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 wrote about her no-poo experience on 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?
A second update: This post is the most visited post on Simple Mom. I’m honored that you might find something useful here! Thank you for reading. However, I’m unable to respond to the many, many comments here, so please know that while I read each one, unfortunately I just don’t have the time to respond. I’m leaving comments open, however, so that other readers can chime in, if they like!
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.
About Tsh
Very interesting…I commend you and others for doing it. But never ever could I do it. Not because I don’t think it works…but my transition period…I dunno…I’m super impatient!
.-= Kristi´s last blog ..Bokeh for Miz Booshay =-.
Kristi,
I couldn’t stand waiting either–3 days is my absolute limit for greasy hair–so I increased the baking soda from 1 T per cup of water to 1/2 cup per cup of water. My hair behaves pretty much as if I were using regular shampoo, possibly better. I use probably 1 ounce of the solution per day, and I have to shake it vigorously before using because the baking soda settles.
I do follow with the ACV, but at full-strength, not diluted. I think some days that does me more favors than others, so I have no problem skipping it occasionally.
I’ve been wanting to do this for sooo long…today is my first day poo-free! Thank you Simple Mom for all your advices, keep changing the world!
.-= Silvia´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
I know from experience how awesome this is! I did it all summer last year on my waist-length wavy hair, and my hair was perfect. Never had a bad hair day. It was great especially when I had to go camping for a week! I did the baking soda wash just before we left, and my hair was perfect even after we got back.
I chronicled this on my own blog complete with pictures.
Unfortunately, I had to stop when the dry air of our Canadian Prairie winter forced me to start using conditioner again.
It’s become my summer hair routine every year. I highly recommend it!
Thanks for sharing this!
.-= Nenette´s last blog ..randomness today 02 =-.
I’ve been shampoo-free for four years now. I follow the Curly Girl program, based on the book by Lorraine Massey. Who knew I had gorgeously curly — not frizzy-wavy — hair?!?
.-= Hilary´s last blog ..September Newsletter ~ $25 FREE =-.
If I go for even one day without washing my hair, it is SOOOOO oily that it actually looks like it is wet. I commend your accomplishment, but I cannot see cutting shampoo out of my routine. I am still skeptical, even reading numerous blogs promoting this.
Hi Theresa, I’m right there with you! I have to use waaaay more baking soda than Tsh. I’m using 1/2 c in 1 cup of water. I have to shake it up every morning and I can really feel the grit of the soda, but it really works as well as shampoo that way. If that’s still not a good ratio for your hair, add even more baking soda. You might also want to skip the vinegar.
If you use the Apple Cider Vinegar to a ratio of 1 TBSP to 1 cup of water than the vinegar is very good for you hair. It helps to balance the PH of your scalp and actually helps with the oiliness. If you use it at full strength, because it does condition, it will make it seem oilier.
Holly´s latest post: Merry Christ-Mas to Everyone!
I went poo-free in March, but started using “good” (doesn’t have all the ‘cones, etc.) shampoo about a month ago. I think it would work awesome for someone with short hair, but my long hair (oily on top and dry on the bottom) was never completely clean. I did gobs of research and tried so many different methods, but the only way to get rid of the oil was with shampoo. Brushing never properly distributed it, and I needed to wash just as often as I did when using regular poo and conditioner. I will be trying shampoo bars next, and I still use ACV to condition. Honestly, I have no regrets for trying as long as I did, because for the first time I have hair that is not dry on the ends! That’s important when you have long locks! And I’ve learned how to properly clean my scalp, which is so important for hair health.
.-= rachel´s last blog ..first words =-.
Thank you for this post! I decided to try it on myself and our three year old. Her hair seems to be doing great and it’s tear-free! Mine, is struggling on the greasing side… but I refuse to give up! So far, we have been about a week.
.-= Michelle´s last blog ..*NEW CATEGORY* =-.
OK, you’ve got me convinced to give it a try! You mentioned not having to use your pomade anymore… did you cut that out immediately when you stopped using shampoo, or did that come later? I got out of the shower this morning (after using the baking soda and ACV) and went about my normal routine, but as I was about to use my normal hair products, I caught myself – you probably need to use shampoo to get those out. Am I right?
.-= Karey´s last blog ..New Market =-.
I think going “shampoo free2 is a great idea.
Using lemon juice in water isn’t as great an idea unless you like highlights. Lemon is a natural hair lightener.
How do you find it for straightening your hair? I know that if I don’t wash my hair and then try to hot iron it, it’s a disaster.
.-= Jen´s last blog ..Struggles… =-.
I’m starting this today-have been wanting to do it for a while but your post really laid out exactly how & why. So I got some squeeze bottles and will be mixing it up.
I’ve got really dry hair and have to use tons of products to get it shiny. I’m hoping this will help – don’t think I’ll have to worry so much about the oily factor-the more the better as far as my hair is concerned. We’ll see.
Thanks for the info!
.-= Liz Jenkins´s last blog ..How Many Bottles Of Salad Dressing Are In Your Pantry? =-.
I am 2 weeks poo-free and am loving it!!!! I do have a question: a friend of mine wants to give poo-free a try, BUT she has said that my hair is noticably lighter and she colors her hair and is afraid that her color will fade faster. Does anyone that uses the baking soda and water have color treated hair? or does anyone know if it will cause the color to fade faster?
My husband is giving me a hard time about it … but today is day 6 of my switch. My hair still feels super dry (I have medium length hair, a little past my shoulders). But I’m hopeful that the dryness (bottom half of my hair length, actually) goes away.
I love the idea of this, but it definitely did NOT work on my hair. I tried it for four days, and my hair was on the fast track to dreadlocks. I lost so much hair just from pulling it out while trying to get my fingers through it. And, my hair just had an awful texture. I don’t know what I was doing wrong, but I think it was the baking soda. I have no idea what I was doing wrong.
