Do you know the secret behind commercial shampoos and conditioners?
They strip your hair of natural oils and then coat it with silicone and waxes to make it appear soft and shiny.
The result?
Hair that — underneath the chemical coating — is actually overproducing oil to compensate for being stripped by harsh chemicals.
Even as I nourished my body with nutrient-dense foods, I wasn’t treating my hair the same way! And so, it was time for a change. My story is a slow, gentle transition to the “no poo” method of caring for your hair.
Why A Slow & Gentle Transition To No Poo?
I like to shower. So I used to shower every day!
However, in preparation for going “no poo”, I went down to showering every other day in an attempt to ease the transition. I wanted to avoid the icky, greasy hair stage once I stopped shampooing completely.
Then, it was time to go cold turkey. Goodbye, commercial products.
Now, it’s been almost a month since I last used shampoo.
The Recipe
So, what are my new hair products?
1 tablespoon of baking soda + 1 cup of water doubles as my new shampoo. For “conditioner”, I use 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar + 1 to 2 cups water (2 cups of water if you have oily hair, 1 cup of water if you have dry hair).
I store and use my new shampoo and conditioner in a spray bottle each.
When showering every other day, I focused on my roots with the baking soda and massaged well before rinsing. You need to be thorough when rinsing, especially if you’re used to commercial shampoo. It takes way more effort to get the baking soda out!
After my first wash, my hair clumped together. Then I noticed I still had unrinsed baking soda in it! So I dunked it under the faucet again. Then I conditioned just the ends with ACV.
From the first day on, my hair felt dry but looked greasy. I tried to hide it in a ponytail, but no luck. It still looked pretty bad. It even stayed in a ponytail shape when I pulled the holder out.
So… my 2 week period of every other day washing really didn’t help ease the transition! Was there anything else I could do?
Dry Shampoo
After a week of “no poo” washing every other day, I spoke to a professional hair stylist. She suggested a dry shampoo to hep on the in between wash days to help me move towards healthy, nourished hair.
The problem, of course, is that conventional dry shampoos are also laden with chemicals!
So I did some research online and came up with this natural alternative:
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder
- additional cocoa powder (for brunettes)
Use caution if you’ll be outside in the heat all day! This dry shampoo will drip down your neck.
I sprinkled a little dry shampoo on my roots, flipped my hair up to get the sides, and then brushed it out. And voila! Almost instantly my hair felt soft again. It certainly doesn’t move or feel like commercial shampoos — but it looks a whole lot better. More manageable and less embarrassing.
I still wash every other day with baking soda and ACV, and use the dry shampoo in between. My hair is changing slowly, though it’s still transitioning — even more slowly because of the dry shampoo.
Hopefully, I will eventually reach the point where I can wash weekly with baking soda and ACV, as most recommend. I’m not there yet, but I’m enjoying the process now!
After 4 weeks of “no poo”, this is my hair. Still a little flaky on top, but getting there!
Have you gone “no poo”? How is it going for you? Did you do anything to make the transition period easier?
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I was no-poo for about a year and a half. Back in May, after my MIL and mom made some comments about the way my hair was looking, (and after me not being too happy with my hair), I decided to go back to organic shampoo and conditioner. The last 3-4 months with my hair have been a fiasco! I think my hair is freaking out because my hormones are off, and there’s really nothing I can do about the results my hormones are having on my hair, except fix my hormones….sigh…
So sorry it didn’t work for you, Lindsey!
I’ve gone poo-less for about 6 months now and I love it. I have VERY long hair (well past my waist), and I’m post-menopausal, so I haven’t been washing much oftener than once a week anyway (occasionally more often during the summer–I live in Florida). For years, though, I’ve used the purest shampoos I could find, on the premise that what you put ON you is at least as important as what you put in you. So I don’t think I had a lot of build-up to deal with.
I use about a tablespoon or so of baking soda to about 2 cups of water, but I mix it right before I use it. I don’t bother with a spray bottle, either. I have a pint jar I mix it in and I pour it over my already wet hair, really scrubbing my scalp and merely letting the mixture pour down the rest of my hair. I leave it on for a few minutes while I scrub my feet or shave my legs. Then I rinse it very, very, very well.
I use plain (cheap) white vinegar to rinse with, but I do add a few drops of lavender to it. I use the same pint jar I mixed the baking soda in, and I fill the jar with water after adding about 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar. I pour very slowly over my hair and then I rinse my hair with cool water (helps to close the hair scales). I’ve found that my very tangle-able hair combs right out. My hair is silky and soft and, believe it or not, hardly ever has any odor to it anymore.
I’m hooked. It’s cheap, so non-toxic, and my hair likes it. I sure hope any of this helps for you, and good luck on going poo-less!
