I haven’t shampooed my hair in over a year.
No, this doesn’t mean I have not washed it. I’ve been doing the “no poo” method.
A little over a year and a half ago I increased a dosage of a medication that can make your hair fall out as a side effect. I was losing hair all over the place and worried about it getting thinner. I read about different vitamins you could take or products you could buy but none of them seemed convincing for me (not to mention expensive).
I discovered the no poo method by chance on pinterest. I read a very detailed account on why shampoo is bad for your scalp and how to no-poo wash your hair from Code Red Hat. And it has been awesome for me. Not only do I feel great about reducing the amount of chemicals I put on my body and down the drain- I also don’t need to wash my hair as often, and it has gotten thicker! And it is way cheaper than shampoo.
This is your hair without shampoo- oh and also an adorable dog.
So what is the magic of no poo? Only the natural product lover’s best friends- baking soda and vinegar! Apple cider vinegar, that is.
If you want to go no poo, here is what you will need:
- Squeeze bottle with a pointed tip (a la a mustard bottle)
- Spray bottle
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
- Water
It really is that simple.
Fabulous shiny healthy locks
To use your no poo:
- use 1 tablespoon of baking soda per 1 cup of water
- put in squeeze bottle with pointed tip
- apply to roots all over your head
- rub into your scalp and let dissolve for a few minutes
- rinse thoroughly
And for your cider rinse:
- use 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per 1 cup of water
- put in a spray bottle
- spray all over hair concentrated mostly on ends and avoiding roots
- rinse thoroughly
And that’s all folks.
My no-poo wash and cider rinse in the shower (time for a refill on the rinse!)
This method isn’t for everyone. You won’t have the scents or foaming that comes along with regular shampoo. But the tradeoff is definitely worth it. (and if you want scents in your hair, you can add a few drops of essential oil to your hair brush).
For most people there is a transition period where their scalp adjusts from using shampoo to using no poo. This didn’t happen for me. Probably because I was never someone who shampooed my hair every single day. But be prepared to wear your hair up or in a scarf for the first few weeks of this method.
Once you get past the transition, you will wonder why you ever thought you wanted to use shampoo in the first place.
Did you think your hair could get this clean without shampoo?
If you do switch to no poo, you might need this awesome natural hair detangler DIY.
Kaelyn says
Wow! I can’t believe it is that simple and that your hair looks so amazing! I absolutely HATE vinegar though… Do you know if there is anything else you can substitute it with?
Susie says
I think you can try it with lemon juice. I have no idea if it works or not, since I’ve always stuck with the apple cider vinegar. Lemon juice is also acidic but I don’t know if it conditions as well as the vinegar rinse.
christina says
Does your hair smell like the vinegar?? It seems like a small amount so I’m guessing not but just want to check before I try this. Thanks!
Susie says
Nope! Just smells like hair. The vinegar is already watered down and it rinses out so your hair doesn’t keep the smell.
Janelle @ MommyLivesClean says
I am finally going to do this. I am so sick of trying endless shampoos with tons of chemicals or alcohol that make my hair fall out. Your hair looks beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing.
M says
Before using baking soda as a cosmetic you may wish to read this bloggers account of her long term experience of NoPoo.
It is based on how the PH levels of the recipe affect the hair cells.
At the end of the post are two green alternative ‘poos’ to try (Homemade rye flour shampoo (works much better than baking soda)! Coconut milk + aloe vera shampoo (for dry hair) instead.
Please read the blog Susie, just in case…I’m sure you love your hair as much as I do mine and would hate for you to regret Baking Soda cosmetics in the future :)
Susie says
Hi M. Thanks for letting me know. I read a ton of accounts about no poo before deciding to switch, and I’ve been using baking soda for almost 2 years now. I understand your concern with the ph but that is why you use the apple cider vinegar rinse afterwards. I started no poo because I had been losing a lot of hair as a medication side effect, and my hair is much thicker and healthier now than it was on shampoo. I am completely happy with my no-poo routine and my hair is probably the healthiest it has ever been.
Sarah says
Do you recommend mixing up the baking soda & water right before each use? Or could you make a larger batch?
Susie says
It really doesn’t go bad. I use a bottle that I get about 3 washes at a time from, so I refill it about every 3 showers. But I know some people mix big batches and pour it into their bathroom bottle instead of measuring out the baking soda each time.
Brenda says
Does this work well with curly hair?
Susie says
It should, but I think it takes more troubleshooting. A method I’ve heard that works well for curly hair is the conditioner only method. You should google it, I hear it is really great.
Marlyn says
I just tried this for the first time last night and I’m absolutely amazed! My hair is so soft and light feeling. My comb slid straight through my hair like a hot knife through butter, even without using any conditioner or detangler, and it still feels super soft and smooth! I’ve been raving about it to my mom all day and she’s just as amazed as I am at the condition of my hair after just one washing. Even after having my hair down all day, it’s still super easy to brush. I plan on giving it a month to see if I actually like it, but I’m already planning on getting my nieces started with it.