Right now, I just may gross you out when I tell you something: I haven’t used shampoo or conditioner in three months.
Please don’t unsubscribe to this site.
Truly, I haven’t touched a bottle of either, and I don’t plan on using them anytime in the foreseeable future. My hair is as clean as a whistle, and to be honest, I don’t know if it’s looked this healthy in years.
A few months ago, I started reading around the web about going shampoo-free, and I was intrigued. But like many of you right now, I was also perplexed. Why would you bother? What’s the harm in using shampoo? And isn’t your hair greasy and smelly?
So I read for a few weeks, just taking in info, and one night, after reading about the shampoo-free concept on like the twelfth blog I enjoy, I decided to give it a shot. If I hated it, then no harm — I’ll just keep to my shampooing ways.
But if I liked it as much as everyone else seemed to, then I’ve found a frugal, easy, toxic-free way to care for my hair. So I took the plunge.
Why Go ‘Poo-Free?
Before I go in to the how of no shampoo, it’s a good idea to tell you the why. There’s a lot of valuable information on the Internet, so I’m not going to reinvent the wheel. But here are the reasons that spoke most to me.
1. Shampoo is a detergent.
Shampoo cleans your hair, but it also strips it of all the healthy oil your body naturally produces. These oils protect your hair and keep it soft and strong.
Shampoo was only introduced in the early 20th century — before that, people relied on good-old soap, which can wash hair just as well without removing important oils. But soap doesn’t work well in alkaline water, and when water in civilized areas started becoming more mineral-heavy (read: alkaline), soap became a challenge. It made the scales on hair stand up, making it weaker and rougher. So shampoo was introduced, marketed with its only benefit of working in both hard and soft water.
Detergent is harsh. I doubt we’d use the same type of stuff to wash our bodies as we would our dishes, but that’s essentially what we’re doing with shampoo.
2. Shampoo has all sorts of chemicals.
Our family typically goes out of our way to not eat boxed chemicals disguised as food — we stick to the natural, whole foods that either come from the ground or once ate things that came from the ground. But skin is our largest organ, and it’s extremely porous — substances can easily enter the bloodstream directly through our skin, and they can stay for a long time.
Since we try to avoid food that has unpronounceable ingredients, we thought it only made sense to adhere to the same standards for the stuff we slather on our skin. Since this includes shampoo, we sought out an alternative.
Most shampoos also contain mineral oil, which is a byproduct when gasoline is distilled from crude oil. It’s added to shampoo (along with hundreds of other products) to thickly coat the strands, giving hair an artificial shine. And since it can’t absorb into skin, like the other ingredients, it acts as a barrier on our scalp, preventing oil from being released — thus requiring more shampoo to strip away the grease. This is why the more shampoo you use, the more you need.
3. Shampoo is an unnecessary cost.
So because shampoo isn’t really necessary, using it creates this cycle that requires a dependence on the stuff, along with other hair products. In order to combat the stripping of protective oils, we need an artificial protectant called conditioner. And because now my hair is coated with unnatural substances, it requires more unnatural substances to keep it styled, strong, and workable. The list of hair pomades, waxes, gels, mousses, and detanglers available could take up pages on this site.
Since we’re a frugal family, seeking a simple life, it made sense to eliminate something we didn’t truly need. We’d rather spend our money elsewhere.
There are plenty of other reasons — shampoo caused my husband’s dry, itchy scalp, and we had another added expense of buying a tear-free type of shampoo for our kiddos. While this wasn’t a life-or-death situation for us, by any means, it made more and more sense for us to give a shampoo-free life a shot once we read about it.
How to go ‘Poo-Free
No, this isn’t yours truly in a police line-up — it’s my hair today, a day after rinsing in baking soda and vinegar.
I don’t like writing doom and destruction on this blog — I’d rather give you useful, practical information that might make your life simpler. So that’s enough on the why not to do something — here are helpful tips for how you can give going ‘poo-free a shot.
Baking Soda is Your Friend
Baking soda works wonders on hair, along with its other many household helps. It’s gentle, it’s the weakest alkaline, and it very gently clarifies hair from chemical buildup.
Like many natural cleaners, the recipe isn’t static — it can be tweaked to suit your needs. The standard amount for hair care is one tablespoon of baking soda to one cup of water. Those with curly or thicker hair might need a bit more baking soda, and those with thin or fine hair might need less. Experiment, and see what works for you.
I use a simple 8-ounce squeeze bottle, pour in a tablespoon of baking soda with a funnel, then fill up the rest with water from the kitchen sink. I give it a good shake to dissolve the baking soda, and it’s ready to be used.
In the shower, I soak my hair with water, then I squeeze a bit of the baking soda mixture on my scalp, starting at the crown. I massage it in as I go, squeezing a bit more here and there, concentrating mostly on the scalp. I include my hair as well, but since most of the oils originate from the scalp itself, the hair will naturally get cleaned once the scalp is clarified.
After a few minutes, I rinse it out, just like I would shampoo.
For my husband and I combined, this amount will last us about a week or week and a half. He has fairly short hair, and mine is just below my ears.
Apple Cider Vinegar is Your Next Friend
Apple cider vinegar is a mild acidic, working well to counteract the baking soda, and thus acts as a great replacement for conditioner. It detangles the hair folicles, seals the cuticle, and balances the hair’s pH balance.
A little goes a very long way, just like the baking soda. The standard recipe is also one tablespoon apple cider vinegar to one cup water. For this, I use an old conditioner bottle, and fill it with the vinegar and water via funnel, then finish it with a shake.
My hair tends to rest a little on the oily side naturally, so I don’t use much of this. I pour a little on just the ends of my hair, let it rest for a few seconds, then rinse it out.
And that, from start to finish, is my current hair care routine.
Other Tips
• You might have a transition period that lasts from a few weeks to a few months, where your hair reacts with excess oil to the lack of shampoo. This is perfectly normal. It’s used to having its oils stripped, so it might take time for the oil to stop producing so heavily in protest. My transition period only lasted about two weeks, and it wasn’t any big deal, really.
• I hear that eventually, you can wean off baking soda and vinegar all together, relying only on water in the shower to remove dirt and oil. I haven’t gotten there yet.
• If you find that your hair is too oily (after the transition period), try using less vinegar, or not using it all together. Some people also use lemon juice instead of vinegar as their acidic clarifier.
• If your hair feels too dry, use less baking soda, or try using honey instead of vinegar.
• I don’t need anything else for my hair. I stopped using pomade, which I previously used religiously to cut the frizzies. My hair is amazingly pliable, and can hold styles without my needing to do much of anything. I’m thrilled with the results!
• We also use this mix on our kiddos’ heads, though we only use it once a week or so. Sometimes we’ll even go two weeks, since their scalps don’t really produce much oil at this age. We clean more ketchup and oatmeal out than we do oil.
For more information:
- Megan of Simple Kids wrote about her no-poo experience on her other blog, Sorta Crunchy.
- Stephanie of Keeper of the Home has some excellent info on going shampoo-free.
- Babs of Babyslime has a veritable wealth of information on the topic.
Update: Almost two years after this post, I wrote an update: do I still use this method?
What are your thoughts? I know there are those of you out there who are shampoo-free — tell us your experiences! And if you’re hesitant to give this a whirl — tell us why.
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This is so interesting to me! I admit, it does sound a little crazy but I use shampoo every day and I feel like my hair is always greasy, so I may just try this! Thanks for the great info!
.-= Samantha @ Mama Notes´s last blog ..Body After Baby Details: Mr. Linky =-.
I love the pics of your hair! It does look a little like a mug shot, but your hair looks great. My hair is a little on the oily side too and I have just started using apple cider vinegar diluted as a rinse as well. Interested in the baking soda tip. Will try it tomorrow!
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Baking soda is amazing, I use it for so many things.
.-= Kimberly´s last blog ..One of Us is Always Dragging the Other Somewhere =-.
I’d love to eventually transition to no ‘poo, but since I color my hair, I’m a bit hesitant. I’ve been waffling on the subject for longer than I’d like to admit. That said, I tend to wash my hair twice a week and have much nicer hair that I did when I washed daily.
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Sad news =-.
I color my hair, too, actually. I hope to eventually wean off of that, as I’ve read about some pretty cool natural hair colors (coffee rinse, different herbs, etc.). I just haven’t taken the time to try them yet. But I definitely don’t want those harsh chemicals on my head!
But so far, there’s been no issue with my coloring my hair and doing the baking soda thing! I’ve heard from some people that it lightens their hair slightly, but I haven’t noticed that on mine.
I’ve read that if you notice that your color is fading it’s because you are using to much baking soda in your mixture and/or you are washing too often. Also, I’ve heard that for those with colored hair using the baking soda/ Apple Cider viniger routine makes your color last longer because you don’t wash your hair as often.
