If you’ve ever transitioned from a synthetic based antiperspirant to a natural deodorant, you can relate. The in-between period is rough. Our body’s natural detoxification mechanism, while essential, can be smelly. Switching to a natural deodorant can be tricky for some, but not for others. To make your transition as smooth as possible, we've got some do's and don'ts to help you out. Before you go running back to your old anti-perspirant, check out the following tips to make things easier for you.
Why Make the Switch to a Natural Deodorant?
If you’re reading this, chances are you may already know why ditching commercial deodorants is essential for your pits and overall health. But if you need a little more information, here’s our take. Switching to a natural deodorant that works means you are not blocking your sweat glands and your friends don't have to block their noses. That’s a win in our books. Another biggie is by switching to natural deodorant, you are avoiding a bunch of nasties that are proven to be bad for your health. These include aluminium compounds, synthetic fragrances, PEGs and triclosan. To know more about the impact of the chemicals found in conventional deos and their health risks, we suggest you give our blog post What You Need to Know About Deodorants & Antipersperants a read. Whatever the reason, we’ll help you make an informed decision and get your pits detoxed smoothly.
Benefits of Using Natural Deodorants
Although personal care products may seem minute in comparison to other environmental exposures, our daily self-care routine exposes us to upwards of 168 chemicals per day. So the compound effect is huge. Another benefit of using natural deodorants is they help you smell nice, while letting your body do what it should, that is, to sweat! We know how important sweating is for detoxing but it's also our body’s natural cooling mechanism. Our body chemistry is fine tuned to a specific pH and temperature and when that cooling mechanism is out of whack, it can throw off our biochemistry.
How to Transition and What to Expect
Check out these easy steps to detox your armpits without scaring off your coworkers.
1. Prepare for a detox period
When swapping from an aluminium-based antiperspirant to a natural deodorant, there is going to be a detox period. You may feel stinky and think that the deodorant isn’t working. This is because antiperspirants block sweat so you are not used to sweating and haven’t adapted yet. This means that all that gunk that's been clogged for years is starting to be purged out. This detox period lasts a month usually. It may suck at first but, if you are serious about swapping, stick to it, because ultimately, it's what you need.
2. Sweat it Out
So we know sweating is what will get those toxins out! So find ways to sweat. Whatever floats your boat. Go to the gym, have a dance party, go running or play your favorite sport. Just get moving baby! Regular exercise is critical to promote the natural removal of toxins, especially when you are transitioning out of commercial deos. If you have access to a dry sauna, infrared, steam room, give that a go, or simply take a hot and cold shower, or a bath regularly.
3. Shave Your Pits
Hair in your underarms traps moisture and hinders its evaporation. This means sweat builds up, and hangs around long enough to create the perfect environment for bacteria to thrive causing you to smell. During the detox period, consider shaving your armpits. It could help the natural deodorant stick better to your skin, which could result in a better outcome.
4. Exfoliate Your Arms
You’ve probably heard of using clay masks to draw out impurities from your face, but what about your pits? Well that principle applies to your pits. Making DIY clay masks with Kaolin, Bentonite or French clay is a great way to speed up the elimination process. All you need is to combine clay, with filtered water and a little apple cider vinegar and you’re set. Apply it once or twice a week. Leave on for 10 minutes, keeping your arms above your head and then rinse. You can also use apple cider on its own regularly as an astringent or witch hazel. For best results, leave apple cider overnight and wash in the morning.
5. Adapt your Diet
Science shows what we eat affects how we smell. Foods like Red meat, MSG, alcohol and caffeine should be avoided during this period. In addition to putting a burden on your liver, these foods can litterally make your sweat stink. Focus instead on whole plant foods and lots of leafy greens like kale, sprouts and broccoli to support liver pathways. Barleygrass, wheatgrass, chlorella and liquid chlorophyll are especially useful at clearing body odor. Keep Hydrated Another important thing is to drink enough clean water. Hydrating adequately throughout the day will aid in flushing out those toxins through your kidneys, and lessen the load on your pits.
6. Don’t Give Up
I know this may seem daunting at first, but don’t give up. With a bit of perseverance, a few uncomfortable weeks, clean shaven pits and a few clay masks, you’ll be so happy you made the switch and treated your body as a temple. Happy sweating!
