We know, that sounds crazy! But there’s a new way to keep your hair healthy and natural, and you don’t use shampoo or conditioner! It’s called the No ‘Poo Do and you’ll be amazed at how great it works.
The thing about shampoos and conditioners is that they are filled with chemicals that dry out your hair and actually make your roots produce more oil than necessary. Chapstick and face wash does the same thing!! Every time you wash your hair with shampoo, you strip away all of the natural oils and literally leave your hair with nothing. That’s why your hair will feel dry and stringy in the shower before you condition it. But conditioning your hair only provides it temporary relief and actually does nothing to satisfy your roots. After stripping your hair of its oils, the roots think the hair is too dry and continue to produce more and more oils over time, which is why the next day your hair seems so greasy. That greasy feeling obviously just makes you want to wash your hair more, keeping you buying your shampoo and conditioner (capitalism!) So what’s your other option?
Baking soda!
Just like dry shampoo, baking soda can dry up those excess oils while still allowing your hair to keep its natural softness and smoothness. Quite a few ladies have been trying this new way to healthily clean their hair, and most say it’s the best decision they’ve ever had. What makes this process extra great is that you may be able to go an entire week before you have to wash your hair again! And it will never look greasy in those few days in between! A woman by the name of Sarah, who runs a blog and Facebook page called This Above All, swears by the No ‘Poo Do and explains, in further detail, what makes it so great in this blog post: http://justsarahg.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/ill-never-shampoo-my-hair-again-ever-seriously/
To wash your hair, Sarah suggests using 1/3-1/2 cup of baking soda to rub directly onto wet hair. Focus on the scalp area firstly, and then work it into the length of your hair. You do not need to make a paste, she says, because putting powder baking soda onto wet hair essentially does the same thing.
But then what are you supposed to do about conditioning? Women that have tried this system commonly use apple cider vinegar and coconut oil. Argan oil is a good alternative also, and Moroccan oil is always an option if the others don’t work. Be careful of the Moroccan oil, however, because it has silicone, artificial fragrances, and Benzyl Benzoate, which have uses like food additive, insecticide and a plasticizer.
When conditioning with apple cider vinegar, Sarah says she uses 1-2 tablespoons of it to every 8 oz. of water. Best part? It’s safe on color-treated hair! It will leave your hair especially soft once dried, but it does not work as a detangler, so be sure to have your hair brushed out before your shower, and be careful when drying it with a towel. You can use the oils on damp hair before drying if your hair does not dry as soft with the vinegar rinse because of its texture.
Keep all of these tips (and the ones below) in mind and check back to Sarah’s post for more information on the new natural way to keep your hair clean and healthy without the daily work! Be sure to tweet us pictures of your hair after so many days of not washing, and tell us how you like your new No ‘Poo Do!
Sources and more tips:
http://justsarahg.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/ill-never-shampoo-my-hair-again-ever-seriously/
http://muslimahbeauty.com/2011/12/09/argan-oil-moroccan-oil-whats-the-difference/
http://livinginanotherlanguage.com/blog/2013/03/17/i-dont-use-shampoo/
http://livinginanotherlanguage.com/blog/2013/05/22/i-still-dont-use-shampoo/
http://livinginanotherlanguage.com/blog/2013/06/14/no-poo-frequently-asked-questions/
http://livinginanotherlanguage.com/blog/2013/08/13/no-poo-faq-2/