Go Shampoo Free with Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar

You may have heard your hippie friend talk about going "poo-free." Does this mean what you think it means? No! "Poo-free" is a term commonly used to describe people who no longer use shampoo and conditioner.

Now I know what you're thinking; going shampoo-free will make you a dirty disgusting mess, right? Wrong! The detergent common in many shampoos are actually known to dry your hair and scalp out, causing greasiness and damage. Furthermore, recent science has brought to light some of the nastiness that can exist in shampoo, like dangerous parabens for example. The harm cause by ingredients like parabens and Sodium Lauryl Sulfite is highly debated, but by going shampoo free it's not a debate you have to worry about. Not to mention that going shampoo-free is a great way to cut down your grooming budget while still looking fabulous.

Okay, so this shampoo-free thing is so majestic huh? Well how does it work? How does my hair get clean?Shampoo-free hair can be accomplished by "washing" with a baking soda solution and rinsing with a conditioning vinegar rinse. The solutions are simple to concoct, as long as you follow these steps.

1. Choose your vessels: I personally have long hair, so I find it easiest to make up a batch of the baking soda solution and vinegar rinse to fill two reused shampoo bottles. The solutions seem to keep well left out for one to two weeks. For shorter haired folks in particular, it may be more convenient to make a paste of a little dry baking soda and a little shower water. You might want to keep an old glass jar or Tupperware container of baking soda nearby. With the vinegar rinse, many folks prefer a spray bottle for even coverage, as opposed to pouring it over their head.

2. Mix up your ingredients: For the baking soda solution, mix one tablespoon of baking soda for every one cup of warm water in your bottle. The vinegar rinse is little more fluid in it's instructions. You can add one one to two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar per cup of water. Using apple cider vinegar as a rinse is as old as the hills, and works well as a conditioner even if you want to keep using sudsy stuff. On top of that, you can replace the water with teas or add a few drops of your favorite essential oils. Sometime replace the water with chamomile, as I have light hair, something that the herb highlights. I also add a few drops of Lavender oil, as that smells nice and has antibiotic properties that can help with dandruff. there are thousands of oils and herbs that do different services to your hair, so I would recommend Googling "herbal properties" or "essential oils" to find ones right for you.

3. Wash yourself, dirty!: To clean your hair, put the baking soda solution on your scalp and massage deeply for a minute or two. Rinse it out, and move on to the vinegar. Pour the AC vinegar rinse on your scalp and ends of your hair. Massage in slightly. At this point, I like to let the solution sit for a few minutes before rinsing. I personally have no clue if this does anything, but my hair feels good, so I'm sticking with it. Then just rinse it off.

It's as simple as that. You have officially cleaned you hair with no harsh detergents and no possible icky chemicals. Trust me when I say, your hair will thank you.