I color my hair with a more natural herbatint hair dye but when I use even small amounts of baking soda and apple cider vinegar (eg one to two teaspoons per cup of water) it lightens my hair and some of the gray strands get stripped of their color. I only washed once so it isn’t from using too much or washing too often). Perhaps different natural commercial based hair dyes react differently.
just found your site searching for more info on going no poo~
I try to eliminate all chemicals in my family’s home as well and this is definitely something I would like to try.
After reading this comment, I wanted to reply and possibly leave you with some helpful information if you want to stop coloring your hair. You can add one tablespoon of BLACKSTRAP Molasses to a glass of milk and drink daily. It has many benefits (I highly recommend googleing it) and one is restoring your natural hair color!! I think it’s the way to go….
Sounds interesting! One comment though. You may want to rethink consumption of milk from cows meant for foals… I have been on a long journey trying to improve various aspects of my life. Dairy sensitivity made this decision easy. But once I started to explore deeper into dairy farms, from treatment of cows (milked while covered in feces and urine) to steroids (to get them producing more milk), I could not buy milk for my family anymore (we do almond or soy or rice milk now).
Everyone has to decide for themselves. But this may be something for you to look into as milk is not what it used to be.
If you can stand it, google PETA and cows and watch undercover treatment.
Blessings!
Interesting story about the cow’s milk, milking done while the cow is dirty… yet switching to rice, almond, soy milk is not a healthier alternative either. I know farmers who spray their fields with chemical pesticides so strong that no insects are seen in the field for at least a year. Some of these chemical are so toxic, only small amounts are needed to spray a field and kill the insects for these extended periods of time.
The best way a family can go green and be healthier is to stop using any commercial products, grow their own gardens, can your own food to avoid plastics and metal packaging, and buy organic from local farmers. I grow a small garden in my back yard without any use of pesticides or fertilizers whatsoever. Makes you wonder why the big corporations cannot do the same thing.
i think you mean milk meant for calves. foals are baby horses. i’m not a huge fan of PETA. they seem to not really have any logic behind their ridiculous protests. they have harmed a lot of animals in their rampage.
Sharon, your comments about milk are inaccurate at best. Unfortunately, PETA is NOT a reliable source of information on this subject. Most dairy farms treat their cows very well–I have visited several myself in Iowa–and most dairy farmers are not giving growth hormones (NOT steroids) to their cows due to consumer concern, even though there is NO evidence to support that the milk from treated cows is in any way different. Buying milk from a reputable producer will ensure that the milk is safe and healthy. Reputable producers run as many as 19 tests on milk upon arrival at a facility to ensure quality. Nutritionally speaking, there is no better choice than cow’s milk for growing children.
Do these alternatives cover up gray?
Hi everyone,
Just to share my experience of using baking soda on colored hair. I have waist length bleached light blonde hair level 9 through double process. Have used only salon brand kerastase products. My hair just gets drier, frizzier and honestly I was getting tired of the long steps in the bath. But the last straw for me late last year, my hair began to fall out not the usual strands, but in huge clumps while shampooing!!! I became desperate and decided to go natural. Washed hair with baking soda, vinegar rinse, applied 3 drops of vitamin e oil and never looked back!! My scalp feels so clean for the first time in years. Strands are soft, shiny and no frizz without sty product. The brassiness in my blonde is gone without any need for purple shampoo. It looks like I just touch up my hair after every wash!
This is intriguing for sure. A question – does the apple cider vinegar leave your hair smelling a little strong? Is there any more pleasant smelling product to use in its place, other than lemon juice? And if you use lemon juice, do you use fresh squeezed or from a bottle? Thanks!
Nope, no smell at all. The only time I smell the vinegar is when I’m actually pouring it on. As soon as I wash it out, the smell is gone.
That was an initial concern of mine, too…
Another efficient method for rinsing hair as a substitute for vinegar is beer. When the hair dries, the smell of beer disappears.
.-= Lidy´s last blog ..Hair care with honey =-.
Oh I cannot even imagine the beer smell coming out of your hair after it has dried. Beer has a pretty distinctive smell. I had bad memories of night clubs where some fool spills a drink on your shoe and all you can smell is the drink on you the rest of the night.
I can’t imagine skipping out on my shampoo and conditioning regime. My hair would dry out too quickly and start breaking off if I did this.
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amari……. that’s the whole point……. once you transition to being shampoo free, you hair will be more balanced….. and not dry or breaking. i know it sounds crazy.
i’ve been shampoo free 6 months. i have mid-long fine, curly/wavy hair. i use the diluted baking soda about once a week and the diluted apple cider vinegar about every 3 -4 days. no hair products. i use a tiny bit of absynnian oil on my ends. that’s it. so easy. and you would never know by looking at my hair.
The beer really does make you hair look awesome! Very lustrous. I wish I could do the vinegar, because that does wonders for my hair too, but my boyfriend honestly has to be part canine with the nose he has. He would sniff that vinegar out in a second (I’ve tried it! Diluted and everything). I think I’m going to try the baking soda though, I don’t go through much shampoo, but I go through tons of conditioner. I’ll have to look into some different kinds other than the vinegar or beer mentioned (I go to school on a dry campus, so I’d get in heaps of trouble for having beer, even if it were for showering purposes). I’ll have to try the honey trick.
I have curly hair too and my routine is as follows:
Shampoo (for dry scalp), conditioner (for curly hair), mousse, spray gel, dry with a diffuser. I have considered the shampoo-free option for some time now because of my dry scalp but I was concerned about the state of my hair when I leave it curly. At the moment, I do not air-dry my hair because I do not like the look of how it dries… any tips/suggestions one way or the other?
you guys, ive been using mayo, beer, apple cider vinegar and baking soda on my hair since i was 13, i love great scents of shampoo and conditioner, and fell off the wagon, my hair stopped growing and like getting thin, i have hair a little past my breasts.. but, i only wash 3 x week, and i was taking my nails and scraping my scalp(ok gross) and there was a white greasy residue under my nails, i immediately massaged the apple cider vineger on my scalp and it ate thru the grease or what ever the heck it was, my scalp felt awesome, then i put little olive oil on the ends, will wash is out in the am, i will never forget the results i had in high school and college saving money on products, i just got caught up in the shampoo isle where a bottle could be 15 bucks, NEVER AGAIN !!! i cant believe the difference pleassss try!!!, oh, and if you use any product, like mousse or gel all that stuff, use baking soda after each time, it makes your hair so soft, and only 20 cents a carton!! yeah!! you may smell like a salad, but in the long run its so worth it!!!!!!
Your hair would definitely get healthier if you stopped using shampoos Amari. Shampoo has so many chemicals in it. I just started doing this tonight, I’m hoping for an improvement on the health of my hair in a couple weeks. I’ve heard nothing but good from people who’ve done this regimen.
We used to use vinegar as a rinse when I was much younger. Very inexpensive & leaves your hair feeling silky. I had forgotten about that, but now that my hair is always dry & lifeless, I will be going back to using it. Have never tried the baking soda, but I’m going to try it in the shower tomorrow. There’s absolutely no smell after rinsing. The vinegar tends to also bring out the natural red highlights in darker hair & the lemon juice works best on light or blond hair.
I just read about this a few weeks ago, and when I told my husband he went and bought me my salon brands shampoo and conditioner I used to use. Funny! I still want to try it, though and your pictures are a great help!
.-= Angela Mills´s last blog ..What to put in your workboxes =-.
Oh wow!! Love this.. Love this.. Will surely be trying it out this week and will probably post about my experiences with this.. I have been losing hair like crazy and changing shampoos thinking that a different shampoo will work.. Bt maybe this is the answer to my prayers!! Thank you..
Many many blessings!!
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I was losing hair too, and I found it was a vitamin deficiency. My doctor just told me to do a regular multi, but I ended up using a special hair and nail formula and voila – no more hair loss. Or at least not more than is normal.
I also only wash my hair once a week. I think its much healthier as a result. I think I am going to try the baking soda thing. It sounds marvelous.
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what hair and nail vit did you start taking? my hair is so thin and seems to break/fall out really easy. any help would be nice because i seem to spend a lot of money on vit and they never seem to work.
Natures Bounty for Hair, Nails and Skin? I’m not home at the moment, but I’m pretty sure that’s the name. I get it at Walgreens.
I was losing hair too and when i spoke to my dermatologist about it. she recommended …A/G Pro… you can get it at the pharmacy but it is behind the counter so you will need to ask for it. Seems to be working well for about 5 months now
For 10 or more years now, I’ve been shampooing with a bit of Borax in water, some liquid colloidal silver (home-generated) and a smaller ‘bit of Tea Tree Oil shampoo (a bottle lasts me three years). I rinse with lemon juice water, (did use a pinch of powdered citric acid until I ran out a year ago), and find i quite fine. My hair’s short, and tends to be somewhat oily, so every three -four days, it’s time again. It was in “The Cure for All Cancers” by Hulda R. Clark that I got the ideas. You might try Juice Plus+ instead of vitamins. It’s like having 17 fruits, veggies & grains in your diet daily (4 capsules or chewables), and is great for everyone! Can be free for kiddies!