I like you idea of just dumping the mixture on your head. I’m not really loving the spray bottle anymore, it’s too tedious! the rinsing well is so important isn’t it?! I keep finding when I miss a spot it just isn’t the same and it takes more work to rinse than commercial shampoo. It is worth it, though!
I have been doing this for a week. And i don’t know if i am not washing the baking soda out enough but my roots feel sticky and my hair is frizzy. I don’t know if this is just a transition stage.
Hi Sara,
I’m just seeing this website for the first time, (April 2022!:) and want to say thank you for the details!! I too am post menopausal, and wash it less often. I too have long hair, (waist length), but cut 9″ off in the past few months, because it was looking too dry & “haggard”… I use a dab of organic coconut oil on it, after I comb it out, and rub it on my scalp and down my hair, more so on the ends…I have recently even started using 100% Castor Oil on the ends, as it has gotten so dry. (I confess, I do my own hair color: only the roots in brown, and add a few blonde highlights too, so that dries it out…but, not ready to let the natural Silver take over yet!) I will try your method, because it sounds more like the way I’d prefer to do it, and hope it works for me! Again, thank you for the details, it helps! God Bless you, KD
I have been “no poo” sense July. I loved it at first. I used 2Tbs Baking soda to 1 cup water. My hair was soft, clean feeling and easy to brush, (I have long thick hair.) But for the last two weeks it has been every greasy. I haven’t tried the dry shampoo though. Even with the baking soda I only wash my hair two maybe three times a week. When I was younger I washed my hair every other day and now being a SAHM I don’t need to wash it as often For the last four years I only washed my hair with homemade or store bought shampoo two to three times a week.
I will say that my hair is starting to get rid of the greasy look with the last washing I had.
I hope the dry shampoo works for you! It made such a difference with the greasiness for me! 🙂 Perhaps your adjustment period is ending as well since your last wash saw improvement. While a lot of sources I read said that it only took a few weeks to adjust, I found it took my hair about 6 weeks for the process.
Yes, except my recipe is a little different – coconut milk and Dr. Bonner’s castile soap. I also add lavender essential oil. Love the fragrance. Conditioner is the same.
I completely relate to the transition. I think it took several weeks before I decided I had finished transitioning. My hair and scalp definitely feel good. Keep it up! I think it is worth it – emotionally and physically.
That sounds like a great recipe! I’m going to save it in case I need to “mix it up” one day in the future 🙂
I’d love this recipe as well! Does it get expensive using coconut milk?
Not expensive at all because I make my own coconut milk! I adapted this from a website that I don’t remember. But, here is what to use and how to do it.
1/2 c. coconut flakes, really hot water, a blender/food processor, several layers of cheesecloth, and something to store your coconut milk in.
I use my Vitamix, put the flakes in and about 1 cup of water. Blend really well. Filter the “milk” through the cheesecloth into a bowl. Put the saved blended flakes back into the mixer and add another cup of hot water. Repeat the previous process. The original author says to do it up to 4 times total, but I stop with 2.
The ratio is 1 part coconut milk to 3 parts Castile soap. I mix up a portion at a time. With the leftover coconut “milk” I freeze in 4 ounce glass containers.
Add whatever essential oils your hair and scalp need.
You can use the blended flakes in a smoothie or anything else requiring coconut flakes.
BTW, I suggest unsweetened coconut flakes! I don’t use organic; don’t believe that organic would be a necessity here.
I was no-poo for about a year. The baking soda and ACV just wasn’t doing it for me. After about 2 months my hair had a grey cast that was unpleasant. I still kept at it and tried to get to love my hair. After a year of struggling to like my hair I gave up. I switched back to organic shampoo and conditioner and I mix them with pure essential oils. I only shampoo and condition my hair once a week and my hair is so healthy and soft. I really love it now. It doesn’t get oily or greasy. But I just couldn’t handle the baking soda and ACV method. I gave it a really good year and it just never did what I wanted it to do. I wish you better success than I had. I am really thrilled with my hair now. It’s been 6 or 8 months now that I only wash once a week and I’m loving it.
I have heard that it isn’t for everyone and it doesn’t always work 🙂 So glad you found something that works for you!
I haven’t used any shampoo or conditioner in my hair in about 11 months. A good rinse in the shower gets rid of any sweat, dirt, etc that may gather from the day/night. I’m a guy with thin-hair and it is not long, but not super short either. It seems to be thicker, more natural colored, and stronger since not using the products. Awesome! Well, I haven’t really determined what, if anything, should be used in my hair. Any thoughts on this, and why?
Hi Daniel, that’s great that water is working for you! I have heard that a lot of people have success with that. The only thing I might recommend is an occasional wash with baking soda or some other natural ingredient. My stylist friend that suggested I use dry shampoo in the post said that the trouble with only using water is that our hair, just like clothes, can pick up smells. Depending on where you work and what you come in contact with that might be minimal or more of an issue. I think a weekly or even biweekly wash with something would be fine and take care of anything residual your hair might have picked up.
