Hmmm...

Satin contraceptive cushions, plopping and blue turbans.

What we do for beauty!

Have a great hair day, all.
e-m

I can't brush my hair, it's too thick...unless it's been blow dried straight. I don't do that much anymore though since I've become low, low maintenance.

I have a strange and fairly unattractive comb which has been my only way of getting through my hair, for 30 years! It's a daggy, cheap plastic thing, with flexible teeth and big gaps between them. No other comb can go through my hair, I have tried every other type on the market.

I recently found one just like it (after 20 + years of casually looking!), so now I have two, which should see me right!

I agree, it's hard to know whether to brush or not, given the conflicting info. As I can't brush anyway, I have to say it doesn't seem to have done me any more harm than anything the brushers mention. If I were you, Supriya, I would stop brushing for a while and see if you notice any difference. I can guarantee there's no absolute *need* to brush.

cheers,
e-m

Hmmm, interesting!

re: the drying effect..maybe it's to do with the amount? I use less than 1 Tbs bicarb to however much water to make a very thin slurry....and no drying out for me. Also, it could be an individual difference?

Have a lovely day,

e-m

http://www.braun.com/global/products/fooddrink/blendersjuicers/powerblend/models/mx2050.html

I have the Braun Powerblend; powerful with glass jug. In fact I have a couple of them as I love them so much!

Hi Supriya,

Aha! Maybe you are a convert after all! It's interesting that you find the bicarb dries out your hair, and you still need conditioner. I was thinking just the other day that the interesting thing for me is the hair doesn't look or feel oily, but very clean and light despite the fact (which I love) that the natural sebum seems to remain, unlike with shampooing. It seems to be the best of both worlds; clean but not "stripped" of natural oils.

I stopped doing highlights a couple of years ago, as I wanted to get to know the real look of me (seeing where the greys would grow) after many years of colouring, so I guess another benefit there is that I don't have to use conditioner as well.

One hint I've evolved: if you get a squeezee bottle (mine was just from Coles, in the kids' lunchbox section) and make up the solution in that, it's really easy to squeeze it along the (7 or so) parts you can make along you scalp before rinsing out in the shower.

Happy New Year, and please keep us up to date with how the hair goes!

cheers,
e-m.

I will do that with my next pack, Sheryl. I don't buy nuts that often, though.

I showed my husband the little tails, and we examined it in full light; he also saw them as sprouts. We couldn't believe our eyes. I wish I had taken a photo...

cheers,
e-m

Thank you RGG and erthmum for your replies.

I should have taken a photo, RGG. If I had known this was a pretty cosmic phenomenon, I would have, but I wasn't sure if this happens a lot or not at all. I gather from your and erthmum's replies, though, that it's in the "exciting" basket.

Erthmum, as I empty all my nuts/seeds/dried food into glass jars after buying, I don't actually know which brand it was. At a guess, it was Woollies own brand "Raw Cashews" as I remember somewhere in the deep and distant past thinking, "would that they really were, but I'll buy them anyway".

Next time I buy a packet, I will do the experiment again. Alas, I used all the ones yesterday to make a pretty spesh dish, with lemon and dill. ("Alas" only in terms of that I can't repeat with same batch).

cheers,
e-m

Hi Gosia,

It's OK...I have really made peace with my hair...my mantra is "I am bigger than my hair"...

It can look how it takes it into its head (or onto my head) to look; the only thing I draw the line at is how it feels...I don't like it greasy or itchy.

Will watch with interest your comparison of conditioner v bicarb! Mind you, my hair is, I think, coarser than your soft locks, so as the bicarb softens mine to anoptimal degree, you may find yours becomes too soft. Each has to find their solution, as ever. Good Luck!

I just had an unexpected but not unwelcome surprise with the "raw" cashews I was soaking to make a cashew cheeze. Having bought these just in Woolies, I never for a moment thought they might really, truly be "raw", as I assumed that all cashews, even those labelled "raw", had been heat-treated; especially the standard supermarket ones. I only soak them for a couple of hours to soften them, not to sprout them, as I thought that heat treated ones wouldn't sprout anyway.

Imagine my surprise to find they had done just that! Little tails appeared even as they sat in the water!

Does this mean they really are the real, raw deal? Or do heat treated ones sprout? I thought not, but I would like to ask those with more experience. Thank you!

I have curls too! Don't particularly love them though...when I was a teenager I had a terrible time of it; too much hair (think afro!), too thick, too curly; too hot! As the years have passed, my hair has thinned, and I actually prefer it boring!

Let us know how the experiment goes and if the curls like it.

e-m.

Hello Supriya,

No, I didn't try the conditioner method; I didn't actually know about it then. I'm happier, though, to avoid conditioner, as I feel that the bicarb is just simpler and therefore better, for me. The conditioner option sounds way gentler than shampoo, and that's great, but it still is a hotchpotch of ingredients which I'm happier to leave out if I can.

I don't know if the bicarb solution would suit anyone else, but I must say my hair is nicer with this than it ever was with any shampoo; I'm sticking with it!! Maybe you could try it and let me know how it goes?

cheers, e-m.

I didn't wash my hair with anything except water for 6 months this year. I was determined that it would work for me, as I didn't want to use shampoo ever again. I have long, fairly curly/wavy hair, but during those 6 months it was lank and never felt really that great. I waited, and waited, but in the end I realised it was never going to improve.

So, now I use a 50:50 solution of bicarb and water once or twice a week. I apply this to my hair (parted in around 8 places as I go) with a squeezy bottle, and rinse out straight away in the shower. I am so delighted with this method...my hair is so soft and clean; it is a gentle method which makes my hair "feel" gentle too.

Sometimes I rinse afterwards with chamomile tea if I feel like it, but I don't really need to. Very simple, and very effective.

Hi Wookie,

Glad to help! They do have coffee too. It is run by two of the loveliest people you can meet, Bart and Jody. Jody reckons anyone non-vegan who tries their coffee (with soymilk) becomes hooked, much to their (the non-vegan's) amazement.

Hi there Tora Chan,

They do the BEST Big Salad, which is a work of art. They will put on or leave off whatever you request. They do their own raw ice-creams (vanilla, banana, choc chip) made from cashews and coconut I think (although perhaps the coconut isn't 100% raw; you will have to ask them). Also, at least 2 raw cakes; one of which is a jaffa cake to DIE for. I think the other is lemon, but I have never got past the jaffa myself.

They sell raw choccy bars too, and make juices etc. They are happy to provide their customers with whatever they ask for, so if you have suggestions for them, speak out; Jody is a fabulous chef who can put her skills to anything.

I'm not related to this business in any way! Except as a more-than-satisfied and grateful customer. Please give them your custom, and enjoy!

Hi Wookie,

One World Love cafe in Mudgeeraba is vegan, and does a few raw dishes too; they have raw cake! Very nice...

cheers,

E-M.

Hello Wookie,

Your menu is amazing. I think you should re-do it on a Xmas thread (there is one around at the moment on this site), to give people lots more ideas. Well done! I have taken good note.

E-M.