.-= Mandy´s last blog ..Fun Homework =-.
Mandy and Gwen, it sounds like you’re using baking soda too often. You don’t need to use it as often as shampoo — I just use it once or twice a week, max. The rest of the time I just shower without cleaning my hair.
Don’t overcompensate the transition phase of oily hair with too much washing. Just let it ride…
Thanks to this post I went back to going no-poo and have had great success with it. I tried it before and had trouble with feeling like my hair was still too greasy even after washing it with baking soda. So I followed your advice, Tsh, about premixing the water and baking soda (I was lazy the other time I tried it and I just sprinkled baking soda in my palm and added water to make a paste) and I put it in a squirt bottle (recycled bbq sauce bottle
) and applied it to my hair the same way I would apply all over color to my hair if I was coloring it. By carefully going around the hairline, squirting it in the sections and then gently massaging my scalp, I discovered that it really does soak up all the oil and crud extremely well. I then rinsed it section by section (this whole process takes about 60-90 seconds) until each part of my hair felt squeaky clean. My hair is thick but fine and I don’t use conditioner so I skip the ACV step.
Twice I had to use shampoo because I was in a rush and didn’t have my baking soda mix ready to go and twice I ended up with supremely oily hair by the end of the day. And my scalp itched like crazy until I washed it the next day with the baking soda water. This is SO worth the extra step or two.
Thanks so much for this Tsh! Hubby & I have been back & forth on the ‘poo-free’ things for awhile. I have really bad exema on my scalp so I am willing to try anything to keep from wanting to scratch my head with the dinner fork! (not at dinner, mind you… but it is tempting) I have used all sorts of harsh chemicals and treatments, it get a little better, only to get so much worse… So, now I have been trying this method for two weeks now and while it still looks as though I haven’t showered in days, my scalp is less itchy and inflamed. I am sill unable to wear dark colors without the lovely ‘snow’ but I’m hopeful this will help… I’m sticking with it so far.
Does anyone else out there have this condition and can offer me some hope?
Thanks so much for this Tsh! Hubby & I have been attempting some variation of being ‘poo-free’ for awhile. However, I have really bad exema on my scalp. But I am willing to try anything that will keep me from wanting to scratch my head with a dinner fork! (not at dinner, mind you… though at times it’s tempting) I have used all sorts of treatments/chemicals/solutions to no avail, so I made the plunge to just soda (seems wrong to use ‘bs’) and ACV. Two weeks have passed and while it still looks as though I haven’t showered in days, my scalp is less itchy & inflamed overall (still some bad patches).
Does anyone else have this condition and can offer me some counsel? hope? anything?
I’m still in transition… my hair has been crazy oily. I even skipped the ACV today. Haven’t been overwashing (though it’s been hard!!)… I’m hoping it’ll kick in sometime in the next week or two.
I love this idea!! Thanks Tsh! I have really bad exema on my scalp and so have tried many MANY things over the years, with little long-term relief. I began this method two weeks ago and while it still looks like I haven’t showered in days, my scalp is less irratated and inflamed overall (still have a few dry, itchy spots). I’m sticking with it in the hopes that it will get much better as fall is fast approaching and I have so many dark-colored items that I want to wear!
Does anyone else have this condition and can offer me some hope?
Ok – I’ve been trying this for about a week and a half and it’s going well. Got the squeeze bottles & have been doing this about every other day.
Negatives: hair feels a bit funny and seems heavier, it takes longer to dry, and I have been noticing more oil at the top of my scalp – which for me is very unusual because my hair, scalp & skin are very dry.
Positives: NO styling products required, getting compliments on how great my hair is looking, it’s super easy, very cheap, and my scalp is losing the itchiness & dandruff I had started to have.
So, assuming the oily thing eases up fairly quickly – I’m really pleased so far. I’d heard of doing this before but hadn’t had such a thorough outline of exactly what to do – so thanks!
.-= Liz Jenkins´s last blog ..Barbies, Legos & Crayons, Oh My! Attack of the Runaway Playrooms! =-.
I’m trying it! Super excited. As usual, thanks Tsh!
.-= Nicole aka Gidget´s last blog ..Some Random Fall Thoughts =-.
Hi,
After reading your post I was intrigued! I decided to give it a try and have been “poo free” for going on three weeks now. I had dandruff and itchy scalp before and do not now. I did have to adjust the baking soda mixture and I use the vinegar mix on my scalp and my ends. I am VERY picky about my hair and I have long, thick hair (middle of my back and it makes about a 2 inch thick pony) so I was VERY skeptical. But… so far it is working the first 8-10 days were HARD, but then it started to balance out and it is much better now. My hair is different than it was before, but I think that I may try the organic coconut oil that someone suggested. My hair feels more coarse to me and someone mentioned it feels “heavier”, I would agree, but I don’t have a problem with it being oily, which was my main concern. Also, no more dandruff, which is awesome.
Thanks,again, for inspiring me!!!
Interesting, the comments here about your hair feeling heavier, because my hair actually feels lighter going poo-free. I suppose it’s the transition phase, with it possibly being oilier than usual. Either that, or possibly too much baking soda and/or vinegar. Just a guess… Either way, keep me posted, because I’m curious how it goes for those of you trying this!
And I should have reiterated this in the post… You really only need to use this several times a week, at most. Right now, for example, I’ve been using the baking soda/vinegar rinse on Wednesdays and Sundays. Yesterday (Wednesday) I went ahead and cleaned my hair, but it didn’t even look like it needed it. So maybe I’m slowly going down to once a week… I’d love that!
But yeah, I agree one of the best parts is no more styling products needed. It’s amazing how well my hair lays where it’s supposed to.