Jenny, thanks. I hadn’t thought of that. Since I can’t smell my own hair, I guess I wouldn’t know!
I have not gone, nor will I, to a no-poo way of taking care of my hair. My reasons are due to my hair structure. Know what Wardee’s hair looks like? Mine is twice as long, twice or more as thick, and extremely curly! That being said, I wanted to share an alternative (one I use and love). I have used Lynnel’s (she’s phenomenal) homemade natural soaps from the https://www.facebook.com/OregonSoapShoppe for years. She ships too! Around a year ago, we switched from traditional shampoo to her soaps (hint: every bar of her soap can be used as shampoo). I have noticed my hair has become naturally less frizzy (if it has trouble, I use a bit of cocoanut oil), it has more shine, my scalp feels much better, and it is more manageable. I love her soap and just had to share our experience for those who are reluctant to try no-poo due to hair structure. 🙂 great post!
Christi, like you (because of hair structure) no-poo doesn’t work for me. Thanks for recommending Lynnel’s soaps. Though I have not yet found a shampoo bar that worked for me, I am willing to try another!
I am very happy for people who can go the no-poo route, though!
Wardee, I use her “luxurious shampoo” bar 🙂 It’s extra Hope it works!
whoops! It didn’t post all my comment. *It’s extra conditioning, so it’s good for thick textured hair.
Christi, I’m glad you found something that works well for your hair! I wondered how this would work with curly hair 🙂
My sister had very curly hair and is loving the no poo method. Her hair is gorgeous now and she had very defined curls without using any product. Her transition period was a little longer than mine and she has a more difficult time rinsing, but loves it. 🙂
Oh, that is great to hear, Angie! Thanks for posting, I was curious!
Christi, can you tell me how you use a bar soap to shampoo? Do you create a lather in your hands and rub it on? I’m curious. 🙂
Davina, while I can’t speak from experience here and I hope Christi responds, this website explains a little about it and might be helpful to you:
http://www.applevalleynaturalsoap.com/how-to-use-a-shampoo-bar/
I have EXTREMELY thick, longish, wavy-to-curly hair. I jumped in to no shampooing with no transition period and my hair responded well. I absolutely had no adjustment period at all. I only ever washed my hair every other day at most because even in Southern California, it takes a day for my hair to dry, so maybe that helped with not feeling oily. Also, I always brush my scalp with a boar bristle brush and rinse very well, because it’s hard for me to get shampoo out of my roots (the thick hair thing). I started out with baking soda dissolved in water and then just used plain water. I haven’t noticed a difference in the appearance of my hair using one or the other. I think everyone’s hair is different and what works for me won’t necessarily work for another, but I wanted to share my story so that those with thick hair aren’t scared off from trying this method.
Thanks for sharing your story, Heather! Lucky you with no transition! I love that it’s working so well for you and hope others are encouraged to give it a try as well! 😉
I did no-poo with baking soda and very occasionally vinegar for 5 years. But then I had to find other alternatives. The pH of baking soda and vinegar rinses I found out, are like getting a color treatment on a weekly basis with the changes from basic to acidic pH. It cleaned my hair fabulously, but it was also damaging it. I used a tablespoon in a big cup of water usually every 4 days. I used vinegar maybe once a month to condition. My scalp started to get perpetually dry and itchy and I was having major breakage and splitting issues. So I switched to a honey shampoo. Did wonders to heal my scalp and hair, but I couldn’t get past the extreme oily clumpy lankiness after the first two weeks. So on to the next. I started using my daughter’s CA baby shampoo, the ingredients aren’t bad. Great at first, then back to oily. Now I am trying the african black soap honey shampoo from Mommypotamus’s DIY organic beauty recipes ebook. It seems to be working. 2-3 days between washes and less is definitely more. It took a week for my hair to degrease. I use about a tsp on the crown and then on the length. (Middle back – long hair.) I am doing a light rinse with ACV every great once in a while.
Good luck on finding a no poo method that works for you!
Wow, you’ve tried a lot of options! I hope you find something that continues to work great for you!! 🙂
Yes, I did go “no-poo” for a few years, and loved it. The baking soda and ACV made my hair much more manageable, anytime that i cheated with regular shampoo I regretted it. Also, I conditioned after shower with coconut oil. However, eventually my hair got brittle, pieces would break off when I ran my fingers through it. I thought it must be the baking soda. I read something about the ph balance of baking soda being damaging to hair. So I stopped with the “no-poo” method and am still searching for the right homemade recipe. http://empoweredsustenance.com/no-poo-method-damages-hair/
Georgia, I had the same experience with damaged, breaking hair. I went back to a commercial but pure shampoo that I only use once a week. I do like to shower every day so the hair gets wet and I blow it dry since we live in a cold climate but this is working perfectly for me.
