Say goodbye to BO for good!

My homemade deodorant is so fantastic, I just have to write about it again! 

My husband and I have been using this exclusively for over a year without a single fail and I truly can't imagine why more people aren't doing the same. While research is mixed on whether or not deodorants and antiperspirants are linked to breast cancer, I just don't want to take the chance.

The formula is simple, it's inexpensive, NON-TOXIC, and EFFECTIVE!! And I was thinking it would be make a great homemade gift for the holidays. All you need are small containers (pretty is a plus) with tight-fitting lids, some organic coconut oil, baking soda, and an essential oil of your choice. I use Young Living's Joy and my armpits smell oh, so, good. Or you can go with an unscented version and skip the essential oil altogether. It's still as effective.

Simply mix coconut oil and baking soda in a container. You want a creamy consistency, so play with the amounts as needed. Usually, it's a 50/50 blend. Of course, in the summer, your oil will tend to be more liquid than solid, but it still works. Add just a drop or two of essential oil and you're good to go. My husband and I use our fingertips and massage a small amount of the mixture under our arms as needed, which generally comes out to every third or fourth day or so... showering and bathing do not affect this. I don't pretend to know the science behind it, but it works. That's all.

So for anyone on your gift list who is still using toxic deodorants or antiperspirants, maybe you could introduce this natural alternative to them and save them from the possibility of breast cancer (you do know that even men can get breast cancer, right?). And for those who already are using safe deodorants, this is just a cheaper alternative that we've found works far better and longer than any we've tried. 

Let me know how it works for you. 

Sharing my green living tips,

Hop to it! Giveaway hop with Earth Mama Organics!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. 

I received product and/or compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

It's April! What better way to celebrate than with a great giveaway as part of a giveaway hop hosted by MamaTheFox?

While the other participating bloggers are certain to have some pretty amazing giveaways, I'm thrilled to be working once again with Earth Mama Organics to offer you a chance to sample their new deodorants!

The fine ladies over at Earth Mama sent a few of their deodorants for me to try a few months ago and I have to tell you I was pleasantly surprised. Not that I was surprised that their products were good, but I've had a hard time with "natural" deodorants. Either they work, but they stain, or they don't work at all. The Earth Mama deodorants worked well as long as I used them every day. 

If you've been following my deodorant journey, you'll know that both my husband and I quit using deodorants altogether and I'm quite happy about it. I mix up organic coconut oil and baking soda in a little jar and we apply it under our arms once every 3 - 4 days. Seriously. It lasts through baths and showers. As soon as I detect the least little odor, I reapply and voila! the odor is gone and doesn't return for days. So, yes, I'm still doing that. 

But I did enjoy going back to using deodorant and not having to get my hands messy. For those of you whose skin doesn't react well to baking soda, don't let that ingredient scare you away from the Earth Mama Organics deodorants. They've got just the right blend of baking soda and magnesium to make them effective without the burn or rash some people get from baking soda.

I liked the gentle scents of the Earth Mama Organics deodorants and I shared them with my daughters, who appreciated knowing the deodorants were safe for moms who were breastfeeding. That's one of the best things about them! They're safe for pregnant and nursing moms! And, of course, the mamas at Earth Mama had that in mind all along! They're cool like that.

Not sure which scent you'd like best? No problem. You can order a sample set and try all four: GingerAid, Bright Citrus, Calming Lavender, and Natural Non-Scents. Or, just maybe, you could win a set! Just enter the Rafflecopter below.

US only. 18+

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I received product and/or compensation in exchange for this post. All opinions are my own.

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Don't Sweat It in the Super Mom Giveaway Hop!

Welcome to the 2nd Annual Super Mom Giveaway Hop

This fun and exciting giveaway hop is brought to you by:

MamatheFox, The Kids Did It & The Mommy Island

This Mothers Day there are so many options for gifts to give! At each stop in this giveaway hop you will find a prize that will be perfect for a mom in your life. While it's always nice to win something to give away... it's also nice to win something for yourself. I know busy, health-conscious moms are always looking for natural products to improve their lives. But it can get expensive to shop around only to find out that the products just don't work for you. I found that to be the case when looking for a natural and safe deodorant. That's why my Don't Sweat It Giveaway is geared toward you -- the always-on-the-go mom who works up a sweat just going about the business of mommying. Thanks to the kind folks at Natural Products Network, I have some great deodorants for you to try. But that's not all. Moms need some pampering, too, so I'm including a couple of face masks and some metabolism-boosting tea to help you feel and look your best! All the products are complements of the Natural Products Network.