I love Juice Plus. I have my little girl taking it too. I take capsules and she chews the gummies. I have used only conditioner for well over a year now in an attempt to aid my processed hair. I occasionally wash it with shampoo but then condition heavily. I have toyed around with the no shampoo before. I just had my hair colored and I want to help it some how from all the breakage that is occurring. I eat healthy and hardly ever use shampoo so the breakage is puzzling me. I am so glad to learn about the soda and the apple cider vinegar. I am going to try it and see what happens.
check out stuff from my dad’s company Eniva. they have all natural vitamins and minerals-they keep you healthy as well as do wonders for your hair and nails.
http://shop.enivausa.com/4/en-us/static/body/
oh!!! folic acid is the way to go also!! natures pride is the best!!
If your hair is falling out, there could be a medical reason, such as low thyroid, too much stress, hormonal imbalance, nutritional deficiencies etc. Definitely get it checked out. Your shampoo alone won’t cause hair loss.
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I’ve been “no ‘poo” for 5 months now. My sister (who is my primary hair person!) told me she can’t believe how well my hair looks. I have long curly hair and it no longer gets tangles underneath – what a relief.
I use a sports water bottle to put my mixtures in – easy to squeeze and I can write on them with marker.
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I have really curly hair too and every other shampoo and conditioner makes my curls frizzy or limp. Does this formula help retain the curls?
I have wavy hair and I’ve always had trouble trying to get my hair to control it’s wavy and so I normally straighten it out, but since I’ve started to use the Baking soda and Apple cider vinegar method my wavy are much more pronounced and happy. If that’s what it does for wavy hair I can only imagine what it can do for limp curly hair.
How much baking soda to water do you use and the same with the vinegar and water? I just tried this and it left my hair soft, but I have really curly hair and it still looks frizzy?
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That is amazing! I am so excited to try it!!
I have got to try this! I too notice how greasy my hair is, usually by the end of the day, and I hate it. I’m also for trying anything that is frugal and green!
.-= Angie´s last blog ..Daily Cleaning Challenge – Dressers =-.
I have been using a handmade all natural soap + acv to wash my hair and I am finally seeing good results. We have very hard water so that tends to make things a bit more difficult. You did a great job of giving the whole story!
.-= Shannon´s last blog ..Lessons From Littles =-.
Great post!!! I’ve been doing this off and on since I read about it about a year ago. I just have a long transition time and can never get through that period without caving. Whenever I go back to washing my hair with shampoo my scalp starts getting really itchy and it breaks out. I thought I just had a “problem scalp” all these years. It turns out I had “problem shampoo!” Thanks for the encouragement, I think I’ll try it again.
PS my little frugal green self just loves when I wash my face, hair and teeth with baking soda for pennies and virtually no environmental impact. And it makes packing for a trip a snap!
What is the recipe to wash your face with
Bi Carb of Soda…i would love to try it as it would make my face smooth
Brushing your teeth with baking soda once or twice a week is okay but if you use it everyday it wears the enamel off your teeth rather quickly and you will have dental problems from it…just a tip:)
I thought I inherited my father’s “problem scalp” and I often find I break out. I wonder if it IS the shampoo! Very intrigued and may try experimenting with different “Poo-free” methods. Thanks for the inspiration everyone!
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I have to say that I’m intrigued. I will have to try it because I like making my hair healthy. The only thing I’m hesitant about is the smell. My husband is always commenting on how nice my hair smells, so I’ll have to see if he notices a difference.
.-= Tabitha – From Single to Married´s last blog ..Boy = Blue = Shopping =-.
You can try doing a herbal rinse. Different herbs helps your hair in different ways but one really great herb is Lavender. And we all love the smell of lavender. It’s antiseptic, antibiotic, stimulates hair growth, and degreases. Another is Rosemary which smells great also and it’s a tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair. (This is good to use if you notice your hair lightening due to baking soda use.) If you want to lighten your hair you can use chamomile. All you do is take the herbs and make a tea with them. When the water cools you strain the tea and during your washing you put it through your hair, scrub and rinse. Besides, the best smell is your own natural smell. The pheromones from your own head is probably what your husband actually likes.
I’m considering this change/transition at the moment, but I’m not sure about two things. I would much appreciate it if somebody who has already experienced this transition clarified my doubts.
1. I stay in Mumbai/Bombay, where the weather is hot, humid, and there’s too much of pollution settling on my greasy hair/scalp to make do with ‘mild’ cleansers. Plus I am doubtful about the quality of baking soda available in the local groceries. I have these sodium bicarbonate tablets (500 mg) that were prescribed to a family member who doesn’t need them anymore. Would they serve the same purpose? Do I use one tablet per hair wash (I have ear-length hair) or more/less?
2. I recently went and bought apple cider vinegar (for the first time; we don’t use it for cooking), and it smells AWFUL. I’m really apprehensive about using something that smells so rotten on my hair. Nor do I have access to fragrant herbs such as lavender (or the time to make teas with them). Will adding essential oils of lavender/rose/ylang ylang/vetiver/sandalwood etc. to the apple cider-water rinse mask the smell while retaining the benefit?
Thank you for reading this comment; I look forward to your answer.
You can use plain vinegar if that smells better to you and I’ve read about people adding essential oils to their rinse, so I don’t think it effects the acidity.
“Would they serve the same purpose?” Maybe, but you’d just have to see. It doesn’t sound as if it would damage your hair.
“Do I use one tablet per hair wash (I have ear-length hair) or more/less? ”
I’m guessing more than that, but you’d probably have to take a set number and experiment.
try adding in about 8 drops of peppermint oil and 8 drops of tea tree oil :0 it helps with the smell for those concerned
You can also make citrus vinegar by adding some lime & lemon peels to your vinegar and shaking it daily for a week or too 
I now use no poo for my curly hair and have been for about 10 years 
love it. I have recently started using citrus vinegars and baking soda for my cleaning products around the home, and for my face as well “) so much happier:)
The tee tree oil is also a natural antispectic so it helps with scalp itchies if you have that issue. If you have lots of itching or scalp issues buy food grade aloe vera and use it as a scalp treatment
Your hair looks great, and I love the health aspects – both eco and personal…but I’m afraid this one isn’t for me! Call me unenlightened, but I love the smell of fruity, freshly shampooed hair, and I don’t feel clean unless I’ve had my daily shower with soap and shampoo and conditioner.
It’s certainly got me thinking though. As an asidem I would love more research to be done into the health implications of pregnant women using standard cosmetics, perfumes etc. I used to work for a skincare company, and the amount of chemical that is absorbed into the skin is outstanding.
.-= 280 Days´s last blog ..Beautiful Mess =-.
An option I’ve recently read on a long hair forum is making a shampoo out of natural soap (such as castile) and a little coconut oil, then rinsing with herbal teas. That’d give you the fruity smell and get you clean.
Apparently some people find the baking soda too coarse for their scalp, and the coconut oil does beautiful things for waves. I haven’t tried it yet because it’s too cold here right now to keep the CO liquid, but I will as it warms up. I’ve read good things about catnip rinses. Rinsing with ACV (even rinsing it out afterwards) left a lingering smell on me; either I used too much, or my hair is so dry and porous that it sucked too much in. My husband hated it!
At least you don’t lose much if the experiment fails and you’re not ready to try again.
Thanks Tsh and Lauren! I think I’m going to start with the natural soap and coconut oil because I have curly hair and I love scents. Nerdily excited.
Lauren, I would imagine you could just stick the bottle of baking soda/CO water under the shower water and warm it up that way!
This post is timely for me b/c I’ve just been planning on another pregnancy. Last time I was pregnant I used the very expensive organic shampoos, and I’ve been thinking I need to go ahead and get some to use when my current supply runs out. Maybe I’ll try this instead? I’ll have to admit a bit of reservation (although the pics have helped convince me), but it doesn’t hurt to try, huh?
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It’s funny how I’ve been reading about this for the past few months in the blogs I keep up with. I so want to do this…for economical as well as healthy reasons…and I want great hair! I’m a youth pastor’s wife and even mentioned the concept to the girls in our group who all come from large families (which means lots of money spent on hair products) and everyone was sharing their tips of what they use!
.-= Jessie Stimpson´s last blog ..Handmade Christmas =-.
As with many natural living practices, this is one that did sound SO CRAZY at first, but the more I thought about it, the more it makes sense. Now it is second nature to me.
I personally have found that I need a deep conditioning treatment about once a week to keep my ends from drying out. I prefer Burt’s Bees because it is phthalate, paraben, and sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate-free. With the money I am saving on not buying shampoo and conditioner, I don’t mind the little splurge on a high quality deep conditioner!
Thanks for the link to my article on this and thank you for shedding light on this practice that more and more people are finding to be a very workable hair-care practice!
