The latest craze in hair care for both men and women, which is very popular in the paleo community, is to stop using traditional shampoos and conditioners. This is usually referred to as the "no-poo" (no shampoo) method. The thought process behind this movement is that most of the beauty products on the market contain harmful chemicals, and that what we put ON our body is equally as important as what we put IN it.
Advocates of the no-poo method maintain that you can keep your hair clean and healthy without using traditional forms of shampoo. There are a variety of popular methods being used, some of which are listed below. You should asses your own hair type and determine which method might work best for you, as different methods work better for different people. It does take a few weeks for your scalp to stop producing the normal oils and to adjust to these new methods, so you may need to hide out for a little while or wear your hair back if possible. Some people also prefer to transition slowly into the "no-poo" method by starting out using a castile soap, which contains no detergents or foaming agents, and then gradually moving to one of the methods listed below.
Below are some popular No-Poo options:
Advocates of the no-poo method maintain that you can keep your hair clean and healthy without using traditional forms of shampoo. There are a variety of popular methods being used, some of which are listed below. You should asses your own hair type and determine which method might work best for you, as different methods work better for different people. It does take a few weeks for your scalp to stop producing the normal oils and to adjust to these new methods, so you may need to hide out for a little while or wear your hair back if possible. Some people also prefer to transition slowly into the "no-poo" method by starting out using a castile soap, which contains no detergents or foaming agents, and then gradually moving to one of the methods listed below.
Below are some popular No-Poo options:
1. Water Only - This method involves using only warm water to clean your hair, and making sure to rinse your hair almost daily in order to see the benefits. This is the cheapest and easiest method, but most people start with one of the other methods first before weaning off to water only. This works best for people who do not have very oily hair and have a normal scalp without dandruff.
2. Baking Soda and Water - This method involves wetting your hair with water and then cleaning your scalp and hair with 1-2 Tbsp. of baking soda mixed with about 1 cup of warm water. You massage the mixture into your hair as you would a regular shampoo, and then rinse it out thoroughly with warm water. This works best for individuals with oily hair as the baking soda is a cleansing agent and not a conditioner.
3. Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar - This method involves wetting your hair with water and then cleaning your scalp and hair with 1-2 Tbsp. of baking soda mixed with a little bit of water to form a paste. You rinse out the baking soda and then rinse your hair with about 1-2 Tbsp. vinegar mixed with 1 cup water, focusing on the ends. Make sure to use apple cider vinegar and not white vinegar! Your hair will initially smell like vinegar, but that should fade once you give your hair a final water rinse. The baking soda acts as a cleansing agent, while the vinegar conditions the hair and balances the pH. This method is used by individuals with all hair types and is one of the more popular "no-poo" methods. Some people swear by this method and others claim it damages their hair, so will need to judge if this is right for you.
4. Egg Yolks and Apple Cider Vinegar - This method involves wetting the hair and washing your hair with 1-2 egg yolks and then rinsing with water (you will have to make sure to rinse thoroughly). You then rinse your hair with about 1-2 Tbsp. vinegar mixed with 1 cup water, focusing on the ends. Make sure to do a final rinse with water to thoroughly remove the vinegar. This method generally works best for those with dry hair.
5. Raw Honey - This method involves using 1-2 Tbsp. of raw honey mixed with about 2 Tbsp. water. You wet your hair first with water and then rub the mixture onto your scalp, followed by a water rinse. The advocates of this method love it because it keeps your hair soft without the need for conditioner, but others claim that the honey is hard to wash out and does not leave their hair feeling clean.
6. Coconut Oil - While not used as a shampoo generally, many people find that applying a small amount of coconut oil to their hair helps keep it shiny and healthy. Coconut oil is able to penetrate the hair shaft and help soften the hair. To use this method, rub a very small amount of coconut oil between your hands to warm it, and then runs your fingers through your hair (dry or wet), focusing on the ends. No need to rinse!
Have you tried a no-poo method and if so, how did it work for you?
2. Baking Soda and Water - This method involves wetting your hair with water and then cleaning your scalp and hair with 1-2 Tbsp. of baking soda mixed with about 1 cup of warm water. You massage the mixture into your hair as you would a regular shampoo, and then rinse it out thoroughly with warm water. This works best for individuals with oily hair as the baking soda is a cleansing agent and not a conditioner.
3. Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar - This method involves wetting your hair with water and then cleaning your scalp and hair with 1-2 Tbsp. of baking soda mixed with a little bit of water to form a paste. You rinse out the baking soda and then rinse your hair with about 1-2 Tbsp. vinegar mixed with 1 cup water, focusing on the ends. Make sure to use apple cider vinegar and not white vinegar! Your hair will initially smell like vinegar, but that should fade once you give your hair a final water rinse. The baking soda acts as a cleansing agent, while the vinegar conditions the hair and balances the pH. This method is used by individuals with all hair types and is one of the more popular "no-poo" methods. Some people swear by this method and others claim it damages their hair, so will need to judge if this is right for you.
4. Egg Yolks and Apple Cider Vinegar - This method involves wetting the hair and washing your hair with 1-2 egg yolks and then rinsing with water (you will have to make sure to rinse thoroughly). You then rinse your hair with about 1-2 Tbsp. vinegar mixed with 1 cup water, focusing on the ends. Make sure to do a final rinse with water to thoroughly remove the vinegar. This method generally works best for those with dry hair.
5. Raw Honey - This method involves using 1-2 Tbsp. of raw honey mixed with about 2 Tbsp. water. You wet your hair first with water and then rub the mixture onto your scalp, followed by a water rinse. The advocates of this method love it because it keeps your hair soft without the need for conditioner, but others claim that the honey is hard to wash out and does not leave their hair feeling clean.
6. Coconut Oil - While not used as a shampoo generally, many people find that applying a small amount of coconut oil to their hair helps keep it shiny and healthy. Coconut oil is able to penetrate the hair shaft and help soften the hair. To use this method, rub a very small amount of coconut oil between your hands to warm it, and then runs your fingers through your hair (dry or wet), focusing on the ends. No need to rinse!
Have you tried a no-poo method and if so, how did it work for you?
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