Included in the giveaway are:

• Kiss My Face Quick Dry Spray Deodorant (MSRP: $6.99)
• Crystal Body Deodorant Roll-on (MSRP: $4.25)
• Schmidt's Cedarwood and Juniper Deodorant Stick (MSRP: $8.99)
• Crystal Body Deodorant Travel Stick (MSRP: $2.99)
• (2) Andalou Instant Brightening Face Mask (MSRP: $3.69 each)
• Get Burning Herb Tea for Metabolism (MSRP: $12.75)

Enter below for a chance to win this prize package valued at over $43! US only. 18+

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out MamatheFox's Grand Prize of (1) Kuhn Rikon Duromatic Micro Microwave Pressure Cooker, (1) Kyocera Ceramic Coated Fry Pan Set 8” and 10” & (1) Capresso Infinity Conical Burr Coffee Grinder and (1) bag of Capresso’s Grand Aroma Coffee Beans - Regular Roast! This Grand Prize is valued at $266!

Be sure to come back daily to increase your chances of winning!

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfill their prize obligations.

Thursday's Truths & Tidbits -- I smell B.O.!

Body odor. Yuck. Natural deodorants often don't work. While there was one natural and safe deodorant I used to swear by, the company changed the formula and the packaging (to cardboard, which made it messy and difficult to use) and I no longer liked it. Plus, it used to stain my clothing. 

The alternative was commercial deodorant, which was affordable and readily available on the grocery and drugstore shelves. But who wants to apply toxins under their arms and risk the chance of breast or lymph node cancer. NOT ME! I also do not want to offend others, and myself, with nasty B.O. What's a person to do?

Well, I'll tell you what my husband and I have been doing for over six months now. And I dare say, neither of us stink.

I scoop a tiny bit of baking soda into the palm of my hand, add a tiny bit of coconut oil, and rub into my armpits. That's it. If it's a bit too oily, I dab with a dry washcloth, get dressed and go on my way. And, since I'm not one to shower or bathe daily (there really is no purpose to that, you know), I only have to apply it every couple of days. 

So far, there has been zero odor. Same for my husband, who also does not shower daily. He was skeptical, but the results won him over.

No toxins. No carcinogens. No B.O. Effective and economical.

What could be better than that?

Sharing my green and healthy living tips with you,

A simple homemade deodorant that WORKS!

Finding a safe and effective deodorant can be a real struggle for many of us. I tried one after the other and honestly only found one that worked for my husband and me. Then they changed the packaging and the formula and I no longer like it. The biodegradable cardboard container is difficult to use, but I would manage it somehow if the deodorant worked. But it doesn't and the mess around the top of the tube just isn't worth it. Too bad. The original packaging and formula worked well, although it did stain lighter clothing. Again, I was willing to put up with that in exchange for not offending people with my B.O.!

I've read lots of articles about how to make my own deodorant, but it all seemed too complicated. So I came up with my own formula. And guess what -- it works! All the time, every time. I couldn't be more thrilled. And as one who doesn't shower or bathe daily (I see no reason to do so), I'm excited to say that I don't need to apply my "deodorant" every day either. **UPDATE: Lindsay, one of the GG community members, let me know that she does this, too, but every once in awhile she develops little red bumps (especially after shaving) and has to stop until they go away. She just switches to crystal deodorant for a bit. I've not had a reaction yet, but it's good to know it can happen.**

So what is this magic formula? I know you're dying to find out.

It's quite simple actually. I place a small amount of baking soda in the palm of my hand and add an equal amount of coconut oil. I mix it into a paste and apply it under my arms with my fingers. Then I wash my hands. That's it. Safe, non-toxic, effective, and cheap!

I even made up a batch in a small container to take with me on all these trips lately. 

My arm pits and I have never been happier! And nothing in this formula is going to give me breast cancer! Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Hand sanitizer and deodorant -- non-toxic and up for grabs

I'll start off today's Review It Wednesday with an automatic 2 green thumbs up!