.-= Megan at Simple Kids´s last blog ..September 18th: SK Showcase and Weekend Links =-.
You might try organic coconut oil. I heard someone talking about using it for a conditioner, and I tried it. My hair is the softest it has ever been, and I love knowing that I am using a one ingredient product. I use it as my lotion too, and my elbows (which were always a bit rough) feel like silk.
Awesome! I will definitely look for that.
I use the coconut oil before I wash my hair, leaving it in for about 3 minutes before washing. I tried it once with the baking soda and I couldn’t get enough of the residue out. It was the first time I’d tried the baking soda acv thing, so I’m not sure if that is to blame or not. I think if you just put it on the ends it might work better. I’m going to try that next time I wash.
Coconut oil works wonders on the skin, especially when you are fresh out the shower. Your skin feels baby smooth…
I use extra virgin olive oil to deep condition my hair. Put it all over your hair or just on the ends, put plastic wrap over your hair and let sit for a while. Then wash as usual.
I was shampoo free for a few months but went back to shampoo. My scalp was just too itchy and flaky and my forehead and neck were breaking out too much. I couldn’t handle the collateral damage! I’m sure there are solutions to both but I wasn’t ready to go there when just using shampoo was a quick fix. Plus, my hair just did’t feel as great as it does with shampoo. I REALLY wanted it to work and be as great as everyone raves but it just wasn’t.
.-= Andrea @ The Train To Crazy´s last blog ..From my bookshelf: 1-2-3 Magic =-.
Interesting. A few weeks ago, my hair was shampooed at the salon, and immediately my scalp began itching. I had no problem with itchy scalp when I shampooed regularly!
I guess everyone’s different, huh?
Yes, I kept hearing about how it cured all these problems and how wonderful it is. I think for 3 months I was talking myself into believing it was working out until I used shampoo one day and the itchiness went away. It was then I decided it just wasn’t! I think I might try Renee @ FIMBY’s method to see if that works out better for me.
.-= Andrea @ The Train To Crazy´s last blog ..An old friend =-.
I’ve noticed that when I wash my hair without combing through it with a fine tooth comb first my scalp becomes very itchy and my hair feels heavy and not clean. But after I learned that I needed to comb my hair to loosen the dirt first and then scrub my scalp with my finger tips while washing my scalp doesn’t itch any longer and my hair feels nice and light like it should. I’ve also stopped using ANY AND ALL products in my hair because I don’t need to any longer. I love this method and won’t ever go back.
Holly´s latest post: THANKSGIVING!!!!
Andrea – two potential reasons for your head being itchy after using the baking soda/vinegar shampoo/rinse method is
1. the baking soda dried out the scalp too much which can cause itching – try using less baking soda
2. you may have a sensitivity to vinegar or the type of vinegar used. My daughter is quite allergic to vinegar and cannot use it at all. Use one of the other rinses and see if that makes a difference.
I am just wondering was it distilled white (normally comes from a gluten base) or apple cider vinegar?
I’m intrigued. I’m still searching for a shampoo that doesn’t strip my hair but doesn’t cost a fortune. Now I’m thinking it doesn’t exist! I’ll give it a try, and since I’ll be at home for a good stretch of weeks with a new baby, having oily hair won’t be a big deal!
Thanks for the info!
.-= My First Kitchen´s last blog ..Double Decker Cheeseburgers =-.
I just spent close to $8 on a bottle of organic shampoo. I am so willing to try this. nervous. but willing. thanks for the info!
.-= Denise´s last blog ..30 days of the Every Day – Six =-.
A few years ago there was a huge outbreak of lice at my kids school. The oldest were in kindergarten and second grade at the time. My first step was to stop washing their hair ( it was washed only once per week to begin with.) Neither of my children ended up with lice, and my daughter, who had thick blonde hair down to the middle of her back, was the only girl in her class who was lice free. The staff couldn’t believe it. ( I also braided her hair and pinned it up every day.) It took the school months to get rid of the lice, even the teachers had it. Everyone thought I was crazy for refusing to wash their hair, but the natural oils in their hair make it hard for the lice eggs to attach.
That is so awesome! Thank you for sharing that information! I never knew that!
Yes, thanks very much for that!
Yes! This is why most African American kids do not transmit or acquire lice as much as the rest of the population. As a kid, after washing my hair my mom would “grease my scalp” so that I would have healthy, shiny hair (no matter how ICKY it felt while she did it, my hair always looked and felt nice!). It was washed once a week, possibly twice if I got really dirty. I knew some kids whose parents washed their hair biweekly, but that was too long for me. The lice don’t like “dirty” hair. It’s harder to lay eggs and move around in.
I think my mom was on to something, though. When I was younger, I never had dandruff or an extremely oily scalp AND face like I do now. I use Head and Shoulders religiously, but it’s never really worked. And I use entirely too many products on my face to prevent shine, only to end up with an oil slick within an hour or so.
I suppose less really is more!
I used Head and Shoulders for years when I was a kid as I had a flakey scalp. What we didn’t realise was that the H&S was actually CAUSING it. I stopped using it as soon as I was old enough to buy for myself. There are some shampoos out there that are great for my scalp and others (like Pantene) which make me itch like crazy. I’d love for this baking soda/vinegar method to work on me but I have very long, thin and fragile hair that’s highly coloured every few weeks – I just can’t take the chance on this making it more fragile when I’ve currently got a great shampoo and conditioner (Dead Sea products).
Have you tried blotting paper for oily skin? Also, try organic coconut oil as a face moisturizer. It soaks in straight away and alot of people who had problems with oily skin stopped when using coconut oil.
Oh how I love your site. i was just thinking yesterday that there has to be a better way and last night I mixed some Bragg’s ACV with water after I shampoo’d my hair and it looked and felt great with just that one time use. This morning I saw your post and – ah ha – I’m exccited to try the Baking Soda. My hair is a mess and know that this is my answer!!
Thanks for sharing……
Jana
I am really hoping this will give me the dream hair I’ve always wanted! lol.
Since having my son my hair is just, well, blergh. I’m going to give this a go, I mean… my hair couldn’t get any worse…
.-= Satakieli´s last blog ..Learning Journal 2 =-.
Well, I love your hair in your avatar photo, so if that’s bad, then I’m sure it’ll be amazing when it’s good!
Does it matter if the vinegar has the “mother” or not? Also, what are you usin instead of soap?
I don’t believe you could ever go just to water. Perhaps people who have extremely unoily hair could, but the fact is, no matter what you use to wash your hair, your scalp is designed to release oils, and water does not remove oil. That is why you can’t wash your dishes in regular water!
Also, while I totally don’t care if people decide to wash their hair with something other than shampoo, I think some of the accusations levelled at it weren’t entirely true: while it strips oils, it also moisturises (depending on the type you use). Different shampoos & conditioners also affect people’s scalps differently- one might make your husband’s scalp dry and flaky, another might be fine.
I’m also not sure if it’s true that “the more shampoo you use, the more you need.” I’m at the age (relatively young) where the past few years have involved me figuring out my skin & hair and how best to treat it (how often to wash hair, moisturise skin, what to use to wash skin, etc etc). For a few years now I washed my hair twice every three weeks. (Approximately). But I eventually noticed (perhaps the oil increased as I got older) that my hair was becoming too oily in the intervening days and that I had to wash more often. It wasn’t like I increased my shampoo usage and *then* my hair started becoming oilier faster, but vice versa.
I also have hair dressers tell me I have the best hair they’ve ever seen; I don’t dye my hair (I use temporary colours but have never used a permanent), don’t perm, bleach, rarely use mousse & hairspray, don’t use straightening irons and rarely curling wands (just for special occasions).
Also, apparently the expensive hairdresser-recommended shampoos/conditioners *don’t* put in the extra stuff that coats your hair. Hairdressers recommend these shampoos because if you use the cheaper stuff which does coat the hair, hair dye will not take as well. But that’s more expensive
Kim – yes, the myth is that if you have head lice you must have dirty hair, when really it is the opposite – head lice like clean hair! I had lice several times between the ages of 6 and 13 and by the last bout I was fed up (we’d had them about 3 times in one year) – the school had an infestation and the lice had become immune to pretty much everything on the market. How did I end up getting rid of them? By washing my hair every night with regular shampoo & conditioner and then combing it out with a nit comb. Conditioner stuns the headlice meaning the comb will pick them out. I did this every night for a week, meaning that if I missed an egg here or there I’d get the lice when it hatched the next night. I was the first in our family to become lice-free after that bout.
Don’t you think that they might put in moisturizers BECAUSE it strips what your hair naturally produces? Why put something on your hair that has such bad ingredients that they have to even it out with extra moisturizing components. You’d be better off without it.
Beyond that, the moisturizing ingredients in your shampoos and conditioners are still chemically based. They may contain some jojoba and vitamin E, etc., but those are mostly just for marketing and scent.
