No 'Poo!

And no I don't mean THAT kind!  I'm talking about shampoo people.  A few weeks ago I was reading Her Southern Charm when I came across THIS post.  It was talking all about going shampoo-free.  And since I tend to be a little on the crunchy side, I thought why not give it a try?  I already garden, make my own laundry and dish washing detergent, use reusable shopping bags, clean with vinegar, baking soda, lemon juice, and salt, and hang my clothes on a line to dry.  Actually, this isn't the first I've heard of the no 'poo movement nor is it the first time I've tried it.

I tried making my own shampoo last summer and it did NOT go very well.  My hair was in perpetual tangles the entire time.  I HATED it!  But, I figured out which ingredient (castile soap) in the shampoo was causing this issue.  Since this no 'poo recipe doesn't contain castile soap, I'm giving it a try.

So, how do you go shampoo-free?  Great question!  Basically, you make your own "shampoo" and "conditioner" from ingredients that are common in most households.  You dilute 1 tbs of baking soda in 1 cup of water and use this as your shampoo.  I cleaned an old empty shampoo bottle and poured my mixture into it to have it readily available in the shower.  You just shake it well before pouring it over your head and then rub it in.  There are no suds, which may take some getting used to, but it honestly doesn't really bother me all that much.  You can visit THIS website for more information on going shampoo-free.

If you have thin, fine, naturally curly/frizzy hair like I do, then conditioner is a MUST.  In that case, you simply mix 1-2 tbs of apple cider vinegar in 1 cup of water.  I put a teensy bit of vanilla extract in my mixture to cut the vinegar smell (although the smell rinses right out and doesn't linger).  I didn't have any essential oils on hand but that will be in my next batch!  Supposedly you won't have to use this every time you wash your hair.  I'm not really far enough along in the process to say whether or not I can do without it.

I have the type of hair that has to be washed EVERY day.  For the first 24 hours my hair is fine, but when I wake up in the morning it tends to be greasy at the roots, making a daily washing necessary.  Supposedly, this shampoo-free method is supposed to balance out your hair's natural oil production so that you can do a couple of days without washing your hair.  My hair stylist has always said that washing your hair every day isn't good for it, but I haven't ever had the luxury of skipping a day unless I plan a day lazing around the house.  I am hoping this shampoo-free thing will get my hair to a point where it is healthier and happier!

I started going shampoo-free on Tuesday (I think).  Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday my hair looked great!  I wore my hair wavy Tuesday and Wednesday to avoid blow-drying and flat-ironing so I could sleep in a littel bit.  Thursday I flat-ironed my hair and it did beautifully!  It took about half the time to straighten it and it looked fantastic.  Friday, my hair felt a tad oily but it didn't really look oily.  I thought maybe I used too much of the vinegar mixture.  Saturday morning my hair was very oily (I only used the vinegar mixture on my ends).  I had an engagement party to go to so I caved and used regular shampoo and conditioner, but I promised myself I would go back to 'poo-free the very next day and see it through.

Yesterday I let my hair rest.  I didn't wash it and just left it up all day.  I didn't have anywhere to be so I just made it a relaxing day for me and my hair.  This morning I washed my hair with the baking soda mixture but I didn't use the vinegar.  I knew my hair would probably tangle pretty badly without having a "conditioner" but I was running late so I was planning on wearing it up anyway. 

I am currently in what is called the "transitional" period.  My hair is basically trying to return to its natural state.  Because I've used harsh shampoo all my life, my hair is over-producing oil right now (because it is used to trying to compensate for all the oil the shampoo normally strips away).  It should balance itself out soon.  I will definitely keep you posted!

I apologize for the lack of pictures.  I forgot to take pictures last week and today, honestly, my hair is not a pretty sight.  I overslept and had to rush to get ready.  That means I had no time to dry or straighten my hair.  That equals frizzy, unruly hair for this chick so it is currently in a bun.


Oh and don't forget to enter my giveaway!  It ends this Friday at 11:59pm.