I’ve been dealing with psorisis on my scalp for 1 year now. It’s horrible, itchy and just plain gross. I’ve been using harsh perscription steriod foams daily to help minimize the flakes but nothing really helped until I went poo-fee 5 days ago. In the past 5 days my scalp has barely itched and the flakes are nearly gone. My scalp is healing. THANK YOU SIMPLE MOM, I would have never thought of this on my own. I could cry I’m so thankful.
If someone does want to add product to their hair for styling purposes, refined, organic coconut oil will do the trick! My husband has been using it for a week or so now and is thoroughly impressed. A little dab ‘ill do ya! It’s not greasy, will set for that “gelled” look, and remains pliable so you can actually run your hands through it.
I’m pretty sure we’ll be trying this no ‘poo method in the near future!
.-= Rachel Watters´s last blog ..What happens when I’m at work? =-.
i recently tried this on my daughter. the trial period should be over now but i can not tell any difference. her hair is still a tangled rat’s nest and is still deficult to brush. also, it seems like her hair didn’t have the “hair” smell after the first wash, but now has returned. do you have any advice or comments??
thanks
So I’ve been doing this. But, I noticed my semi-permanent haircolor in the sink when washing with the baking soda/vinegar. It was at the end of my hair color time, so I decided to see if the haircolor that was left in my hair, would eventually fade/wash away. It took a couple of more times to hairwashing, to make the sink water be clear, and then my hair color was gone.
I’m a strawberry blonde/redhead, and had semi permanent hair color on my hair, to be brighter color, and to cover the grey’s that are starting at my temples (where I can see it).
So the baking soda/vinegar worked well for me. I don’t wash my hair more than 2-3 times a week anyway, but I noticed less itching, and less oily looking.
Well, I’m getting ready for a magazine interview, and *of course* I don’t want my subtle, but I know that they are there, grey hairs to be photographed. Did the semi-permanent hair color again.
What do you suggest now in washing my hair? I don’t want to wash away my color for at least 2 months.
Lynn
hmmm…ok I was so excited to try this and I made it to the 2.5 month mark…then I had to shampoo! I cant figure out why it wasnt working for me- my hair was sooo oily and felt gross too. I was doing 1 Tbs. to 8 oz of water…and very little CV on just my ends only. My mother begged me to stop
I will try again this winter but do you think I should try a different ratio of something or was it just a very long transition period?
Thanks!
My best guess would be that you’re not scrubbing it into your scalp in an effective way. It took a couple weeks for me to figure out the best way to to it for my head. Another blog recommended starting at the crown of your head and massage it in in circles out from there, adding more of your mix as you go. It probably takes me 3 or 4 minutes to really massage it in well.
Another tip is to make sure you’re taking hot, hot showers in between baking soda washes. Just get in and scrub your scalp like you would with shampoo. You should feel it get cleaner. I do this on the days I’m washing it as well, to get off any extra oil.
Lastly, maybe try and get a boar bristle brush, and use it every night to brush some of the oils from your scalp to the ends. It’ll help protect your hair from the cold winter air too (depending on where you live!).
I hope that helps.
.-= Jen @ Canadian Rhapsody´s last blog ..we remember =-.
I went “no poo” and blogged about it as well.
http://momonraw.blogspot.com/2009/11/no-poo-final-verdict.html
But my experience was a little different. What I had found and read said to make a paste of the baking soda by only adding a little water. That has worked for me, and the one time I added too much water and used it anyway, it did not clean my hair.
Another thing that I read was that it was important to brush your hair regularly with a natural bristle brush to distribute your hairs oils. That does seem to make a difference too.
Blessings!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Happy Thanksgiving! =-.
Hello, thanks so much for this information on pooless shampoo. I am doing it with Baking Soda and water and then ACV with water in bottles. I am confused, do you only use the baking soda a few times a week? even at the start of the routine? It seems that both are making hair look dryer but heavy, with no shine at all. When I used the ACV the first time (I started this wasy in the beginning before seeing this site) my hair was heavy and dry and using both now it looks heavier and dry. I don’t know what is going on but would like some help. Mine is also wetter when I go to blow dry it. I have thick, below my shoulders hair. I have been told that my hair is beaded, when you take your fingers between a strand you feel bumps all the way to the end. Am I going through the transition stage? I am using the 1tbs of baking soday 8oz of water, shake . 1tbls of ACV with 8 ounces of water. I did try to dilute the ACV, still same results. I would appreciate andy help, I would love to keep doing this. My hair is very hard to handle, even the very rich organic conditoners don’t do much for my hair. Thanks so much, Yoli
Hi, I am responding to Yoli,
You said that your hair feels heavier and dryer. I also experienced this and after much reading on the internet and experimentation I came to the conclusion that the 1 TLBS. baking soda to 1 cup water was too drying for my hair. I now use 1/2 TBLS baking soda to 1 cup water and it works much better.
I do this two-three times a week, depending on my hair. I use the 1 TBLS. ACV to 1 cup water and use 1/2 on my scalp and 1/2 on my remaining hair. I have THICK hair that goes down to my bra strap (8-10 inches from my shoulders). This works good, but it does not make my hair as “shiny” as it is with shampoo.
So, I have found that it is VERY important to deep condition my hair every so often. I have found that once a month works for me. I use Coconut oil to deep condition my hair, but I have found that sometimes I have to use shampoo or do several baking soda washes to get it all out. If I don’t, it looks like I dumped my head in a bucket of grease! Yuck!
Also, I mix my baking soda and ACV solution every time I shower. I didn’t have much luck mixing up larger batches and using it.
I have an oily scalp, thick, and long hair but my transition period was only about two weeks. It took me about 4 weeks to figure it all out though.
Now I LOVE it! Don’t get discouraged, it takes time to learn about your body and find your natural rhythm.
You sound like your on the right track, hope my tips help!