I’m going to give this a try! I’ve been buying shampoos for the past while based on which form of lauryl sulfate they use, and have been trying to find the gentlest ones ( I can’t remember the scientific names right now for the harshest/gentlest forms).
.-= Jen @ Canadian Rhapsody´s last blog ..2 days late. My bad. =-.
I have never heard of such a thing! I just bought shampoo and conditioner yesterday – I’m going to try this out right away. Thanks!
.-= Cherilyn´s last blog ..Homeschooling At It’s Finest =-.
Love this post, Tsh. I’ve been doing this off and on for about four years. I have very short hair, and I find that it just lays flat (in a bad way) when it’s been stripped of its natural oils. I have always disliked loading expensive products back into my hair after washing it, so it seemed like a good thing to try — letting the natural oils serve as the “product” that gives me some control with my hair.
We’ve lived in four homes since I started this, and I have found that the type of water makes a big difference. In one place, we had fantastic well water, and I didn’t use anything at all (no smell or oiliness in my hair, either). Just a really good scrub in a hot shower every morning. Then we moved into a new home, which also had well water, but not so good. This water had rust or something in it, and I was finding that my hair was not getting as clean, and would retain that smell… I occasionally tried baking soda, but I never really knew what proportion to use, and didn’t stick with it. I got into using “Lush” brand shampoos then, which are far less abrasive. It’s actually a shampoo bar, and has a nice smell. (Another somewhat related side tip — I only use hot water on my face, and moisturize with a tiny amount of straight extra virgin coconut oil. In the winter time I have to supplement with something else, shea butter or similar, or else I get flaky scaly skin on my cheeks. But in the warmer months, I swear by just coconut oil!)
Now we’re in a different home, on city water, and I wash with at least hot water every morning. We’ve installed a filter on the shower head so it’s not so chlorine-y. But I do have an itchy scalp from shampoo, and so I try not to use it every day. I think, after reading your post, I’m going to try the baking soda squeeze bottle!
Thanks for your $.o2, Sarah! And I’ll get into what I use on my face soon… it sounds similar to your routine.
fascinating! my mom yells at me all the time about this, but i’m afraid i’m too addicted to the “clean smell” to go this natural.
we use castille soap for practically everything incl shampoo…this is so interesting.
also, random question, but what is mother vinegar, or vinegar’s mother and why would vinegar need a mother? please help! this is going to drive me nuts today.
.-= Liz ´s last blog ..Happy 1st Birthday Elvis! =-.
I found this that will give you more info on Mother of Vinegar.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_of_vinegar
Holly´s latest post: THANKSGIVING!!!!
Oh, it seemed to me that my current gravatar image was looking like a flat-shampoo day, so I’ve tried to find a more representative one… don’t know if I have changed it correctly, this stuff is beyond me.
LOVING this post! I’ve heard about it before, but always sort of brushed it off and your post is completely intriguing – thanks so much! This would be so great for me, too, because I’m allergic or sensitive to a ton of stuff in shampoos and conditioner and always cross my finger when I get a new one that I won’t get an awful breakout all over my scalp. Baking soda and vinegar, here I come!
.-= Lillian @ Domestic Simplicity´s last blog ..I am absolutely devouring this e-book: The Simple Guide to a Minimalist Life =-.
Well, I just bought fancy shampoo and conditioner in an effort to salvage my hair! However, your hair looks great! Maybe I’ll try this technique next. Thanks for the breakdown.
.-= Amy Reads Good Books´s last blog ..The Senator’s Wife =-.
I am seriously considering trying this! Thanks for the detailed instructions!
.-= Cara Beth Buie´s last blog ..Happy Fall! =-.
We switched to organic only shampoo/conditioner and in an effort to offset cost increase, I only wash my hair every second day (my kids shampoo once or twice/wk depending on age). I want to head in this direction (no poo) but as with everything else, I’ll have to be the guinee pig before convincing my family
My kids are African-Canadian (hair tends to be a bit drier/coarser) and I wonder if others with this hair-type have successfully used bkg soda/vinegar ?!
I know this is very much later than you wrote, but I was looking for information on this online and found this link which I think might be helpful to you. http://blackhairinformation.com/shampooing/how-to-clean-black-hair-without-a-shampoo/
I’ve been a no poo gal for over a year. I LOVE how soft my hair is and even some of the curl I lost because of pregnancy has come back. I changed to no poo because my hair would get so greasy by the end of one day I felt like I had to wash my hair twice a day! It took about two weeks for my hair to adjust. For a while I used baking soda every other day. Now I use it once a week and just rinse with water the rest of the week. Because I live in the arid desert of Northern Nevada I do use essential oils every now and then to keep the ends of my hair from getting dry. They smell good too!
.-= Chocolate on my Cranium´s last blog ..Watchmen on the Tower FHE =-.
So, Tsh, you mention using this on your kids and not having to buy tear-free shampoo. Is baking soda naturally tear-free or do you have to be careful about not getting it in their eyes? I’d love to use this on my one-year-old if it won’t burn her eyes.
We’ve had no issues on our end – my daughter is 4.5 and my son is 21 months. I don’t know if it’s “officially” tear-free, but they’ve never said anything about it.
Hi there
I suffer from eye redness and crustiness on my eyelashes and my eye doctor recommends either using baby shampoo or bicarbonate of soda (which is similar to baking soda) to clean my eyes – rub the roots of the eyeleshes with a cotton bud dipped into a diluted solution of either. So both are tear free. Hope this helps
Great post! I’m definitely going to try this. I’ve been switching shampoos for about a year now due to an itchy scalp. I’ve been to the dermatologist, but it’s not dandruff or lice. The itch is relatively minor, but it drives me CRAZY! I really think that over the past few years I’ve just developed a skin sensitivity. Maybe this is my answer. (Sorry if all that is TMI!)
I’ve been shampoo-free for about two years. I started after reading Curly Girl (http://www.amazon.com/Curly-Girl-Lorraine-Massey/dp/0761123008) and haven’t found any reason to go back. I use conditioner when I “wash” it, which is about 2-3/wk. I switched from ridiculously expensive conditioner to Trader Joe’s, which is $2.99 for 500mL, but now I’ve seen that it does contain methyl and propyl parabens, so I might check out the Burt’s Bees product mentioned above. I haven’t weaned myself from Aveda’s styling products (my hair is a fluffy, frizzy, Q-tippy mess without some product in it), but I’m inspired now to do some research. Great post, Tsh!
This sounds great! I did a lemon juice rinse as a kid a few times when chlorine turned my hair green, and I’ve also heard lemon juice for blonds, and apple cider vinegar for brunettes, although I doubt it matters. I’ll have to try this.
Another hygiene use for baking soda–as deodorant. I haven’t switched yet, but my husband did a few months ago, and not only does it not irritate his skin like deodorant, but I’ll vouch, as the one who hugs him with my nose at his armpit level, that it is much more effective.
Wow – as much as I thought I was completely familiar with everything natural and frugal, the details of this I have never investigated. I just started writing a post about “saving money on hair” but it never would have included this. Now I guess I have to point out this post.
Guess not.
I was only focusing on hairstyles, learning how to cut your childrens’ hair etc.
I’m pretty radical, but I must admit, I thought I was stretching it by only using shampoo twice a week. hee hee
Thanks for something really interesting to ponder.
.-= Jen@Balancing Beauty and Bedlam´s last blog ..Are coupons worth it? =-.
i have pretty short hair and stopped using shampoo on a regular basis over a year ago. i still do use it – about once a week. but i do believe i will give this a shot! i don’t have a whole lot to lose
and i’m especially intrigued that you say you’re not using pomade anymore either. that’s my daily crutch!
.-= tara g´s last blog ..finding passion | crystal j. =-.
I think my husband is going to get tired of me reading all my favorite blogs. His response when I wanted to try cloth diapers was hardly supportive. Then the other day after some blog reading, I presented him with some other important topics our family must make a decision on. He’s going to think I’m crazy for trying this but off to get my empty bottles and give this a whirl. Tsh, I loved your comment below your pictures. Thanks for the laugh!
Thanks for the great overview. I had heard of this quite a bit, so I was not surprised by the idea. I just haven’t tried it yet myself. I have found a middle ground with EO brand shampoos and conditioners which are free of yucky chemicals and petroleum. I would love to save that money though!
.-= Michele´s last blog ..asleep without mommymilk =-.
I never would have thought of this. Thanks for opening our eyes to another option.
Blessings today!
