I discovered in 2015 that coconut oil used in cooking is disgusting. To me, anyway.

So, in relation to this no poo movement (which I have never heard of) - how exactly does a person use coconut oil on her hair? Since I have this nearly full jar of coconut oil going unused . . . .

I don't think that coconut oil is particularly "no poo". I believe that you coat your hair with coconut oil, leave it on for a period of time, then wash it out - with shampoo. You can also coat your body with coconut oil before taking a shower. Personally, I use it as a makeup remover. I rub coconut oil on my face, then remove it with a makeup remover wipe, then rinse.

Littlebug, not all coconut oil is highly fragranced. I use LouAna coconut and peanut oils for popping corn and stir-frying. Neither has a discernible scent/flavor.

LouAna oils

CindyMac, I have done both. When I add mulch or organic stuff on top in the fall or early spring I just let it sit. If I am adding compost before planting, I usually work it in a little. In my little raised beds, they haven't been tilled in a long time but they are mostly perennials.

I could see me going into a shower coated in coconut oil. I think I'll wait till I install grab bars.

I did try it on my hair and it took about three shampoos to remove it, and my hair still looked greasy that day. I didn't think it was worth it.

Haha, Mayflowers! Me, too. My sister uses coconut oil in her hair, but she has thick, gorgeous hair while mine is thin and curly. It doesn't work on mine at all. I do cook with it and don't mind the taste.

My big discovery in 2015 is lemon water, first thing in the morning. And I take a Sam-E supplement during the winter months to lift my mood. I started this last winter, found it effective, quit during the spring, and have started it again for this winter.

ETA: it's SAM-e.

Lisa, I discovered lemon water too, but I do it last thing at night in very warm water.

outsideplaying, I mentioned the no till to DH and he says he doesnt till either. Shows you how much I pay attention to the garden, except at harvest time, I get to enjoy the organic veggies.

Since being in provence when the lavender was in bloom, I'm all over lavender fragrance now. I especially enjoy the body mists...such a luscious and fresh fragrance.

Annie, that must have been beautiful there, especially with lavender smell in the air. I sometimes will put a drop or two of lavender oil on a candle I have our bedroom. Even though I dont light the candle we can smell the lavender scent faintly in the air, supposedly makes for better sleeping.

RoseAbbey, I'd rather drink it at night because I have to take 2 supplements/medications in the morning on an empty stomach. So I'm waiting 90 minutes to eat breakfast. I'll try the lemon water at night... although I have a feeling nature's call will outweigh the benefits!

2015 is the year that I discovered I really like to sew. My DM was naturally gifted at sewing, and I am still showing in a riding coat that she made for me 40 years ago!

I am not doing tailoring, but still, enjoying it when I get out the machine.

Lisa, we usually have a light snack a couple of hours before going to bed and then is when we have our hot lemon water. It gives us time to go before retiring, well me anyway, DH still gets up at least once a night. You know men and their prostrates, I dont know how they put up with those things!

I too like a large glass of warm-to-hot lemon water first thing in the morning.

I never heard of no-poo either. Ugh. One of the greatest joys I know is freshly shampooed hair. Like Holly-Kay, I can smell unfresh hair a mile away, one of the worst smells ever. Nicely dressed, well-turned out women and their hair smells like it needs to be washed, totally undoes all the rest of the effort.

When my hair was short I washed it every day, minimum. Now that it's shoulder length and doesn't run greasy like it did when I was young, I wash every other day. The incredible thing is, it looks the best of all the morning when I roll out of bed after washing it the day before. Like today. I didn't even use a comb or brush, just fluffed it with my fingers.

What's the deal behind no-poo? If I'm gonna get my hair completely wet (those who just use conditioner), why not wash it?

Thanks to Mtnrd my big discovery was the hot air brush and Sebastian brushable hairspray. I find the hot air brush easier to manipulate than a brush and blow dryer and I get my hair looking respectable in a flash. The hairspray does not make my hair stiff.

Joanie, what brand is your hot air brush?