So sorry you’ve had trouble with it! When you find something that works for you, I’d lvoe to hear!!
I have been no pooin’ it for over a year. I have gotten plenty of complements on my hair since it is now shinier and wavier than ever before. I actually forgot to make some before I got in the shower and used my husbands commercial stuff. EW! My hair has gotten so used to it I had greasy stringy hair that took days to get clean.
I have oily hair and wash it every other day. There is no way I could get away with once a week! I use the 1 Tbsp to 1 Cup ratio with cheap apple cider vinegar. During the summer I up the baking soda if I have particularly oily hair. I also add what ever EO I am in the mood for, like lavender and peppermint during allergy season to the conditioner.
I have always dumped it on my head, and rubbed it around just like shampoo to make sure it gets down to the roots and all over my scalp. I actually started using an old dishsoap bottle so that I could get precise placement to the oily parts of my scalp and the ends with the vinegar. The more I use it the better my hair looks. And after over a year without a hair cut I still don’t have split ends!
That’s wonderful, Janine! I like that you added essential oils to yours! I’d like to experiment with that some as well. :)Peppermint sounds lovely. 🙂
I went “No Poo” a little over a year ago. I have fairly coarse, curly hair. I did the baking soda/apple cider vinegar thing for about a year and I was still left with an itchy/dandruff-y head. I started using honey and water for my shampoo with no rinse and it has completely fixed the problem. Yay, me!!!
So glad you found a good solution! I’m interested in using honey, I haven’t heard much about that, I’m looking forward to researching it, thanks!
Robin,
Could you share the ratio of water and honey you use? Thanks.
I use 3/4 – 1 cup water and 1/4 cup honey! ; )
I also use flax seed gel. 2 Tbsp. flax seed and boil in 1 cup water for 10 minutes or less. Then, strain the seeds out. You can add some essential oil when cool. What you get is a slimy mess but it makes my hair so soft!
Thanks for following up, Robin! 🙂
Can hormones throw me off after having a baby? I was successfully no pooing for a couple years, but ever since getting pregnant and having my third child, I am having the most trouble getting my hair to stay clean, and not greasy. Use to be I could go 5 days without using the BS and ACV, but now, I can’t keep my hair from getting greasy after one day! Wondering what to do. I switch it up with a shampoo from Whole foods, but I am not sure it’s working either. Thoughts?
Horomones can definitely play a part and may take some time to calibrate post baby. While I wasn’t “no poo” after our last little one arrived, my hair was definitely greasier for a while as well. I haven’t tried it, but I have read that a hair mask with fresh lemon juice and egg (some sources said use the whole egg and others said to use just the yolk so you’ll have to research this for yourself) will treat greasiness. You put it on and let it sit for a bit before washing. It might be worth experimenting with. 🙂
Thanks for your advice, I may have to try that!
Had been no-poo for over a year. It took a good 6 months to really get out of the greasy stage, especially by the second day. I have thick, fine medium length wavy hair. Last time I got it cut the stylist commented about damage and my hair being lighter in places, which I attributed to the harshness of baking soda. I add melaluca (tea tree) essential oil to my baking soda, and used 2 tsp per cup of water. The oil kept scalp flakiness away. Had to stop no-poo recently, in part due to the stylist comment and in part due to pregnancy since the hormones are making my hair way too oily for no poo to work if I want to go out I public.
Oh, I’m still using the vinegar as a conditioner and I found a Shea based shampoo to try with few ingredients. For my daughter, we’ve never used soap or shampoo on her hair, and probably will do a homemade version with the acv rinse when we need something for it. I figure if her hair is never exposed to the stripping, she’ll never have to worry about it being overly oily.
I like that you added tea tree oil to the shampoo mix. I’m going to have to try that as I’ve had a little flakiness as well (I wonder, though, if it is truly flakiness or if it might be I’m not rinsing the soda well enough). Great thoughts about what you’re doing with your daughter. I use a natural shampoo with my kids right now, but want to transition them out of it now that I know it’s working for me.
An important component of natural hair care with an extended wash cycle is daily brushing with a natural boar bristle brush. Done properly, this helps distribute down the hair shaft the sebum your scalp produces, fluffs up the roots of your hair, reduces frizz and enhances natural wave.
There is lots of discussion about this on the long hair community forum. Look for threads about boar bristle brushing, bbb, and dr. George Michael method hair care. A user called Madora is particularly knowledgeable and experienced on this topic.
Also helpful is a recipe for a dry shampoo called Nanny Pauline’s Airing Powder. Of course, there are also all sorts of threads about no ‘poo washing, and herbal washes.
