Shampoo, toothpaste and shaving cream

NeoPeasant

Have you looked at the ingredient lists? No way you can make this stuff. (Not the good kind anyway) I'm stocking up. I can make do with very little comfortably if I don't have to feel scroungy and dirty all the time.

cynthia · Heavy Crude Joined: May 29, 2005 Posts: 356

"Shaving is an unnatural act."
-Unknown
Think about all those frustrated hair follicles.
If you "google"soap and toothpaste recipes certainly something will come of that. Otherwise, check with your local herbalist.

Itch · Heavy Crude Joined: Jun 30, 2004 Posts: 338

If I were to stockpile those items, I'd do so with the intention of trading or maybe even giving them to people who are convinced that they are needed.

I still use shampoo at the moment, but at some point I'll most likely shave my head. This will make shampoo unnecessary, since soap could easily take its place. Maybe even soap can be skipped if I let my head sit out in the sun -- when it is out, that is -- for a bit and give it a good rinse afterwards.

I haven't been using shaving cream for a while now, and I'm still trying to figure out why I used it in the first place. All I use now is cold water and a razor, and to be honest, I've come to the point where I can shave my entire face -- using both upstrokes and downstrokes -- without getting a single laceration of any kind. The secret is to be patient and don't be reckless. Maybe it'll work for you, or maybe it won't. You'll never know until you try.

I floss more frequently than I brush, but when I do brush, I'll use a mix of baking soda and salt instead of commercial paste. Seems to be working out fine so far.

I think that I'll ultimately end up using only soap, baking soda, and the sun as cleansing agents, which is what I pretty much do right now if I exlude the use of shampoo. I haven't noticed a difference in comfort from when I was using some of the commercial junk, but I do notice that I saved money. Oh, and if you go out and buy organic soap, you'll notice that there aren't very many ingredients. Eucalyptus is the first ingredient in the soap that I use, and there are plenty of those Fark where I live. I suggest finding a soap that uses ingredients that are available in your area, and save the ingredient list on the packaging. Then do some research on processing.

Commercial sanitation junk could be great for barter, since many people take that crap for granted, but I would personally spend money on something else.

I_Like_Plants · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 2:38 am Post subject:

Out in the bush I'd use aromatic herbs like sage etc to brush with, chew 'em up then brush brush brush, if no toothbrush chew 'em up or grass stems etc then use the cud-ball with my fingers to give the old toothies a good scrub. In India the traditional toothbrush is a "neem" tree twig.

I think likewise aromatic plants can be used to scrub with in the water for the rest of the bod.

Clean sand is also a good cleaner.

I think it would be good to see what the Navajos etc used for their hair, the First Nations folks were definately America's experts on keeping clean without a lot of technology.

Doly · Expert Joined: Dec 03, 2004 Posts: 4034

You can use soap instead of shampoo. That's what people used to do not so long ago. Soap isn't difficult to make, you only need fat (any kind of fat, including vegetable oil) and wood ash. I expect soap to be easily available even in the worst case scenario.

As for toothpaste, using aromatic herbs certainly works. If you want to be more sophisticated, there are a few recipes for toothpaste using fairly easy to get ingredients.

I don't know so much about shaving cream, because I'm a woman and I haven't worried much about it, but I don't doubt that there are simple methods of making it.

OldSprocket · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 4:48 am Post subject:

My version of luxury shaving starts with a bar of local soap trimmed to fit in a milk-glass shaving mug. At bath time I put the mug in my shaving bowl and fill the bowl with the hottest water available (solar or woodstove depending on the season). Then I get to lather up with hot suds. The latest bar of soap is lemongrass/aloe. There are about five soap makers on the peninsula.

bruss01 · Posted: Tue Jul 19, 2005 10:34 am Post subject:

Toothpaste should keep pretty much indefinitely - not a bad idea to stock up. You may want to lay in a 5 gallon bucket full of toothbrushes as well. As mentioned, salt + baking soda will work all right too. Don't depend on the dentist being open post-peak.

