WHAT’S THE TRUTH ABOUT THE “NO POO” METHOD?
After shampooing your hair is it brittle, hard and tangled? Frizzy?! You have to use tons of hair oil/moisturizer but still it doesn’t recover to the previous state.
Well, you should concern the “NO POO” method. Instead of using shampoo try just plain old hair conditioner for a co-wash or a milder, more gentler sulfate free shampoo. Gentle shampoos include glycerin soap and/or a sulfate-free shampoo. Gentle Cleansers and hair conditioners DO NOT lather. This means no foamy, sud bubbles but they’re not necessary to effectively clean the hair. (Hair conditioners contain mild detergents that cleanse and can used to cleanse by itself.) But sulfate-free shampoo is best for cleansing hair.
Shampoo contain harsh detergents to form those lathering bubbles that so many have become accustom to. These same detergents (sodium lauryl sulfate (sls)) can be found in degreasers and other almost all household products such as dish soap, laundry detergent, toothpaste and etc. So why put that in your head.
First and most importantly, to clean without stripping the hair of its own natural oils that not only nourishes the hair but also the scalp. African American generally produce limited amounts of their natural oils and this is why we add moisturizers to our hair. Hair in its natural state needs a little more moisture than chemically straighten hair to maintain its health and prevent breakage. This is also why it is important to retain this moisture. Natural oils help to prevents frizzness and tangles. This leads us to the second reason.
Secondly, it eliminates frizzness in turn leaving more curl or coil definition in the hair. Your hair has more elasticity which decrease breakage. Your hair is more manageable in its natural curly state.
Thirdly, For those of us who have dry scalp and dandruff; no shampoo helps to wipe out flaky, itchy scalp completely the sulfate and alcohol in the shampoos can only aid to the problems.
Lastly, you use less product to achieve your desired style. The scalp pores and hair shaft have the ability to absorb these product more readily to obtain maximum coverage. The product also last longer in the hair because the hair is not dying of thirst.
The hair appears to be so much healthier and easier to manage. The hair is not as big or more tamed. Keep in mind you may not see result after only one uses. I recommend you try for about 3 weeks before you write the method off as a failure.
IF “NO POO” THEN WHAT?
This material courtesy of the MotownGirl.com “No Poo” article. Here are shampoo alternatives.
• Use a ‘clarifying conditioner’, such as VO5 Kiwi & Lime.
• Use an Apple Cider Vinegar mix.
• If you need to exfoliate your scalp or combat itchiness, try a Scalp Scrub: Mix 2 tbs conditioner with 1 tbs brown sugar. It is not harsh or abrasive as it may sound. Don’t use regular sugar, it will just dissolve.
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Hey Tam,I like the no poo method idea…I will try it when I wash my hair next time…I’ll keep you posted!
Hi! this herbal technique is good for hair strenghten and its very cheap and useful thanks for such a good blog
I stopped using shampoo years ago. It really works best on natural hair. Shampoo does strip hair.
also, dont really worry about the ACV smell, it goes away when you hair is dry.
Baking soda is the bomb to wash natural hair, and as a face scrub also.
I’ve been on board with this process for about a year, it’s great. Thanks for publishing.
Hmmm, I’ll try it. Thanks for the post.
Wow, I’ve been natural foor about 3 years now and my hair is really getting long now. I thought that was why it was so tangled all the time with tons of fly aways. Never thought it was the shampoo. Will soo try this the next time I “wash” my hair. Thanks!!
I have been natural for about 5 years now. Everything was going great until 8 months ago I started using a very pricey no sulfate hair washing product. From the very beginning my hair did not like this product but I still continue to use it. Now I am very sorry for this. 2 weeks ago I started using just regular over the counter conditioner. Hope I can repair the damage that was done
I love the no-poo method! My conditioner of choice is Suave Tropical Coconut. My coils clump nicely and I no longer have dry scalp issues.
thanks, interesting article
I just learned about this method today, and I am very interested. I decided a year ago to stop putting a relaxer in my hair. Then I relapsed 3 months ago WHAT a mistake. I think the no poo method is what I need to really know what is the true natural condition of my hair. Will start tomorrow
i have been no-pooing for about 2 months, and I can’t stand my hair!!! It’s so tangled! it takes me 20 minutes to comb through it, and I’m losing so much hair!! I use the 1 Tbsp. baking soda dissolved in water, and rinse that, then 2 tbsp. vinegar in water, then rinse that. HELP!
I find the co-wash method works better than the baking soda vinegar no poo. I use a moisturizing conditioner and my hair is less tangled and softer than it was with baking soda rinse.
Alissa,
You’re not supposed to use both the baking soda and vineagar solutions during the same wash. Remember the experiment we did in school by mixing the vinegar and baking soda together? One is an acid and one is a base…mixing them together can be extremely damaging. I’m glad you still have hair left!
Use either the baking soda or the vinegar, then condition. I promise you there will be a great improvement.