I wanted to comment on this issue of brushing your hair. About two months ago I bought a new hair brush, Michel Mercier Detangling Hair Brush for thick hair, and noticed that my hair is less frizzy (I have thick, shoulder length wavy hair) when I brush my hair 2x a day. Normally as soon as it begins to rain (I’m in the NW) my hair automatically frizzes out – but since I’ve begun using this brush it does not. I like have having smooth, wavy hair again. 🙂
Thanks, Kathryn! I will look that brush out! It sounds wonderful 🙂
Thanks! I have read about using a natural boar bristle brush, and it hasn’t been in our budget, but my birthday is coming in a few weeks 🙂 Thanks for the helpful resources you mentioned! I will definitely check them out!
I have been no poo for eight yeas or so. Right now about once a month I wash my hair with egg yolks (make sure to remove all the whites!!). I put the egg yolks on my scalp while my hair is dry. I let it stay in there for about ten minutes and then shower. I then rinse my hair with apple cider vinegar/water combo (about half cup acv to 1.5 cup water). In between washes when I just get my hair wet it does feel greasy when wet but dries fine
Diane, thanks for sharing what you do! Is the egg yolk wash monthly all you do or in addition to a routine you do more often?
I tried the baking soda + vinegar before. And it just doesn’t work for me.
Recently my friend told me about the egg yolk. I really love it! It works really well for me, too!
Hi jenny…. I’ve been cleaning my hair this way for over a year now and in the beginning it took a long time for the transition until I increased the amount of baking soda and that cut down a lot on the greasyness. And now. I can go almost a week before my hair looks greasy/dirty… if I am in a rush and I forgot to refill my squeeze bottle I will use my husbands commercial shampoo and my hair will look greasy in 2 days or less… its a great feeling knowingthat my hair is cleaner without using the chemical stuff… great post!
Leslie, I’ve had the exact same experience! I found I wasn’t using enough of the baking soda mixture at first as well. I was spraying just a little on and needed to use much more and when I started doing that the transition really sped up for me. 🙂
Due to my son having a serious case of eczema I went no poo for the summer b/c I had to eliminate as many ingredients as possible in my diet and then in all the chemicals (natural and not) that I used. I used soapnuts for my laundry to good effect, and then I learned that we could use it as a no poo, so my husband made me a batch, just from cooking the soapnuts (only 1 ingredient! with water), and I used it… the first month I did battle with some greasiness, but with regular combing with a sturdy comb the grease from the root spread out to the tips. Also, there was a lot of white “stuff” that was stuck to my comb bristles that was a bit sticky. The white sticky stuff actually disappeared a month after doing this, and so did any itchiness and dandruff. After traveling a whole day by airplane, and back in the country I am living in… Taiwan and super hot and humid, I washed my hair with an organic shampoo (Living Libations) and I literally went 1 whole month w/out washing my hair, b/c I just didn’t feel the need and my hair looked and felt great. I have never felt that way b4, even with expensive salon shampoo and conditioner. I eventually did wash my hair at the 1 month point (again w/ the same organic shampoo), just b/c I SHOULD! I’m thinking to go back to soapnuts again… for the next few months to see how it goes… but so far, so good and it has really helped me cut down ingredients to help with my son’s eczema. Oh, and I have thick, wavy long hair.
So glad you found such a great solution, Christine! So happy to hear that your son’s eczema is improving as a result, too 🙂
I love my no-poo routine. I have tried multiple techniques…just baking soda, just honey, handmade natural soaps. I finally have a routine that makes my hair not only clean but it feels amazing. I use honey bear bottles for my recipes. My hair is extremely thick and I have always needed to wash twice. Now I was twice but only have to wash my hair once every 4-5 days instead of every other day. The first wash is a small amount of the following … in a honey bear bottle I mix a small bit of baking soda, castile soap, a tiny bit of glycerine and hot water (I don’t measure, I have just learned how much of each works the best for me.) This will last for 3-4 washes. After I rinse this really well I use a really good hand milled bar of natural soap to lather my hair. Once my hair is lathered I put on honey (in a honey bear bottle I put honey to the top of the bears bottom leggs and then fill with hot water to mix). The honey will last 3-4 washes as well. Once lathered with the soap I rinse well and finish rinsing my hair and body with apple cider vinegar.
I have been using this method for almost 6 months now (using no poo for over a year) and finally love the results. My hair is clean, not greasy yet I can tell the natural oils are finally working how they should. I need to wash my hair less frequently which helps the condition of my hair and saves money. I also use my own home made hair gel and hairspray.
