I'd like to say it was a pious sense of environmental consciousness that prompted this journey, but it's really much more basic than that. My head was itchy. Chemicals (i.e., shampoo, conditioner, styling products, and color) aggravated my scalp to the point of insane itching and embarrassing flaking. Dermatitis, basically. The more stressed I was, the worse it would be. One day while I whined and scratched, Miss Daisy mentioned some folks forgo shampoo altogether. A few Google searches later and I had a plan. I was going "no poo".
Barring disastrous results my plan was to give it 6 months. If I liked it in 6 months, I would give it a year. If I liked it in a year I would tell the world. So here we are.
Features & Benefits: My scalp feels great. My hair feels great. Both look great, IMHO. My hair dries faster, is slower to develop split ends, and isn't bleaching out at the ends as rapidly. It feels and looks thicker and has more "body", resulting in easier styling. Also, I only wash my hair once a week now.
Knowledge: Of how our bodies work, and how completely unnecessary most body products are.
Added Bonus: I have saved a lot of money.
Global Bonus: Less water pollution, and more water conservation
Unexpected Result: my face doesn't sunburn as easily (more on that later).
If you want to know how, keep reading.
Note: I began with just the Apple Cider Vinegar rinse with a few drops of Tea Tree Oil, to help calm my scalp down. From what I recall, my hair felt a tad oilier than I like, but didn't appear so. Still, several weeks in I added a baking soda rinse and occasional dab of almond oil. That has been my perfect combo for about a year now.
Supplies:
Water, Baking Soda, Apple Cider Vinegar, Tea Tree Oil (optional). Squeeze bottle (like you put mustard and ketchup in). For dry/frizzy hair, Almond Oil (and you can add a drop of essential oil for fragrance)
Mixing:
Step 1: Mix about 2 Tbs of baking soda with at least one cup water in squeeze bottle. Shake to mix. Using tip of bottle, squirt the solution onto your scalp. Next, give yourself a little scalp massage. Rinse well.
Step 2: Mix about 2 Tbs of the vinegar to at least 1 cup of water, put in a few drops of tea tree oil (if desired) and shake to mix. Then squirt it onto your scalp and massage through your hair. Let it sit for a few minutes before rinsing well.
Step 3: Towel dry, comb through. If your hair is on the dry/frizzy side, put a small amount of almond oil in your palm and apply it to lower 3/4 of your hair (I have longish hair and use about 1/2 tsp). As it dries, any residual vinegar smell will dissipate.
Styling:
I don't. Well, ok...when it looked frizzy I used a flat iron to tame a few pieces. Otherwise, I don't blow dry and I let the curls rule. Early on I used some styling wax but it wasn't really needed once my hair balanced out. A boar bristle brush is a great investment for shine and manageability. Use it daily and clean it once a week with a little baking soda and water.
Expect:
A change in texture. This was pretty interesting. Hair actually gets a little waterproof as the natural sebum of the scalp is allowed to re-coat and protect it. That's what makes it feel/look thicker and dry faster too. Also expect a lack of fragrance unless you add the essential oil.
About that Unexpected Result: Apparently human sebum has an SPF of 4-6. Who knew?
I'll post a few pictures soon. Meanwhile, if anyone else wants to add tips or ask questions, I'd love to hear from you!