Daisy, that was probably me who recommended olive leaf.glad it appears to be working for you! I keep it in my cabinet and take it every time I feel a cold coming on. I used to get at least one nasty sinus cold/infection every year but since discovering olive leaf, I haven't had a single one. The key is taking it immediately upon feeling the symptoms starting. This reminds me that I need to get a new bottle. I used mine up just recently over the holidays when I felt those symptoms (for me, it's a scratchy throat, mild/foggy headache and watery eyes).

I discovered using Jason's Natural Fragrance Free Shampoo and Conditioner was horrible for my hair - No parabens, sodium lauryl/laureth sulfates, petrolatum, artificial colors or phthalates. My hair felt awful when wet, almost impossible to comb through and dry. Even my hairdresser was stumped. Switched back to my previous shampoo, Fekkai Technician Color, and will never switch again.

I started using T.N. Dickinson's Witch Hazel as an astringent after washing my face each night. Always surprised at what shows up on the cotton round after washing and rinsing.

DD1 introduced me to M-61 Power Glow Peels (bluemercury.com)... and I introduced many of you here to them. Love. I use them 3x wk, DH uses 2x wk.

I discovered I have more will power than previously giving myself. Using the FatSecret app helped me keep track of what I eat (low carb, high protein). I lost 28lbs and have been able to keep it off.

I've considered trying no-poo but haven't. Now I never will - thanks! I do wash it less often, every other to every three days if I don't get sweaty. Be sure to use coconut oil sparingly on your hair, because if you use too much, it takes several shampoos to not look oily. Sticking to "ends only" is what I do and usually will put on about dinner time so it's soaked in before bedtime.

Allison, thanks for the reminder about the peels. I meant to try them when you originally posted about them but forgot.

A while ago someone posted about a specific fish oil supplement that their physician suggested that really helped their dry skin. I have searched this site high and low and can't find it the post. Hopefully the poster will read this thread.

I posted something about Nordic Naturals (available on Amazon) that really has helped with my dry eyes. I don't recall what it was that helped with dry skin, but it was my primary care physician that recommended this brand and another I can't recall.

RoseAbbey.......I bought a Conair hot air brush from Target for around $20. Mtnrd recently posted her brush.....it's Hot Tools 1079 on Amazon. Sorry I can't get the link to work.

Allison, I was all excited to try the peels and then realized blue mercury won't ship to Canada. I am totally bummed! I don't suppose you've discovered them on any other site that might ship here?

Thanks jooanie, is it the one that the brush spins? I just saw that and that looks like something I am going to try.

Allison's recommended M-61 Power Glow Peels are my discovery of the year. I gave some to my mom and she loved them so much that they became my go-to Christmas gift this year. Thanks, Allison! I think Blue Mercury owes you a commission.

Aw, bummer! Daisy, they are made by and sold by Bluemercury, but someone mentioned Amazon had them too, just not with the free samples. Did you check there?

You're welcome, Nutherokie! Yes, that commission would be nice!

RoseAbby...my brush does not spin. Not sure I would be adept at that, I could see my hair getting all twisted and stuck!

Thanks Allison. I did try Amazon, but they won't ship here either. Maybe I'll make the 3 hour trip to Macy's south of the border one weekend. We used to do it once a year, but haven't been in a while. Worth the trip to look even a tad bit better - my skin has never been great, add wrinkles and now it really sucks. How am I still getting acne when I have wrinkles the size of literal crows feet?

I like dry shampoo. There I said it. :) It was one of those things I absolutely refused to use on my own hair. My hair is greasy and I would always wash it daily with no problems. My thoughts were you add products to clean hair to get it to do things and it doesn't take that long blah, blah. My hair style is more time consuming now so I finally decided to try it a few months back after I stumbled on some clearance Batiste while at the store. I was having a browsey moment that day. It's awesome. Saves time and my hair doesn't smell or feel gross like I assumed it would. It also gives great body and will help save your hair color due to less washing. I only use it every other day. My hair does get ick if I try longer than that. I get a lot of compliments on my hair on dry shampoo/do nothing to it days. Go figure. Probably one of the last people ever to use it. I was concerned my hair and scalp would end up dry but so far that hasn't been a problem.

