on the bottom half of her hair to leave it silky, smooth, and refreshed. If she experiences any frizzies, she pats them down a little bit of the Unscented Magic Balm on the tips of her fingers.
Garrison Goode—Afro-esque hair with dreadlocks and wicks
Garrison describes his hair as:
- 9 Wicks made from 6 crocheted dreadlocks each; Afro-esque at the roots
Garrison’s Hair Products
- Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Magic Soap in Citrus
- Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Organic Hair Rinse
- Dr. Bronner’s Organic Hair Crème in Peppermint
- Peppermint black castor oil & gel
Garrison has been using this routine for a year and half, since he began working at Dr. Bronner’s.
Garrison’s Hair Routine
- Weekly or biweekly, wash hair with 2 squirts of Magic Soap.
- Dilute Citrus Hair Rinse in half with water, and rinse hair with 2 capfuls.
- Daily, rejuvenate scalp and hair moisture with peppermint black castor oil, Hair Crème to give hair shine and softness, and gel for added control.
Monique Rodriguez—thick, heavy, full, straight hair
Monique describes her hair as:
- Thick, heavy, full, and naturally straight
Prior to her switch to Dr. Bronner’s products for hair care, Monique used to spend an hour every day to achieve the look she wants. Now, she values the simplicity and versatility of caring for her hair with Dr. Bronner’s.
Monique’s Hair Products
- Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, in a combination of Lavender and Eucalyptus
- Dr. Bronner’s Lavender Hair Crème
Monique’s Hair Routine
- Wash with 1 ½ Tbsp. (22.5 mL) Magic Soap. Rinse out.
- Towel dry.
- Finger comb 1 ¼ pumps Hair Crème through.
- Let air dry.
FAQs about caring for hair with natural ingredients
What’s the difference between soap & shampoo?
Shampoos are detergent-based. Detergents are a vast and varied range of compounds made in a more complex, multi-step reaction requiring laboratory synthesis. Soaps are simpler, made in a one-step reaction of a fat or oil (plants oils in the case of Dr. Bronner’s soaps) combining with a strong alkali. Most detergent shampoos are acidic, while all real soaps are alkaline.
Can I wash my hair with soap?
Yes, the mild, gentle cleaning of a soap like Dr. Bronner’s is great for washing hair. It is, however, a different chemistry than washing with conventional shampoo. Many people find that they need to follow up hair washing with soap by using an acidic rinse such as Dr. Bronner’s Organic Citrus Hair Rinse, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar.
Why does my hair feel waxy, greasy, or tangled after using soap?
The alkaline pH of real soap impacts hair differently than the acidic pH of the majority of conventional shampoos. If your hair feels waxy, greasy, matted, or tangled after washing with soap, it is likely because you need to balance the pH on the hair with an acidic rinse. You could use Dr. Bronner’s Citrus Organic Hair Rinse, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar diluted in water. Another possibility is that the soap was too heavy for the hair type. If you used Dr. Bronner’s Organic Sugar or Shaving Soap, try the Magic Soap instead. Allow your scalp and hair a transition period of two weeks to adjust to this new routine.
Do I need to dilute Dr. Bronner’s soap before applying to hair?
This is up to personal preference, but most people thoroughly wet their hair before applying soap, and this is enough water to dilute the soap as you apply it. However, if it works better for you to pre-dilute the soap, that is fine.
Can I wash my color-treated hair with soap?
It depends. Traditional hair dyes are stored within the hair follicles. The alkaline pH of soap opens the hair follicles and can cause the color to leach out. However, if your hair is highlighted, meaning that color is removed, with no color added, or if you use a henna-based color, which stains the follicle, it may be fine to wash your hair with soap. Please discuss this with your hair care professional. To add a personal note, I have highlighted hair which I’ve washed with soap for many, many years.
Now it’s your turn to share your hair routine
I’ve shared with you four different hair care routines on four different hair types and styles. Four out of untold varieties of hair preferences. If you care for your hair with natural ingredients, would you help out our community by adding your routine in the comments? Share the products you use, as well as the technique.
This will help create a great resource for the others who want to make the switch from conventional products to soap.
Special thanks to my colleagues Monique, Garrison, and Sofia, as well as my hair stylist Jamie who appears in the video! This was a fun (and hopefully helpful) video to put together!
