Baking Soda Destroyed My Hair

I cannot believe I'm writing this but I think that baking soda destroyed my hair.

It all started around 3 years ago when I learned about the devastating toxic ingredients in commercial shampoos and conditioners. To say that I felt betrayed by the industry would be an understatement. I was disgusted by the reported effects of chemical additives such as Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, Sodium Laureth Sulphate, Fragrance, Cocamide... all of which are inevitably present in every commercial shampoo, even those advertised as natural.

The baking soda solution

I started using baking soda as a no-poo shampoo and apple cider vinegar as a conditioning rinse. I have been washing my hair with that combo for almost three years. I felt my hair clean and I thought it was healthy until a few days ago when I saw it on this photo.

The baking soda disaster

Wait, this wasn't my healthy hair. It looked brittle and weak.

Lately I have noticed that I shed too many hairs but I somehow ignored that.

I thought that the split ends came as a result of the summer, the seaside and the sun and so I had a refreshing haircut a month ago but then, when I looked at my ends the other day, they were split again.

My hairs are so easy to break, I cannot believe my eyes.

I realized that I have dandruff but every time my husband noticed it I explained that it had just appeared because I hadn't washed my hair for too long...

Have I been looking at my hair through pink glasses for so long while vigorously advocating for no-pooing with baking soda?

The pH and why it is important for your hair

I started collecting information about using baking soda as a shampoo alternative from a chemical point of view. The more I researched the more often I read about how important the pH of the washing product is.

pH (potential of Hydrogen) is a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a substance. pH is judged on a scale between 0 and 14. Anything with a pH less than 7 is acidic, 7 is neutral, and anything with a pH greater than 7 is alkaline.

Source: Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site via Wikipedia

Hair and skin are covered by a very thin fluid layer comprised of oil, salt and water, called the mantle, which is slightly acidic and has a pH balance of between 4.5 - 5.0.

The natural acidity of the hair and scalp prevents fungi and bacteria, and keeps the cuticle closed and healthy.

An inadequate hair product can disrupt the natural pH of the hair. If your haircare routine is too alkali your hair cuticles will stay open and your hair will be dry and brittle. But if you use pH balanced products, i.e. ones that are close to the natural pH of the hair (4.5 - 5.0) your hair cuticles will close properly which will result in healthy shiny hair.

The no-poo case of baking soda and vinegar

Hair has a pH of 4.5 to 5.0 - it is slightly acidic.

Baking soda has a pH of 9.5, which is extremely alkali.

Apple cider vinegar has a pH of 3.0 - 4.0 if diluted, a bit more acidic than hair.

For a healthy and nourished hair, you need to use hair products with balanced pH, i.e. close to the pH of your hair, so we're looking into hair products with a pH of 4.5 to 5.0.

What happens when you wash your hair with baking soda? 

You dilute a tablespoon of baking soda (pH 9.5) in a cup of water (pH 7).

Now, here is the shock to all baking-soda advocates (me included). This is also a shout-out to those who claim that the key to proper no-pooing with baking soda is in the amount of water and we should dilute, dilute, dilute.

To make things easier to grasp, here are the photos I took while experimenting with my litmus papers.

Let me explain:

1 tbsp. baking soda diluted in 1 cup of water (300 ml = 0.60 pt) has a pH of 9.5. This is extremely high to use on hair and scalp, having in mind that their natural pH ranges between pH 4.5 and 5.0 - 5.5.

Based on all I've been reading by people who wash their hair with baking soda in the past 3 years, if  I dilute 1 tbsp. in 2 cups of water, the pH should go down. BUT IT DOESN'T. The pH remains 9.5 until I dilute 1 tbsp. baking soda in 10 cups of water and then again, it is way to alkali to use on the hair.

Again, there is no difference between 10 and 20 cups of water, the pH of the mixture is 9.0

Only when I dilute 1 tsp. of the mixture (consisting of 1 tbsp. baking soda and 20 cups of water) in 1 cup of water, the pH gets down to pH 7.0 -- again, extremely alkali for use on hair, even if it is followed by ACV rinse.

I am devastated by the results.  But most of all I am disappointed by myself for believing people who knew close to nothing regarding the chemical side of this "experiment".

You can clearly see that the color of the litmus papers practically doesn't change regardless of the dilution. Even diluted in 20 cups of water, a tablespoon of baking soda is too alkali to be a healthy cleaning agent for hair. To get a neutral mixture of baking soda and water (pH 7) you need to dilute 1 tbsp. baking soda in 20 cups of water, then take 1 tsp. of the mixture and dilute it in 1 cup of water.

By washing my hair with baking soda twice a week for the past 3 years I have pretty much put it through the chemical process of dyeing. Twice a week.

Here is how the process goes:

The extremely alkali baking soda opens up the hair cuticle, if it is not closed by using an acidic substance, the hair will look frizzy, dry, and brittle and will be prone to breakage and tangling. That is why, we, baking soda aficionados use something acidic, like apple cider vinegar, which neutralizes the effect of the alkali baking soda and closes the hair cuticle.

And we think that is enough. We open and then we close.

BUT as one reader of Thank Your Body put it quite correctly

Forcing your hair to go up to pH 9.5 (with baking soda) and then forcing it back down to pH 4.5 - 5.0 (with ACV) in a short period of time makes it extremely vulnerable.

