Hello, my friends! Yesterday was just the oddest start to the week. I never struggle with insomnia or waking up at night, but I was up from midnight to 5 a.m. Couldn’t. Sleep. A. Wink. I’m not sure if I had too much caffeine or if I was nervous about something- but I was up doing laundry and answering e-mails at 3 a.m. ha! Needless to say, I was WORTHLESS yesterday. I was so sluggish and took the longest time to complete anything. So here’s to starting the week properly today.

One of the top products y’all ask about via Instagram DM is Native Deodorant. There’s a lot of common questions regarding the transition and switching and in an effort to keep everything in one easy spot for you, I’m doing today’s post! I took to Instagram to ask what all questions you had about Native and hopefully I can do my best to answer them.

I switched to Native Deodorant over 2 years ago and while switching to aluminum-free deodorant can be quite the process, hopefully, this posts helps clear up any confusion or hesitation in trying it for yourself. To help make this post clear, I’ll use antiperspirants in regards to traditional aluminum deodorants and natural deodorants in regards to aluminum-free deodorants.

I am just answering these questions from my perspective and experience in hopes to help you in whatever way I can! This is purely my own view and opinion based on my use and purchase of the product, so if you have a question I may not have the answer to, I’ll try to get it or I recommend DM-ing Native on IG! 🙂 This is what works for me and my hope in my blog is that you can always find a product or two that work for you.

What is Native deodorant?

I’m pretty open about the deodorant products I love and use. Prior to switching to Native, I shared what I used frequently. I switched to aluminum-free deodorant after I had Maxi with my girlfriend Amy Beth telling me why antiperspirant wasn’t the best option. I was very reluctant but am so grateful I switched. I’ve tried roughly 6 {maybe 7 or 8?!} different brands of “natural” deodorant and Native is what works best for me. Finding an aluminum-free deodorant that works for your body is definitely trial and error since everyone’s ph will react differently. But living in the Texas heat and humidity, Native was the first brand I tried that didn’t make me feel like I was sacrificing anything in a product. Instead of feeling like I was “giving up” my favorite antiperspirant, I felt like I was “gaining” a better product. I raved about the brand so much, Native deodorant was actually the number one read about on my blog the first year I shared it. Which is funny coming from a style blog but something so honest and quite frankly, relatable. We all need deodorant, right?! ha! I did get to become a Native ambassador nearly two years after switching just because I shared the product so much!

Why would you want to use aluminum-free deodorant?

Originally when my friend was trying to get me to switch, Amy Beth was telling me how aluminum clogs our pores hindering our bodies from removing sweat. We sweat to naturally rid our bodies of toxins, so we aren’t allowing our body to actually clean itself. You won’t find a natural antiperspirant, because natural would allow your body to sweat. But you can find a great natural deodorant so you don’t notice the sweat and then your body adjusts. The “adjust” part caught my attention.

First, if you are looking at an antiperspirant, you’ve got aluminum compounds {or salts} which clog your pores so you don’t sweat. I’m no natural Nancy {I live for a gel mani treat or spray tan!} but I’m beauty-conscious enough to know clogging pores is never ideal. Your body eliminates toxins by sweating, so why are we hindering that? And that is exactly what aluminum was doing in my antiperspirant. Some antiperspirants and deodorants also contain parabens, which can interfere with the way your body produces hormones that are close to your lymphatic system. I felt this was an easy switch to make to create a healthy balance in my beauty products.

When I talk about Native the TOP question is something along the lines of, “But why am I still sweating when I switch?” And that’s because it’s your body doing what it is supposed to do! However, once you detox and find the right brand for you, you should end up with a natural deodorant in which you DON’T notice your sweat. Prior to switching, if I didn’t wear my antiperspirant I felt my sweat and quickly. TMI, I know. But now my body is so adjusted, I sweat FAR less than I ever did years before.

How many natural deodorants did you try before deciding Native was the best for you?

I would say 6 or 7! I tried LAVANILA, Kai, Tom’s, Primal Pit Paste, Schmidt’s and a few random ones from Anthropologie.

How long does the detox phase last?

This is always a hard thing to say since I don’t know exactly how your body will react and we all sweat a different amount. In general, a detox is 2-6 weeks. Most people experience it for 14 days. The first 2 weeks I really felt the detox. I kept thinking, “Why on earth would I do this? Who cares if antiperspirant isn’t the best clean beauty option?” But I stuck with it and by day 14 I was like, “Okay, I get it now.” Now if I am ever in a pinch and have to use regular deodorant while traveling, etc. I am not a fan. I feel like it smells really artificial and makes me sweat more. However, if you want to speed up your detox you can do an underarm clay mask using Aztec Secret. Also, make sure you are washing your underarms morning and night especially in the detox phase. Native has fabulous bars of soap that can help with this! Or try these wipes for on-the-go!

Did you have any sensitivity issues when you started? And if so, how long did that last? 

I didn’t have sensitivity issues when I first switched, but if you do, your skin may not be liking the baking soda as an ingredient. Try their sensitive formula. I actually use the sensitive formula when my eczema is acting up {sometimes it goes on my arms} and it works just as well as regular.