Thanks for replying back to me. Does this mean you use the Apple Cider Vinegar on the days you don’t use the Baking Soda? Also, my hair might not ever look Shiny? Conditioning doesn’t make it shiny either, even with a very moisterizing kind.
Thanks again,
Yoli
Yoni,
I only wash my hair every three-four days now. I don’t wash in between because I don’t need it. My hair does not look like it hasn’t been washed for three to four days and when I tell people they are shocked. But, when I was going through my transition period I had to wash it every other day(baking soda mix and ACV mix), sometimes I could go three days, but that was rare. I have been poo free for 2 months now.
As for the shiny problem, I am not sure. I do know that the baking soda makes my hair look dull if I use too much. If you had this problem before when using shampoo it may take time to get shiny. Shampoo can be very drying and may take too much moisture out of your hair. It will probably take time for your body to readjust and find it’s natural balance. You could also try a VERY SMALL amount of olive oil, about a half of a dime size, or less, rub it between your hands and then rub into your hair starting at the ends and moving up. Be sure to not put it on your scalp, just the hair. Olive oil is a natural moisturizer, just be careful, because if you get too much on the only way to get it off is by washing again. I prefer the coconut oil to the olive, it works better for me.
Hope this helps! Good luck!
Hi Kelly,
So I shouldn’t wash my hair today??? Nervous about that. I have bangs and my forehead get really greasy. Do I just scrub with hot water?? Do I use the coconut in the shower or out of the shower?
Going to shower soon,
Thanks for you recent reply,
Yoli
what brand of baking soda do you use?
Hi,
I use Arm and Hammer Baking Soda, it just happens to be what I have around. I haven’t tried any other brands.
Yoni,
I understand you being nervous, if it makes you feel better rinse it with water only on the days you don’t use baking soda and ACV. I have been washing my hair every other day for most of my life and I previously had a very oily scalp. It was an adjustment but it’s been two months and it’s easy to go 4 days without washing. I am very picky about how my hair looks, so trust me, it does not LOOK like I haven’t washed it for four days.
I use the coconut oil in the shower (1 TBLS), melt it in my hands and put it on the ends of my hair first and then on the hair near my scalp do this last thing in the shower. Then wrap in a warm towel and let it stay in overnight(don’t have to keep the towel on overnight). It acts like a heat treatment for your hair. I have a plastic cover on my pillow for when I do this. In the morning, wash and rinse as usually (baking soda and ACV) . Your hair will feel and look greasy before you wash it, but after it should be soft and shiny. It may take some experimenting to get the right amount of coconut oil for your hair. I would recommend trying this on a weekend or when you don’t have to go anywhere the next day, at least the first couple of times. If your hair is really dry you could do this every week. Like I said previously, I do this once or twice a month. This is a DEEP condition, if you need something in between use a smaller amount of coconut oil and only put it on the ends and top of hair.
If I can offer any more advice please let me know. It sounds a lot more complicated than it is!
Kelly,
Thanks so much. I did wash my hair yesterday only with water. I was weird, my hair felt oily and it was hard to blow dry. It looks dry with not shine but heavy like oily feeling but fluffy. It’s hard to describe. Today I will try just the baking soda. Does that sound right? How long does the mix last in the bottle? I have had mine in the shower for a week. Also, how long does the ACV stay fresh in the shower?
I will try the coconut oil, I always have that on hand.
“Yoli”
Finally I decided to use this method. I was sure that it wouldn’t work for the first time, but now I can say that my hair is clean! I just followed the recipe and when my hair got dry I combed it it was surprised
I guess I have no transition period at all, that’s great! Yes, it’s not that shiny as using after shampoo but not oily at all.
I usually wash my hair every three-four or even five days (when I’m tooo lazy)) and believe I have normal hair with drier ends. Maybe that’s why this thing worked for me on the first try. However, let’s see what’s gonna happen in the future.
Thanx, Tsh!!!
What a great post. I have never heard of this idea and can’t wait to try it and see the results. One of you posted how you make your own soap and I can’t find my way back to your blog
The blog had pictures of the different processes of soap making and a recipe. If anyone knows a good website or book for making your own natural soaps and/or lip balms, could you post? Thanks!
Wow. Just, wow. All you moms out there already have been where I have yet to go. It has only been the last 3-4 months that I have started trying to get to a more chemical free health care regiment. I love baking soda and ACV for other things. But now, I have to try it out on my hair. I do get highlights so I was wondering if it would strip them??
I have alot of reading to catch up on here.
Dee
.-= Dee´s last blog ..Thanks for the street cred, Mom-101.com =-.
Is there a natural homemade hairspray recipe I could use?
Firstly, THANK YOU!!!!
I have been doing this for a week now and I have been BRAGGING to everyone about how healthy my hair is looking; everyone doesn’t need me to tell them because they can see it and my HAIR IS NOT TANGLED, EVER!
I was looking at Christmas photos and I saw how damages, and stringy my hair was starting to look. I always used salon shampoos, but I don’t make much money at this new job I have, so i stopped buying the good stuff, and began using my brother’s shampoo (pert plus, sooooo bad for your hair!!)
I was desperate to get my hair to being healthy without a drastic haircut, so I looked all over the internet for a solution, and i kept returning to your idea. I started it that night, didnt wash my hair again for 2 days, and then 2 days later, washed again (with your Baking soda solution) and WOW!!!
I was so curious to see how this was all going to feel/work, and the vinegar makes it so my hair feels like I have just detangled it, literally unbelievable!
I have dry hair, but even after shampooing, by the evening or the next morning it always looked so greasy; WELL! having switched to only washing it 2 times in 1 week, it doesnt look greasy at all, and everyone at work is commenting.
I work in the service industry, so I was worried and embarrassed that people I served would thing i was gross and had oily hair, but i havent had to worry about that yet! It looks great!