This is a very damaging process which is not healthy for the hair and scalp.

Extremely alkaline solutions like baking soda cause the disulfide bonds between keratin protein molecules to break down and can eventually dissolve the protein completely resulting in a very damaged hair. Highly alkaline solutions such as baking soda make your hair soft and manageable BUT that is really the disulfide bonds in your internal hair structure being weakened by the alkaline solution.

But we've all heard that baking soda helps regulate pH, why should it be considered damaging?

According to Future Derm:

Yes, it is true that baking soda helps regulate pH — keeping a substance neither too acidic nor too alkaline. When baking soda comes in contact with either an acidic or an alkaline substance, its effect is to neutralize that pH. However, as any cosmetic chemist can tell you, this effect occurs when baking soda is in solution with other chemicals. When baking soda is in water alone, guess what the pH of the solution is? You guessed it: A very basic 9, much more alkaline than plain ol' water.

pH balanced treatment = healthy hair

What you need to do if you want healthy and strong hair is to use hair products with balanced pH close to the natural pH of our hair and scalp, i.e. pH 4.5 - 5.0.

Putting your hair through roller-coaster extremes like those of baking soda and vinegar is more damaging than you realize. Until it is too late.

Don't wait for years like me. Because now my hair is in deep trouble.
Baking soda, which I used twice a week for almost 3 years is too abrasive and alkali and although it made my hair look soft and clean, it stripped my hair cuticles of the necessary oils and made it thin and brittle.

Now what?

I am starting a quest to find the best no-poo alternatives to baking soda. I want my healthy hair back without the help of chemicals disguised as shampoos. I will continue using apple cider vinegar as a rinse to keep my hair cuticles closed and healthy but, armed with my litmus papers I am off experimenting with natural shampoos and keeping you updated on what I find.

If you want me to test a natural shampoo recipe you know, post the link to it in the comments.

Update: Here is a growing collection of links to the results of testing some baking soda alternatives (bookmark this page or follow me on Google Plus to be updated when new recipes are tested out):

Homemade rye flour shampoo (works much better than baking soda)!
Coconut milk + aloe vera shampoo (for dry hair)

My post triggered a very interesting discussion on reddit (find it here) and one user shared her chemical calculations confirming my findings, regarding the pH of 1 tbsp baking soda diluted in 1 cup of water. Even if you're not a chemistry genius, you might want to take a look and read her conclusions here. 

Resources:
http://www.curlynikki.com/2013/09/ph-and-natural-hair-what-you-need-to.html
http://empoweredsustenance.com/no-poo-method-damages-hair/
http://www.hairfinder.com/hair/hair-ph-level.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH
http://www.futurederm.com/2012/06/20/3-reasons-why-baking-soda-and-apple-cider-vinegar-destroy-your-hair-and-what-to-use-instead/
http://www.wikihow.com/Balance-pH-in-Hair-Naturally
http://www.thankyourbody.com/all-natural-shampoo/

This post is shared here: Motivation Monday

Letters From the Forest: The Beginning

I have gone to the forest.

Not because I am disillusioned by people or the city with its fast speed and high noise levels. It was a pure accident that brought me here, and to a life I have never allowed myself to dream of. 

I have left the world of civilized delights without realizing there was nothing to lose. Circumstances, fate, destiny, God... something brought my little family of three to a little pine forest at the shore of the North Sea, surrounded by sandy beaches of different length, color, smell and view to the sea.

You can buy this photo as a print here.

I didn't pick the forest, neither did it pick me. I didn't know about the beaches, or the birds, or the deers I would meet. I wasn't prepared for the sea in winter and the fog in spring. I simply went to the forest in October and stayed.

You must not think that nothing ever happens here. The snowflakes fall gently just like they do in the city, and the wind beats equally as mercilessly on the trees as it does on the high-rises of concrete.

I could write lyrical letters from this place. And I will. I will write them to you.

This is the beginning of a series of recollections of my life in the forest. I hope you will enjoy my stories and will accompany me in this journey back in time.

The series is inspired by Knut Hamsun's book Look Back On Happiness.

My Photo Selected by Smithsonian

My Burning Clouds photo got selected as one of the TOP TEN Altered Images in the 10th Annual Photo Contest of Smithsonian Magazine. It was chosen among more than 37,600 submissions from extremely talented photographers in 112 countries. As the Smithsonian Magazine representative says "We feel these images excel in technical quality, clarity and composition and provide fascinating lenses into our world." I feel honored and humbled. 

Smithsonian is an institution I have deep respect for. Established in 1846 it is considered the world's largest museum and research complex with 19 museums, 9 research centers and more than 100 affiliate museums around the world.

Smithsonian Magazine is the official journal published by the Smithsonian Institution, with articles on history, science, arts and nature.

But I am sure you all know that. Now, on to the main topic:

While the jury is busy deliberating the winner of every category - The Natural World, Travel, People, Americana and Altered Images, as well as the Grand Prize winner, there is also voting going on for the Readers Choice Winner.

So, please, if you like my image, vote for it and help me get the highest percentage of votes! Voting is open until March 29th, 2013 and you can vote once every 24 hours. 

Just in case the link doesn't take you to the page above, my photo is Number 47. I only have a feeble chance to win if you vote just once, so if you want to make sure you are really helping me out you can set a reminder and go back there to vote every day.

