Homemade Shampoos, Toothpaste, & Deodorant

judsoncarroll4

Another good article from the Almanac

https://www.almanac.com/homemade-shampoos-toothpaste-deodorant?trk_msg=R4HVPT98VJ1KD5TKULQC0OEE00&trk_contact=LMDLSPEJ8GGLRQ0UNPQ7G505QG&trk_sid=IH1V1C2HU196K1G7OUSI324BGG&trk_link=OCUO7ELER77KVFV4IM7DH5MQ58&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=Homemade+Shampoos%2c+Toothpaste%2c+%26amp%3b+Deodorant+(read+more)&utm_campaign=Companion+Daily&utm_content=Almanac.com

LaurieLovesLearning

Hmm. The peroxide is not good for enamel nor your gums.

There is controversy over using coconut oil in a toothpaste itself as it coats the teeth much like glycerin, which interferes with building the enamel.

Some people say to put trendy zylitol in or buy toothpastes with zylitol, because it is good for enamel. But, it is not actually a healthy/safe ingredient for a person's body (as many extracted concentrated commercial things are), and not something that can be obtained unless you know how to process it out of whatever it's sourced from. If I'm not mistaken, I think it usually is extracted out of corn or birch (but I might not be recalling that correctly).

My toothpowder has baking soda, salt & sage powder. I was thinking of adding some powdered myrrh, but I'm not sure how much to put in. It might also make it taste really strange.

The deodorant is fantastic! It even works on the worst teenage stink. I prefer arrowroot instead of cornstarch. Not only is it non-gmo, but I really like it's faint, delicate, sweet scent. If you are a guy, the arrowroot won't make you smell flowery if you are concerned about that sort of thing. It just makes it a little more pleasant, is all.

judsoncarroll4

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/915442#Comment_915442

I just use baking soda and Lysterine.

Torey

I'm in agreement with @LaurieLovesLearning on the peroxide. Not good for teeth and gums.

Xylitol was originally made from birch but now may be made from other plants, including other hardwoods and corn cobs. A good natural way to use xylitol would be to use a frayed birch twig to brush your teeth.

I make a tooth powder with myrrh powder, cinnamon, baking soda and a pinch of licorice. I've become quite accustomed to the taste of myrrh but it might be too much for some people. It is a version of a tooth powder by Rosalee de la Foret. This is the original recipe:

2 tablespoons cinnamon powder

1 tablespoon myrrh powder

2 teaspoons licorice root powder 

I was thinking of making a stick form of a deodorant using baking soda or arrowroot. Just haven't got the proportions worked out in my mind yet.

LaurieLovesLearning

So, @torey what benefits come with cinnamon and licorice?

Re: Xylitol I could see the stick method as the best way. It is on the teeth only and perfect in its balance with nature & delivery. No processing needed & you know where it comes from. Also, it's not being ingested.

I think it's main source is now from corn cobs because it is cheap to obtain & makes a saleable product out of commercial farm field waste.

Torey

Cinnamon's antibacterial properties been shown effective against Streptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for plaque formation. And its astringent, assisting gum health. Its also a powerful antifungal, so useful for treating or preventing any type of candida or thrush infection in the mouth.

Licorice is antimicrobial but I think it is mostly in the blend to improve the taste. It was suggested that if you don't like the taste of licorice, you could substitute stevia powder, but I don't think it is necessary.

Of course they are going to use the cheapest and most readily available source of xylitol no matter how much of an extraction process it has to go through. It is in soooo many things, particularly "sugar-free" products.

judsoncarroll4

As for deodorant, I wash my pits with lysterine, then rub on baking soda. It works much better than any commercial product. It is an old hunter's secret. So, same in mouth as on pits.

vickeym

Interesting. I have heard about the baking soda and vinegar for your hair before but have never gotten around to trying it. Maybe on my days off next week.

Isn't Listerine a pretty harsh chemical mix as well?

judsoncarroll4

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/915449#Comment_915449

Not really. It is basically a tincture of 4 essential oils and alcohol.

vickeym

https://community.thegrownetwork.com/discussion/comment/915452#Comment_915452

Good to know!

annbeck62

I've also added activated charcoal and neem bark to tooth paste powders.

