What is No-Poo?

Many people who are striving to live a more natural lifestyle have found themselves considering going no-poo at least once. It is a decision that some love and are happy to spread the word on no-poo. However, most people outside the natural living circles are confused and uncertain what no-poo is or how it works. If you are scratching your head trying to understand here is a short primer on what it is and why some people are loving it.

No What?

With a name like no-poo many people are unsure what it could mean. No-poo is a slang phrase for going shampoo free, in this case "poo" is a shortened version of "shampoo". What no-poo means is giving up shampoo and conditioner to wash your hair and instead using more natural options. The most common is a mixture of baking soda and vinegar to wash and condition hair. The idea is to remove the chemicals from shampoos and conditioners that build up in our hair. This allows our hair to return to a more natural, and healthier, state.

Why Go No-Poo?

I am sure that there are some crinkling their noses right now. For the majority of us store bought shampoos are a common staple that have always been a part of our lives. The thought of going without them seems almost too strange to many. Yet those who are taking the plunge say they have never been happier. Once their hair is free from the harsh chemicals that have built up for years they say they have hair that is soft, silky, and beautiful all day and night long. Shampoo works in our hair as a detergent. It strips out the dirt and grime that has collected in our hair during the day. However, like all detergents, it also strips out the natural oils. Stripping out the natural oils can cause damage to hair over time. This is the reason many people need to use conditioners, to replenish the moisture that the natural oils give our hair. When we stop using the harsh detergents in shampoo our hair becomes naturally softer and silkier.

Many people also feel that the chemicals found in commercial shampoos can be dangerous to your health. Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate are both skin and eye irritants that are used to create the rich foamy lather that people associate with washing hair. FD&C color pigments are used to give shampoos their colors yet contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin. Propylene glycol (PG) and butylene glycol are also found in many shampoos, they have been found to penetrate the skin and weaken protein and cellular structures. Even the mineral oil that is used in shampoos and conditioners to give hair a shiny appearance can be harmful. Mineral oil is a byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil, it coats the hair like plastic in order to give hair an artificial "healthy shine" yet it also coats the skin. This interferes with the skin's ability to eliminate toxins.

An added bonus to choosing no-poo is that it can save you money. By no longer spending money on shampoos and conditioners you can save several dollars each month. The cost varies depending on how much you normally buy and how expensive the brand you purchase. But the cost of a small box of baking soda and a bottle of vinegar is a huge savings no matter what you normally spend. For as little as $5 you can buy enough supplies to last for months.

How Does No-Poo Work?

The recipe for going no-poo is simple. For medium length hair mix together one tablespoon of baking soda per one cup of warm or hot water. You can mix as much or as little as you will need based on how long or thick your hair is until it is right for you. Pour mixture onto the roots of your wet hair and massage in gently. Let it sit in your hair for a minute then rinse out with warm water. Many then use a mix of two tablespoons apple cider vinegar and one cup water as a conditioner rinse. Pour over your hair, massage into scalp, then rinse off with cold water. Unlike store bought conditioners that need to be used after every wash, you will only need to use the vinegar rinse once every two to three days.

Baking soda is a great product for cleaning, and works great in your hair as well. Because it is gentle baking soda can be used without causing damage to hair. It can easily remove the build up of chemical products in hair as well as removing the grime from your scalp and opening the pores on your head. Some say that this helps their hair to grow in faster. The vinegar as a rinse is also beneficial to hair. It clarifies and detangles hair, promotes circulation on your scalp, and can reducing scaling and peeling of dry skin. Together they work to give you beautiful, healthy hair.

Troubleshooting No-Poo

Some people have trouble getting a no-poo routine to work for them. There are many things that can be easily changed to make no-poo a breeze. Often the first complaint is that their hair is not getting better, or is getting worse. For those who have a lifetime of chemicals built up on their hair and scalp getting to naturally healthy hair can take time. For some they see results in as soon as two weeks, some may take as long as two months. Hair can sometimes get greasier as they adjust to no-poo. The natural oils that our bodies create work on a supply and demand. The more often they are stripped away by harsh shampoos the more your body creates. When you stop using shampoo to strip away the oil your body will still be creating the excess oil, but within time your hair will find a natural balance and stop creating excess oil. This is often referred to as "detox" period for your hair.

Because every one's hair is different the same formula will not work on everyone. Sometimes a simple change is all that is needed to get to beautiful hair. If your hair seem dry and frizzy cutting back on the amount of baking soda used will help. Some also massage in a natural oil such as coconut or sweet almond to help. Greasy hair is often helped by using less apple cider vinegar in the rinse or rinsing less often. Some also find that using citrus instead of apple cider vinegar in their rinse helps to lessen greasy hair.

Try It For Yourself

While shampoos and conditioners are considered common to most, more and more are choosing not to use them in favor of gentler cleaning methods. To those who have never heard of no-poo before it can seem unusually and strange. Some may even consider it uncleanly. But there is nothing to lose in trying no-poo for yourself. You can save money, reduce the amount of chemicals in your life, and have healthier, more beautiful hair. Why not try it and see for yourself?