Guess what – I
haven’t shampoo’ed in over a month! And my hair feels so healthy!
I
first heard of this idea (known as no 'poo) from Amanda over at Living In Another Language. She’s
written some great tips and FAQs about no ‘poo method, definitely check that
out. Anyway, this idea was incredible to me. And since I’m pretty on-board with
going green, I thought this would be an excellent project to try.
So I'm about a month into my no ‘poo process and want to share my experience and some information I've gathered. Here we go!
What is this
about? (you’re probably asking)…well, essentially
it’s cutting out shampoo and using a simple wash and rinse which you can make
at home using baking soda and vinegar.
What are the
benefits of no ‘poo?
1. Save
some money. Shampoo
is a pretty penny to spend. Especially living in a foreign country, shampoos aren't cheap. And I always like learning ways to save and be
resourceful.
2.
Be chemical free. This method doesn't use any of
those chemicals that are typically in shampoos (sodium
lauryl sulfate, sodium
laureth sulfate, and silicone to name a few). I don’t have any reason
to use chemicals on my body, especially as some of the effects are unknown.
Yea, I don’t trust it.
Fun appalling fact: The Environmental
Working Group, based in Washington, DC, compared the ingredients in 42,000 personal
care products against 50 toxicity and regulatory databases and found that most shampoos have at
least one chemical that raises concern (although the hair
care industry counters by claiming that the chemicals are safe in the
concentrations used).
3.
Get into a natural cycle and
support smart-consumerism.
These two parts are really complimentary. The science of it: When hair is shampooed,
the scalp is stripped of its natural oils and it works harder to create more
oils. So, the more frequent shampoo use, the more oil the scalp produces. Getting
into a natural cycle by cleaning hair less often will help to produce less oils.
Whereas brands and marketing encourage daily washing for beautiful, healthy
hair. People should be aware there are
other options, from no ‘poo to low ‘poo to using natural shampoos with no
chemicals.
What’s
the no ‘poo recipe?
Basically, you will use the shampoo wash for the cleaning portion and get rid of oils and
dirt. The vinegar rinse serves as a
conditioner to leave your hair shiny. As long as you rinse well, you won’t
keep the vinegar smell in your hair. The
dry shampoo is to minimize oily hair between washes. This is really helpful
for me. A few days after my shampoo wash I start seeing signs of oil. I just
sprinkle some cornstarch on my roots, blend it in really well and brush through
with a comb. And like magic the oil goes away!
*Shampoo
wash =
1 tbsp. baking soda + 1 cup warm water + stir until dissolved *Shampoo
rinse =
2 tbsp. vinegar + 1 cup warm water + mix *Dry shampoo
= cornstarch or cocoa powder (put in spice jar or refillable makeup stick)
How often do I wash?
I've been washing about every 5 days
with baking soda. Much longer than that and my scalp starts to itch. In between
washes I use the dry shampoo whenever I need to.
What’s the transition period?
There is a transition period where the scalp is
adjusting to this new process and slowing down its oil production. At this time
hair may be very oily or dry and irregular. This can last from a few days to a
few weeks. Get past this and you’re golden!
What’s
my hair like after 1 month?
My hair feels healthy and pretty much normal. It’s
been a little rough transition phase because my hair still gets oily after a
few days of washing.
Now I’m adapting my routine which is helping with
the oil. I start by using higher amount of baking soda in the wash mixture
(about 2 tbsp). Then when I’m washing I let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing
out (so there’s more time for it to do it’s work).
It’s really a process and experimentation but I am
happy with the results I've seen. I also feel really good about no ‘poo because
I’m using natural things on my hair. When I get down my routine I know I’ll love
it ever more.
Here's what my hair look like now, after 1 month of no 'poo (sorry for the bad photo quality!) Lookin' good, eh?
Any tips?
- Experiment! Everyone’s body and hair is different. You may have to adjust your measurements and try some different techniques until it works you’re your hair type. I did and it’s made a big difference!
- Wait out your transition period. It may be hard for the time being but could be very worth it.
- Add an essential oil in your wash or rinse to give it a scent (I like lavender, but mint or orange would be good ones to try!)
- Helpful troubleshooting reads over at Code Red Hat: Help for Oily Hair, Help for Dry Hair, Help for Itchy, Flaky, Dry Scalp
- Check out the Facebook group for support and advice: No Poo (no shampoo) & Low Poo Hair Care Group Forum
So what do you think?! Would you give no 'poo a try? Leave a comment, question, or no 'poo experience!
Other resources:
This article has a huge list of other yummy hair ingredients @ Road to 31
