No Shampoo Hair Washing

Why would you ever want to stop washing your hair with shampoo? There are several reasons why you might want to go “no-poo,” as the burgeoning no-shampoo movement is called. Shampoo is expensive; it contains chemicals that can irritate and dry out your hair and scalp; and some chemicals in shampoo can be dangerous to your health and the environment.

Shampoo depletes natural oils

Your body produces natural oils that lubricate your skin and hair, and if you shampoo, you can strip these oils. Your scalp will then attempt to compensate by making more oil, which can leave your hair greasier faster. Also, the soap in shampoo makes the scales on your hair shafts stand up, which can make your hair feel rougher, and actually weaken it over time.

Water only washing?

So how do you go about cleaning your hair without using shampoo? Some people say you should just wash your hair with water. After you stop using shampoo, there’ll be a transitional period lasting anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. Your hair will probably be greasier during this time, because it’s getting accustomed to producing less oil in response to your no longer using oil-stripping shampoo. If you can stand it, wait it out: your hair will soon adjust, and won’t feel so greasy anymore.

Baking soda and vinegar

If you want to clean your hair with something a little more powerful than plain old H20, you can use baking soda and apple cider vinegar. The baking soda replaces shampoo. Mix one tablespoon of it with one cup of water, and apply it to your hair while you’re in the shower. Massage it into your scalp and hair for a few minutes, concentrating on your scalp, then rinse it out. You can do this every day if you like.

The apple cider vinegar will replace your conditioner. Mix one tablespoon of it with one cup of water, and pour it onto your hair. Wait a few minutes, then rinse. Pre-mix your baking soda/water and apple cider vinegar/water, and store them in squeeze bottles in your shower. The vinegar seals your hair’s cuticle and makes it shine. You can also use this mixture daily.

Your mileage may vary: a recent article in Britain’s Daily Mail detailed the experiences of five women who gave up washing their hair (although they didn’t try the baking-soda-and-vinegar wash). Three of the women reported their hair felt healthier and fuller, and they needed to use fewer styling products. The two other women said their hair was greasy and lank, and they were going to begin using shampoo again.