Questions about going "no-poo"?

I think if you wanted to save the environment, instead of removing shampoo from your shower, take shorter showers, or turn off the water while you are soaping up to save water. I’m almost certain that shampoo is not high on the list of things humans are doing to destroy the planet.

Apple cider vinegar would just be to condition. I did that a couple times but couldn’t stand the smell. Not too sure about your other questions…although I have heard of no-poo before. I used a lot of “health food” type shampoos over the years and they all resulted in massive build up and associated dulling so I don’t do that anymore. I like the Burt’s Bees shampoo (although not too fond of some of their other products), clean kids naturally by gabriel cosmetics (although I might not agree with their politics), and this other one that I can’t remember the name of that have few ingredients. I think even with these though there is some dulling and build up though no where as bad as some of the others I’ve used. I’m using Kiss My Face now which has a longer ingredient list but my I think my hair is shinier although it kind of makes my scalp flake. Best shampoo I’ve ever used is Shu Uemura. But this wouldn’t make the cut at a health food store. If you try this no-poo thing, please let me know how it works out!

@Afos22 Taking shorter showers and turning the water off during soaping addresses water consumption but running chemicals down your drain has to do with the energy it takes to remove them from wastewater (and some are more difficult to remove than others), assuming your drain is connected to a sewer and doesn’t end up on your lawn, which would then be an infiltration issue. So saving water is a whole different thing from minimizing exposure and accumulation of potentially hazardous chemicals. Whether or not chemicals like SLS are harmful is a whole different conversation.

I tried it for a while and it worked really well. The greasy stage took three weeks for me before it evened out first time around; two weeks the second time around.. However, you really should try to space out the washing as much as possible – the idea is to let your scalp adjust to not being stripped of oils. I was travelling in Nepal then so I could get away with it. Keep a boar-bristle brush and keep brushing your hair to spread the oil that is accumulating evenly.

I personally found vinegar or lemon juice to be a bit harsh on my hair, but I suppose it depends on the hair. Make sure you dilute it well.
I ended up using something we called “little tea powder” 茶仔粉 here, which is some kind of plant that is ground into brown powder, 100% natural. However, I don’t know where you could get it outside Hong Kong. I then just used a normal conditioner.

Once you get in healthy stage it really is low maintenance—so funny not to be washing it every other day! However, if you break it (e.g. getting a haircut and the salon washes your hair) you have to reboot.

Here is an article on someone who did it and what they use and when they clean their hair.

I havent used shampoo in about a year now and my hair is extremely soft, silky, and healthy. Ive heard people having success with apple cider vinegar and what not but my hair had never seemed to need it.

For me the greasy stage took two weeks. It sucked, my hair looked groody as all hell. Near the end of the two weeks I went on a survival camping trip so my hair didn’t really get wet that weekend, just a lot of dirt and grim. When I came home and washed it though my hair was feeling better than ever.

It also seems like now I can go longer between showers/brushing hair before any negative effects show.

The baking soda solution and strong apple cider vinegar solution need to be used together. If you have a vinegar smell, you’re doing it wrong.

I never had a greasy stage when transitioning.

And talking about taking shorter showers and using one product over another to save the environment is almost farcicle.

@Afos22 What makes you think I do not already do those things? Do you really think a person who is willing to give up shampoo for the environment wouldn’t already be doing those obvious things? I realize it with not lesson my impact a lot but it will reduce the chemicals going in our waters. Just because something is a small contribution does not mean it isn’t worthwhile.

@prioritymail Did the apple cider vinegar leave a smell even after it is rinsed out and your hair is dry? I always use natural products, but I also find that they leave my hair very dull. I sometimes use Burt’s Bees shampoo/conditioner. The shampoo makes my hair very dry but the conditioner is alright. Why do you not agree with Gabriel Cosmetics politics? I noticed they are cruelty free and vegan, yay. Oh, and I have been doing the no-poo thing for about 2 weeks now, and I love it! The baking soda cleans my hair better than any shampoo I’ve really ever used. It also leaves this “residue” that makes my hair very soft and shinier. It doesn’t leave any residue whatsoever after you rinse it out, but when it is wet it feels like I have conditioner in my hair too! I haven’t tried the apple cider vinegar yet just because I only have regular vinegar until I go and purchase some. There have been some instances when I have straightened my hair so that night I used conditioner. I have been cleaning it with the B.S every second night. I will be slowly going longer without using the B.S while my hair adjusts. Overall it leaves my hair very clean and light (with no build-up feeling at all) yet moisturized/soft at the ends. I’m really glad I started this.

@marinelife Thanks!

@uberbatman I definitely also agree that going no-poo has made my hair much more soft and shiny. It is also less tangly and frizzy. How long did you go between washings when you started during the adjustment period and how often do you wash your hair now?
My hair care consists of washing with the B.S solution every second night. After I shower I spritz a little bit of detangler in my hair and then brush it out and put in a headband. I let it air dry so I don’t use a blow dryer or anything like that. Before leaving my hair “natural” looked frizzy and it would tangle very fast. Now it doesn’t tangle nearly as bad and looks a lot smoother.

@incendiary_dan If I have a vinegar smell I’m assuming it is because I didn’t rinse it out enough right? Do you do the B.S solution first or the apple cider vinegar first?
I read the article and really liked it. Here are my thoughts: Even though my individual efforts do not make much of a difference, I like to live as low-maintenance as I can. I feel comfort in knowing that I’m not putting animals through torture for a lipstick. In the back of my mind I know that what I try to do to lessen waste probably isn’t actually making a difference. The only reason why I continue to use less is because I have a conscience, and I just can’t live like a heavily consuming pig. I can sit and blame the corporations and industries who make all this waste, but in the end saying no to their products will help to lessen consumerism. The companies are really not to blame because it is the individuals who buy into their product, they produce because there is a demand. Collectively we can limit that demand by boycotting wasteful corporations and industries.

@desiree333 That’s why I take accelerated air showers.

@Afos22 I have never heard of that before. Do you have any links or articles on it? I can’t seem to find anything on Google, everything is all about physics..

@desiree333 Im dont remember how long I went between washing when I was starting but now I was my hair every couple of days. I dont use anything but water and I just run my fingers through it real good, scrub my scalp with my fingers and comb it in the shower.

@uberbatman Hmmm, I wonder if my hair could ever adjust enough to be able to wash it with just water.

@desiree333 cant know unless ya try :P I just know previous to going “no poo” I had to wash my hair pretty much every day and with shampoo/conditioner or it felt narsty. After the adjustment period though its been great

@uberbatman Can’t wait!

best of luck with it. let us know how it works out for you.

I finally switched back to the baking soda solution a couple weeks ago. My hair looks awesome.