If you’re reading this article, chances are you’re either interested in switching to natural deodorant soon, or you’ve already swapped and are finding that it’s not exactly living up to your expectations
It’s not working!
One of the most common complaints that come up when people switch from traditional antiperspirant deodorants to natural, aluminium-free deodorants is, ‘It’s not working for me!’The reality is that natural deodorants DO work for most people – it’s just a matter of working through the ‘Armpit Detox’ process and finding the best natural deodorant for you. Why do we say this because making we love deodorant we also use probiotics in our deodorant. we like to feel naturally fresh deodorant makes all our customers feel a part of nature.
Let’s start by looking at a common misconception: deodorant and antiperspirant are two different things.
The majority of commercial ‘Pit Products’ that are readily available are antiperspirant as well as a deodorant. The contain aluminium, which clogs the pores in your armpits, stopping sweat from passing through them. Many of them also have some kind of fragrance, which accounts for the deodorant part.
When using aluminium based products, your body doesn’t need to do any work stopping sweat or odour – the product does it for you.
The first thing you need to accept is that even the best natural deodorant
When you switch to aluminium free deodorant, you need to go through what’s known as an armpit detox.
It doesn’t start right away though – so during the first week of your armpit detox, you’re most likely to find that your natural deodorant is working great. And you’ll naturally be excited that your new aluminium free deodorant is working perfectly.
Enter week two. Suddenly, your armpits seem to have a mind of their own. For the first time in years, your armpits need to get back to doing what they’re designed to do – breathe. And because they’ve not been able to do it for so long, they tend to get a bit over-excited and start over-producing sweat and bacteria for a while.
The bad news is that all the sweat and bacteria combine to create odour – your shiny new relationship with natural deodorant starts to feel jaded and you’re tempted to use some of your old commercial deodorants to cover up some of your new ‘fragrance’. This is the most critical time in your detox. Above all else, you have to resist the urge to use your old aluminium-based products otherwise you’re just going to go straight back to square 1.
During this time, keeping clean and fresh is important – use an antibacterial wash or charcoal-based product on your armpits, try to wear clothes with natural fibres that breathe and apply your new natural deodorant frequently. As nasty as if feels at the time, this too shall pass and if you can stick it out for these couple of icky weeks then you will reap the benefits.
Week three will see your armpits’ new enthusiasm starting to wane, you’ll notice that the sweatiness and odour starts to ease off. You may find that you don’t need to freshen up as often and that even though you’re still sweating more, there’s less odour.
Week four – you head back into the honeymoon phase of your new relationship with aluminium free deodorant. You’re feeling less sweaty and your natural deodorant is starting to mask any remaining odour that there is. Congratulations! You made it through your armpit detox and can now enjoy a future with chemical-free deodorants!
Handy hints to make detox less nasty
There are some things you can do to help ease some of the nastier aspects of your armpit detox.
- Don’t apply deodorant to damp armpits. While it’s tempting to throw on your deodorant straight after your shower it’s best to wait until your pits are totally dry before applying any kind of deodorant to make sure it works as effectively as possible.
- Watch your diet. There are certain foods that affect the bacteria that your body creates and will emit through your armpits. Things like meat, broccoli, asparagus, and processed foods may all make body odour worse.
- Drink up. Drink lots of water to help flush your system out and replace the extra fluids that you’re going to lose through actually sweating for the first time in years.
Remember, as much as you may the going through the detox process, it is something that has to be done if you want to transition from antiperspirant products that are potentially harmful to using the best natural deodorant you can find. Give your body the time it needs to adjust and learn how to regulate itself again and before you know it, you’ll be able to enjoy one more aspect of living a more natural life.
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