I've tried making shampoo using castile soap but have found it very harsh for my hair even when I dilute it a lot.

LaurieLovesLearning

@vickeym I would personally avoid listerine. As much as their marketing tries to make it look good by touting the 4 essential oils, it is a product best avoided. Sucralose, sorbitol, sodium benzoate, benzoic acid and I suspect sodium saccharin, are not good & healthy ingredients. Then there are the nasty artificial colors that truly should not be ingested even though they are considered food safe.

You would be much better off figuring out how to use food safe essential oils (or herbs) & the alcohol to accomplish the same task rather than buy a product with all of these unnecessary and synthetic ingredients.

Total Care also uses sodium fluoride. Fluoride is very unhealthy. It will also most likely be a synthetic form at that.

I have no idea what zinc chloride (in Ultra Clean) is, because I've never needed to look it up, but it is always worth checking into an unknown further.

There is Propylene Glycol in their school free version. More from Dr. Are on this ingredient can be found here:

https://draxe.com/nutrition/propylene-glycol/

Itis always best to investigate each ingredient in what you use, whether a food ingredient, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, air fresheners, etc. Just because it is popular, sells well, has a long history of use, has some marketing that claims it is safe, is approved by a governing body, and is well marketed by big money, doesn't make a product a good choice.

Torey

I have found myrrh tincture to be quite effective as a mouthwash. Certainly not the best tasting thing but it sure works. Just a few drops swished around in the mouth.

vickeym

I had heard of using straight alcohol as a deodorant before. I think they used Everclear. Not an affordable option here. I wonder if it would work like the Listerine in the foot soak I saw a video on. That one used blue Listerine, but I can't remember what else was in it. It was supposed to remove dry, cracking, dead skin and calluses and leave your feet smooth and soft.

gardneto76

My daughter bought a kit to make her own bar shampoo but no one likes it. The bar leaves all of our hair very dry and it breaks to easily so we had to stop using it. I have no idea what was in there.

Torey

Mountain Rose Herbs just posted (or reposted) a blog article about herbal mouthwashes.

https://blog.mountainroseherbs.com/herbal-mouthwash-recipe?utm_medium=email&_hsmi=222589510&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8WOA1Cp5KUUpUFLZVOayxymU1bh4bCLi0jemUCn_fDrsYjo5NFWMaFbG_QwVzm64-jP10-j5JGhwNE0IyiPkbZQxCvMQ&utm_content=222589291&utm_source=hs_email

Owl

Have you ever used one of these types deodorant? https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HMR7W8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I switched to it when I wasn’t physically able to make anything homemade but learned about how much I didn’t want to use the horrible deodorant I grew up using anymore. I’m hesitant to bother with making any homemade because I hate the feeling of any kind of oil in my pits.

Torey

@Owl Yes, I have. I tend to sweat a lot and while these do work, I often need something extra. So I would add a dusting of baking soda after applying the crystal.

Owl

Does it cut down on the sweating or just help with pit funk? My dad has never needed deodorant. Only when he was in the army and it was required, has he ever worn it and I’ve never known him to smell despite working outside in the heat all his life. I didn’t inherit that trait unfortunately but the crystal stuff is plenty for me. I do however, sweat constantly, it seems and would love to slow that down!

Torey

No, it just helps with the odour; doesn't cut down on the amount you sweat. I, too, would love slow down the sweating just a wee bit.

LaurieLovesLearning

@Owl & @torey The only thing is, that's how your body cools and it is one way that your body cleanses itself. To stop perspiration is not really a good idea.

A

Best Natural Deodorant: mix 3 parts baking soda + 1 part fine sea salt. Apply a little pinch of the powder to wet skin after shower. Husband and I have both used this for over 15 years and it completely eliminates odor, sometimes for days.

A

P.S. If you have rough hands or feet, rub them with baking soda and wash it off and your skin will be silky soft!

Torey

Welcome to TGN's forum @A. If you could add a couple of letters (or numbers) to your name it will be easier for us to tag you in conversations. We have an introductions section where you can let us know what part of the world you are from.

Torey

@LaurieLovesLearning I know, but if it could just be a little less. :) And at times when it is not so embarrassing or incapacitating. :)

vickeym

I find as I get older I seem to sweat more. Will have to try some of the ways to remove odor at least.