Thats right. Exactly as it sounds... I'm giving up shampoo.
Why you may ask? Well for years... actually as long as I can remember, I have struggled to find a shampoo that "works" on my hair. When I did find one on the odd occasion, it was only a couple of weeks and I'd have the usual build up of grease and scabby itchy scalp (yep, scabby) and the search for a new-poo began all over. The only poo that helped the itchy and scabbiness was a tar based-poo and if you've ever had the pleasure you will know that the smell is frightful. Rather like a fresh laid bitumen road in fact! Then there is the cost. I have tried brands from $2 a bottle to $50 a bottle. Still not happy Jan.
So how did I get tot his point? Well a year ago on my beloved breastfeeding forum there was a discussion on going no-poo which got me interested. This method was simply to stop washing your hair and supposedly within 4-6 weeks all the oils evened themselves out and your hair was lovely... Considering my job in the public health sector I figured it might not be a great look to push through the period of greasy feral locks that all those trying the method were reporting so filed the idea in the not feasible box and moved on. Back to the bitumen rinse I went.
But then a couple of weeks ago after a morning of scratching like a dog with mange to the point where my scalp was bleeding, I had had enough. From the depths of the darkest and dreariest corner of my memory came this little bright light... the no-poo trial! Trying to remember the "method" (wasn't it just stopping washing?) I googled shampoo free hair and a new world opened up to me.
I came across a method of washing hair that was no-poo but still got the hair clean - using bicarb and a vinegar rinse. Brilliant! Why hadn't I thought of this - I used these same products in my every day cleaning all the time - even as a fabric softener in the washing - so why on earth hadn't it occurred to me before?
I snuck past big daddy into the bathroom with my new found weapons of itch destruction and set to it. I mixed a tablespoon of bicarb with warm water and massaged this into my scalp. Weird. Its kind of grainy, but does feel nice on the scalp. Then after rinsing it out (left it on for a couple of minutes first) I followed with a rinse made up of apple-cider vinegar (about two table spoons to about a cup of warm water), and rinsed.
Oh. My. Goodness.
I have never had such fantastic results from any shampoo even the $50 a bottle ones! My scalp no longer itches, my hair is soft, and its no longer fuzzy (well, almost). I mentioned this to big daddy and heard a few words including I think "crazed" and "hippy" through a bearded mumble (yes, bearded, and he calls ME the crazed hippy!). But, not being one to be easily perturbed, especially not by ones husband, I have tried this a few times since with the same results.
So, today I have decided. I am going to take the plunge into shampoo free-ness for a months trial.
Stay tuned for the results...
For more information check these guys out. Maybe you can join me in my quest to free the world from the grasp of shampoo marketers?
http://www.natural-forces.com/essays/poofree.htm
http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=365
Why you may ask? Well for years... actually as long as I can remember, I have struggled to find a shampoo that "works" on my hair. When I did find one on the odd occasion, it was only a couple of weeks and I'd have the usual build up of grease and scabby itchy scalp (yep, scabby) and the search for a new-poo began all over. The only poo that helped the itchy and scabbiness was a tar based-poo and if you've ever had the pleasure you will know that the smell is frightful. Rather like a fresh laid bitumen road in fact! Then there is the cost. I have tried brands from $2 a bottle to $50 a bottle. Still not happy Jan.
So how did I get tot his point? Well a year ago on my beloved breastfeeding forum there was a discussion on going no-poo which got me interested. This method was simply to stop washing your hair and supposedly within 4-6 weeks all the oils evened themselves out and your hair was lovely... Considering my job in the public health sector I figured it might not be a great look to push through the period of greasy feral locks that all those trying the method were reporting so filed the idea in the not feasible box and moved on. Back to the bitumen rinse I went.
But then a couple of weeks ago after a morning of scratching like a dog with mange to the point where my scalp was bleeding, I had had enough. From the depths of the darkest and dreariest corner of my memory came this little bright light... the no-poo trial! Trying to remember the "method" (wasn't it just stopping washing?) I googled shampoo free hair and a new world opened up to me.
I came across a method of washing hair that was no-poo but still got the hair clean - using bicarb and a vinegar rinse. Brilliant! Why hadn't I thought of this - I used these same products in my every day cleaning all the time - even as a fabric softener in the washing - so why on earth hadn't it occurred to me before?
I snuck past big daddy into the bathroom with my new found weapons of itch destruction and set to it. I mixed a tablespoon of bicarb with warm water and massaged this into my scalp. Weird. Its kind of grainy, but does feel nice on the scalp. Then after rinsing it out (left it on for a couple of minutes first) I followed with a rinse made up of apple-cider vinegar (about two table spoons to about a cup of warm water), and rinsed.
Oh. My. Goodness.
I have never had such fantastic results from any shampoo even the $50 a bottle ones! My scalp no longer itches, my hair is soft, and its no longer fuzzy (well, almost). I mentioned this to big daddy and heard a few words including I think "crazed" and "hippy" through a bearded mumble (yes, bearded, and he calls ME the crazed hippy!). But, not being one to be easily perturbed, especially not by ones husband, I have tried this a few times since with the same results.
So, today I have decided. I am going to take the plunge into shampoo free-ness for a months trial.
Stay tuned for the results...
For more information check these guys out. Maybe you can join me in my quest to free the world from the grasp of shampoo marketers?
http://www.natural-forces.com/essays/poofree.htm
http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=365
I will volunteer and if it works for me the big girl will get the same treatment. thank you for your googling my lovex
ReplyDeletemy hair is soft and shiny and not frizzy at all (and it smells nice because i put a drop of lavender oil in the rinse) x
ReplyDeleteWe've been using bicarb and vingegar as our 'shampoo' for a while now and are very happy with the results. You might be pleased to know that I convinced my DH to use it too even after much complaining on his part! ;)
ReplyDeleteBig girls hair is lovely and soft and shiny and smooth (and smells nice - she chose rose geranium) and there were no screaming tantrums either. but because it is soooo long it did take quite a bit of combing with a wide toothed number after towel drying.
ReplyDeleteI've done a couple of washes now and its not as great as it was first go but is still no worse than shampoo, plus the added bonus of no scabby itches! Will report again when a week is up :-)
ReplyDeleteI find mine really soft and easy to comb when its wet...
Narelle, how often do you wash your hair?
I'm actually cheating at the moment because I got shampoo for Christmas and am using that but once that is finished I'll be back to the good ol' bicarb. I was washing about twice a week I think. I do find that the bicarb makes my hair a bit more 'fly away' and less manageable than shampoo but can't justify the cost of shampoo now I've stopped using it! What do you find not so good about it, Bec?
ReplyDeleteWas getting really oily... but I think I've fixed that now by upping the amount of bicarb I am using! I do wash my hair when ever I am going into public tho so at least 4-5 times a week. Possibly a bit too regular... hopefully I can tone it down some :-)
ReplyDeleteUPDATE! I'm still no-pooing! I still get dandruff but its no where near as bad and I've managed to cut down the washes to about twice a week - makes a big difference. I relapse into shampoo about once a month just for the smell really (not that my hair smells, I just like the perfume). Its great. Love it!
ReplyDelete