THANK YOU FOR HELPING ME TRANSFORM MY DRY DAMAGED PONY TAIL!!!!!
I was so excited to come by and tell you how you have saved my head of hair, and my wallet at the same time!!!!!
I am off to read your other blogs now! lol.
Thanks again!
I read about the no-poo method some time ago. I recently finished my chemo treatments; I had put all my hair products in a bin and stored them in the bottom of a closet because it would be 6 months before I could use them again. My hair is now about an inch long, and I haven’t used any product on it. It really does look great. I rinse my hair in the shower every day and it stays incredibly clean. If I hadn’t experienced it for myself, I never would have believed it. Since chemo, I’ve decided on a no chemicals approach to my care and don’t color my hair anymore either. The color is even better with the no-poo method. My hair is a deep rich color and so healthy it’s amazing. I’ll never go back to poo.
Not to be negative about Karen’s post, but I just wanted to mention that when you have chemo and your hair falls out, the new hair will look totally different than your old hair, regardless of your hair regime. I know of two sisters who had straight, extremely fine, thin, blonde hair. Ironically, both of them had to undergo chemo at some point in their life. For both of them, after completing chemo treatments, their new hair was dark, curly and thicker than before! As it grew longer, it lightened up and was no longer curly. Neither of them used the no-poo method.
I’m happy for you, Karen, that you are pleased with your new hair and that you want to treat it in the most gentle/natural way possible to keep it healthy. However, in your case, I don’t know that you can give the no-poo method the credit for the hair transformation you have exprienced.
It has been nearly a year since you posted your comment. I’d be curious to learn if your hair has changed texture/color since that time, and/or whether you continue to do the no-poo method.
On a side note, after reading several pages of comments on this post, I think I’d like to try to baking soda and ACV method. I have long, dry, curly/wavy hair, so it will be interesting to see how it works for me.
I tried this last summer and I loved it for a few months, but after a while my hair just was not getting clean. How often do you do the baking soda & vinegar? Do you wet your hair in the shower on days you’re not “washing” it?
.-= HomemadeMother´s last blog ..Sunday Breakfast =-.
Yesterday I started the EVOO/Castor Oil face cleansing…and the hair is NEXT! I’m SO glad to have found your blog…I try more and more to do things naturally for myself and my family. Can’t wait to try this!
I know of the dangers of SLS in shampoo, but are all natural herbal shampoos damaging as well? I buy them at health food stores. I always thought that herbal shampoos without SLS were really healthy. Which is better? No poo or herbal? I’m debating with myself on whether or not I should switch.
This sounds interesting! I’m totally willing to try-but with one question. I exercise a lot (4-5 days a week for an hour), often intensely enough to coat my entire hair in dripping sweat and oils. I also have mid back length, layered hair, with the shortest layers at least chin length. Is just baking soda good enough of a cleanse on those days when my hair gest absolutely soaked in sweat?
I hear it works even on those rigorous workout days.
Heh, I’m only 13 and I’m thinking about trying this. not sure if it would really work but just thinking about it.
As usual, I’m a late bloomer in learning things sometimes and then there is always the ahaa moment when you realize “oh!, that’s why mom used vinegar rinse on my hair”. I believe I “Stumbled” upon your blog and when I came to the part about washing your hair without shampoo I was all ears and of course the info on the vinegar rinse as well.
So this AM I decided to give it a whirl or swish, if you will. I was amazed, my hair was squeaky clean after the baking soda wash, and then no tangles after the vinegar rinse.
I have 66 yo hair, not so much the rest of me, and I’m here to tell you that an old dog can learn old tricks
Of course it will be interesting to see how it holds up between washings but I am very pleased with my results straight out of the gate and will enjoy continuing the process.
Thanks for your great information. You will be one of my favorite bookmarks from now on.
Sincerely,
MaryLou
ps I’m not sure my blogspot is written correctly…oh dear
What to do with all the leftover shampoo and conditioner that we’re no longer using???
Well first off, DO NOT use it to wash your dishes: Most contain dimethicones and it will leave a nasty film on your dishes and pans that you will then EAT. 2nd: Don’t go thinking you’ll put it in your handsoap dipenser to wash your hand with! I tried that and it so opened the cuticles of my hands that they stung with being so dry and rough!
So what’s left? Glad you asked: I now use my old expensive shampoos and conditioners (mixed together) to clean my toilet, tub and sink. Works great. But at this rate, with the little bit I’m using at a time, it will take years to use up!
One more thing I forgot to mention: When I started with this process, I only had one empty 8oz squeeze bottle and one 8oz spray bottle. I put the ACV in the spray bottle, and I think that works very well! You can put a much lighter coating everywhere that way, and not do the top of the scalp at all, if thats what you like. You use less that way also.
I was interested until I read “baking soda and vinegar”. Firstly, who wants to pour vinegar all over their head? Secondly, just because something is natural or chemical free does not mean it is healthy . . Vinegar and baking soda are chemicals anyway. All natural/chemical free could easily be a label on poison ivy and you’d end up with blisters over your entire body. Synthetic chemicals are not evil, they’re not trying to give you cancer, in fact they’ve usually been designed by humans so as not to damage your body, unlike most of the toxins you could find in your back yard if you were inclined to rub dirt and various plants all over your body. I understand you are sick of cosmetic and beauty companies copywriting chemicals with misleading names like RENEWIUM or BEAUTIFULFACEIOX, and the introduction of the “use once a day” marketing but all you need to do is educate yourself as to which chemicals are harmful and which aren’t, rather than grouping everything into natural and man made.
so your hair smells like vinegar?
Not at all. The smell leaves as soon as you rinse out your hair.
a couple of questions:
1. how much do i use in the shower? i have long frizzy hair.
2. can i use the solution throughout multiple showers or do i have to make a new batch every time?