So interesting to hear about your routine! I really am curious about experimenting with honey. Is it hard to rinse out? Thanks for sharing!! 🙂 Love that in sharing my adventures I get to learn so much from all of you, too 🙂
I’ve been wanting to transition out of shampoo completely, but haven’t known what exactly to go to. I am suspicious of baking soda on hair because of the stripping quality, and also because it’s not a natural product! I mean, it’s not a whole food, it’s an industrial chemical that you can’t make in your kitchen or back yard from something you glean from the earth. And therefore, it’s not traditional. Women have been cleaning their hair for CENTURIES without shampoo, and they didn’t have baking soda. (Not that I think baking soda is the devil, it’s great for a lot of things. :P)
I grew up washing my hair twice a week, and eventually, through laziness, found it extending to every 5 days, and when I found my hair transitioning to be less greasy, I let it keep going. I have really thick hair, and washing it is a pain and can make my neck hurt (my house has no shower, never has all growing up, so I wash my hair in the bathtub or kitchen sink, head upside down), so I kinda want to do it as little as possible. I found that the less I washed my hair, the longer I could go, till once a week, and I was once a week for years. I read a book on curly hair and how curly hair is dry and never really needs shampoo at all, that conditioner alone will cleanse it just fine, so I started experimenting with using at least less shampoo. I used the Wen Cleansing Conditioner for awhile, but that got expensive (and I became really poor), so I switched to doing this method of using the Suave Naturals (which still has some icky chemicals, but far less than all the other brands in the store I looked at, and waaaay more natural emollients). I would use a huge handful of conditioner FIRST, which got a lot of the grease out, then a SMALL amount of shampoo, maybe a quarter’s worth for the scalp only, and then followed with another large dose of conditioner. Recently, I’ve been skipping the shampoo altogether and using just two washes of conditioner every week. THEN I started trying to go every two weeks, maybe using just water on the in-between week. My hair is a lot greasier the second week, but I just brush it more and do up-do’s to hide the grease (I don’t brush it at all during the first few days when my hair is really clean because it’ll frizz and lose its curl).
So now I’m using conditioner only every two weeks, and a tiny amount of shampoo MAYBE every couple months. And I want to transition further into using all natural products, but I just haven’t taken the plunge. I’d love to use ACV for conditioner, but I’d need a cleanser, and I’ve been considering Dr. Bronner’s soap (I also use coconut oil on my hair after washing) or egg yolks. I use food on all the rest of my body, I’d love to use food on my hair! 🙂 Something that is whole and I can make it easily if I need to in an emergency (like if zombies…).
Thanks so much for posting your hair story, Lydia! I hadn’t heard that curly hair doesn’t need shampoo, but I also have no experience with it. 🙂 Sounds like you’ve got a great thing going! I’ve read quite a few blogs/articles/etc about egg yolks working great, that might be a great option! 🙂 Happy experimenting!
Hi! I just found this blog, on a recommendation from a friend, and I’m really interested to read and follow it. I’ve been “no-poo” for several years now, for my long curly hair. I started out using baking soda, sometimes rinsing with apple cider vinegar, and following with a coconut oil massage to resupply oils stripped by the baking soda. For those of you that experience greasiness when using baking soda, here’s a tip: Mix a couple tablespoons of baking soda in 2 – 4 cups water and pour it over your *dry* hair (if your hair is wet beforehand, it dilutes the baking soda.)
I did have a transition period, but then I was able to go longer and longer between baking soda washes, with just a water scrub twice per week in between. Finally, I quit the baking soda altogether. Now, I massage with coconut oil and brush out my hair before showering, and I just scrub really well with water (actually it’s filtered water, using a WaterWise shower filter, since my skin does not tolerate my tap water.) My hair looks shiny, and it’s never greasy anymore. I don’t have any splits or damage, even though I haven’t trimmed it in a year.
I add several drops of tea tree oil to my coconut oil massage, for preventing itchiness/dandruff. I still have bouts with it from time to time (especially after traveling.) I’d like to try honey and egg yolks for that.
Hi Kim! Welcome! 🙂 I am finding since this post my hair is responding really well to coconut oil once a week, i”m going to try your massage method! Wonderful you’ve had such healthy hair after going “no poo”! 🙂
I have considered doing the no-poo method but our future plans consist of traveling overseas often. Our family loves Chagrin Valley’s shampoo bars! For those who need a good shampoo without any unnatural additives, I would highly recommend them! They are easy to travel with and wonderful! Our whole multi-ethnic family all uses it!
Thanks for the recommendation! We love to travel as well and I’m bookmarking the shampoo bars to try for our next trip! 🙂
Does the Chagrin Valley soap/shampoo strip hair color? Most commercial shampoos do. Thanks!
This probably sounds crazy but after I read this I started to wash my hair with fresh urine and it really is soft and amazing. http://www.urinetherapeutics.com/application.htm No transition problems and you just want to rinse it out with lukewarm water.