Shilo
.-= Shilo´s last blog ..Looking Unto Jesus Risen =-.
i have gone shampoo-free for over a year now with only baking soda and apple cider vinegar and the outcome is tremendous. it’s funny when people ask me how my hair got to looking so pretty and what products i use, because their mouths drop when i say soda and vinegar.
i went this route in hopes of finding something to counteract my limp and fine hair. turns out…my hair’s not limp and fine, and it’s not stick-straight like i always thought it was. i have had two summers go past where i’ve been able to air-dry my hair with no frizz and natural wave…who knew?!
in the winter-time i increase my apple cider vinegar by a smidgen to balance the static-cling that happens…but it doesn’t get greasy because the environment is naturally drier.
regarding dying my hair, i still dye mine with the most potent of products (think that $2 box of tox at your local dept store – that’s what i use!) every 6-8 weeks and have no problems with my hair. instead of using the package of conditioner that comes with it, i save those for our guests when they come over and instead rinse with apple cider vinegar (3 tbsps to 8oz of water to make it extra moisturizing) and dump it from root to scalp. i let it sit about 2 minutes and then rinse.
i usually only need to wash my hair 1-2 times a week now. it styles better with updos come the third or fourth day because there’s barely any product in it.
when i get my hair cut, the stylist always washes my hair with basic shampoo and conditioner…the very next day i have to wash my hair because it’s so greasy. it’s amazing the difference in how those dept store products affect my hair now.
.-= jenifriend´s last blog ..Plaque Is Back! =-.
I’ve been using just a plain bar of soap, then a rinse of vinegar water for almost a year now. My long hair (down to my bottom) is bouncy, glistens with natural highlights and rarely gets greasy like it did before (every day!). Now I wash my hair 3 – 4 times a week. I tried the baking soda route, wasn’t thrilled, then read somewhere about using the soap instead. I tried it as an experiment as well and loved the results. My ten year old son uses it as well.
What kind of bar soap do you use? I use no products in my naturally curly hair, and it’s very healthy. But I am suddenly allergic to ALL shampoos except baby shampoo. Would love to switch to bar soap. And what about conditioner, (curly hair needs it). Thanks.
I hadn’t heard of going shampoo-free before, but I can definitely see the benefits. I try to use the “natural” shampoos that are healthier for my hair, but they are usually very expensive. I’m willing to give this a try. Thanks for sharing your tips and extra resources too.
I do spend the extra money on lotions and (real) soap/shower gels for body care. I’d love to find a cheaper way to care for our skin. What do you use for your family Tsh?
.-= Stacie @ newmommyhelp.net´s last blog ..When Should We Transition From Crib to Toddler Bed? =-.
I’ve got a post coming up on this, but in short: Dr. Bronner’s is my friend.
I have heard this before but was wondering if it actually worked! Thanks for sharing!
.-= Ashley´s last blog ..Kmart Double Coupons =-.
I’ve been shampoo free for months now, but I found I can’t use baking soda at all. It definately makes my scalp itchy and rashy. Instead I use homemade soap now (which I can add any fragrance I like to) and rinse with regular white vinegar. For others who can’t use baking soda, they could try Ivory soap.
You could knock me over with a feather right now! Apparently I’m the last to hear for shampoo-free!
Way to go, Tsh. I’m super impressed and as always, you are such a ground-breaking roll model for the rest of us.
Your hair looks GREAT!
I have SUPER fine, limp hair so I’d have to do some research as to what I should expect. I kinda rely on those ‘volume enhancing’ products!
.-= Aimee´s last blog ..Geraldine’s Chocolate-Date Cake =-.
What anew, great idea for me! We switched to Burts Bees products a few years ago when our baby had some breathing issues…we were trying to eliminate chemicals from our home. I hate how much money I spend on Burts Bees though…I’m willing to give this a try!
.-= Sharon´s last blog ..The "flu" is alive and well here! =-.
Hey Sharon,
Since you are trying to go chemical free in your home, have you ever tried using micofiber? The one I use is actually clinically proven to pick up and hold 99% of germs and bacteria without using any chemicals at all, just water, and you can clean your whole house with it. I have mine from this website ( http://www.usjesco.com/microfiber-cloth.aspx) and I absolutely love mine. Tsh, you might want to look into it too.
Thanks for spreading this out! It’s ESPECIALLY healthy for the CURLY GIRLS out there…….sulfates and silicones are HORRIBLE for them. Although I *do* use a shampoo and condish, I go Trader Joe’s ALL THE WAY. No sulfates….no silicones…and lots and lots of good things. I also do give kudos to ACV and Baking Soda…my hair loves both maybe once a month. Due to the nature of my own scalp and sebum habits (blach), I can’t put down the cleanser, though….so….it may just depend upon each person!
Thanks so much!! About six months ago I started making my own household cleaners (thanks to your Spring Cleaning Book!!) and my own laundry detergent. I was thinking about the shampoo and conditioner, but thought maybe I was taking it a little too far. Thanks for letting me know that I wasn’t!! I am so excited to try this. We are just about done with our shampoo and conditioner, so this is a great time to try it. I’ll post here again in a couple of weeks.
Thanks for such an informative and encouraging post!!
I am so impressed. I tried to wean myself of shampoo by showering less and with less shampoo- but the transition time was just too much for me. I will have to try again. It really is such a good idea. Good for you.
.-= Taryn´s last blog ..Cheesy Egg Bagel Sandwich =-.
Okay, I’m a little grossed out, but I think I’d like to try it.
Does anyone know how all of this may work with highlighted hair???
Thanks!
.-= Parenting Ink´s last blog ..Mama’s Gone Crazy in the Bathroom =-.
I’m made the switch to no chemicals for my household cleaning, which I’m happy with.
I like this no shampoo idea. I’ve had free trials of organic shampoos for a couple months, and like them, but you’re hair looks really good for baking soda. I’m impressed.
Now if only we could just get rid of deodorant…and go natural…
I’ve never done research on deodorant, but there’s probably lots of chemicals in them. Do you know? You’re probably going to tell me that lotions are bad too, right?
Thanks for your blog. Love it!!
LUSH sells organic deordorant! It’s fabulous! No packaging either, just a bar.
http://www.lush.com ! Some of the best, handmade, affordable, organic stuff for your body! I use it all the time!
.-= Valerie´s last blog ..Fall & Winter Goals =-.
http://www.associatedcontent.com/video/25473/how_to_make_a_homemade_deodorant_.html?cat=5
I have not tried this yet though….
I have been using just rubbing alcohol as a deodorant for months now, and I love it! I have been somewhat concerned about the effects of deodorant/anti-perspirant for a while now, and this works so well! It isn’t an anti-perspirant, but there is no body odor whatsoever…not even the smell of women’s deodorant. It is so great!
I just have a little spray bottle with alcohol and give a little squirt or two in the morning and sometimes freshen up just like I have to with deodorant. A friend told me about it, and I am so grateful.
.-= Mandy´s last blog ..Fun Homework =-.
Go to youtube and search making natural deodorant. I think it’s health, home, happiness (not sure) she demo’s how to make it with coconut oil and baking soda. Also, you can buy a Crystal deodorant stick (in a light purple clear container) at a drug store (walgreens) and it last forever.
We used the baking soda and vinegar for more than a year, and our hair was never softer. But now we’ve taken another plunge….we don’t use anything but water on our hair while bathing/showering, and use a boar bristle brush for cleaning and redistributing the natural oils.
Going from ‘poo to boar bristle supposedly can be a nasty transition, but other than 1 or 2 days I think the transition went super easy because we’d already worked the scum out of our hair while using the b soda and vinegar.
Simple can get even simpler!!
.-= Karen´s last blog ..A Pleasing Aroma =-.
That’s so cool.
Awesome! Man, I wish I hadn’t just bought a huge thing of shampoo!
.-= Jessalyn´s last blog ..Diaper Diaries: First Impressions =-.
I’m going to try this tonight.
.-= Asterid´s last blog ..Psuedo-Potato Salad and Almost Getting Ran Over =-.
I used baking soda and lemon juice exclusively for 14 months (I wouldn’t even let the haircutter lady wash my hair). I have long, thick, wavy hair, and it was never healthier or happier! By the time I stopped, I was going 15-20 days between washes, and no one could tell. But oy, the crap on my comb. I got so sick of rubbing off all those “natural oils.” Sad to say, this is what caused me to stop.
However. After a two-year hiatus, I’ve recently switched back. I’m thinking of using ACV this time, possibly with some lavender to help with the smell (I never thought my hair stunk, but my husband did complain sometimes).
Glad to see some of the whys behind the madness! It’s motivation to stick with it again.
.-= Kristin´s last blog ..Busy Sunday =-.
I too would love to hear more about what body/skin products you use now! Looking forward to your post(s) on that, adn thanks for this great info too!
I’ve tried this a couple of times but didn’t stick with it. My shampoo and conditioner are about to run out so I will have those bottles to use for the new concoctions. I didn’t realize you could mix ahead of time and use it up. This will make it easier. I’m excited for my future hair!
I’ve been thinking about going poo free for awhile now. My only concern is that I color my hair. I like being darker than my natural hair color. Do you have much research that tells you if going poo free strips you of dye products? I’m not finding much information about it.
Thanks!
.-= Ashley´s last blog ..Secret Obsessions. =-.