You can buy the same image right now in my etsy shop. Use coupon code KAN15 to get 15% discount.

If I win, I promise to send each of you a postcard with the same image. Just drop me a comment every time you vote, so I can keep track and make sure I have a way to contact you later for your mailing address!

Thank you!

Planning a Childbirth: Is There a Comfort Zone and Should You Get Out of It?

This post is written by contributing author Cory Trusty.

For most mothers childbirth is one of the most painful things they will ever experience. Staying relaxed and comfortable is sometimes the best hope for making the experience as quick and as tolerable as possible. Of course other factors come into play as well. Proper nourishment throughout pregnancy is essential. 

But when it comes to a comfort zone in planning a birth, is there such a thing at all? If there is a comfort zone, should you stay in it? Is your mental comfort zone the same as your physical comfort zone, does it make a difference for the birthing process? 

Moira less than 24 hours old.

I remember 2 childbirth stories from my mom when I was growing up.  

The first was that when my mother was in the hospital in labor with my older sister, my mother's 3 child, the doctor was nowhere to be found.  My mother was in the hospital bed, and the nurse's solution to the missing doctor was to tell my mother not to push and try to prevent the baby from coming out before the doctor came in. Did my mom really need that doctor or the nurse? 

The second story I remember her telling me was that she was in labor with me at home, but her labor stopped when she checked into the hospital. I think that is a common place for labor to stop or slow down upon arrival to the hospital. I have to wonder if this is the body's natural response to being in an unfamiliar place surrounded by strangers. 

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I wanted an OB/GYN doctor. I hadn't done any research. It was what I felt comfortable with based on what I had learned from society. My only experience with childbirth was limited to witnessing a very traumatic hospital forceps birth. My husband wanted a home birth.  I tried to keep an open mind. I purchased a few books, the best of which was The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth by medical writer Henci Goer. After reading this book I learned that intervention can more often than not harm rather than help during the child birth process. I decided to hire a midwife.  I got comfortable with that. 

Source: hencigoer.com via Aquarian on Pinterest

I think that there is no such thing as a mental comfort zone for a woman in her first pregnancy. Nothing can prepare you for the experience. You really don't know what to expect. I took support in online forums for pregnant women. I even learned that (wow) there were women giving birth at home without the help of a midwife. I tried to get comfortable with the midwife, but as time progressed it just wasn't going to work out with her. Both my husband and I had a bad feeling about her and her behavior. Just like doctors, not all midwifes are created equal. I recall later thinking how brilliant one of my friends was to find out transfer statistics from home to hospital for the midwife she hired for her 2nd birth.  

With 3 weeks left before my due date and low funds I collected the birth kit from the midwife and found myself truly out of my comfort zone and planning for an unassisted childbirth. My husband had complete confidence in our ability to have the baby at home. Luckily I had a friend with experience in unassisted childbirth who also was confident and encouraging. I was young, I was healthy. I had eaten well. I was athletic. I had herbal remedies up my sleeve from Susun Weed's book The Child Bearing Year and a back ground in Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. The day before I went into labor, I watched my pregnant cat hide herself in my dark quiet closet. She gave birth at home in private. Could birth be that simple?

Source: ashtreepublishing.com via Aquarian on Pinterest

When my labor started I thought I was in terrible pain, but in retrospect I think that my mental distress contributed to the pain or at least the length of time I had to endure the pain. I had the comforts of my home: my own bed, a giant clawfoot bathtub with hot water, windows open or closed as I wished, privacy, teas, juices. I relished the soup I had made before hard labor began. It gave me physical strength to continue on.

But these comforts didn't help me with my mental distress.  My mind was occupied with questions "Is this normal," "Is it supposed to be this painful?" "Do I need to call the fire department?" "Is it too late for an epidural or c-section?"  My husband assured me it was supposed to be painful and all was well, but what did he know?, I thought. Later my friend Cricket (an experienced mom), who was camping out on my porch, told me she could tell everything was okay, by the sound of things. After 8 hours of labor, I broke down and did what I didn't realized I had been avoiding. I squatted. It felt like something tore in my pelvis when I did it. But that was the movement I needed to make.  And so quickly there was progress. With very little effort my 7 pound daughter's head was out, so soon that my husband was still in the kitchen making me lemonade.

A few years later I watched the film, The Business of Being Born. I laughed and was so happy to see that I was not the only one crying for a c-section during home birth. The midwife having her first birth at home in that film was in much worse shape than I was. The experience of birth doesn't end with the birth itself. How wonderful to be finished with the birth, put the baby down in her own bed, take a bath and go to sleep in my own bed. I was grateful for simple comforts of home after such an ordeal.

Six years after my first unassisted home birth I found myself planning a second. With a 'been there done that' attitude, I didn't see much point in hiring a doctor or midwife. Having had the experience of a successful unassisted homebirth, I couldn't imagine having anyone else involved in the process or leaving the comfort of my home.

My comfort zone was now 100% at home both mentally and physically. However having lost my athletic physique, the pregnancy was not quite so easy.  I didn't give up.  I took a lot bed rest as was necessary for issues that came up. I watched Oceans 11, 12, and 13 a bunch of times while on bed rest, and read a lot of good literature.  When I went into labor I put on the movie Oceans 13.  By the time I got to Al Pacino's line "I don't want the labor pain, I just want the baby!" I rolled my eyes.  I had That was my cue to get in the hot bath. How grateful I was that it wasn't my cue to get in a car and go to a hospital.