Razor blades - these things can go dull just sitting on the shelf (don't ask me how/why this happens, but it's something I know from personal experience). Don't bother with more than a 1 year supply. Perhaps consider growing a beard or learning to use a straight razor. Soap will work ok in place of shaving cream. It does tend to dry the skin out, though. I imagine having a baby-soft complexion will be the least of one's worries, post-peak.

Soap can be made, but it is a low cost item that can be stored indefinitely. Not a bad idea to have a 5+ year supply on hand, enough for you to get thru a crisis and have a chance to get your own production set up.

And, although one can improvise in a pinch, there's no truly acceptable substitute for toilet paper. I hope we all have a garage-loft full of the stuff before it ceases to be available.

lizzie · Coal Joined: Jun 26, 2005 Posts: 4

Putting some vaseline on the razor's edge helps keep it from dulling (keeps the air out). Or so I read in the Tightwad Gazette.

Vexed · Heavy Crude Joined: Aug 13, 2004 Posts: 460

Shampoo. Soap works, but I think I'd prefer to shave it off (unless of our course global warming continues its couirse and I have to wear a hat - I hate hats!)

Shaving cream. Nothing but water and a straight razor. A few good facial cuts might even make you seem more manly when your battling for the last widget at Wal-mart.

Toothpaste
How to make your own toothpaste
From Everything2.com

First, you need to make tooth powder:

* Thoroughly mix 3 parts baking soda with part salt and funnel the compound into a short small-mouthed container such as a soda or beer bottle. If you'd like, add a few drops of peppermint or wintergreen oil to the concoction.

Next:

* To each half cup of homemade powder, add 3 teaspoons of glycerin, 10-20 drops of flavoring (peppermint, wintergreen, anise, cinnamon or whatever) and 1 drop of food coloring. Mix the ingredients thoroughly in a bowl and add just enough water to make the concoction "tooth-pastey". Spoon the substance into a small refillable plastic squeeze bottle or any container that dispenses easily and won't leak.

Note: If you use cinnamon, use it sparingly, seems to be much stronger than the others...

madison · Heavy Crude Joined: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 255

If you google soapmaking websites (soapmaking ingredients), you'll find alot of sites selling solid shampoo bricks. You can buy shampoo by the pound... much easier to stack/store than a bunch of bottles, as long as it's in a relatively cool place (will melt in heat). And it works pretty well. Buy some of the little racks to dry it out after each use (so it doesn't melt away) and your solid shampoos will last a really long time. You can add your herbs or scents or whatever you want to them too, but melting them and adding it, then letting it set til solid again. Smile

pea-jay · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 2:43 am Post subject:

If you brew biodiesel, you could utilize the glycerine to make soap out of.
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rostov · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 6:24 am Post subject:

The key and basic component is lye, and knowing how to make it is advantageous on the long run.
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lateStarter · Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2005 3:54 pm Post subject:

As for shaving cream, if you are in the US, just go to the grocery store and look on the lowest shelf in the section for shaving cream. You will see a brand called 'Barbisol'. Just buy 4 or 5 of these and that will be enough for the rest of your life.

Seriously, a single can of this stuff can last for years. Usually it rusts out before you can finish it. Numerous comedians have done bits on this stuff over the years.

Why would you want to shave anyway? I am looking for any excuse not to! Shaving to me is sort of like wearing a tie. What's the point?

countrysidegirl · Posted: Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:45 am Post subject:

Toothpaste - I've read that you dont really need it, that brushing alone is enough. I've used baking soda before and it works well also.

Shampoo - There are plants that can be pounded and they will lather up and make a great shampoo. Different ones are good for soap also.

Shaving cream - Use soap! That's what I shave my legs with.

Soap - Lard and ash. Good idea about the glycerine!

Pops · Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:56 pm Post subject:

Everyone already has this figured out – when it comes to the end of Wally-World:

Lye soap

Baking soda and/or salt

Lye soap/straight razor

Of course there is floss and wash. I don’t floss much but gotta swish with that lister/alco/mint stuff.

Actually all I use now is soap toothpaste and mouthwash, of course the other half has special requirements.

Man will I ever be in trouble if she starts reading my posts!
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