No-Poo Day... 9-ish.

This update contains details and photos of hair that has not seen shampoo in over a week. Proceed with caution if you are sensitive. Except you really don't have to be cautious at all because...

I have to report that my hair is fabulous. Having washed only once with baking soda/water/ACV since the last post, my hair has never been better. The baking soday definitely gets rid of any oily build-up, and the ACV rinse leaves my (rather long) hair smooth, soft, and super shiny. Have I mentioned that there are also virtually NO tangles?

I've bought a bamboo paddle brush to encourage the oils down my hair, so it's keeping things shiny and bright. Remember that old "100 strokes/day" thing? Yeah, don't do that many since it will likely cause more breakage and split ends. I'm definitely using this thing at least twice per day, though. It not only creates smooth, shiny locks, but provides an unbeatable scalp massage that is simultaneously stimualting and relaxing.

I admit, it's a little weird to scrub my head and not have happy bubbles cascading down my back. But when I think about it, those little bubbles aren't actually that happy. They're full of surfactants and SLS and all kinds of other ickies that have no business on skin. I also (only slightly) miss smelling like a flower after washing, but I suppose this could be remedied with a drop or two of essential oil in the ACV rinse. I haven't tried this yet, but I might give it a whirl in the coming weeks of "just water."

I'm a little scare of the just water portion of the experiment. I dislike the idea of oily build-up, and the possibility of getting smelly. I have already decided to include ACV rinses a few times per week... basically every time I wet my hair. We have hard water here, and the last thing I want is hair scales. (Yeah, I said it. Hair scales. Deal with it.) Maybe this would be a good time to try the essential oil business? Then again, perhaps not, what with all the scalp glands still figuring themselves out.

Of course, I will keep you posted regarding the use of just water (and ACV) in the coming weeks. I'm aiming for 3, but this could extend to 5 or be shortened to 2, depending how it goes.

Until then, here's an updated picture of my no-poo hair:
It may even be growing faster, both in length and width. What do you think?
How is YOUR no-poo experiment coming along? Leave me a note to tell me how you're doing!

No-'Poo Day 2

In which Emily notices that the title sounds like a plug for laxatives and chuckles. Then apologises for the unseemly use of the word "plug." Then chuckles again.

I promise I am not going to update daily since this would likely be quite boring for you, the reader. Instead, I am going to try to update mostly on those days which provide a nice rhyme-y title, such as today (and 22, and 32, and so on). As such, I simply could not resist today's title, not to mention totally awesome puns.

You're welcome.

Not much has changed today, since I generally wash my hair every 3 days anyway. I did, however, pre-make the non-poo and vinegar rinse for tomorrow's scheduled washing. I am both excited and nervous, as I've heard that too much soda causes hair dryness, and this is definitely not something I want. Too little, however, might not provide enough cleanliness, and stinkiness is also not something I want. Trial and error, I suppose. I will definitely let you know how it goes.

*Update*
Day 3 has officially started. I washed with BS and did ACV rinse afterward. This is what I look like today (in fluorescent light, and unphotogenic... and maybe a bit like the scary girl from The Ring).
So far, my hair looks and feels pretty much the same as it did on shampoo. That's probably normal. Likely my over-excitedness has me over-updating. I promise that I will wait a few days between postings from now on.
Until then, no poo! How about you?

It Begins

**UPDATE:
I mis-wrote the instructions for making non-poo. Just add water in small amounts to some dry baking soda until it gets gooey. Err on the side of watery. Make as much as is needed.**

I'm a little late joining the party, but here goes: I'm giving up shampoo.

A coworker was discussing this the other day, and I became fascinated. I have already eliminated shampoos with SLS (Sodium Laurel/Laureth Sulfate) and other chemicals I cannot pronounce in favour of natural ingredients. I only wash my hair every 3 days (it's long and thick and takes FOR EVER to dry). I've even ventured into making my own lip balm and deodorant. I promise I still have friends.

So I pitched this idea to my cousin, sent her an article or two, and she hopped on board. She's calling this the "60 day no-poo Challenge." I love it. I think I might want to extend it a bit longer myself, but we'll see how this goes first. Here's how it works:

1. Stop using shampoo (obviously). You still get to wash your hair, but use a mixture of baking soda and water (just enough to be gooey, but err on the side of too watery).
2. Squirt the mixture all over your head and rub it in like 'poo. It won't lather, but it'll get the job done.
3. Rinse.
4. Go about your life.

If you find the ends of your hair are getting dry, use an apple cider vinegar "conditioner."
1. Measure 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider (NOT WHITE) vinegar into a cup of water.
2. Pour this on the ends of your hair. Try to avoid the scalp, as this can irritate.
3. Rinse.
4. Again, go about the rest of your life.

Internet sources (because that's all I have) suggest that you use this in place of your own regularly scheduled washings, which for me is every 3 days. I've also seen suggestions that you make the baking soda/water combo a few days in advance, but to each his/her own.

After doing this for about a week, use JUST WATER. Naturally, your hair will grease like mad for a week or so. DO NOT BE ALARMED. This is your natural oil glands recalibrating. They're over producing like crazy right now because we spent the last however-many-years-you've-lived being stripped of their natural oils several times each week. They're pretty quick to adapt, so I guess we just ride it out. Invest in a cute hat, get some bandanas or just wear a ponytail. I have been assured that this passes. Use just water for about 3-5 weeks.

After this, you can re-introduce the baking soda/vinegar regime once per week or so. Some people do more, others less. It's all up to you and your individual hair.

I'm told results are amazing. I'll keep you posted.

Here is a "before" picture. This was taken May 2011 (I really don't have anything more recent! The only difference now is that my hair is longer).


Some sources: http://thehairpin.com/2011/04/how-to-quit-shampoo-without-becoming-disgusting
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30337386/ns/health-skin_and_beauty/t/ditching-shampoo-dirty-little-beauty-secret/#.T1eG1_Wibbi