Tessa less than 24 hours old.

 Labor was much more painful with my second birth, but I did not have the mental anxiety that I had with the first. I knew it was going to be painful. I knew I just had to get though the pain. After only 5 hours of labor I gave birth to an 8.5 pound baby. Unlike with my first daughter, it was a real struggle to find a position in which I could push her out. I had to stand. My husband was there and (wow) just like in the movies this time he (had to?) tell me to push. She did not come out easily. He told me that her head was turned slightly to the side. She also came out with a broken umbilical cord.  Thankfully the placenta came out soon after. It is very uncommon for a cord to break during birth from what I understand. It makes me wonder if she was tangled in it and I would not have been allowed to give birth to her naturally in a hospital.

Do you have experience with birth in a hospital, with a midwife, unassisted? Do you have a mental comfort zone when it comes to birth?  Is it different than your physical comfort zone?  Do you think getting out of your comfort zone applies when it comes to planning a birth?

Copyright 2013 Cory Trusty  All rights reserved.

Cory Trusty is a soap maker, community herbalist, organic gardener, and homeschooling mom to two girls. Cory and her family live in Daytona Beach, Florida. Cory's background is in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Biology.  She is sharing tried and true natural home remedies and mini lessons from herbal classes that she teaches. Cory works full time making soaps, shampoo bars, herbal salves, flaxseed heat packs and more for her website AquarianBath. Read more from Cory at the Aquarian Bath blog. Cory is also a Food and Gardening writer for EcoEtsy and has published in The Essential Herbal Magazine and on the Herb Companion Blog. Connect with Cory on Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus and Pinterest.

A Journey Out of My Comfort Zone - Day 5

Welcome to the big public step out of my comfort zone. I am taking it on the 5th day of my journey in learning to play the piano. I must be crazy,  I don't even know the notes. But thanks to technology, my piano is teaching me and I am able to take these first basic lessons in my own pace. This means that in the past 5 days I played for hours on end or until my fingers hurt.

5 days into this self-imposed challenge (I think) I can play a beautiful melody called Annie (but only the right hand part). For those of you literate in music this might look and sound pathetic but for me, a complete novice to music this is a success.

I went from utter joy, to bitter disappointment, then to fear and today to stage fright.

On the first day of my piano practice I couldn't keep up looking at the program, showing me the keys I had to press  but today I know the sequence by heart. It was a long journey into starting to feel the rhythm and hearing the results of my playing. I hit the keys too hard or too light, too long or too short... 5 days can be a very long period when you are a complete beginner at something which is far off your comfort zone.

But let's stop theorizing. It is time to see the video I shot for you. So here I am, or rather, my only skilled hand, playing for you!

 

Let me know what you think, don't spare me any criticism! 

But most of all, think about how you can challenge yourself to step out of your comfort zone. If I could do this, you can too!

Follow the rest of my journey:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

A Journey Out of My Comfort Zone - Day 4

I sit in front of a white page trying to start this post. Writing for the whole world is an exercise in getting out of your comfort zone in itself. Let alone writing ABOUT getting out of your comfort zone. Does this make it twice as uncomfortable? Ah, it is twice as exciting.

By consciously trying to get out of my comfort zone I water and feed my creativity - a simple challenge which first step can only be planned and the outcome is bound to be a surprise.

Photo: lusi

Playing the piano, the layman that I am, I have found a way to not only step out of my comfort zone and to accept being imperfect but also to connect with you on a deeper level and hopefully make your eyes shine, just like mine.

Rachel spoke of the beauty of stepping out of your comfort zone and how it can help other people as well. At the same time, Anabel wrote about her decision to expand her comfort zone and learn Web Design. By herself, of course. And I thought, aren't we kindred spirits! See how excitement, motivation and creativity are genuinely contagious? We are scattered around the world live in different time zones but the flame in our words bonds us and pushes us forward, up, and out!

I have to admit that I took your suggestions seriously and I am preparing to play for you all. Whatever happens, I will be playing for you tomorrow, Tuesday, January 29th. You have to be here, mark it in your calendars! I will be only playing the right hand, of course (it is so challenging that at the time being I cannot imagine how I will include the left one... ), and even so it won't be perfect but I will record it and play it as it comes, no stitching and remakes. It has to be real.

As real as it is now when I look at the piano, having played for more than an hour. After the initial excitement I am bewildered by the darts of frustration and impatience that went through my heart today. How could I allow negativity on this beautiful journey out of my comfort zone? The question still stings. Why would I not enjoy the outcome of my efforts but chose to be critical and unsatisfied?

Have you been in a similar situation? What are your thoughts?

On another note, if you have written a blog post about leaving your comfort zone and want to share it with us, please link to it and I will pin it to my Comfort Zone board on Pinterest!

Follow the rest of my journey:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 5 

A Journey Out of My Comfort Zone - Day 3

I didn't think that trying to get out of my comfort zone will provoke emotions covering the whole spectrum. I was prepared to feel challenged. I knew I would face difficulties but that utter joy, the one that makes my eyes shine and my heart flutter and throb as fast as it can... that was a surprise.