You'll never get me on board with the no poo thing.

Oh my, no shampoo--I'm with Linelle, that is gross. My MIL who has dementia is in assisted living and seems to be losing the ability or memory necessary to wash her hair as often as she should. It bothers me when we take her out and the car AC is blowing the smell back to me, really icky. Cannot imagine deliberately not washing one's hair for weeks or months. Just no.

Anyway, my discovery for 2015 was L-Lysine to combat canker sores. I have suffered with these nasties for most of my life and figured it was simply an incurable quirk of my body. Read somewhere that L-Lysine will help and added it to my daily vitamin intake and WOW. It's literally changed my life. I still get sores occasionally but they are less severe and heal quicker. What a wonderful improvement.

I will assume you all are not trying to be rude considering some of us have said we do it, but I can assure you that my hair does not smell and my scalp is in good shape and Shampoo is not necessary. :) it is an extra expense, step, and dries out my hair. My hair is very long and is in much better shape, color stays longer, etc with just using conditioner and not shampoo.

my grandma used to use dry shampoo. I didnt' realize it was still around.

I have been reading a bunch I would like to add magnesium this year and am tempted to get my iodine checked. I am hoping they will be my 2016 discoveries!

Boop, no we absolutely are NOT intending to be rude, but I think if one has dry hair it is completely different to not shampoo often than if one is like me and tends to have more oily hair and scalp and sweats a lot because I run, garden and work out - things that necessitate a frequent shampoo.

:) thanks outside. I am sure it is different with different hair types. rinsing and massaging your scalp and then using conditioner does remove sweat for me. I do work out, but I do not run!

I do put leave in conditioner before the pool as well, but I think I did actually shampoo once a week in the summer because I was worried about chemicals.

it is not something I would have thought of doing. I really did just try going to every other day for shampoo, then it became a couple times a week, then I just stopped bothering. I do have to condition and rinse/massage daily or my hair would be a disaster and full of tangles.

I wasn't trying to be rude but honestly, not shampooing hair seems gross *to me*. Going weeks or months without washing part of your body is simply nasty in my opinion, whether or not you are rubbing conditioner into your scalp. Not apologizing for an opinion, so there you go.

Unless you've tried the no poo method or read enough about the "movement" to understand the reason behind it, you can't really pronounce it gross and know what you're talking about. Not washing hair IS gross. Using a different method to cleanse that doesn't involve shampoo is NOT gross. It may not work for everyone, that's true - but it's especially good for many women with wavy to curly hair who want to encourage curl and minimize frizz. There wouldn't be books written about this and websites devoted to this and countless proponents if it did not work for many.

I tried it for about six months, and never felt dirty. Some days my hair looked better than others, but the reason I went back to using shampoo is because I just like the feel of a sudsy lather on my head. I don't think, though, that that's the only way to come clean.

In 2015 I "discovered" dresses and leggings. Tunic tops are too short, but with a dress that's just the right length -- a few inches above the knee -- it works for me. Only black leggings, with black boots. I feel like I'm wearing pajamas but look pulled together. Basically the leggings are like wearing tights, but warmer. Has to be the right shape dress for my pear-shaped figure -- like an A-line. Nice break from jeans, which is my usual uniform.

And now I am off to "discover" that power glow peel...

I don't use soap on my face either! :)

Oh, that power glow peel is da' bomb! It's one product that actually delivers on the promised results.

Interesting that it mentions Roseacea. I would have thought it a peel with those ingredients would be too harsh. Do you all use it daily?

yes, you can go no-poo even if you sweat!! :) but, you do need the right type of hair i think! i know some people whose hair gets greasy--- i doubt if they would have the best hair type to go no poo!!

for those drinking hot lemon water... what's that supposed to do??

busy, there are many benefits, but the important ones for me, is the vitamin C of course which has many benefits, also helps with digestion, helps balance ph levels and its antibacterial.

Boop, DD1 and I use them 3x a week. DH is only using 2x a week as 3x made his face a little red. I don't go over my face for an entire minute and I don't think I would use more often unless I feel like my skin could use it again. fwiw, it says "rosacea-like patches."

