Begging You to Go No 'Poo!

My sad, grown out haircut after 3.5 months! But look how red and shiny!

I have been going without traditional shampoo for 2 months and I am hooked! I want to tell you about it since it is so much healthier for your body, and hey, it is kind of crafty--you are mixing things together and...ok, this has no place on this blog!

The chemicals they put into storebought shampoos are toxic and have an effect on our immune systems, fertility, and many other things, and should never be sold on the market to unsuspecting customers. If you research your own personal beauty products here, you will find disturbing information that will hopefully spur you on to going all natural. I am not the eco-friendly, green, hippie type, but I do want to use things that are already useful and available through nature. For one thing, they are CHEAP! I am all about cutting costs wherever I can. Why do they go and create something that will hurt people in the long run when there are natural remedies that work? Money, that's why! The corporations and labs are making hand over fist pumping out promises in these toxic bottles that are only bringing people health problems in the end! And I have never had much success with shampoos, conditioners, styling products, etc! It just caused me to buy more and more and waste $$$ for nothing.

That was my rant...

I am using a baking soda+water paste for a cleanser and apple cider vinegar+water rinse for conditioner. These two ingredients, when used in conjunction, will balance out the pH of your hair. They do not strip your hair like chemical shampoos do. Those shampoos will cause your scalp to over-produce oil and gunk as your head tries to balance out its own pH. What you end up with is oily scalp and dry ends. The story of my life. (a little dramatic there...)

Everyone has different hair types, which means you want to adjust your no 'poo formula just a bit depending on your type.

Basically:

Thick, dry hair: less baking soda, more ACV
Thin, oily hair: more baking soda, less ACV (avoid putting it on the roots)

My formula is:

1 TBS baking soda + very little water (until it is pasty)
3 TBS ACV + 2 cups water

I massage the paste into my scalp and don't touch the ends. The flow of water from the shower will naturally send it downstream. Then I rinse it really well. Next, I pour the ACV mix over my hair starting at the roots/top and work it down to the ends. I rub it in to make sure it is saturated. You can leave it on for a little or rinse it right out. Rinse it well!

I follow up with a tiny amount of this organic coconut conditioner I got at the health food store. I like to add that because I have super dry hair. I noticed that the conditioner is working better on my pH balanced hair compared to when I used to use it after a traditional shampoo.

My husband even noticed that my  hair looks thicker, shiner, and less dry since I've been doing this. That is a big deal for me! Also, ACV is known to bring out natural red highlights. Who doesn't want that?

And let's talk about cost savings! What is it, .60 cents for a box of baking soda and $1-something for a bottle of ACV? These will last for at least a few months!

That's the other thing--I only have to wash my hair about once a week because my scalp is not producing mass amounts of oil like it used to. It stays looking and feeling clean for at least 5 days now. Great for mommies!

The photo above is a day after it's been washed and dried with a hot air brush. Usually heat appliances cause my hair to become super frizzy and puffy, but not now. Love it!

Think about it! :) Let me know if you have any questions or want to share your experience here.