3. i’ve read elsewhere that i should use more of a baking soda paste rather than a rince. what do you think?
1 and 2. It depends; everyone’s situation is different. Try out one standard batch of 1 Tbsp. baking soda to 1 cup water, and you’ll find out.
3. I’ve tried that, and it worked alright, though you really have to make sure and rinse out the paste thoroughly. It’s probably best for those with oilier hair.
I just stumbled on this site, and I have to tell you, I have been shampoo free for years. I have an interesting addition that you may want to try. I use an old honey bear (or you could use any squeeze bottle container) and put 2 parts dried nettle, 1 part dried lavender, and 1 part dried rosemary herb into it; filling maybe 1/3rd of the container. Then I top it up with apple cider vinegar, and leave it in the shower. After I rinse and scrub my scalp under running warm/hot water I squeeze out some of the herbal infusion onto my scalp and rub it in. Let it sit for a minute or two and rinse it out. My hair is shiny, clean and vibrant. And it smells like lavender/rosemary! I just keep topping it off with more AC vinegar until I intuit that the herbs are losing their power, and start again. The nettles feed your hair follicles and keep the shaft strong, where the lavender and rosemary add shine and bounce. And a nice smell!
I haven’t tried baking soda since my skin doesn’t produce much oil, but I think that my recipe would fit in nicely with this hair care regime
Thanks for the tips on getting away from product purchasing!!!
PS-I also use torn up towels and old diapers for menstural pads. Easily washed, non toxic, and reusable! All you need are a few pairs of solid tight fitting underpants for those special days, tuck in your pad – good to go.
I kinda want to try this, but I tend to get dandruff… does this still work with that kind of scalp condition?
My husband’s hair has this tendency, so he prefers using Dr. Bronner’s soap to baking soda. Everyone’s different.
Hi Tsh ;
I enjoyed your article and welcome to the ” poo free” club . I haven’t used shampoo or conditioner products for over six years . I haven’t tried baking soda yet . I use ordinary household vinegar when my scalp itches ,which is about once every two weeks ,otherwise I use olive oil(virgin) with a few drops of coconut essense daily . You can pick and choose what odour you want at the local health shop. Honey is also used a few times a week , The honey melts in warm water ,keeps my scalp heathy and hair soft .Good to rinse well as you may attrack honey lovers . I have also tried raw eggs ,works good as a conditioner ,rinse well . Beer also good for shiny hair . Back to the basics ,most of these products I have learn about from old people and old books ,it has all been tried before ,but we have forgot.
I don’t know how true this is but when I was a teenager (way back in the 60′s and 70′s) we used vinegar or lemon juice as a hair rinse. Vinegar if you were a brunette, lemon juice for blondes. We also sprayed bottled lemon juice on our hair before going out in the sun to lighten/highlight our hair (again, using vinegar for brunettes). Sometimes we sprayed it in streaks for natural highlights. We’d leave it in, do our sunning, then rinse it out later. It actually worked!
I can’t imagine going totally shampoo free, but I’m going to try the baking soday and give it a shot! Until now, I’ve been washing my hair with salon brand shampoos, but only every other week, and soaking up excess oil with dry shampoo spray. It works pretty well, but builds up, which is why I can’t imagine going shampoo free. I also like not having to dry my hair every day, because I have waist length, natural blonde hair, and it’s easily damaged. If it’s true about the vinegar closing up the cuticle, that would be great for me. I’ll try to remember to come back and let you know.
Hi! I have the straightest hair possible. Because of this I get it permed. Perms work out well. I would very much like to use the no poo method. Does anyone know how using the baking soda/vinegar method works with perms? Does it make the perm fall out faster, have no affect, help even due to causing less damage than shampoos? I’ve seen a few comments on color treated hair but not permed. I really hope someone out there knows the answer to this! Thanks.
This idea sounds worth a try, but I’m not crazy about my hair smelling like baking soda and vinegar. Is there anything I can add to make my hair smell better? And if so, about how much would I have to add in, so that I can buy enough? Thank you ^^
oh i wanna try it now ! thanks ^_^
Or just don’t wash it at all. Two years of not washing it, and people (especially hair cutters), don’t know the difference.
An interesting recipe but one you couldn’t bottle because mixing vinegar and baking soda in a closed bottle could make it explode if you weren’t careful about it
Not sure how you can claim that soap cleans hair without removing oils. I remember making soap in high school and discussing its chemistry, and I seem to recall that it works precisely because one end of the soap molecule is attracted to oil and the other end is attracted to water, enabling the water to bind with and rinse away the oil.
I’m a little tired of hearing about everyone complaining about unpronounceable ingredients. You know that even though we commonly call it “baking soda” it’s still technically sodium bicarbonate? It may be a decent rule-of-thumb to avoid them when trying to go organic, but scary chemistry words don’t automatically mean carcinogenic poison.
I totally agree that we don’t need to shampoo as much as we do, however. I’m a guy with short hair, and only I shampoo once a week just to get the dust and grime out of my hair. I’ve found that I can control my scalp oils with a daily light-conditioner-and-rinse routine in the shower. As a result, my hair is shinier and more manageable, and I don’t have to use any product for frizzing, except right after the weekly shampooing.
I’ve moved totally away to just washing with water. It’s so nice, so easy and my hair is super super healthy. Not greasy and no smell… also FREE!
I’m going to give this a try. I have really fine hair that has alway’s been super oily. I’ve alway’s had to add thickening products to it to give it some life. But now after reading this maybe I’ve been causeing my limp greasy hair all along with the products. I just want fuller looking healthy hair. Any suggestions for not having limp looking hair when you don’t have much to begin with?
.-= Pam´s last blog ..10K hours creative challenge. =-.
There’s absolutely no way I would allow vinegar anywhere near me, let alone my hair.. it’s my least favorite smell. And the whole eventually “relying only on water in the shower to remove dirt and oil” doesn’t sound right. People didnt use shampoo in the past.. but people were also less hygienic and smelled bad.
