Quest for right Shampoo and a Conditioner

Last week I started my quest to have right Shampoo and Conditioner that would lessen my seborric dermatitis flare ups!! I started off with few checklists that I wanted my new S+C to possess. Essentially, it needed to be plant based with very few chemicals. More natural, all the more better!!!

I have used Aveda since 2011 and my urge to change came from the recent SD flare ups that has increased over the years. I am ditching Aveda for now!!!

I started off with Avalon Organics from Costco. Everything seemed perfect especially the price and the availability. The only thing that did not work is the product itself!! Shampoo was good but conditioner was a total let down. It simply did not moisturize my hair :-( I have thick black wavy hair. I can be a very tough client to please when it comes to haircare products. So the Avalon product went into my car boot for a quick return.

Next came from CVS called "Not Your Mother's Naturals", conditioner failed to impress me!! Off I went to return, on the way back picked Mielle Organics White Peony Leave-In Conditioner. I still needed a good shampoo. After extensive web research and reviews, I decided to sample the shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley Soap company!! Since it is Cleveland based family owned business felt I must give it a try as I live in Ohio too :-) Buy local whenever possible is my motto!! The coolest thing about them is they offer sample size shampoo bars so ordered 6 different kinds and they are totally plant based. The shipping wasn't free but it was fast!!! I fell in love with Butterbar Conditioner with the first use. Although they say conditioner isn't needed but I needed one. So I use the Mielle Organics leave in conditioner after shower and this combo is working for me!! Must say this sample size bars lasts really long and they lather up pretty fast. For now, I have my favs!!!

Recycled Planters!!

There's an old saying, “one man's trash is another man's treasure”!! I lived up to it to certain extent :-) Spring is the season where people clean up thier garage/sheds and all unusable items are left at curb side for anyone to pick. I normally don't pick anything for our indoor use. My neighbor had left a nice crate out, so an idea came to recycle that.

I cleaned the crate and placed a heavy duty plastic sheet with holes for protecting the soil. At the openings in the middle, had tucked few petunia plants. Topped with potting mix and later had my perennial herbs in them. Well the herbs lasted only that season. None of them came back next spring except Chives. My crate did not make it to next spring. Guess the harsh winter left it battered.

2016 Spring

2016 Summer

 

Perennial herbs

I wanted a long lasting planter so last Spring my other neighbor left the Charcoal grill at the curbside. My hubby dear towed it to my garden and I let that sit for a month in my shed. We had a brand new one ordered and I knew it came with drain holes, so that made easy to turn it into a planter. I punctured few holes in the yougurt lid and placed at the bottom for water to drain and covered it with potting soil. I started with few flowering plants and then herbs around. It was easy to move around since it came with wheels. 

2017 Spring

Abandoned grill

2017 Spring/Summer

2018 Spring/Summer

Since it has survived one winter, it gives me hope!!

Before recycling the grill, tried my hands making Jeans planter. It did not survive winter!!