Switching to Natural Deodorant - The Easy Way

Inevitably and understandably, when warm weather arrives, deodorant becomes quite the topic of discussion! Primarily, I encounter women looking to stop using aluminum anti-perspirant in favor of a 'natural' or aluminum-free deodorant.

Eliminating aluminum anti-perspirant can seem to be a daunting task, indeed, but it doesn't have to be!

Before I go too far into this, let me preface by saying no, I do not make deodorants, and I really don't plan to. I love y'all, but I'm only one woman!

Let's dive in, shall we?

Why we should consider eliminating anti-perspirant

First of all, aluminum build up in lymph nodes from aluminum anti-perspirant has been linked to breast cancer. There are numerous studies linking the two together, no matter how much of it is considered "anecdotal" or whatever the big companies want to say. Any link is too much link for me.

Second, your body is supposed to sweat. Sweat is a natural and absolutely necessary biological process to help cool the body and flush out toxins. By 'toxins' I mean excesses of anything undesired in the body. Disrupting that process (or any other bodily process for that matter) in the name aesthetics is detrimental to our overall health.

What causes stinky "pit detox" 

When you've been using anti-perspirant for years and years, the pores of your underarms are clogged and inundated with the aluminum that "prevents sweating", and when you stop using anti-perspirant. There are lots of sprays and concoctions that claim to help with that detox stench, and I'm sure maybe they help some people, but they did not help me. The good news is, there's an alternative, and it's not another product.

: )

The easy way to make the switch

Phase out rather than eliminate! I know it can feel urgent to completely switch right now, but taking the long approach will be much less stressful, trust me. It took me about two years to really be able to exclusively use natural deodorant, and I can only use certain ones (well, two scents from the same brand). 

Taking the scenic route is much less stressful than trying to go cold-turkey all at once. That detox period isn't just stinky, it can also be painful if you've never used baking soda deodorants before. Not everyone is sensitive to it, but just as my luck would have it, I am, and it took a long time for my skin to adjust (obviously with a two year transition, right?).

Pro tip: if you do find that you're sensitive to baking soda deodorants, avoid applying deodorant right after shaving your under-arms....again...trust me!

Here's how to start off:
Alternate your anti-perspirant and natural deodorant daily until your skin adjusts and there is no irritation or stink happening anymore.

Then, gradually increase your days of natural deodorant in between applications of anti-perspirant. Once you reach the point where you're going 5-6 days without the aluminum stuff, you should be all right to try out exclusive use of natural deodorant without much issue!

It also helped me to skip deodorant altogether on days that I was at home and wouldn't be subjecting the general public to the pungent onion aroma emitting from my being, but that is not necessary for you, haha!

A Few Considerations for You:

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. You'll definitely want to apply your deodorant right after you bathe or at the very beginning of your day for maximum efficiency. In my experience, natural deodorants work best when used as a preventative rather than a mask.

It's okay to smell like a human. You will smell like a human, even after you are fully phased out of anti-perspirant. By "smell like a human" I mean, you will still have a scent of your own, just like you do all over your entire body. Not a stench, a scent! That, I think may be the most difficult mental barrier for us to move past.
As much as we love "smell goods", we aren't supposed to live in a constant fog of fragrance.

Once you're adjusted and no longer sweating out aluminum and bacterial buildup, you'll reacquaint yourself with your natural scent - what your body smells like. I know, I sound like a real weirdo saying that, but really. It's okay to smell like a human.

Baking Soda Sensitivities are a real thing. I have suffered a couple of really nasty rashes from baking soda deodorants, but I will say, I find the baking soda to be necessary. The bicarb-free deodorants I've tried really just were not up to the task, but if you are not a smelly person, maybe you can get by without the baking soda! Unfortunately, I have no recommendations there!

Before I leave you to ponder, I want to share my favorite deodorants with you. I really love Humble Brands deodorant. I have tried SO many, and theirs is my favorite. I am not partnered with them or anything, I just want to save you some money and heartache when shopping. 

During the cooler months of the year, I use the Moroccan Rose scent. In the summer months, I use the Palo Santo and Frankincense scent. It's stronger and more robust, so it sticks around even when I'm sweating to death down here in southeast Georgia!

I do also enjoy Little Seed Farm's Charcoal Deodorant. It comes in a cutie little glass jar that's great in the bathroom, I just ended up falling in love with Humble and find the tube to be more practical for me (but that's me).

Well what do you think? Are you ready to make the switch?
I hope my tips have helped you here, today. I really was so incredibly determined starting out, completely ready to stink like hell and power through it, but as with most things in life worth achieving, slow and steady wins the race.

Try out that deodorant, and let me know what you think!
Talk soon