Okay, so we've all been there right... you're at the stables and you see a fellow equestrian bathing their pride and joy horse in something totally bizarre, like ketchup, and you think to yourself... what a brilliant cost cutting solution!
well, think again my friends.
As your fellow horse owner battling the 'horse tax' I totally get it, we all want to find ways to bring our ludicrously expensive hobby down a peg or two, but we're here to tell ya, shampoos AINT where the corner cutting is at!
Theres a reason we make shampoo the way we do and we're gonna explain to you why!
Lets start with my personal cost cutting 'pet peeve', dishsoap *rolls eyes*
Everyone reading this will likely have this very product in their house to wash their dishes, the leading brand here in the uk (which rhymes with... Mary) are reluctant to divulge their secret recipe for obvious reasons but we've done some online digging and concluded its some cocktail of the following
Aqua
• Sodium laureth sulphate
• Alcohol denat
• Lauramine oxide
• C9-11 pareth-8
• Sodium chloride
• 1,3-Cyclohexanedimethanamine
• PPG (polypropylene glycols)
• Dimethyl aminoethyl methecrylate/hydroxyproply acrylate copolymer cirate
• Parfum
• Geraniol
• Limonene
• Colourant
Now, the first big issue jumping out at us is SLS, (more about SLS) however a whole host of these ingredients are not only skin irritants but also environmental toxins (yuk!) not something we'd recommend. There's tons of eco-alternatives for dish soap that wont damage your skin or the environment.
I gotta ask, would you wash your own hair in this? would you bath your kids in this? I'm guessing not.
Theres a whole host of other bizarre things we've found recommended, washing machine powder, stain remover, blue food colouring, ketchup...
now just because washing powder gets your clothes 'whiter than white' (see what we did there) it doesn't mean you should go whacking it on your grey...
What are the ingredients in washing up powder I here you ask? well.. here I am to tell you!
5-15% Anionic Surfactants, Oxygen-Based Bleaching Agents, <5% Non-Ionic Surfactants, Phosphonates, Polycarboxylates, Zeolites, Enzymes, Optical Brighteners, Perfumes, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene
Yep, the fact it says bleaching agents is enough alone to send me running for the hills... but incase you still weren't deterred the warning label reads as follows
Causes serious eye irritation. Keep out of reach of children. IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing. If eye irritation persists: Get medical advice/attention. IF SWALLOWED: Call a POISON CENTER/doctor if you feel unwell. If medical advice is needed, have product container or label at hand.
So yes again, let's leave the clothes soap, for your clothes!
Okay so lets talk about The Alchemists Garden Natural Shampoo
(*audience cheers*)
Personally, I am super keen on promoting everything natural when it comes to horses, my horses live out all year round and we needed to make a shampoo that wouldn't strip their coats from their natural properties but would keep them clean and most importantly keep their skin safe from any nasty chemicals. After all, your horses coat oil Is what makes them look shiny and nobody wants a horse with a dull coat.
All of our Alchemist's Garden Shampoo options are made with a castle soap base, Castle soap is an amazingly versatile vegetable based soap thats made free from animal fats and synthetic ingredients. Its natural, vegan and non toxic (woo!)
It is made predominantly with coconut, castor and hemp oil and this gives the soap its lathering and cleansing properties as well as being super moisturising.
It is free from SLS and other harmful surfactants and contains only the most cleansing and skin friendly essential oils to boost skin health and banish the dreaded scurf!
So my lovelies, I'm going to round this up here. Be kind and avoid the dish soap.
AG xx