When the time comes for piano playing I feel like a shy little girl, my hands start to shake and I can hear the pounding of my heart. And then the piano starts. It is a patient teacher and never gets angry but I am not sure how positive that is to me, because then I take the responsibility and start scolding myself for every mistake.

A passer-by would never think I am on a journey out of my comfort zone. What they would see is the smile on my face. I haven't looked at myself in the mirror but I know my cheeks get bright pink with excitement. And my eyes are shining. I feel so refreshed. My mind is busy with something completely unusual, an act of connecting to myself through music. My fingers, just like with knitting, are the connection between my soul and reality, between the inner and the outer.

The chords are coming out from beneath my fingers, one by one, different each time, insecure, too loud, too long, just like the stitches of wool in the beginning of my knitting journey. In fact I sometimes forget the original melody, this is how much I butcher it while trying to keep with it.

It is a rare occurrence in my life but for once I love the imperfection, it makes me feel more alive and forgiving. It is a sign that I am growing. Because as long as you have something to learn you are on the right track. 
I am trying to learn the basics. In fact, I think I am before the basics. And I am thankful to all of you who told me that an instructor is vital. I know you are right. But I also feel so challenged to fight this on my own. For as long as I can. Then I can move on to an instructor. Maybe one like Benjamin Zander.


Today, my husband sent this video to me. I love the gentle way in which he manages to feed my experimenting spirit and to expand my point of view.

"Arguably the most accessible communicator about classical music since Leonard Bernstein, Zander moves audiences with his unbridled passion and enthusiasm." Sue Fox, London Sunday Times

On this deliberate journey out of my comfort zone my eyes are shining. Get to the end of the video and you will know exactly what I mean.

Now tell me, what makes your eyes shine?

Follow the rest of my journey:
Day 1
Day 2
Day 4
Day 5 

A Journey Out of My Comfort Zone - Day 2

I don't even know what kind of journey this will turn out to be or where it will take me. What I am sure though that trying to play the piano without any previous experience is taking me out of my comfort zone. How do I know? Because I'm scared.

But I embrace the fear and try to feel it to the fullest. I know that it is a sign of something good. It means that I am investing myself in this journey out of my comfort zone.

On Day 1 of my going out of my comfort zone Lisa suggested that I would perhaps get an instructor to help me with some basic steps about playing the piano. No. I am stepping out of my comfort zone on my own. Of course, my husband is always here to guide me and support me.

The piano I am using, a Yamaha YPT-310 has about 100 built-in songs and fantastic interactive features which allow even a beginner like me to learn by herself.

Here is how it goes. I choose a song and turn on the learning setting. The piano then shows me on its little screen which keys to press with the right hand while it is playing the left hand. Once I master the right one, I will switch to learning the left one.

Easy, right? No. Not for me.

I love the melody I chose. In the little booklet that comes with the piano it says it is a traditional song. Nothing more. But that is enough for a first step out of my comfort zone. At least I know the name.

I sit in front of the piano, shivering with excitement and fear. I have nothing to lose and my fingers are eager to follow along with the melody I've been playing for 20 minutes already. I picture myself skillful enough to press the right keys at the right moment.

It doesn't happen though. I stumble, I cannot even follow what the screen shows me.

I try again.

And again.

Step by step, chord by chord.

I cannot keep the rhythm, I keep on forgetting which key follows which.

An hour passes and my heart is beating fast. I know that to a musician this might sound like a disaster but I am so proud of myself. I can manage hitting the first five notes of the song.

I understand now why musicians need hours a day to practice. I am so engulfed by the process that I don't care about the time. I want to learn fast, I want to conquer this!

Easier said than done.

Let's see how Day 3 will go.

How about you? Do you recognize the feelings I describe? Have you felt the urge to jump-learn something that you have previously feared?

Follow the rest of my journey:
Day 1
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5 

A Journey Out of My Comfort Zone - Day 1

Talking about how to get out of your comfort zone is fine as long as you give theoretical examples with other people, right? But on Kanelstrand I aim to be as real as the Internet allows and that is why I took a wild step out, attempting to achieve simplicity. I am still unsure about the outcome but you will be here to witness the progress and encourage me on the way.

So many of you were brave enough to share your own journeys in the lands out of your comfort zones in Part 1 and Part 2 and I know they inspired the rest, who didn't comment. They also gave me food for thought - sharing is one of the best favors we can do to each other on our simplifying journey.  

Sharing experiences, emotions and life lessons is not about judging. It is a pure and simple connection between souls, innately liberated of judgment exactly because of its fragile nature.

Today I invite you on a journey out of my comfort zone.

I am scared and excited at the same time, and I count on your advice.

Ever since I was 5 I wanted to play the piano. One of my grandmother's brothers was a famous composer and I still remember his vintage folding piano with its unstable squeaking legs. He used to bring it with him when he came to visit, I guess he wasn't able to separate himself of the music in his head for a long time. He was a fascinating person, coming out of the land of radio and TV shows.

The day I had to audition for the piano course was one of the scariest moments in my life. I had no idea what the teacher expected of me. I practically knew nothing. So I entered the quiet room, was told to sit at the piano and play a cord or two. After a couple of unremembered moments and almost fainting I heard that I was accepted to the music school.

Photo: stockmedia

Big journey ahead, leading to visiting the piano course just once because there was nobody who could take me there at the right time.

