the "no-poo" method

[hockeygal 0]

no, this isn't about constipation, it is about shampoo!

I've been meeting people who don't use it, and reading up on it, and I thought I'd give it a whirl. Theoretically, your hair is supposed to balance out after an initial period of greasiness, and become fabulous.

You are supposed to keep it clean with water, and you can use diluted baking soda to wash it, rinse with diluted apple cider vinegar... exfoliate with brown sugar.... seems easier to just shampoo! I have to say that even though it is a bit greasy, it feels waaaay lighter, which goes to show you how much product ways your hair down. I am told it will plump out soon. And it seems shinier, or is that just oil? But I tire of wearing it up.

I'm just hoping my hair will appreciate being product free and maybe stop falling out eventually, and free the wave instead of frizz. But if it doesn't start looking fabulous before I head off to see my sweetie by the end of the month, I am going back to the bottle!

I was curious if anyone here doesn't use shampoo... apparently it is a lot more common than I thought, but maybe not on VJ!

[Alex+R 0]

I use it (for the lovely smell) but once I met a girl whose hair was so fabulous I actually asked her what she used (which is not something I really ever do) and she told me she used nothing. She had hair prone to frizziness, like mine. She said exactly what you heard: at first it's greasy, and then it's really low-maintenance forever.

I'm such a sucker for the smell of shampoo though...

[Kathryn41 3,205]

I generally use shampoo and conditioner about once a week, and just water the other times. My hair is extremely fine and it does make a difference even if I use products that are supposed to leave no build up. In winter when the air is dryer, though, I need to use conditioner at least 2 times a week. I have a number of friends, however, who never use shampoo and their hair looks fine.

Edited August 14, 2006 by Kathryn41

[Fandango 1,439]

I couldn't fathom not using shampo!

[UmmSqueakster 54]

I'm intrigued I may have to experiment with this soon. And, as a hijabi, no one but my husband will see me go through the uber greasy phase

[Ban Hammer 12,861]

and i thought it was gonna be another thread about agent smith taking a monster dump

[hockeygal 0]

I'm such a sucker for the smell of shampoo though...

me too. I miss it, and it has only been a little over a week! I have a coworker sniffing me each morning to make sure nothing smells bad! So far so good.

well, I hope the results will be worth it. 2 more weeks to find out...!

[incanada1234 0]

and i thought it was gonna be another thread about agent smith taking a monster dump

I think I speak for everyone when I say - THANK GOODNESS it isn't.

[meauxna 15]

I couldn't fathom not using shampo!

I'm Poo Free!!!

Lisa, that is most people's reaction---& hockeygal, that might be why a lot of us don't talk about it much. If you're interested, check out naturallycurly.com or the book Curly Girl, which details the do's and don'ts.

Important! You must change your product mix if you're going no-poo. Mainly that means learning which "cones" (silicones) are OK and which (most) are not. This is also key to getting that balance you're talking about, which is real and FABulous! If you continue with 'cones, they attract and collect dirt/pollution & you get build up that can only be stripped off with shampoo, so it's not as simple as 'just' stopping shampoo.

I wash my scalp and hair with conditioner instead of shampoo & I use home-made lavender water spray which has antibacterial properties . I also have changed the hair color I use (gasp! yes, it's true) and so have to shampoo when I use it, but that is less than once per month. As a curly girl, I've found that I get way better curl definition, have kicked the "crispy hair" syndrome that comes from certain gels and am less frizzy than I once was. I often use a conditioner as a styling product to combat frizzies and avoid any of the 'frizz away' type products as they are mainly silicones.

I think it's been over a year and a half now--hair looks, feels and smells great & trust me, I ask close friends to tell me the honest truth. For curly girls (ethnic hair or otherwise) it is a real wake up call to see what your hair is really all about and treat your hair as well as you would your fine knits. Think about it, would you wash your cashmere sweater in detergent every day?

PS: yes, I still shave my legs and armpits, organic food notwithstanding

[Garfield fan 0]

I wash my hair with 2-in-1 shampoo every other day. There is no way I can go without shampoo, I have oily skin and in turn my scalp and hair are also oily, if I don't wash it for more than 2 days it will just become very greasy and lumpy. After 4 days my scalp will itch and get dandruff (this happened when i was hospitalized and had to lay on my back for 5 days ), so shampoo is a MUST for me. I also have thick hair so don't need more volumes...

[john_and_marlene 162]

I saw someone once that never washed their hair ... and I put some change in their cup.

[meauxna 15]

I saw someone once that never washed their hair ... and I put some change in their cup.

In defense: you still wash, just not with shampoo.

PS: spare change still accepted here. PM for PayPal details

[hockeygal 0]

Meauxana - I am on the waiting list for Curly Girl from the library. As far as I understand it, there are two camps.. the Curly Girl camp that uses conditioner, and the camp that uses nothing at all (save for ACV and BS) Do you find the conditioner really doesn't harm your hair? My whole reason for trying this is not only to free the wave, but also to spare my hair and scalp more product. Though I suppose, baking soda isn't exactly gentle!

Well, I will read the book - my friend is a Curly Girl..went from limp to robust curl, so I have seen it work with my own eyes!

Edited August 14, 2006 by hockeygal

[Kajikit 65]

How do you keep your hair clean without shampoo? If I go swimming in the pool when I come upstairs I have to wash my hair or it gets all lank, but the shampoo tends to dry it out too much if I do it more than twice a week... so I can only go for a swim if that's when I was about due to wash my hair!

Edit - I do NOT use hair-dye, styling mousse, gel or any other 'product' in my hair other than lavender baby shampoo twice a week and conditioner about once a month.

Edited August 14, 2006 by Kajikit

[Miranda&James 8]

I've never even known that there are people who never wash their hair (well, people who choose not to and are from a Western culture)! I wash my hair and goop on the conditioner every single day! I've got fine hair and I like to keep it straight, sleek, and soft and since I highlight it I can put on tons of conditioner and still have it not feel as soft as I'd like. If I go one day without washing my hair is an oily and frizzy mess!