• Shop the sensitive formula here!

Do you feel like you have to re-apply more than normal deodorant?

Yes and no! Because this is not an antiperspirant keeping your body from sweating, there are definitely moments I reapply especially in the summer. I reapply after swimming if I can’t get to a shower quickly or I reapply after working out if I have to run an errand. However, if I accidentally don’t use deodorant right when I wake up I don’t even notice until much later. When I used antiperspirant combinations, I felt like I could 100% tell a difference if I didn’t have it on. My body was so used to being told to NOT rid itself of sweat, it almost seemed like it went into overtime if I didn’t have antiperspirant on. Now that my body has been balanced with it, I don’t sweat as much on a day-to-day basis. But today, I’ve been out in the humidity and heat shooting and I haven’t need to reapply and I applied my deodorant at 4:45 a.m. this morning. It’s not 4 p.m!

Does the charcoal deodorant stain underarms/clothes?

The charcoal deodorant is dark in a tube, but here it is swatched on my arm to show you that it dries more clear. It’s not totally translucent, but it’s not what you think when you think of charcoal! In the photo below there is no filter and I swiped it about 6 times back and forth. The charcoal has the yummiest citrus scent for summer. If you are worried about your detox in the summer, try this one as charcoal is a natural detoxifier and can help speed it up.

Does it prevent sweat/odor all day?

You will still sweat with any aluminum-free deodorant as the job isn’t to prevent {antipersperant prevents sweat!}, however, once you have detoxed and your body is able to rid itself of sweat in a regular cycle, you’ll notice you don’t sweat AS often. In fact, you’ll probably not even notice the sweat or at least I don’t. The thing I love about Native is the texture of the deodorant is VERY similar to regular antiperspirant. Some other natural deodorants can feel pretty sticky in texture, so I feel slimy from the get-go. With Native, I don’t and honestly, the texture masks the sweat. The scents are phenomenal and I find it fights odor all day. However, if you feel you still struggle with it while detoxing to any brand of natural deodorant, try the clay mask mentioned above. Like I said, today has been a great test shooting outside all day and I haven’t sweat or had any smell from sweat- I just smell like Native Coconut & Vanilla.

Does it get wet and sticky once you’re in the heat? 

No! Native has a fabulous texture similar to antiperspirant whereas other brands I noticed were more “gel-like” so they got wet and sticky in the heat.

What are your tips for switching to natural deodorant?

Now switching to natural deodorant is quite the process and you also have to find the deodorant that works for you. Keep in mind, the deodorants that work for me may not work for you because we all have different body chemistry. Also, take note that baking soda may be an irritant to you so you’ll want to try the sensitive formula.

• The charcoal deodorant has a light citrus scent but it has activated charcoal which is super absorbent so it can help you feel drier. Charcoal is a natural detoxifier, so it can help speed up your detox especially if you switch in the summer, but many people like to switch in the fall.
• Try the clay mask to help your detox!
• Wash your underarms with Native Soap morning and night.
• Use the Native mini deodorants from Target on-the-go so you can touch up mid day.
• These wipes are also great for the transition.

What benefits does the toothpaste have? Whitening? Sensitivity? 

Native Toothpaste is formulated without triclosan, parabens, DEA, sulfates, microbeads, and propylene glycol. It is also cruelty-free! Their charcoal toothpaste is a natural whitener, but I specifically love that while this isn’t a medicated toothpaste, it’s formulated for people with sensitive teeth and I have really sensitive gums. While using this I don’t have any gum issues when flossing.

What’s your favorite Native scent?

Coconut & Vanilla is the scent I purchase most often! If you love DK Cashmere Mist like I did, I think you’ll love the Coconut & Vanilla scent. However, I love Charcoal and Cucumber & Mint for summer. I haven’t tried a scent I don’t like.

Where can I get the new peach scent?

You can shop it here. 🙂

How do I get the yellowing off my white shirts in the armpit areas?

When you apply your deodorant, make sure your skin is totally dry. Then if you are getting marks on your shirts {I do not, but it can happen to some with natural deodorant} apply less than you need. It’s not like traditional antiperspirant in that way. But if your tops are already stained, you can create a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, let it sit on the stain for 5 minutes, then wash! I haven’t experienced this but maybe if you have and you have tips, share in the comments below to help other COF girls! This is just a result of excess product and body chemistry.

What product do you want Native to make?

I want them to make the Grapefruit & Sandalwood scent permanent as that is Paul’s favorite. He is a huge Native fan as well. I’d love them to feature “clean” body sprays. I know that body fragrance isn’t necessarily considered “clean” but that’s a relative spectrum. I’d be really interested in essential oil body sprays by them! I’d also love deodorant wipes by them because I love those for travel days. Ooh! And shampoo and conditioner! Their body wash is a product I go through quite frequently and love it, so I bet their shampoo would be lovely as well.

That’s all for now, but I do hope this helped in any small way! Do you use an aluminum-free deodorant and what works best for your body?! 🙂

See More Native Posts:

Favorite Natural Deodorant Post

I Used Natural Deodorant For a Year

Native Toothpaste

If you want to try native you can use code KATEY20 on your first purchase for 20% off!