Mmm, I’m gonna have to be the voice of pessimism here – I tried this about a year ago & it bombed, BIG-TIME. I’m a SAHM, I don’t really have pressing needs to “be” anywhere or make a big deal about my personal looks, & I still couldn’t get past Day 5 or so. My hair looked, smelled & felt absolutely disgusting. 2 to 6 weeks of that?? No way. It was horrible. I bought a boar bristle brush as suggested, tried brushing the oils to the tips, everything.
If I knew when the day would come that my hair would all of a sudden turn luxurious & soft, then I might have been able to stick it out. But not having a clue as to when that would be was just too much. Plus I did break out on my neck & forehead quite a bit from all the excess oil – pleasant!!
Now my hair is quit a bit shorter & not as full, so I’m somewhat tempted to make a go at it again, but ick – it was just so disgusting. Instead of the soda & vinegar route (which is what I previously tried), I may do the Ivory Soap w/reg. vinegar & see what happens. Ugh, how on earth did you go 2 weeks with nasty hair?? Just curious…
.-= Vicki R.´s last blog ..53 Days =-.
From what I’ve read, Apple Cider Vinegar can be waaaay too moisturizing for some people. I’d say your problem was actually the Apple Cider Vinegar. Anyone who ends up too oily and “nasty” should switch to white vinegar instead…. It’s a difference in PH….
You may need to take it in stages. ie, replacing shampoo/cond once a week with bs/vinegar, then replacing it 2x/week, etc. That will help ease the transition and “detox” your hair gradually.
I was sooo surprised to see you had done a post about this because – - I have been shampoo free for several weeks now and can not BELIEVE the results of my hair! I was wanting to do a blog post about this myself!
Anyway, I have naturally very curly hair and an oily scalp. Over the past several years, I’ve noticed my hair getting more and more dried out and losing its curl. I started wondering if it’s just because I’m getting older or what- but after some research, I discovered that it was probably due to my diet and some of the things (“natural” shampoos) that I had been using on my head. I totally ditched the shampoo and within a week, my hair was actually starting to look better than it has in years! It’s now been nearly a month and I am having family and friends comment on how good my hair looks! “What have you been doing?” Shhhhhh! No shampoo!!
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Goodbye Summer! Goodbye Corn! =-.
I’ve been wanting to try to go no-poo for a while now. I think I am going to wait until next summer, though, because I’m a teacher and I don’t really want to go to school with greasy/oily hair during the transition period. And since I don’t know if my transition period would be two weeks (perfect for over winter break – nice holiday pics, huh?
or two months, it’d be safer to wait until then.
Nice post about it though! Thanks for the information and resources!
.-= Kristina´s last blog ..Day-long Birthday Date =-.
Tsh,
This was a SUPERB post! I have very damaged hair (dry, colored , blow-dried every day). It did not matter what shampoo I was using, NOTHING was making my hair MANAGEABLE.
I saw your post, pulled out the B.S. and ACV and took a shower. I was able to run my comb through my hair (I have natural curls that tend to snarl), I could not believe how soft it was!
This new method is SO MUCH CHEAPER than shampoo too. The stuff I was buying was $6.99 (so almost $14 for shampoo/conditioner). I do not see myself going back, I do see myself getting a squeeze bottle for these potions, much easier than juice glasses!
Wow! I am curious about this post and I, like a few others color my hair – mine is to cover gray so I wonder if this would strip the color or not. I may have to try it. Right now I am dissatisfied with my current shampoo/conditioner. Thanks for the post!
.-= Catherine B´s last blog ..Keep on going… =-.
Do you have a more natural soap that you family uses too? Thinking about the switch and thought “what about the rest of the body?”
My kids and I have been ‘poo-free for about a year. I have long, highlighted hair, and my daughter has long, extremely fine hair and our has been so healthy and shiny. We don’t even bother with the vinegar rinse. I occasionally rub some jojoba oil through the ends if they get dry.
Unfortunately, these past few weeks there has been a huge school infestation of lice (we’ve all had it 3 times). I’ve had to revert to using (organic) conditioner weekly to check for lice, and using mousse in my hair, as lice hate any sort of product. Therefore I need to use shampoo to get the product out of my hair. Sigh. I’m planning on going back to ‘poo free once they’re in high school. Such a shame.
We had problems w/ lice when my child was in preschool. The best thing that worked was to put listerine on our hair, cover, leave for 2 hrs and then rinse w/ white vinegar. I had used the store bought lice stiff and treated 4 times b4 this. This actually worked. Now I put just a little tea tree oil in their shampoo bottle and we haven’t had a problem since, Even when lice is going @ school or one of their school buddies has had it. Been 5 yrs now.
I went out and bought the stuff to try this today! I’m excited
I just hope I’m able to deal with the frizz though. My hair gets terribly frizzy at times… perhaps adding some coconut oil to the ACV mixture would help? Anyone have any experience with that?
I just quit using conventional shampoo at the beginning of August. I had about a 2 week bad transition period, and I’m still not completely thrilled with the results. I am using a all-natural shampoo bar and ACV rinse. I still have to use a frizz serum to be able to get a comb through my hair and make it manageable. It definitely does not seem as shiny as I thought it would be, and my scalp is sometime itchy. I guess my hair and scalp could still just be adjusting, it’s only been about 6 weeks.
Maybe I should try the baking soda instead of the shampoo bar and see how that works – I just thought the shampoo bar would be a good compromise between regular shampoo and no ‘poo.
I’ve tried this is in the past. I did it for about 3 months. My big problem was I have very fine hair and no matter what amounts of soda or vinegar I used (or didn’t use), my hair was always had a lot of static. It became uncontrollable. I couldn’t come up with a solution to this no matter what I tried.
Great, great, great post. I just posted about some harmful chemicals in shampoo that caused my hair to shed/fall out too much. Someone who commented left me this URL to come read. I am so glad she did. I think I might have to try this!
.-= Sara Bonds´s last blog ..A Long Time Comin’ . . . =-.
Although I don’t spend a ton on shampoo and conditioner (one average bottle seems to last me at least 9 months – perhaps I use less than usual) – this sounds interesting. Might actually try this!
We are almost out of shampoo in our house, so we might just give this a try. Hubby is constantly fighting dandruff. Does anyone know if no ‘poo will help or hinder?
.-= Cammy´s last blog ..Cowboy Quilt =-.
I’ve been doing this on and off for a couple of years now, but am off it at the moment. I got sick of having to wash my brush every day, and having less than lovely hair so started using an organic poo/conditioner but dandruff has recently pushed me to use my husbands (I’m sure very toxic) head and shoulders. I only used water when I did it so perhaps I’ll try it again with your pre-mix bi-carb and ACV ideas. It really is a great idea.
.-= Maggie´s last blog ..Hulbert St Fiesta =-.
Love this! I’m going to try it again – I went shampoo free for about a year. I’m not sure why I quit because I loved my hair then!
.-= Mary´s last blog ..New Release: Chatter =-.
Wow! Is there anything baking soda can’t do?! ; ) I’ve been using it to clean my bathtub for a while (works better than anything else I’ve tried), but I’d never heard of using it on myself in the bathtub. I may just have to try this…
.-= Heather´s last blog ..Paperback Swapper =-.
This doesn’t so much gross me out as much as it makes me think it wouldn’t be good for color-treated hair. I know that totally goes against the idea of “simple,” but let’s face it a lot of us color our hair rather than look old prematurely….
.-= Karen´s last blog ..I surrender… =-.
Thanks for sharing. Baking soda is our friend! I’m willing to give this a try.
.-= Melissa´s last blog ..I’m Your Huckleberry (Crisp) =-.
I’m very intrigued by this idea. But I’m curious what you do to keep your smelling good or at least from smelling yucky?
.-= Abby´s last blog ..Meer Challenges Preemptive Love Staff to Soccer 2 Weeks After Surgery! =-.
I’m traveling in South America right now and I was just thinking how nice it would be to NOT be so dependent on my specific brand of U.S. shampoo/conditioner! When I get home I’m going to give the baking soda a try.
One question: How do you travel with it? Do you just take a ziplock full of baking soda and an empty plastic bottle?
.-= Cate´s last blog ..Time and…Coffee? =-.
I have no idea but wondered if travelling to South America with a powder in a plastic bag might not be a recipe for disaster. Can you buy it there?
.-= Melitsa´s last blog ..Poetry for the little ones =-.
Tsh,
I hope you don’t mind but I and most of my 9 children made the switch back in February, so maybe I can answer a few questions:
Vicki,
Do you happen to have hard water? I found that the baking soda did nothing in my super-hard water unless I added it to boiling water to thoroughly dissolve it. I don’t know the science behind it, but it made all the difference to my hair: I went from nearly dripping oil (EW!) to soft and clean overnight after waiting weeks and weeks for the adjustment phase to end.
Loretta,
You mentioned head lice. Our family was exposed to head lice soon after switching to baking soda and vinegar, and to my surprise it deterred them! I spotted very bugs except on the children who have persisted in using shampoo.