Well first off I love your site! I’ve just started the poo-free process and as soon as I can get some castor oil I wanna try the oil cleanser.
I just had a quick question about the vinegar. The only apple cider vinegar I can find in my area is diluted to 5% acidity with water. Is that what what you are using or have you managed to find some other acidity? I’m gonna keep going with what I have for now since my hair tends to run a little fine and oily. I’ve also been adding just a couple drops of rose oil to the vinegar and water because I prefer the smell but I’m not sure if that will be too oily. In any case I think I’m still the transition process.
Thanks for getting out the info and get back to me if you get a chance!
I use baking soda and vinegar on my long fine hair for the last 2 years, and my hair has much more body than before. I use an organic leave in conditioner on the ends or it gets kind of dry. For the vinegar I have a pump bottle that has straight vinegar with a few drops of rosemary and lavender. I pump some vinegar into a cup and add warm water from the shower. I have been mixing a teaspoon of baking soda into a paste and massaging it into my scalp, but after reading some of these posts I think I will try the bottle of baking soda and water. maybe if I backed off on the vinegar on the ends of my hair I wouldn’t need the conditioner.
Today was my first day ‘poo free and I love it! I have natural curly/wavy hair and use a flat iron everyday. Today I used the baking soda mixture and when I dried my hair it was incredibly straight considering my hair type. My hair does feel a little more greasy but we’ll see. Thanks!
I’m a big fan of this idea and I’m toying with trying it myself. However, I get tired of people trashing ‘detergents’ without really explaining what they are or what the term really means. I think it vilifies detergents. “Detergent” is a chemistry term for all sorts of substances that act a certain way (making water and oil more likely to interact and breaking the bonds of proteins). Stomach acid, for example is also a detergent. I want to be clear that I’m not saying that I think its ok to put stomach acid in your hair, but that the substance in question (shampoo and its ingredients) are damaging because of the ingredients, not simply because they are detergents.
I feel the same way about the term chemical. I think the connotation of these terms has become entirely negative. Water is a chemical, as is vinegar. People have started dropping the adjectives that should go with these words. Dangerous chemical, harsh detergent. I think assuming the negative is conveyed by the noun creates confusion and bias.
Also, substance can NOT easily go through the skin to the blood stream. Transdermal transport is hard to achieve, which is why there aren’t more drugs administered this way. Collagen, for example, can not be absorbed through the skin, no matter what the make-up companies tell you.
Sorry for the rant. These topics constantly frustrate me. Don’t even get me started on the false dichotomy of natural v. unnatural! : )
Thanks for this informative and balanced comment. It clarifies the technical meaning of the vocabulary of chemistry.
Wonderful Post,
It’ always good to see people trying alternatives, and considering what certain things may be doing to their bodies.
I have been without shampoo for 2 years now, I began by cutting back shampooing to every week, then every 2 weeks and so on, until I never used it again. Now I only use water just to rinse it clean, but this method is defiantly intriguing too!
Cheers
BBT
PS, I would never consider going back to shampoo…. Ever… Seriously
I went shampoo free for a period of time a couple of years ago, but I gave it up due to a busy schedule and moving house…I kind of forgot to do it!
Your recipes are a bit different from my original methods. I used baking soda, apple cider vinegar but mostly EGG! It can be found here on my old blog: http://nomorewageslave.blogspot.com/2008/08/no-shampoo-update-pamper-me.html
I think I’m going to try your method for a while. My hair’s been all fussy and angry lately!
.-= Amber´s last blog ..Top Five Poems to Celebrate Spring =-.
I shampoo about once a month, including conditioner. Sometimes I go a little longer than a month. I’ve been “poo-free” for over 5 years.
My hair is fine. Shampoo is for chumps.
Are you a chump?
every dreadhead(including myself) knows of these tricks and they truly do work, been using baking soda and apple cider vinegar for over a year.
For many years my Grandma has been telling me about using Lemon Joy soap in the shower.. It’s worked wonders as well–that and it’s super cheap.
Shampoo is not like harsher detergents. The concentration of surfactants is very low and because the surface of hair is different form skin, it is necessary to use a different arsenal of surfactants to clean it. Not only is shampoo not like other harsher detergents, the only potentially harmful ingredients used in *some* shampoos include parabens and sodium larueth sulfate. Parabens are great at preventing bacteria from growing in products during unrefrigerated storage, and considering that the only two options in replacing this family of chemicals is refrigeration or pH changes, the net benefit for you skin, hair, and health is positive. Secondly, sodium laureth sulfate has not been proven to be carcinogenic when either applied directly to skin or consumed. Even in toothpaste, it has no effect on ulcer formation.
I will try it for shure. Thanks for the post and the excellent writing style!
Great great advice for a guy like me who has long hair now but neglects to take a shower specifically for not wanting to purchase shampoo or soap sometimes. I am definitely going to go out and buy some baking soda to try this out. Thanks a lot!
.-= Migration Mark´s last blog ..How To Eat Freakishly Weird Foods =-.
I tried this no-shampoo thing and I really don’t think it is working. My hair feels like it has this gross residue on it. It is not producing excess oil (I only washed 2-3 times a week before anyway), but instead it just feels like it’s coated in a gross film. At the same time, it also feels dry. I don’t know if I need to add more baking soda or more vinegar – or less or what! Has anyone had troubles like this?
Hey there! I’ve been shampoo free for about 3 months now. I first hear of the idea several years ago with the Curly Girl book. At that time I didn’t really stick with it, but this go around I decided to plunge right in. My hair is SO awesome looking lately! I use the baking soda mixed with my store bought conditioner about once a week. Every day I spritz with water with a few drops of lavender oil in it. I also rub in a pea size amount of olive oil into my hair once or twice a day. Beautiful curls, beautiful body, NO frizz!!!