And so, the piano dream faded pathetically.

Then life continued in its own pace, revealing many more dreams and possibilities to achieve them. I shut the piano dream off and never even learned the notes. I know them by heart but I don't recognize them positioned on the staff. One more thing I know is where they are on the white piano keys. I don't even know what the black keys are for.

Today I enter the realm of music by teaching myself how to play a fascinatingly gentle song. This is absurd, right? We've had a piano at home for more than 2 years now, a birthday present for our daughter and of course I've tried playing something on it but knowing that I am a complete disaster in the field of music I've never been able to achieve anything.

The walls I have been building between the piano and me:

• I don't know the notes.
• I have never practiced.
• I don't have any theoretical knowledge.
• I don't know how to hold my hands.
• I don't know how to play.
• I don't know what follows.

For 2 years, with a piano under my nose I kept guiltily swiping corners and turning my back to it hoping that at least she, our daughter will learn to play. Yes, guiltily, because I knew it was a waste of time to have it and not try. And yet, I was too scared. It looked like there was too much work involved. Even though my husband is very literate in the field and can play by ear and is always here to help me.

In fact the reason I learned to knit was that he learned to play the harmonica. I was so excited with the spirit that entered our house that I felt my hands ready for something new. Learning to knit was another one of the steps out of my comfort zone.

So, today I thought, if I managed to teach myself to knit only with the help of the Internet, why not conquer the piano too?

What do you think? Will I be able to do this?

Follow the rest of my journey:
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5

How a Solo Vacation Can Light Your Fire

The pen sits comfortably in my hand and yet my handwriting is wobbly. But not because I haven't written in a real notebook for ages. I woke up at dawn to catch a bus that will take me on a long, 7-hour journey to the seaside of my childhood.

Things have been changing in the past 20 years but somehow I have stubbornly failed to notice. I am touring a country that now exists only in my childhood memories. So, writing on a notebook with a pen is the most appropriate way to document my thoughts. Computers and childhood memories don't go well together.

Spending 2 weeks with family is quite exhilarating but only now, at the first step of my journey alone I can hear my thoughts.

Photo: kanelstrand

Have you taken a solo vacation?

Or have you ever spent a single day deliberately enjoying your own company? You should! Especially if you're afraid of it. Your fear is a sign that there is much to be explored. If you love company, make a change - go out alone! Challenge your prejudices and habits and set out on a date with that part of you that you've been systematically neglecting.

Take it slow

Being on your own will let you get out of the comfortable routine of always being surrounded by people. Once in the stormy sea of the unknown you will feel unexpected delight. Even if you can only afford a day, make it worth - walk slowly, notice the details, listen to your thoughts and write them down. They will feel flattered and will repay you with creativity.

Enjoy

Remember to аbsorb every little detail along the way. Try to be present in the moment and to appreciate all sounds, aromas, or anything that comes along. Not all will be perfectly set but remember, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". If you are positive you will be able to see the beauty around. Forget your daily woes and concentrate on the moment, be it just climbing a tree or looking at a floating leaf. These are simple pleasures that will talk to your soul.

Make it a routine

Try to spend a deliberate solo vacation once a year. It is not necessary to be a full-fledged two-week luxury vacation. It can be a few days, or even just one. The point is to give your mind space and tranquility and to start following its rhythm. And you will be enchanted by the results, I promise.

Me? My fire is lit, even though I am still on my first day. My creative juices are flowing and I am impatient to see what follows. I am grateful to my husband who almost forced me to go on a solo vacation and proved yet again that he is my guiding light.

How about you? Would you take the solo vacation step?

Simple Poetry: I Wonder Which is Louder

The forest, the beach, the songs of birds, the waves and the wind. You've read those words so often on this blog. You know they are the road signs of my inspiration. Bright, big and flashy. Burning red. Calming yellow. They show me the way, or whisper directions in my ear. I don't mind either method.

As long as I have my eyes open and my ears can hear I will be welcoming you on my journeys of simplicity.

Photo: kanelstrand

It is time for yet another simple pleasure of life - one that has been with me for all my conscious existence - poetry.

If you cannot write poetry, you should try - without hesitation or judgment.

If you are writing poetry, please share it with us in the comments.

For poetry should not remain hidden. It is a universal form of connection with other minds. It is a way to understand our emotions and to find our place in the world. Poetry is beneficial to our inner peace. It is an act of peace in itself.

Let us create together the world we want to inhabit.

Here is a glimpse into mine:

I wonder which is louder
the forest, or the ocean;
for both are green and restless
and are in constant motion.

the ocean has the songs
that mesmerize the sailor
of fish and mermaids blond
which push him to the border.

the forest moves its needles
like fingers on a keyboard
and in the ears of squirrels
it plays the gentlest chord,

the birds with beaks of magic
throw feathers like a curtain,
with threads of sound and frolic
entwine the forest and the ocean.



Now it's time for you to show me yours.

The Banana Beauty and the Girl

Imagine a tiny, short-haired girl. Her eyes look bigger than life because her eyeglasses are too thick. The dark brown frames leave a thick white mark on her nose and cheeks during the summer while the rest of her face grows darker in the sun. She loves to read. If you ask her what she'd like to become when she grows older she'd shyly answer: "A poet". At 6 she's already written her first poem.

