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Aussie mum saves $3.5k after not using shampoo for a year

A savvy mum who hasn’t used soap and shampoo on herself or her kids for more than a year has said the change has saved her thousands.

Last year, Virginia Tapscott made the controversial decision to stop using soap and shampoo on both her and her kids after becoming concerned about the amount of ‘toxic’ chemicals in mainstream beauty products.

The 28-year-old from Narrabri, New South Wales, also quit using makeup, perfume, conditioners, face cleansers, body washes, moisturisers, fake tan and hair dye – which she said saves her almost $3,500 per year.

Virginia Tapscott hasn’t used shampoo for the past year. Photo: Caters News
Virginia Tapscott hasn’t used shampoo for the past year. Photo: Caters News

The freelance writer even cut down on using soap and completely stopped washing her three-year-old son Oscar’s hair – while her daughter Elke, one, has never been exposed to any products other than water and oil.

“When I was pregnant with my daughter, I started to really think about what toxic chemicals are in all the beauty and household products that I was using every day,” the mum-of-two said.

“The chemicals are not just terrible for our health, but they have a huge impact on our overall environment footprint.

“I also wanted to stop the amount of waste and plastic that was going straight to landfill. So it all made sense to me.

“I didn’t know what would happen but wanted to give it a go.”

Now, Virginia just uses water and a washcloth, which she says makes for a ‘really quick shower’.

“Our skin produces all these natural oils that keep it clean and healthy anyway,” she said.

“Water is a powerful solvent in itself so that is going to get off any dirt or grime, especially when you use a washcloth.

“As for my hair, it’s never felt better. It does feel different and it’s obviously not like it was when I was washing it, but it doesn’t smell.

Virginia will scrub her hair with bicarb soda if it feels oily and claims the natural oils make it easier to brush.

“I also sometimes just rub tapioca flour in my hair and brush it out, which is like a natural dry shampoo,” she said.

The freelance writer even cut down on using soap and completely stopped washing her three-year-old son Oscar’s hair – while her daughter Elke, one, has never been exposed to any products other than water and oil. Photo: Caters News
The freelance writer even cut down on using soap and completely stopped washing her three-year-old son Oscar’s hair – while her daughter Elke, one, has never been exposed to any products other than water and oil. Photo: Caters News

“My skin has also never looked better. It used to be on the dry side but now it feels amazing.”

Now the only products Virginia uses on her skin is pure jojoba oil and a mineral sunscreen, which only costs her $160 per year.

The mum still uses a bar of hand soap for hygiene, but has ditched commercial deodorant and toothpaste altogether – saving her around $200 in the past year.

She now makes her own toothpaste from bentonite clay and calcium carbonate – while her homemade deodorant is simply coconut oil, bicarb soda and essential oils.

Virginia said she used to be addicted to bleaching her hair and applying fake tan to achieve that year-round glow – and added those were the hardest things to give up.

But after ditching home hair dye, monthly salon appointments and giving up the fake tan, it has saved her a whopping $2,000 a year.

“I couldn’t justify all the bleach going down the drain and polluting the waterways, and it was also is was irritating my skin,” she said.

“I know it’s nice to do nice things for yourself as a woman, but there is freedom in not dying your hair for a year and realising that this is actually what my hair looks like.

“I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. I feel better than I ever have.

“It’s a huge misconception that we smell bad, because we honestly don’t at all.”

Virginia’s annual spending before the change:

Shampoo and conditioner: $300
Face wash: $200
Face cream: $250
Body wash: $50
Body moisturiser: $50
Home colour: $500
Perfume – $200
Makeup: $300
BB Cream – $100
Deodorant – $100
Sunscreen: $150
Toothpaste: $100
Fake tan: $200
Salon visits: $1500

TOTAL: $4,000

Her annual spending now:

Two litres of jojoba oil: $110
Essential oils – $250
Mineral sunscreen: $50
Bicarb soda: $5
Tapioca powder: $2
Beeswax: $20
Bentonite clay: $14
Calcium carbonate $50
Hand soap: $15

TOTAL: $516

TOTAL SAVINGS: $3,484

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