A few weeks ago, while taking a break from my booth at the Allegheny Green & Innovation Festival, I stopped by a booth with a variety of wonderful natural toxin-free products. I asked if they ever give away products for review, and to make a long story short, I walked away with two products to try.

When I returned to my booth, my daughter, Bethany, saw what I had and, without my reviewing it yet, went over and purchased the DEO deodorant. So, I'll start with that.

I love the tag line for DEO -- "Only perfection for your pits!™"

I chose Jasmine and Bethany bought Eucalyptus. Both of us, as well as my husband, love this deodorant! The 2.0 oz. solid bar costs $11 and is so worth it. Of course, I received mine for free in exchange for this review. But that in no way influenced my decision to give it 2 green thumbs up! And in this case, add my husband's thumbs and Bethany's thumbs, and the DEO deodorant gets 6 thumbs up altogether! I guess that means we like it! We really like it.

"Sometimes when I go to bed, I can still smell the eucalyptus," Bethany told me. And I can honestly say that since we started using this deodorant daily, we haven't experience any bad odors from sweating. Keep in mind, this is a deodorant and not an antiperspirant.

The ingredient list on the Jasmine deodorant includes:

• grapeseed oil
• canedelillia wax 
• apricot kernel oil
• virgin wheatgerm oil
• jasmine wax
• organic rosehip seed oil
• tocopherol
• essential oils of cypress, clove, cinnamon, peppermint, lavender, lemon, bergamot and geranium

It smells wonderful. And it works. And Green Grandma highly recommends it for both men and women. You can purchase it on the WRRYFree SkinCare website or enter to WIN some below!

But wait. There's more! (Sorry, just had to add the infomercial touch).

I was also given a 4 oz. bottle of Climb On! Products Hand Sanitizer ($8.50) and love it as well! This essential oil-based, non-toxic sanitizer had a delightful aroma and it really softens my hands when I use it. Of course, the added bonus is that there is no triclosan in it (always a plus). But there is isopropyl alcohol as the active ingredient. The botanical active ingredients are:

• certified organic aloe vera gel
• lemon essential oil
• cinnamon essential oil

Like I said, it is delightfully scented, which I love because I tend to have so much trouble breathing around many of the commercial hand sanitizers, like the ones from Bath & Body Works. I can almost feel an instant asthma attack when I'm exposed to many of them.

The downside of this particular hand sanitizer, however, is the size of the bottle. It's not exactly purse sized. I'm just keeping mine in my car so I have something available to clean my hands after pumping gas, grocery shopping, or even attending church and shaking a bunch of hands. I'm counting on this to help keep me healthy during cold and flu season. And you can enter to win a bottle, too!

Just follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter below. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only and will run from October 17th through midnight (EST) October 22nd. Winner will be announced on Tuesday, October 23rd and will have 48 hours to respond.  

  a Rafflecopter giveaway


Disclaimer: This is giveaway and is in no way affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or Pinterest. I was given these products at no charge. However, that did not influence my review. The opinions stated in my reviews are just that... opinions. Individuals may have different responses and results when using these products. Since Rafflecopter is a fair and nondiscriminatory winner-selection widget, friends and family members are eligible to win this prize. Entries will be verified.

Review It Wednesday -- is that citrus I smell?

"Take a whiff of my arm pit ... go ahead. What do you smell?"

My husband hesitantly complied. "Fruit."

"Yep, it's citrus."

"What happened to the crystal you were using?"

Well, that question started a whole new conversation.

Awhile back, I reviewed Crystal deodorant, giving it a green thumbs up. As a matter of fact, it even made my Top 10 List back in June! And, as far as working as a deodorant, it still ranks up there. However, somewhere along the line of using it, I developed a yeast infection under my left arm, which then spread to my right arm pit, undoubtedly via the Crystal. Not fun. I had to resort to using Earth Mama Angel Baby Bottom Balm under my arms every day. But once it cleared up and I started using the Crystal again, the rash returned. So I had to find an alternative. 

That's when I discovered Weleda Citrus Deodorant in a glass spray bottle. I love this stuff! I bought it at the natural foods store in Berkeley Springs, WV back in August and have been using it daily ever since. And I've been a citrusly-happy and unstinky person ever since. Plus, the yeast infection is gone.