.-= Amanda Dittlinger´s last blog ..Snack Time =-.
I am going to start this tonight. I think my hair really needs this. I think I really need this. Simplify!
I stumbled across this the same day I ran out of shampoo, so I decided to give it a whirl. I didn’t have apple cider vinegar so I decided to try the honey. I was amazed at how well the honey worked as a conditioner. I’ve been doing this a few weeks now and I’ve learned a couple things. The good: my hair feels stronger and I no longer need to wash my hair everyday. As a poor, not quite starving, college student I love it because its so cheep it’s almost free. The Bad: the honey water grows algae unless refrigerated between uses. While my hair is stronger it isn’t as sleek as it use to be and static has become more of a problem.
For me although the static can be a pain, not having to wash daily is really liberating. Also when I go camping it takes much longer for my hair to get critically dirty, which is nice because trying to wash hair while camping it a unique and unpleasant challenge.
I will likely continue this on a permanent basis. Thanks for the great idea!
I started this process almost a week ago, & I’m liking it so far! I’ve been doing it every day (so as to help mitigate the ”transition period”) and haven’t had too many problems. It definitely takes some getting used to – I’m not gonna lie, it’s weird and your hair will feel different! And I just had to travel for work and noticed a big difference between hard & soft water. I live in an area of very soft water and high humidity… So far I’ve had somewhat frizzy ends, but if it doesn’t go away within the next week, I’ll try the oil suggestions I’ve seen.
I’ve been using empty ketchup bottles (the ones with the pointy tips) and they’ve been great for getting down to the scalp since I have thick, long hair. So basically, so far so good! Just thought I’d share my experience so far!
I’ve been doing this for almost a week now, and I’m loving it! It knocks off so much time from my shower, and my hair is becoming better and better! I’ve been washing every day with a mixture of about 5 teaspoons baking soda to about 14 ounces of water put in a condiment bottle from Bed, Bath, & Beyond (the ones with the pointy tips). The bottle has been great for getting down to my scalp (I have thick, long hair). I might use a different bottle style for my ACV mix, though, as it takes so long to get my whole head.
It definitely takes some getting used to – your hair will feel very different as it goes through the process. I’ve also noticed a big difference between using hard and soft water. Soft water (for me) lends somewhat oilier results, whereas hard water leaves it drier. And your hair will definitely take longer to dry.
My ends are somewhat dry and frizzy, but I’m chalking it up to the humid environment right now. I’ll see what happens when the weather clears up, and if it hasn’t, I’ll use the recommended oil-conditioning techniques.
Thanks so much for writing this!
Thanks for the article. Love your blog, especially from an eco standpoint. I’ll share this with my wife, sister and mom…
Well, everyone else seems to have oily hair.. Mine is naturally dry- I mean really dry! I have fine hair and it’s curly. I have to condition my hair everyday with anti-breakage conditioners and only wash twice a week. I’d love to try this out but it sounds like it wouldn’t work with my hair…
Does baking soda leave any sort of residue? I have dreadlocks & although this idea intrigues me, I wonder about how much would actually buildup in my dreads.
Not that I’ve noticed – the only “residue” would be the natural oils from your hair, which takes some getting used to. In fact, I just washed with natural shampoo and conditioned this morning.. I think I’ll make it a once-per-week situation with baking soda in between – my hair already looks so much better than it usually does.
.-= Kat´s last blog ..Almost Friday!!!! =-.
Yes, shampoos are detergents and so are many natural ’soaps’, cleansers and washes.
I know there is a lot of chemical in Shampoo and Conditioners, but I didn’t know it was old fashion remedies to clean hair!! 1 cup of espalt and 1/2 cup of baking soda is a great way to gently detox your body plus it is good for the skin and relaxes you!! But you must rinse yourself off afterwords!! I thought I tell you that old remedy!!
Thanks for sharing! I just mixed up a “trial run” of this. Looking forward to trying it tomorrow. I’m always happy to find new ways to keep chemicals out of my body and the environment. Next up: deodorant!
been using morrocan ‘rhassoul’ for over a year now, this is a special clay in powder form which you mix to a paste and apply to wet hair, it leaves your hair very clean and feeling great, no need to condition. It can also be used on your body and works better than any soap.
I just tried this today in the shower. Waiting for my hair to dry to see how it worked!
Or you can put BOTH of them on your hair at the SAME TIME and make a HAIR VOLCANO!!!!!!!
my other half thinks I am a heathen by only washing my hair 2/3 times a week it gets so dry if I wash it daily H gets me so upset! he has oily skin/hair so he washes hair showers 2/3 s’d a day I don’t nag HIM!!
I’m just beginning this regimen (as in I literally did my first no ‘poo wash yesterday), and I’m planning on documenting my progress on my blog, if anyone with questions wants to see how it’s going.
I’ve been reading about “No ‘Poo” for about a month now, and I finally decided to go for it. This post was super helpful in starting! So far, my scalp’s been a little flaky, but I think I may have used too much baking soda, so I’m going to be cutting back a little from now on.
.-= Mugdha´s last blog ..Sun God Festival and Tips =-.
I went on a six month road trip and didn’t shampoo my hair for the first four months. It was fine for a while. I would just brush my hair like crazy and it would be fine. When I came back I got into the beauty industry and started washing my hair more and more. My scalp started to flake and peel so I’ve begun rubbing olive oil into it. It’d been working really well! I heave coarse and wavy hair and a dry skin type. My usual regimen has been to rinse my scalp really well in a hot shower.
Very interesting blog post! I was wondering though- I’m starting to go bald and I heard chamomile helps with that, so maybe it would work to use chamomile-soaked water with baking soda??? Would love to hear from anyone who has experience with curing baldness.