Wow, that’s interesting, Nancy! Glad it’s working for you, that’s one I’d never heard before! 🙂
Hi there. I just found this so sorry for the late comment. I’ve been no-poo since April. A friend talked me into trying it. I’m in my early 50’s though not menopausal yet. I have longish, course, very curly hair. I use 1 T of baking soda to 1 cup of water and put it into a mustard squirt bottle. I use the same proportion for ACV and it’s in ketchup squirt bottle. That way I can tell which is which without my glasses. I rinse my hair first and then squirt the baking soda mixer as close to the scalp as possible without getting on the ends of my hair, use my finger tips to rub it around, and then rinse. the ACV goes all over but I concentrate it on my scalp. Since the B.S. is alkaline the ACV balances the PH on my scalp. Sometimes I rinse the ACV out, sometimes I don’t. I use homemade ACV instead of the cheap stuff from the store now. My hair is soft, manageable, and I only have to do this every other day or every 3 days. I use coconut oil on the ends of my hair to keep it moisturized and soft. In between if I get an itchy spot I put a little ACV on it and the itch goes away. But the most important thing that happened is that I’m headache free. I had headaches every day!!! I was taking too much Ibuprophen to try and control them. I also have allergies. Once I stopped using commercial shampoo and conditioner my headaches went away and I rarely have to the take any antihistamines. I also have a form of shingles where I don’t get the rash but I get the pain. Since I’ve been doing this I haven’t had a breakout. I don’t know if it’s related but I won’t complain for sure. Hope that helps!
thanks so much for sharing your tips! I love the idea for the ketchup and mustard bottles! That’s a terrific idea and I’m going to have to give that a whirl, too! 🙂
I’ve tried no poo for 6month, never worked for me, the I tried olive oil soap ending up with itchy scalp and dandruff. I have a greasy hear and I though I’ll never find a natural alternative to shampoo, unroll recently when I thought of washing my hair with egg! The itchness went away immediately, and dandruff too! I have never loved my hair until the egg shampoo! I’m amazed few little talk about it and it took me so long to find out. Maybe somebody else would benefit from using an egg shampoo…
Irene,
Do you just use an egg or make up a shampoo with egg? Would you share exactly what you do?
Thanks.
Of course, I only recently came across this by reading a book about lemons. The shampoo I make has :
1 egg (my eggs are double yolks atm and they are huge, so the shampoo will last me 1 week in the fridge)+ 1 egg white (I’ve read that it is the white that gets the oil off the hair, and because I’ve got a very greasy hair I’ve though of adding an extra egg white which works excellent for me- not everyone would need the extra, or the egg white,for that matter, because used alone the egg white is drying the hair and the yolk is acting like the conditioner)- I beat the eggs very well with a fork and add 1-2 teaspoons of lemon juice, which I beat again. This is the basic shampoo to which you can add extras- I add 1-2 teaspoons of henna powder and a couple of drops of lavender oil.
I have to wash my hair every morning when I go to work otherwise I don’t like the look of it in the office (It’s always been like that) but I don’t mind now because I’ve learnt it is very quick. When get my children ready for school I just put the “egg shampoo” on my hair and leave it in there for a few minutes, or until I am ready to have a shower. Ideally 10 minutes, really with an excellent result after. When you apply the shampoo is weird at first but then the shampoo dries out in the hair and becomes hard. It takes me 3 minutes to shower (I have short hair and just a few months back I’ve decided to not dye my hair anymore).
I’ve got a cat and I feed her raw diet and she has a very soft/lovely fur. I can swear that my hair is really soft and silky since I’ve started this, same feeling as when I stroke my cat (just for comparison LOL).
If you Google egg shampoo you will find many recipes. Hope this helps. xxx
Thank you so much for sharing what’s worked for you, Irene! I love all the ideas that come from posts like this..I learn so much, too! 🙂
I didn’t know there might be a transition period and just started in putting several tablespoons of baking soda on my head and rubbing in and then rinsing. Then I would fill a glass with a few tablespoons of acv, mix with a cup or so of water and dunk the ends in the glass before pouring the rest over my head. My hair felt great and as I don’t generally comb out my hair when it’s wet as I have wavy hair, I haven’t had a tangle issue. I have been doing this for about two months. I usually wash my hair twice a week. My scalp has not been flaky or greasy. I do notice that it gets more snarly in the mornings than it used to so I sleep in braids often. Happy to give up an expensive product for one that is better for me and the planet.
That’s great, Kasey! I’m so glad you missed the transition period, too!!
I couldn’t do no poo bc the vinegar smell stayed in my hair and made me very nauseous . Any suggestions ?
Hi Meagan,
I added about 10 drops of lavender oil to mine. This is my first week going no poo, but the lavender really cut down on the vinegar scent. 🙂
Great tip, Nicki! I’m surprised the smell stayed. While it isn’t my favorite smell, I haven’t noticed it after I rinse.
right now i am using giovanni (supposedly all natural) shampoo and red hair conditioner every single day. i want to slowly transition to not washing my hair at all, or using the baking soda and vinegar method. so what do you recommend should be my schedule? i dye my hair red with henna and it goes down to the middle of my chest.
