How to Achieve Amazing Results Without Shampoo – Why I prefer no-poo

This post was most recently updated on September 1st, 2020

So I don’t use shampoo anymore. Why don’t I use shampoo? Well, there are a few reasons actually. The first reason being that actually shampoo is a modern convenience designed to make a company money, and the more you use it the more you need it.

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Commercial shampoo dries out your hair, so they also kindly sell you conditioner. Buying shampoo is an expense I would rather not have, and yet another source of plastic in the home. Our great grannies did without shampoo, why can’t we?

I used to have very greasy hair, if I didn’t wash it every day then it was GROSS. However, I also had very dry, strawy ends of my hair so it needed heaps of conditioner too. 

My hair was also limp and lacked the coveted “body and shine”.

RELATED: uses for apple cider vinegar

I had a shampoo companies dream head of hair. They have SO MANY PRODUCTS they can supply to help me!

For a nominal fee of course. For the rest of my days.

There are a lot of chemicals in shampoo that people like to avoid. You should try pronouncing the ingredients list! I don’t have any particular arguments with any of the chemicals per sey, but I do think that the less unpronounceable rubbish in my life the better.

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How do you Wash your Hair Without Shampoo?

So what do I use in my life without shampoo? Good old baking soda and Apple Cider Vinegar!

I did attempt to go no-poo previously using just baking soda, but it really wasn’t a great success. The instructions I had read said to use 1-2 tsp which just did not work for me.

My life without shampoo was sad, my hair was greasy and knotty and horrible. SO I went back to daily washing with shampoo and it’s ever-present friend, conditioner.

When we moved to Piwakawaka Valley I decided to give baking soda a go again.

How Do You Wash Your Hair With Baking Soda?

For people with long or thick hair, you will need a lot more that a teaspoon of baking soda. If you have short hair, a teaspoon will suffice.

My hair is of medium thickness but falls most of the length of my back. You will have to play around a bit with ratios, but always rinse with vinegar at the end, it makes the whole thing work much better.

I keep a drinking cup in the shower. Don’t use a glass. You will drop it and it will break. Don’t ask me how I know, but I can tell you that glass is hard to get out of the plughole.

When I wash my hair I put 2 Tablespoons of baking soda into the cup (my hair is quite long and oily, you may need more or less for your head). In the shower, I top it up with hot water and give it a good stir/swirl.

Then I tip it onto my scalp and give it a good gentle massage. Rinse it well. Then I follow with 1/8 – 1/4C white vinegar (or homemade Apple Cider vinegar) topped up to the top of my cup with hot shower water. This neutralizes the baking soda and acts as a detangler and conditioner.

I have been using baking soda and vinegar for 12 months now. My hair is super soft, hardly tangles and I only have to wash it every 3-4 days now!

My hair has body and shine without shampoo that it never had using all the products shampoo companies offered.

Also, just so you know, the smell of the vinegar dissipates as it dries for those that are worried you would smell like a packet of chips.

I have actually moved on from baking soda now – find out what with here.

What do you use to wash your hair? Have you had any success with baking soda?

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I have not looked back from going no poo - my hair is more shiney, less greasy and less dry on the ends. Washing your hair with baking soda is simple and effective, without shampoo, shampoo alternatives.

 

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