I thought a little update was due on our efforts to go plastic free and as zero waste as possible in the bathroom. For a start, my haircare routine has evolved from my last update when I was using a multitude of homemade potions to get me through transition. I reached a point where everything I was trying out, from tea rinses to aloe vera, honey and lemon, was weighing my hair down. My lovely husband, who has been very supportive, suggested that maybe they were too heavy and moisturising for my hair now it had adjusted to life without shampoo and conditioner. I tentatively tried washing my hair with simply hot water. That’s it, just hot water. And my hair loves it! I don’t think it’s ever been in such good condition, if I do say so myself.

So, my morning routine now consists of:

1. Having a quick bath, in which I wash my hair with water, giving my scalp a good scrub with my fingertips, then use olive oil bar soap to have a wash.
2. I dry myself off, moisturise my face with rice bran oil (high in vitamin E) or olive oil and then apply my homemade deodorant under my arms.
3. Then I comb my hair through with a wide-toothed bamboo comb.
4. I brush my teeth with a bamboo toothbrush and, at the moment, Sarakan toothpaste. I plan to make my own toothpaste with coconut oil, baking soda and peppermint oil when that runs out.

In terms of the rest of the family, our younger two have transitioned back to no shampoo with no problems at all. I use a tiny dot of shampoo if they’ve been swimming or have sticky bits in their hair, but otherwise warm water once a week is fine. For brushing through, I use a little Aussie spray-on conditioner, but when that runs out I’ll make my own. The eldest was washing her hair twice a week. We’ve transitioned back to once a week, with warm water in between if necessary. My husband is considering investing in a safety razor to cut out his disposable razor habit.

And that’s how we’re getting on in the bathroom. If you’re cutting down plastic in the bathroom, let me know how you’re getting on. If you’re not, why not join us and thousands of others around the world who are cutting out plastic use and/or going zero waste?