No-Poo. That doesn't exactly sound pleasing. It has nothing to do with using the restroom. Promise. No-Poo is a shampoo-free method for washing and conditioning your hair. I no longer use shampoo and conditioner. Yup, you heard that right. It has been a month and a week since I stopped shampooing.
So, Kimberly, is your hair stinky, greasy, and disgusting now? No, not at all. It is healthier and cleaner than ever now! And my Psoriasis is almost completely gone!
Ok, well how is it clean and healthy if you don't use shampoo? Well, I use a mixture of 1 TBS of Baking Soda to 1 cup of warm water. I mix this well until the baking soda is dissolved. DO NOT overuse the Baking Soda. Only use the mixture given or your hair will get dry and break off! When the baking soda is dissolved the mixture will be kinda slimy. Then, when I get out of the shower I get a tiny portion of 100% pure coconut oil in my hands and rub it until it is into an oil (Coconut oil is a solid until it reaches a temperature of 77 Degrees or higher.) and then I run my fingers through ONLY the ends of my hair until it is smooth. It takes a few times of doing this to discover the right amount for your hair. The first time I did it my ends looked grossly oily, haha!
Is it terribly wirey? Not at all. It is EXTREMELY smooth and healthy. Actually healthy. You see, the conditioner we use from a store coats your hair to make it feel like it is all smooth and healthy. No-Poo makes your hair actually healthy. It doesn’t strip your hair of natural oils that are good for your hair. The hair close to the root is conditioned by my natural oils while the ends of my hair are conditioned by the Coconut oil. (I tried just using Baking Soda and ACV and my brush would NOT move through my hair. Not even the tiniest tangle. It was then that I realized my hair was dry and that ACV was NOT the conditioner.) Eventually, the goal is to get your hair to produce less and less oil (it has been overproducing because of the shampoo that strips it) until it only produces what you need and you can go to only rinsing your hair with water. That’s right, never actually washing your hair again. Also, using natural boar bristle brushes bring the oils of your scalp down to your ends which will mean no more using coconut oil to condition your ends. Not sure when you reach this point but I know that is the goal!
What on earth possessed you to do such a thing? I am trying to live a more clean life bit by bit and the chemicals in shampoo and conditioner are just crazy. I don’t want all those chemicals in my body (soaking in through the scalp) or going down the drain into the earths water! Plus, it is WAY more friendly to the bank account.
Ok, this sounds awesome! Is there some transition period? Absolutely! It varies for each person and hair type. Your hair and scalp have been used to all the chemicals in shampoo and conditioner that strips your hair and then adds on stuff to your hair. For me, it took about a week. I started with the Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar method but eventually added the Coconut Oil for conditioner because I noticed my hair was very very dry. I learned that you are supposed to deep condition your hair, naturally, with No-Poo.. So, in comes Coconut oil.
So, what are other benefits other than healthier hair and not chemicals? Well, there is a LONG list. The main one for me is my Psoriasis has lessened so much! I have had Psoriasis for about 10 years and had been using a shampoo called T-Gel only on the affected areas and only when it acted up. (Mine was not constant). Well, this summer around May that shampoo just quit working. I had been miserable for about 4 or 5 months when I decided to start no-poo and discovered it was also helping to get rid of, or at least make irrelevant, my Psoriasis. I was THRILLED to say the least. I was no longer miserable. Well, then I stopped using the ACV because it wasn’t really conditioning my hair and it stank. Then my Psoriasis started acting up again and I realized it was what was making my Psoriasis go away. So, that was BIG for me. An all-natural and effective way to get rid of my misery. Yes, please! Benefits: No more Psoriasis No more Chemicals hurting the earth (The chemicals we wash down the drain go into our waters and hurt wildlife. If ducks get the oil stripped from their wings they will no longer be buoyant and will drown. Horrible and so worth it to not use chemicals.) More money in your bank account More body in your hair More shine! Brighter hair! Benefits I have read over and over but have not experienced: Great for gray hair, sometimes regular shampoo and conditioner yellow gray hair.
Ok, but my hair is dyed. Can I use this method? Absolutely!!! I use it and have dye in my hair. I do not believe it will strip your hair of it’s dye at all!!! I do, however, suggest you wash your hair with shampoo after you get it died a time or two just to ensure ALL the chemicals are out of your hair!
If you enjoyed reading this and found it to be a fabulouse post, please let me know your thoughts in the comments BELOW Thanks y'all!
Just a note, this method is not for everyone. There are other low poo methods if you try it for awhile and it doesn't work for you.