This girl is dreaming of a life in writing and considers the pictures in her books as her possessions. She often wonders how the illustrator managed to draw the exact same toys she owns. It will take her years to realize she never had them, only played with them in her mind, while flipping the pages. 

That is exactly how the girl looked at the age of 6.

You will find this girl sitting quietly on the top while everyone else is sleighing downhill in the snow. She's pondering if being famous is better than being an honest nobody. Funny how she's defined the opposition at the age of 6.

She thinks that writing a book is the most extraordinary achievement in life, one she can never accomplish because, let's face it, extraordinary things happen to other people. 

Well, this girl was wrong.

28 years later she quietly started this blog, never suspecting the impact it will have on her and her readers. At the end of her first year of blogging she quietly put an image on the top of the right sidebar, saying Banana Beauty - 7 days to better skin and hair.

Her first book. 

It hurried to life unexpectedly, while she was busy making other plans. But the book's spring to life couldn't have been more natural either. This girl had invested hours, days, months into learning how to live green, how to take care of her body with respect and without toxic ingredients. She spent days guiding her readers to the same philosophy and sharing tips about using fruit on the skin and hair.

The hundreds of thousands of visitors agreed that her methods were working.

And so, the book was born. Do you want to flip through its pages? Here is a preview:

Open publication - Free publishing - More banana beauty

Quietly hundreds of readers started purchasing it.

Quietly (and gratefully) she stared in awe of the miracle of Internet and its ability to connect people hungry for knowledge.

Today this girl wants to share her first book with you.

Read more about the magic you will find inside.

This book will save you tons of money from beauty treatments. And it will leave your skin and hair clean, healthy and joyful, I promise.

Purchase it on Etsy.

Thank you for bringing out the best in me.

Tomorrow one of you who commented under this post will be chosen to win a copy of Banana Beauty!

edit: Congratulations to Gigi (commenter number 5), who won a copy of Banana Beauty!

Why I Stopped Blow-Drying My Hair and Why You Should Too

She told me to never leave my hair wet after taking a shower or I could catch a cold. Why wouldn't I trust her? She was my mother. She knew better. And still does. Because all mothers are made to take care of their little girls and I was the obedient one.

I sure did question some of the practices in the house but only silently, in my head. Anyway, blow-drying my hair has never been on the list of questions until the day I mentioned it in a post on Green Living Ideas.

It was a cold and drizzling October day and nothing seemed more outrageous than suggesting that one should keep their hair healthy in the winter by letting it dry by itself. And I didn't. On the contrary, I boldly stated the following belief:

With the summer months over, it is out of the question to let your hair dry naturally or sleep with wet hair. That is why you can dry it on the cool setting. This method will take you longer but it will keep the moisture in your hair and prevent it from breaking.

The summer months make an exception to the rule. In the extreme heat it is quite safe to let your hair dry naturally without getting stuffed nose or even meningitis. But only if you're old enough. Children get sick way easier. Or so she said. 

Photo: Paulo Alegria

The comments shunned my statement as odd. I kept my grounds, of course, but the thought never went out of my head:

There are people out there who've never even owned a hair-drier? 

Or who sleep with wet hair? 

Ridiculous!

At first I thought these readers were crazy hippies. I checked their profiles, I wanted to know if they live a weird life or something. Anything to prove them wrong. Nothing. Normal, good-looking people with long hair who don't blow-dry because they don't want to damage their hair with the heat.

That made sense in a way. After all, in that very article I talked about the way dry air can damage your hair and even suggested washing it with cool water. Then could they be right?

9 months later, having safely delivered the offspring of my adventurous nature, I haven't blow-dried my hair a single time. I survived through winter, spring and summer without a single cold, despite the fact that I no longer use a hair-dryer. My hair is considerably thicker than before, it doesn't collect static during the winter months and I have less of those broken shorter hairs that come as a bonus of blow-drying.

And no wonder, the heat from the blow dryer removes too much moisture from the hair, causing it to become dry and brittle. In addition, it can also damage the outermost layers of hair strands whose function is to protect the hair from damage. But the heat can make them weak resulting in dull hair that is prone to be damaged when combing or brushing.

So, thank you GLI readers who aired your opinion and made me change my mind. I feel I've made a step ahead. But anyway, don't dare hope I will sleep with wet hair ever. 

Fun fact: Did you know that before the invention of the hairdryer, it was actually common for men and women to dry their hair using a vacuum cleaner?

Now tell me, do you blow-dry or air-dry? Why?

Simple Joys: Travel

Simple living is so much about embracing simple joys and getting inspired by little things. One such little thing to me is traveling - a very powerful motivator, fueling my imagination. 

Last week my family and I visited the End of the World. 

Photo: Kanelstrand

No, there wasn't anything scary. In fact it is one of the most beautiful places I've visited in Norway. It is located at the southernmost tip of the island of Tjøme, some 100 km from Oslo.

The rocks, beaten by thousands of merciless waves since the beginning of time have taken the shape of clouds.

Photo: Kanelstrand

With a clear blue sky above and virtually no wind whatsoever I could easily imagine I was in heaven. 

And just as it always happens when you are in a magical place, something is bound to happen that will touch your soul. 

Photo: Kanelstrand

See that pigeon? It was following us all along, walking fearlessly behind us, as if wanting to tell us something. It was clearly looking to make a contact, which we embraced wholeheartedly! We touched it, caressed it and let it go. It just flew lazily a few meters away and kept on walking. 