Since I can't explain it any better, here's what the Weleda website says about the Citrus Deodorant:


."Residual odor from naturally detoxified skin gets neutralized and freshened with this zesty deodorant. It’s an effective, non-aerosol spray that invigorates and refreshes as it eliminates the sources of unpleasant body odor.


Lemon peel oil has invigorating properties and also serves as a purifying disinfectant. With no risky antiperspirants such as aluminum salts, your body’s natural detoxification process is supported while bacteria that cause unpleasant odors are neutralized. You’re left smelling fresh and feeling the citrus-induced invigoration of Biodynamic® lemon peel oil. Spray whenever you need a purifying burst of full-body aromatherapy to freshen your entire being throughout the day."
Like I said, I love this stuff! I love the way it makes me feel, I love the invigorating scent, and I love that it comes in a glass bottle! Of course, I have to be extra careful to not drop it on the ceramic tile floor, but it's worth the risk not to have yet another product packaged in plastic!

If you're not a fan of citrus-scented products, you're in luck because Weleda's spray deodorants come in Sage and Wild Rose as well.

From browsing through the company's website, I have to admit, I like what I see. Weleda is celebrating 90 years of sustainability, which is something worthy of a shout out! Plus, they have a passionate commitment to fair trade.

Whether you opt for Crystal Deodorant, Weleda's deodorants, baking soda, vinegar or some other natural deodorant, the important thing is to avoid the commercial toxin-packed deodorants and antiperspirants on the market. Basically, I think you should skip antiperspirants altogether.

Why?

Because they block the body's natural process of sweating. Sweating is important because it rids the body of toxins. Do you really want to block toxins in an area of your body that is so prone to cancer? I sure don't.

Of course, not everything works for every body. So if BO's a problem for you, here are some suggestions, with links:

1. Weleda's natural deodorants
2. Crystal Deodorant
3. Baking Soda (use a powder puff to make application easier)
4. Vinegar

Give one or more of these a try and I'm sure you'll be sweet-smelling in no time.

If you have any more tips on warding off the body odor, please let me know. I'm always up for trying something new, although I have to admit, for now, I'm completely sold on Weleda's Citrus Deodorant!

Reviewing it for you,

Hana

What exactly are these prizes? The first 3

Pretty neat prize package, huh? Remember to get your entries in. You must post a comment here or on FB to be entered. Refer friends and get 5 extra entries!

This week, I'm going to break down the package ... bit by bit, starting with my friend and GG community member, Lisa Marie Bruno's fun upcycling Etsy site, ARTchaeology. Lisa Marie is an artist, costume designer and upcycler, extraordinaire! A couple of weeks ago, she posted a picture displaying a bunch of rings she's made out of buttons and button covers (remember that 80's craze?!). One, in particular, caught my eye, so I bought it. I can't tell you how many compliments I get on that ring!

When Lisa Marie heard about the anniversary giveaway, she sent me a FB message and offered an upcycled ring as part of the prize package. The fun part is ... the winner gets to choose the ring they want! Here is just a sampling of the rings Lisa Marie recently designed. I bought the red one with the silver center (2 up from the Scrabble tile). Love it!

Upcycled rings by ARTchaeology

Check out Lisa Marie's other designs at ARTchaeology.

***

Next on the alphabetical list of products in the prize package is the revolutionary Diva Cup! I am such a strong believer in this product that I am thrilled to be offering it as part of the giveaway. If you haven't given a Diva Cup a chance yet, what are you waiting for?!

Want to reduce cramps and other unpleasant symptoms that are part of your monthly cycle? Then get rid of your disposable, chemically-infused sanitary products and opt for something that will not add to the ever-growing landfill problem. If you have questions about the Diva Cup, chances are Wanda answered them with her intimate review back in January. If you didn't get the chance to read it back then, or last week when I reposted it, take a few minutes and read it now. It's well worth your time.

The Diva Cup is "an award-winning revolutionary alternative to tampons and pads!" Want an extra 5 chances to win one? 'Like' Diva Cup on Facebook and then post a comment letting me know you did ... oh, and let them know Green Grandma sent you!

