update

I am very happy with the fact that my hair doesn't look nasty, greasy or dirty even after a few days of not washing (washing as in using the baking soda/bronner's mix). With shampoo I was greasy by the following day and it was a yucky dirty type greasy. I am happy with the waves/curls that are appearing (who knew??!?) Before, I thought my hair was straight and the last time I got a perm you couldn't even tell. I could get it to curl sometimes but it never lasted more than half a day. Now it is quite wavy and if I put it up in a scrunchie, for example, it is curly when I remove it and the curl lasts for a day or two.

That all said...I am struggling with occasional odor. It is a sweaty stale type odor. (I used to get it much worse with shampoo...I couldn't smell it in the air but I could get the smell on my fingers by rubbing my scalp. GROSS. Now, I just notice the odor every once in a while- I wonder if the shampoo scented my hair enough that I just didn't notice the scalp odor. Since going no 'poo...the odor has been really bad on two occasions but only on one of those occasions (today) has it been strong enough to transfer to my fingers like it used to. One of my sons gets it too, he is not no 'poo.) It is driving me insane. Last time it was bad I thought it might be something I ate. I can't relate it to anything like that this time though- nothing I can think of anyway. Hormones could be a culprit, though...this time and last. I have a really hard time getting the odor to go away especially when it's really strong like these two occasions. The length of my hair doesn't *stink* but it doesn't really smell like anything at all...and I miss the pretty smell on my hair from shampoo. Anyway, as I said I had a huge scalp odor issue today. I discovered that sulfur can help with the scalp odor- eggs are high in sulfur and I had read before many people do egg washes. So, I did an egg wash (recipe below). My hair is INCREDIBLY SOFT. The smell is gone from my scalp and the accompanying itchiness has decreased also. My hair smells decent- still not *pretty* but it does smell better than the "nothing" I have become used to. I really hope I can keep that scalp odor at bay. I realize that we each have our own natural scents and I am ok with that but this is just not pleasant. As for my hair...I think I will be trying a spritzer of an EO (essential oil) and water and just spritzing it on my hair. I just have to figure out what scent I would like. I would LOVE vanilla but that is one pricey EO...

I have also begun "plopping" and I am really enjoying how that is helping to bring out the natural waves as well.

EGG WASH
1 egg + 1 yolk
1 tsp honey
1 tbsp lemon juice
warm water- maybe 1/8 cup

Whisk the egg and honey well. After it whisked well, add the lemon juice and mix. Wet your hair, apply the wash. You can let it sit while you wash up. Rinse well. Rinse and Rinse and when you think you have it all out...rinse for another minute.

Notes: I wasn't paying attention and as an avid home chef and baker I am used to separating eggs to use the whites not the yolks...so in the end I ended up using two eggs instead of the one egg and one yolk the recipe called for because I put the second egg white right in my bowl lol. I also didn't measure the other ingredients- I rarely do...I just eyeball it. Whisking is important. It's key in the egg not 'clumping' when you mix in the lemon leaving bits in your hair. A wisk will likely remove that thick viscous white part that may also create bits in your hair.

You can find more egg wash info and suggestions here:
http://archive.longhaircommunity.com/showthread.php?t=21760
http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14703&page=2