Buy this print on etsy

The unusually quiet atmosphere inspired me for my latest artwork. I must confess that it took me the whole day yesterday to finish it. I had a lot of thoughts running through my mind while creating it - about the inverted roles in life, about how often we don't see the obvious, about the  values that help us keep our grounds. 

But I would more like to learn your opinion. What thoughts does it evoke in you?

Commercial vs Open Online Learning

Life is a never ending lesson. We keep on learning long after we have graduated school, college or university. And with the vast development of digital technology the learning process has been revolutionized to such an extent that millions of people are now able to access the world's knowledge with just several clicks and some spare time.

The most important questions

The other day I stumbled upon a news that at first sounded fascinating - The Floating University - a wonderful concept for a virtual educational facility, offering the general public a touch to the greatest living University scholars, lecturers and professors. Starting this autumn anyone (with a credit card) can enroll in The Floating University and watch videos of lectures together with the students in Harvard, Yale and Bard.

I read on, to understand that the first course offered at the prise of $495 by The Floating University - Great Big Ideas: An Entire Undergraduate Education While Standing on One Foot - is comprised of 12 lectures covering the most important questions of Psychology, Economics, Biomedical Research, Linguistics, History, Political Philosophy, Globalization, Investing and more.

As Peter Hopkins, co-founder of The Floating University says:

We presented each lecturer with a challenge. 'Tell us everything a non-professional needs to know about your subject in less than 60 minutes.' As a result, our video lectures are highly focused, and rich in content, animation and graphics that make knowledge come alive. It is like reading a 600-page book in one hour.

Reading a 600-page book in an hour

Sounds good, right? Reading a 600-page book in one hour. Now think again. How effectively can a 60 minutes lecture (though in the syllabus it says 40-50 minutes) teach you everything there is to know on a subject like Linguistics, Economics, or Art and substitute a semester or a year of studying? I am left with a bitter taste in the mouth saying this, but sorry professors, I've been to University. 

Illustration: mushon

High quality knowledge for free

The Floating University's promises make me feel highly skeptical towards their true intentions not only because I feel that luring people into learning with the reassurance for no homeworks or tests but because for quite some time now high level of virtual education has been offered FOR FREE on the Internet by well-established legendary Universities like Yale, MIT, Carnegie Mellon University, or Stanford University.

Just take MIT's online syllabus for example - hours and hours of video lectures on Civil and Environmental Engineering, Health Sciences and Technology, Comparative Media Sciences you can watch anytime, anywhere, without them becoming unavailable 6 months later (as is the case with The Floating University). Not only do the MIT professors offer as many as 2,000 courses, but there are also available online textbooks, lecture notes, assignments, etc. 

Illustration: mushon

Untraditional tuition for free

Or, if you are up to some untraditional tuition, check out Khan Academy on YouTube or KhanAcademy. Salman Khan and his team have uploaded over 2,500 educational videos and 72,618,302 lessons (and counting) covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, and history. They will help you learn whatever you want, whenever you want, at your own pace FOR FREE.

You can find thousands of free video lectures by the most prominent professors of our time here: 

Carnegie Mellon University

MIT

Stanford University

Yale 

Or, for a list of the top 10 Universities with free courses online click here.

Let's admit it, watching to University lectures from the comfort of your home, or actually anywhere in the world you feel comfortable, is something we haven't even dreamed about 20 years ago. It opens so many possibilities for self-development that one can rightfully wonder how people can even think of spending countless hours gossiping on Facebook.

Online learning is also environmentally responsible. The flexibility of following lectures at your own speed from home actually helps the environment and makes every e-learner a bit greener! You neither drive to sit the lectures, nor you take any public transport, so your CO2 emissions are practically zero.

But having the key to open the doors to high quality university education for free or even without registration is indeed revolutionary.

So now that you know, would you choose to spend $495 for a 12 lecture crash course in 21st century essential knowledge read by professors from around the world? Or would you go with the thousands of free lectures by the professors of MIT, Stanford University, or Yale? Tell us in the comments.

Yarn Bombing or Knitting in Public?

Yes, I've been asking that questions myself! Did you know that June 11, 2011 is a very important day for knitters and yarn lovers from around the world? Two definitely awesome international activities are starting today, and I cannot miss any of them!

Photos: Twilight Taggers, Chris Goble

Today is the first ever International Yarn Bombing Day! The idea comes from Canadian Joann Matvichuk. Even if you have never yarn bombed in the past you sure have seen those vibrant colorful patches on poles and fences scattered around town and you know how they can brighten your day simply by being soft, handcrafted and out of place in the urban jungle. Check out the Yarn Bombing Facebook page to see how the organization is going all over the world and maybe be a part of it!

And if that wasn't enough, knitters from all over are uniting to start the largest knitter run event in the world called World Wide Knit In Public Day. This year it will be celebrated from June 11 to 19 (quite a long day, actually). So, don't waste time! Grab your knitting needles and go out in public! Although knitting and crochet are typically considered solitary, today you have all the reasons to socialize with other crafters and fiber artists in a strive to create better living by stitching together! Lots of local events are being organized so make sure you check what is going on close to you here. 

I am rushing out to do some knitting under the sun! Are you?