Aveda makes hair & body products in a completely eco-fashion. High quality (prices to match, sadly) and the local hair salon in Stafford has a bring your own bottle service.
Anybody who makes a moisturiser called "Hand Relief" is worth supporting.
I just ordered some bars! From eBay. There's loads on there - these were by Coconutty.
Worth a try I thought.
Need a soap dish to put them in now... non-plastic, I guess...
I just ordered some bars! From eBay. There’s loads on there – these were by Coconutty.
Worth a try I thought.
Need a soap dish to put them in now… non-plastic, I guess…
No you don't Dez, you need a soap saver that eliminates those disgusting manky-looking soap dishes. For example:
Edit: this is what I use, it's made from bamboo although out of stock:
https://allnaturalsoap.co.uk/shop/accessories/bamboo-soap-bag/
Thanks, @cinnamon_girl. I’ve been thinking about the amount of plastics in our bathroom, so just bulk bought for the next year or so.
Ecover laundry liquid too. The three local shops that do refills have run a gamut from “Sorry, we’ve run out, try again next week” to “We’ve decided Ecover aren’t ethical enough” (they didn’t explain why). It’s taken longer to get a refill than to use up a second bottle.
You're welcome nach. My new local zero waste shop is doing a roaring trade in refills and guessing that it's difficult to estimate quantities to begin with.
Just to add that from my zero waste shop I bought 500ml of hair conditioner made by an ethical company - £2.73 and it's good stuff too.
No you don’t Dez, you need a soap saver that eliminates those disgusting manky-looking soap dishes
Well, idea is you clean em and they save having to wipe the side/sink every day, but hey, the little bag thing looks good. I'll check my supplier (ebay) Thanks 🙂
Stupid question, but how do those soap bags work? Do you not just end up with a soggy wet cotton bag with a slimey lump of soft soap inside? Do they ever actually dry out?
I guess you chuck em in the washing machine occassionally. I'm trying to think of a practical solution for my commuting stuff - has to go in the locker with my shirts, so a bar of wet soap in a soggy bag isn't ideal. (8 quid for a soap holder seems a little excessive.)
Stupid question, but how do those soap bags work? Do you not just end up with a soggy wet cotton bag with a slimey lump of soft soap inside? Do they ever actually dry out?
dashed My bamboo bag dries out quickly, it's hung up on the shower door and would say that it depends on the type of soap as to whether it becomes a little soft. For example, supermarket soaps such as Dove would last longer than something that's a little fancy and contains different oils.
Mine is washed at 60 degrees and it's only fair to mention that some soaps will discolour it, mine is looking especially manky due to it containing melt & pour soap coloured pink with pink rose petals!
DezB - our soap dish is made from horn. Goat I think.
Have you got any old coffee tins in which you could store your shower soap? I use an old Whittards Monsoon Malibar tin.
Bamboo Toothbrushes
Where do you buy them for a non-astronomical price? Really - you can buy a pack of 6 plastic ones for about 50p in Tesco. There comes a point where you have to prioritise your spending!
On a related subject, has anyone tried using these toothbrushing sticks? They get mixed reviews!
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Miswak-Siwak-Natural-Toothbrush-Pieces/
Bamboo Toothbrushes
Can't link to ebay at work, but I was browsing this stuff last night and ebay sellers (Chinese, I think) have a bamboo bath accessories set including a toothbrush for around £3. (Which gets flown over to you from China in a private jet 😉 )
Where do you buy them for a non-astronomical price? Really – you can buy a pack of 6 plastic ones for about 50p in Tesco. There comes a point where you have to prioritise your spending!
I hear you DrJ, it's very much a compromise. One thing I refuse to give up is my electric toothbrush despite them lasting 3 years tops. It worries me that some of these zero waste shops won't last - there's only so many people who are prepared to pay £7 for deodorant, £7 for toothpaste, £5 for a bar of soap etc etc. Saving the planet should not just be for those who can afford to.
our soap dish is made from horn. Goat I think.
We need pics Bunnyhop!
https://coconutty.co.uk/collections/frontpage/products/coconut-soap-dish
From the same peeps who do the soap I bought
Both eco-friendly and stylish Dez! Do report back on the soap.
Found out today that a zero waste shop opened about 10 mins away from me! Missus came back today with some goodies 🙂
https://www.replenishery.co.uk/
They opened last month and do all sorts of stuff (detergent, soaps, coffee etc).
c_g I've been here for many years and still can't fathom out how to post a photo. (will try and remember to ask nbt later).
Soap. Hm, soap then.
It's been many years since I used soap and that squeaky clean, non-moisturised feeling it leaves your skin with will take a bit of getting used to. (So will thinking of what I will say to C_G on here whilst showering!). The Coconutty stuff smells really nice and has a lovely lather anyway.
I ordered a few more bits from co****ty.co.uk cos I loves coconut - got some sugar coming which I shall try on my cereal.
That Charcoal soap leaves a right mess on me white sink, so def need a dish 🙂
So will thinking of what I will say to C_G on here whilst showering!).
Lol sounds like a successful purchase and you've become a coconut convert if you want to eat it as well! Yeah, charcoal is messy but can give good results.
We’ve been making our own shaving soap/shampoo/soap/deodorant for a while now. There’s still plastic but the amount that goes in the recycling bin is vastly reduced.
A proper razor has made a difference for me, I’ve calculated I’ve 11 years worth of blades before I need to buy more.
I’ve also realised I don’t need deodorant to not smell. So mostly no longer bother. So long as the washes are regular the bacteria don’t have time to work up a stink.
Good work piemonster, that has to be a lot less plastic. Would you mind sharing your deodorant and shampoo recipes please, if you have any links that would be good.
Yes, can quite believe that deodorant isn't always necessary although very individual. My home-made deodorant seems to be working in this heat, it was a doddle to make too.
sShower wash should be banned, or heavily taxed, imo. The amount of wonderfully natural sounding Apple Source that ends up being immediately sluiced down the drain is ludicrous. Soap is the option.
Beyond that, I feel an issue with shampoo is that too much is used each time. Some kind of squeeze dispenser, eg 1 for the short, 2 for shoulder, 3 pumps for long hair, wound save a dramatic amount. I remember, when I had hair (!) that a 10p sized amount was good for the barnet, and indeed it was.
We make our own coconut oil based soap (and sell it if anyone's interested, we have the necessary CPSR in place) and I use it on my (shoulder length) hair as a shampoo, then condition with fruit juice* after rinsing to neutralise the soap and flatten the hair follicles down again.
* glug of OJ from the carton in a litre jug topped up with water from the shower and then rinse your hair with it. It leaves it lovely and smooth.