***

Finally, today I want to introduce you to Earthly Remedies by Erin, committed to providing natural, chemical-free products. Erin grows the herbs she uses in her products. She has graciously offered an all-natural and safe stick deodorant. Made with organic coconut oil, cornstarch, baking soda, vitamin E oil, beeawax, and a blend of essential oils, there is no need to worry about toxins ... or body odor ... when you use this deodorant daily.

Deodorant by Earthly Remedies by Erin

Want 5 additional entries in the giveaway? 'Like' Earthly Remedies by Erin on Facebook and let me know about it. How simple is that?!

Going green means a lot of things to a lot of different people. From upcycling to toxin-free product choices, we can all do our part to ensure we are leaving behind a planet our grandbabies will be proud to call home.


This is one fine prize package. Don't forget to enter!

Excited about the giveaway,

Hana

The Anniversary Celebration Continues!

Wasn't last week fun?! I loved sharing some of my favorite posts from the past two years with you.

To thank you for your continued faith in GG and all that the blog stands for, as well as to welcome new friends into the community, I am hosting a pretty awesome giveaway, thanks to some amazing supporters of this blog.

Are you ready to hear what's in this prize package? Here goes:

• Upcycled ring from Artchaeology
• Diva Cup from Diva Cup
• Baby Essentials Bundle from Earth Mama Angel Baby
• Deodorant from Earthly Remedies by Erin
• Cannister of biodegradable food wipes from Eat Cleaner
• 4 oz. bottle of liquid laundry detergent from Eco Nuts 
• Custom-designed make-up bag from Flip Flops and Combat Boots
• $40 prize pack (boy or girl) from Green Baby Clothing Company
• Sophie the Giraffe toy and $10 Gift Certificate from Happy Baby Company
• 100% Pure Acai Berry Eye Cream from Leaf & Bud Naturals
• 2 jars of Green Salve from Motherlove
• $15 Gift Certificate from Petite Paintbrush

Didn't I tell you it was an amazing prize package?! Over the next week, I'll be posting more info about each of these fantastic companies and the prizes they're offering, as well as ways to win more entries into the giveaway (and you want to have a lot of chances to win this one, don't you?!).

One lucky winner (from U.S.A. or Canada only) will win all the prizes listed above! Many of these prizes would make great gifts, so if you don't have a baby in the house, just think what great gifts you'll have ready for the next baby shower you're invited to!

1. To get the ball rolling, everyone who is a 'follower' of the blog and posts a comment here to remind me that you're following, gets 1 Entry.
2. Everyone who 'likes' the Facebook page, and posts a comment there reminding me that you're a 'liker' gets 1 Entry. That means if you are a follower and a liker, and you post comments both places, you automatically get 2 Entries.
3. Anyone who refers someone new to the community and the new person mentions them in a comment, will receive 5 Bonus Entries!! If you refer 5 new people who all post comments with your name (either on FB or here on the blog), you will have 25 more chances to win!!

Lots of opportunities to win here folks! And keep checking back, because every day, I'll post another way to add entries to the pot.

One winner will be chosen via Random.org and will be announced on August 31, 2011. Participating sponsors and family members of Green Grandma are not eligible.

Looking forward to making someone happy,

Hana

Review It Wednesday -- If only it worked on stinkbugs!

Awhile back I mentioned ditching my deodorant and switching to plain old distilled white vinegar. It worked so well for both my husband and me, I couldn't see us ever going back to a commercial roll-on or solid or, god forbid, aerosol spray!

Then someone in the GG community alerted me to the wonders of baking soda as a deodorant. Wonderful. I had choices. Baking soda was a nice, albeit messy, alternative after shaving, as the vinegar had a tendency to burn a bit. Plus, even though we were free of body odor, we did tend to smell a bit like salad dressing when we started to sweat! Still, anything was better than slathering our armpits with toxic chemicals. Have you ever read the ingredient list on your deodorant? Scary, scary stuff!!

One evening, while perusing the shelves at Right by Nature, one of Pittsburgh's real treasures, we picked up a light purple container and started reading the label.