It seems that vinegar weakens the glue that holds the eggs to the hair shaft, while the natural hair oils make it difficult for them to firmly affix the eggs in the first place. Squeaky clean stripped hair is a louse’s paradise!
Cammy,
Your husband might find that it helps immensely! My dandruff almost completely disappeared very soon after I started using baking soda and vinegar.
Abby,
I do miss the nice scent of shampoo and conditioner, so I’ve taken to adding a few drops of essential oils or a spray of perfume to my hairbrush. I think it works nicely.
I posted a week-by-week account of my switch for those who are wondering what to expect. If you start reading, do continue all the way to the last post. I had a rough start because of my super hard water, but there’s a happy ending.
I really need to post again because, like Kristin, I’m a little tired of all the goop in my brush. I wonder if anyone has a cure for that?
To get rid of the “goop” use a fine tooth comb and brush your scalp really well before you get into the shower. I notice a HUGE difference when I wash my hair having combed my scalp before hand than when I forget to do it. Also, the apple cider vinegar, I noticed makes a big difference in how much oil my scalp produces.
Holly´s latest post: Merry Christ-Mas to Everyone!
when I met my husband in 2001 he revealed to me his secret to amazing hair – he washes it with water only!! Ew gross, I thought… but over the years I’ve seen how many people comment on his textured, stylish hair… what products do you use? is that a wax?… nope, just his own natural oil … I’ve been too afraid to try this myself.. but what am I waiting for?!! here we go!
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Hey I have been using baking soda for a while…its been interesting because not only is it less harsh on your hair but its less harsh on your wallet…Also it does give your hair follicles a deserved rest…! I didn’t know about using the apple cider though…I will have to try that. However, Im african american and our hair tends to be kind of dry. so after I use the baking soda, I use a mixture of water and a little olive oil (extra virgin) as my hair conditioner…which moisturizes the scalp. I love using household things because they try to sell you on so many products that just leave your hair in worse condition…and we don’t even really know it till we try something new and that you’ve been using to eat with for years.
Just like La Toya below I’m interested in how this will work on my black hair. Can you share a bit more of what you do already Sharon? I use Olive oil after I have washed to wrap my hair . I would love to be able to change parts of the ‘poo process.
.-= Melitsa´s last blog ..Poetry for the little ones =-.
Well I use the baking soda and water first I leave it in while I take my shower. Than, when its time to rinse off I rinse my hair thoroughly. Then I take a few minutes and put on my olive oil conditioner. 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup water. Comb it through and after a few minutes and done. Olive oil is a wonderful moisturizer. I use it on my feet, legs everything.
.-= Sharon Sheffield´s last blog ..Why I’m not a Calvinist =-.
Thanks
Great Idea. Will definitely try.
Awesome, I’m a black female that was wondering about using this method as well. My hair, however, tends to be slightly on the oily side except when I use chemical straighteners. I am now in the stage of growing all of the chemically processed hair out (3 inches so far. Yaay!) and wanted to know what to use for my natural hair. I’ll give this a try tonight. First with the baking soda and vinegar and if the vinegar doesn’t do it for me, I’ll try it with the EVOO.
Betty´s latest post: How I Built a Tunnel All the Way to Mexico
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.-= Sharon Sheffield´s last blog ..Why I’m not a Calvinist =-.
I am eager to try this but have a few question for those of you who are already ‘poo-free:
1. How do you clean your hairbrush?
2. Did any of you only wash your hair a few times a week before omitting shampoo, and did that shorten the adjustment period? I currently only wash my hair every other day, and even since doing that I’ve noticed that it doesn’t seem to get as oily as it used to when I washed it every day.
3. Do any of you heat style your hair? Do you put anything on your hair to protect it from the heat?
Thanks so much!
I tried the no-poo thing just using mineral oil silicon- free conditioner method. Which did not work for me. and my hair was just as dry.
But I was impressed with this baking soda method which I tried out yesterday. I had 4 days of icky greasy hair, so I was dubious it would remove all those oils. But it did!
So I think I will try the apple-cider vinegar.
For those of you who ask about deodorant, try rubbing a lemon onto the underarms.
Smell comes from bacteria, and bacteria love an alkaline environment. Lemon is acidic and restores the PH balance. You can use this trick when you feel your deodorant is not working on you anymore, try it and you will find you will not need to switch deodorant brands.
.-= joli´s last blog ..Tango In National Geographic =-.
I keep hearing about this. I wonder if this method works across ethnic lines. I’d be willing to try this if I didn’t think all my hair would fall out. And to also try it with my boys since they have curly hair and I haven’t been able to find a shampoo that I like for their hair.
.-= LaToya´s last blog ..Bible Story Sundays-Adam & Eve =-.
Hi, if you’ve never checked it out, I’d highly encourage everyone here to see the naturalllycurly.com website. Really helpful for all kinds of hair, including all enthnicities.
I have pretty curly hair and have been poo-free for months. Forgot how long. I use conditioner to wash my hair. I might consider the no anything period, but I need the moisture in the conditioner. I live in Co. I use Garnier Fructis triple moisture in the dark green bottle. Just conditioner. I use a water-soluble gel too. But I love the curls and plan to get my youngest started on the baking soda and vinegar as she goes thru gallons of shampoo, etc. Time to retrain her thinking.
And for curly ladies. Throw away the brush. Or put it in the shower and ONLY use it when your hair is glopped with conditioner. Use amounts that look disgusting to you. For years I was TOO thrifty with conditioner, but finding a nice one and not having to use shampoo works nicely.
And I use olive oil and coconut oil for deep treatments.
I love the idea of not having to buy anything or paying the extra money to buy something that doesn’t have all of the added chemicals.
I am a little curious about the smell of your hair??? Apple Cider Vinegar is not the best smelling…
.-= Rebecca´s last blog ..MightyNest =-.
i’m new to this whole concept of “no-poo” and think i will try it. but what about an alternative for body wash? do you use baking soda on the rest of your skin as well?
I use the same baking soda solution for my face and body as well as my hair! It works great!!
We have really hard water and I have really thick hair that so frizzy in humid weather – right now in my area. It’s color treated to cover grey and I’ve had to use so much product to control it lately. I tried this today and my hair is already more manageable and nearly squeaky clean. I’m looking forward to continuing and to finally letting my hair far naturally without looking like a frizz-ball! PS – I’ve tried the non-shampoo called Wen and IT made my hair heavy and gooey after a while.
.-= Vonnie´s last blog ..The Coop =-.
Best deodorant ever!!!! 1/4 c. baking soda, 1/4 c. cornstarch, and 6 T. coconut oil (which you may have to melt first). Mix well, add more coconut oil if you need a more creamy consistency and I put it in a glass bowl on my bathroom counter. We NEVER smell anymore!!! It’s unbelievable. You can wear your shirt for days if need be. My husband LOVES it and even takes it with him on his business trips. Coconut oil is also a GREAT lubricant….anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, etc. and works wonderfully!
You can also put this mix into an old deodorant canister for added convenience!
does it turn back into a solid, say for instance if i wanted to put it into an old deodorant container?
Yes, shampoos are detergents and so are many natural ‘soaps’, cleansers and washes.
I have been selling real authentic products to the health food industry for years. However, many people still buy chemical based products for a lot of money because they believe in all the deceptive marketing.
I read the Omnivore’s Dilemma and started to look at how pervasive corn and other oleo-chemicals are in our ‘natural’ bath and body products.
My company makes castile soap and I have created a video called ” Are You Washing With Corn”- view http://mountainskysoap.com/video.php
People have to make choices as to what they buy, as that will drive the market, their health and the planet’s overall sustainability.
@ LaToya, Yes it does! Check out some of the posts on longhaircareforum.com. Works great for both natural and relaxed hair. I’ve been no poo for a while now, just be sure to stick with no more than 1tbs of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water. Too much will dry you hair and always, always deep condition after cleasning. Also Focus on gently cleansing your scalp (not your hair) and let the mixture just run down to the tips of your hair to cleanse your hair.
The only caution I have is that most baking soda has aluminum in it which is one of the heavy metals that your body can’t wash out and if you’re rubbing it into your scalp all the time it can eventually make you sick!
I think you have mistaken baking POWDER with baking SODA. Baking soda has NO aluminum in it by very nature of it being sodium-bicarbonate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sodium_bicarbonate
http://www.enotes.com/how-products-encyclopedia/baking-soda
I’ve been using baking soda and vinegar for nearly two years now. One thing leads to another and we’ve become almost chemical free here. I make my deodorant, lotions, scrubs, balms and lip balms from natural ingredients. I’ve discovered I’m aware of so much more these days, not just in what I put on my body, but also in small everyday things around me. I enjoy life more and feel more…connected with the world around me as I strive to live more naturally and simply.
.-= Kimberly´s last blog ..Zippy! =-.
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