Making the Switch to a Natural Deodorant?

Natural deodorants have a reputation for just not working. You've heard the rumours too, or maybe you've tried it and it just didn't work for you. But why? Why does it work well for some of us and not others? 

Conventional deodorants are often made with sweat-blocking and pore clogging ingredients, like aluminum, antibacterial agents such as triclosan, parabens, petrochemicals, and synthetic fragrances. When you switch from a conventional deodorant or antiperspirant to a natural deodorant, it's only natural that your glands and pores will start to unclog, open up, and function properly. During this transition time, your pores begin unclogging, breathing, and toxins start releasing from your body. This detoxification process may actually temporarily increase your body odour & have you wondering if your new natural deodorant is actually working!

Try our 6 tips to switch to a natural deodorant without feeling "au naturel".

1. Give it a Go
You'll need to try any new natural deodorant for at least 1-3 weeks before deciding if it works well for you. Our bodies vary greatly in their health, and so does the nature of our sweat (how attractive our sweat is to bacteria) and how much we produce in different situations. We suggest to give yourself a full 3 weeks if your diet and exercise plan has been less than ideal lately (we've all been there!) and/or you've been using antiperspirants regularly for several years.

2. "Detox" Your Pits!
If you've been using an antiperspirant, there may be some chemical residue and dead skin build up in your underarms. Before your shower, gently dry brush your underarm skin to loosen this build up and gently increase circulation. 

3. Start Clean
You may need to clean more than you're used to for a while, now that you're sweating as nature intended. Wash your pits with warm soapy water.  Always make sure that your odours have been completely washed away before you get out of the shower. Leaving the lather of soap on your pits for up to 30 seconds can help reduce lingering odours and remove bacteria.

TIP: Deodorizing essential oils found in natural soaps are best for washing (our favourites are minty tea tree, fennel and charcoal, lemongrass, or patchouli).

4. Sweat it Out
Exercise, sauna, hot showers, or baths? Get sweating! This will get your sweat glands functioning properly again. At first, you may notice your underarm sweat being a little "thick". This is because the sweat glands in your armpits are different from others on your body. Instead of just water and salt, these glands should also excrete amino acids. But because your glands haven't been able to excrete these amino acids for a while, there may be a buildup of mucous being released.

5. Stay Hydrated
With all this sweating, you need to replace your fluids! Staying hydrated will also help to "thin" out your sweat. With less amino and fatty acids in your sweat, the less bacteria will have to feed on, and the less odour you'll experience.

6. What You Wear
Natural fabrics like cotton, bamboo and hemp will help wick perspiration away from your body & can help you stay dry. Whereas synthetic fabrics like acetate and polyester trap sweat in, and give bacteria a warm wet place to live -- on your body and on the shirt itself! 

You can check out all of our Natural Deodorants here.