Hi Arianne, I’d start by spreading out your shampooing to every other day and then maybe every 2-3 days so your hair can start to adjust its oil production. Then I would make the switch to baking soda/vinegar or not shampooing after your hair has adjusted to less washes to make the transition a little easier.
Hi there! I’m in week 4 of transition, and around 2.5 weeks in, I used 2 egg yolks to shampoo the crazy amount of oil in my hair, and it worked very well, though eggs should be used sparingly. The protein can cause breakage otherwise. Silly question. All this oil in my hair (because it’s back)-does it just magically go away one day? I use my bbb every night but I’m just so slick looking. 🙁
Ps, I use honey and essential oil; 2 tbsp honey with 1 c water and about 10 drops on EO. My hair is way too fragile to attempt baking soda. I also do the ACV rinse. 🙂
I use Giovanni shampoo maybe once a week or less frequently to remove product build-up and the rest of the time I just condition my hair and it has made a huge difference. My hair is normally dry and frizzy and using the no-poo method has made my hair so much healthier!
I went no-poo about 3 years ago, and have never looked back. Before that I used to wash only every 3-4 days anyway, but now I can actually go 2-3 weeks, as long as I brush it each morning. I have straight hair that is between shoulder and shoulder blade (I just trimmed 2 inches off) length, and while it does tangle, it has never been really bad.
Once, when on vacation at the beach, I did try a shampoo (provided by our hotel) – was that a mistake! My hair was really tangled and dry feeling, so afterwards I simply re-rinsed with vinegar, and went back to water only – and have been happy ever since. I wish everyone lots of luck with their continued no-poo experiences.
I have yet to transition to “no poo” but one trick I use, instead of dry shampoo is baby powder. I just sprinkle it all over the top of my head the flip my head and sprinkle the bottom then I brush it out. It works like a charm every time!! Brunettes can still put cocoa powder in it for color!
I’ve been no-pooing for several months now. I started off just using baking soda and acv but found the acv made my hair too oily, and the baking soda irritated my scalp (sensitive skin). Now, I wash it every 10 days or so wih extremely watered down baking soda and then condition the ends with watered down white vinegar, as it leaves my hair not so oily.
After a while I find hat my hair starts getting super oily again only a few days after washing, so then I’ll use a scrambled raw egg instead (if you try this, be sure to rinse in cold water to avoid cooking it!!) I find the egg helps to balance it out again (could be something to do wih my sensitive skin?), and it works as both shampoo and conditioner. I’m going to get some henna at some point, to use as a deep conditioner as well (and natural dye 🙂 ).
I am considering returning to natural, hand made shampoo and conditioner though. Before I started no-pooing I could go more than 2 weeks without washing it sometimes. Will see how it goes 🙂
Hello All!, I was thinking while seeing everyone comment on the “greasy” stage that maybe the greasies are from the sebum clogging the hair follicles. It does solidify and that’s one of the reasons we lose hair. The ACV and or baking soda is dissolving that away. Sebum is fat after all, so maybe that’s the reason for the greasies?
i color my hair. Does baking soda and ACV strip off hair color like commercial shampoos?
i have fine, thin hair, so I use 1-2 tablespoons of honey, 1/4 tsp of baking soda in 2 cups of water. I also make a dry shampoo of arrowroot powder, cinnamon and cocoa. I wash my hair once a week. The roots get oily by the end of the week, but I just throw in a ponytail. If I notice my ends getting dry I’ll throw some coconut oil on them for about an hour before I wash my hair. I’ve been doing some sort of no poo variation for about two years, and I can tell the difference.
2 years poo free now
I have thick hair that tends to be dry. I just use water to wash my hair, twice a week
My hair is no longer fly away, is in much better condition and has lost the boofy look.
I don’t colour my hair or use any heating appliances on my hair so don’t seem to need conditioner, just regular brushing with a decent brush. Just took a month of greasier hair and then fine since. I don’t seem to get split ends anymore.
I tried no poo and my hair got greasy even though I try several homemade shampoo. But it did have good effect afterall.
Before, my hair got greasy even if I didn’t wash for just 3 days. Now, I can manage washing (commercial product, too lazy to make homemade though ?) once a week without my hair looked too greast.
My only problem is dandruff. I can’t wait too long before washing my hair without dandruff. I water wash daily though.
I’m just starting no poo. I’m not using baking soda, because I have a sensitive scalp. Instead do a apple cider vinegar rinse. Half a cup of water, half a cup of apple cider vinegar, 2-4 drops of jojoba oil, and a few drops of lavender oil. So far, it’s working good. I guess we’ll see how it goes!