No Poo Method

Sham-poo that is.

The method already exists. I didn't make it up. I promise.

I am tired of shampoo.

Not because of the harmful ingredients in shampoo such as toxic Alcohol, isopropyl (SD-40), carcinogenic FD&C color pigments, and Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), which can be absorbed through your eyeballs and has been known to kill some animals.

Not because shampoo removes oil which causes your glands to produce more oil, so the more often you wash your hair the more frequently it gets greasy.

And not because the "No Poo Method" is cheaper.



No, no my real reason is far more vain.

For the past 2 or 3 years, I can see and feel that shampoo leaves residue on my hair and scalp. It bothers me to no end!

So I googled and googled. I found shampoos that were organic, that cleansed, that purified, that prevented dandruff, and healed the scalp. None of them were a reliable cure.

Although, I did kinda like this $25 shampoo. Frederic Fekkai MORE Scalp Purifying Shampoo It smells beautifully and worked for short periods of time.

I've had this post in the draft stages for a long time. I keep editing it because at first I loved No Poo, but the more I use it the more I dislike it. Keep in mind that I can only speak for super fine, super straight hair because that's what I was born with. Although, I have read that it reduces frizz.

Pros: 

• It leaves my hair more voluminous than ever before and softer too.
• I can go two days in between washing most of the time.
  

Cons:

• It leaves the texture of my hair slightly more coarse and less shiny. Much to my mother's dismay. 
• Not a perfect solution. I still sometimes have residue.
  

Like my mother, it may sound a little too new age for you because it's considered unAmerican not to wash your hair with shampoo. Check out this article from NPR on the history of shampoo. That being said, I find it fun to experiment with different methods to see what works.

Most sites tell you to use apple cider vinegar and/or olive oil as a conditioner. It makes my hair kind of stringy and looks dirty right away so I am going to have to stick to regular conditioner until I find something better.

My Conclusion:

Though it's a love hate relationship, I think I'm going keep with the No Poo method for now and wash with regular shampoo or the Frederic Fekkai MORE Scalp Purifying Shampoo once a month.

Here is my routine:

Preshower

1) Mix 1 to 1.5 tablespoons of baking soda to 1 cup of warm water in a spray bottle.  

During Shower

2) Saturate your scalp and roots by spraying the solution. When your hand starts to hurt from pumping, open the spray bottle and pour the rest of the solution on the middle to ends of your hair.

3) Massage and rinse.

4) Condition your hair with a regular conditioner from the mid length of the hair to the ends.

5) Rinse.

Notes:
*The baking soda solution should always be watery not pasty. If so, you are using too much baking soda.
*I've tried to be lazy and stick some baking soda and water in my hands, but that was too pasty and didn't rinse well.
*I've tried to be lazy and just pour the baking soda and water on from a cup, but for best results, stick to the spray bottle.



Think I'm crazy? Want to try it? Let me know your thoughts.