All Natural Protection

CRYSTAL

Body Deodorant Stick

Hypoallergenic

Fragrance & Paraben Free

Boldly printed across the domed cap beside the pink breast cancer ribbon: NO Aluminum Chlorohydrate

Hmmm. Turning the container around, I continued reading:

Natural Deodorant Protection. Crystal Body Deodorant is made of 100% Natural Mineral Salts which eliminate odor by leaving an invisible protective barrier against odor-causing bacteria. It is fragrance free, non-sticky, non-staining, leaves no white residue and can be used by bothe Men and Women.

I looked at the price and hesitated. Then I kept reading:

Crystal Body Deodorant can last up to a year of daily use.

I didn't need a calculator to figure out that, in the long run, this deodorant was a heck of a lot cheaper than the deodorants we used to use. Granted, it was costlier than the vinegar, but still...

• Safe for the Environment
• Endorsed by Cancer Treatment Centers

It just kept getting better.

Ingredients: Natural Mineral Salts, Ammonimum Alum

That's it. No fragrance. No dyes. Nothing unpronounceable. Cool. We put it in our basket.

What made this an even sweeter deal that night was when my name was called over the loudspeaker as a winner of a gift certificate to the store. Nice.

Then came the real test. For the past 6 months now, Bill and I have been using nothing but Crystal Body Deodorant and we love it. With both of us using it every day, you would assume we'd be nearing the end of the crystal, since it was to last about a year for one person. But we're nowhere near the end of the line for this one. It just seems to last and last and last. As does its protection. Not once, during the time we've been using it, have we noticed any body odor. None.

There are some downsides, however. For one thing, this is a deodorant, not an anti-perspirant. So we still do sweat. Of course, we did the same when we were using the distilled white vinegar and the baking soda...and quite often with the Mitchum, now that I think about it. But you have to wonder something about that -- is preventing perspiring actually good for us anyway? I mean, really. Our bodies were created to sweat. I'm thinking it is not a good idea to apply something to our underarms to prevent that, although, quite honestly, I have not researched the matter.

Then there is the matter of messiness. You have to wet the crystal before applying. Wetting leads to dripping. I just keep a washcloth handy to catch the excess. If you are one who showers every morning, you can simply keep the crystal in the shower and apply it before stepping out of the stall.

Since this is mineral salt, it will start to dissolve with time. Have you ever felt dissolving salt? It's messy as well, so I recommend finding a lid to place the deodorant stick container in to collect the residue.

For us, the cons are so minor compared to the pros for this product. Stink-free and chemical-free. What more could we ask for? Well, maybe a natural product that would make the world stinkbug-free, but so far that is an undiscovered treasure.

But don't let the last two cons about the mineral salt stick deter you, because I was just on the Crystal website and guess what...the deodorant comes in roll-on, spray and 100% biodegradable wipes! And the price really isn't so bad after all. So check it out. Or head over to their Facebook page and find out what others are saying about this safe alternative to the toxic products you may be using.

Keeping it green on Review It Wednesday,

Hana

Vinegar Fridays

TGIVF!

Another week has flown by so quickly. So, did any of you try out Martha's facial mask? I'd love to hear your personal testimonials!

Today we're going to continue on in our quest to look lovelier than ever, thanks to our old friend, Vinegar.

Part Two: Head to toe tips

Haircare is getting more and more complicated these days with all of the toxic chemicals being added to our shampoos, conditioners and styling products. Maybe it's time we went back to using natural products right out of our kitchen cabinets. For example, remember the 3 week facial astringents I mentioned last week? Well, you can make a hair rinse following the same procedure. Grab a dark glass jar and fill it with a pint of white wine vinegar (note: this is different than distilled white vinegar), 1 cup orange peel and 1/2 cup orange leaves. Seal tightly and place on a sunny window sill for 3 weeks. Make sure to shake the jar daily. Strain and pour over your hair after shampooing.

Hair expert, Karen M. Shelton of HairBoutique.com has stated that cider vinegar is proven to rehydrate hair that is structurally weak, dry, or unmanageable, as well as strengthen hair that has been chemically treated by restoring the natural pH balance. So you can count on your hair looking and feeling healthier when you use ACV (2 tablespoons to 2 cups warm water) as a final rinse. This will strip away all the residue left on your hair by whatever shampoo you are using. ACV is especially beneficial to brunettes, while distilled white vinegar can be used for blondes.