Be careful with the lemon water. DD1 was drinking it every morning and some raw apple cider vinegar. She started having stomach pains. More like heartburn than intestinal. I mentioned her morning drinks. Once she cut back on them she felt better. I think it was the ACV.

I discovered Kombucha this year...well, others discovered it much earlier, but I finally tried it. I LOVE bubbly drinks, water, beer, Prosecco, Champagne, etc. (no sodas for me), and when I discovered this not sweet, very bubbly drink, low in calories, high in nutrients, I was over the moon. Some that I buy have only 35 calories in 8 oz, some go up to 60, but all are fairly low cal for the satisfaction given. No artificial sweeteners, some have a bit of caffeine, which I try to avoid, but not all. Great flavor choices. I just love it!

Allison, yes if she was taking the apple cider vinegar alone or at a stronger concentration that could be problematic. There are warnings about making sure it's diluted enough. The amount of lemon I use for lemon water is no more than what would be in a glass of lemonade sans the sugar. It hasn't bothered me so far although some mornings I just want to skip it and go for the coffee...

Bai 5 coconut drinks was one of my discoveries. These things are delicious and very low calorie. We make our own pina-colada like drinks with these, mixed with organic pineapple juice, and organic pineapple ice cream since the mixes are so chock full of chemicals.

Also, I started doing oil pulling and I really like it.

A discovery/epiphany this year for me was that school lunch and breakfast are much better nutritionally than what many students get at home--no matter what their parents' income level.

When I was "lunch helper" I saw how much of the nutritional lunch was tossed in the trash can, though the kids chowed down on the crudités bar and the orange quarters. I always sent lunch because at least I could see what my kids had eaten when the lunch box came home after school, and they could still buy whatever was on the lunch line if they wanted.

Dove dry shampoo. I saw it used on a makeover show, the hair dresser said it was her go to product for thin, fine hair.

It might remove oil from dirty hair, I can't say as I've never tried that. I use it on clean hair so I do know it adds volume and body to clean hair.

I feel like such a creature of habit. I've been using Kirkland brand shampoo/conditioner for at least 3 years, my hairdresser always compliments me on how healthy my hair is, despite the fact that it's colored/highlighted. It's sulfate-free, and very cheap. And my DH doesn't mind using it as well so we have one less bottle in the shower.

In 2016, I started a new skincare regime. Previously, I used Cetaphil wash and Oil of Olay moisturizer with sunscreen, which was what was recommended to me by my dermatologist in my teens. I just started using Retin-A again after 10 years of not using it, and my skin is consequently flaky and dry, so I started using Cerave AM sunscreen and Cerave PM moisturizer. And some Cerave cream that I bought for my baby on the driest spots.

I discovered these Burts' Bees lip shimmers which are a lip balm with a hint of color. I had stopped using Burts' Bees a number of years ago. I had a very special dog, Pepper, a black and tan Cavalier King Charles spaniel, who loved the menthol fragrance of the Burts' stuff and would eat an entire tube whenever she could. So I stopped buying it so she wouldn't get sick. On the way to her final visit with the vet while she was dying of heart failure, we stopped to buy her a tube so she could lick it while she went to sleep :( Needless to say I didn't buy it for a while, but time does heal wounds, and I have fond memories of Pepper when I use it. I have Champagne which is just a little shimmer and Fig which is a better than natural type color. I still use Aquaphor at night though.

Off of the skincare/haircare topics, I recently discovered the Anova sous vide cooking machine. I don't actually have one yet, but I borrowed one from my brother, and it's awesome. I individually vacuum sealed chicken breasts with a little lemon and parsley, then cooked them, then froze them in the same bag. Now when I want a quick lunch I can just defrost one, and they are very flavorful and moist and healthy. I did my Christmas ham in it, and I also did pork chops and the best duck breast I ever made during the week that I had it. I am a pretty decent cook, but this thing is so much fun! You can also make up sous vide packets ahead of time and keep in the freezer, then cook from frozen, then sear. I really want one but I am waiting for a sale or holiday (Valentines' Day?) to get one.