How to Go No Poo

Step 3: Closing Thoughts and Advice

I hate the smell of vinegar. However, apple cider vinegar isn't as harsh as white vinegar, and after you rinse and dry your hair, the smell is completely gone. Your hair will smell like hair, or maybe whatever you added to your conditioner.
The eventual aim of this process is to let your natural oils care for your hair, so you should use the baking soda and vinegar only as much as you need it, hopefully reducing your usage to zero eventually. Good luck, and don't give up!

Comments

[Exocetid]

Frankly, all you need is the universal solvent to clean your hair and your body. If you get dirt or grease on you, then add nature's naturally occurring abrasive. These two compounds are amongst the most abundant on earth.

What are they? Dihydrogen monoxide and silicon dioxide. Both of these compounds can be very, very dangerous, even kill you. Use wisely.

[justme22]

I was very excited about this concept. I tried this for about two months. I have very oily hair and skin and I feel compelled to shampoo at least once a day. This technique did the job and controlled the oil. I worked on varying the amount I used per day, trying to use less and less. However, it was rough on my fine hair and I had a lot of breakage and hair loss/shedding. Also, now that the cold dry winter has hit, I had big time static problems, and dry dull hair--- no longer looking healthy and pretty. I even tried to supplement this method with natural deep conditioners such as eggs, mayonaisse, olive oil, jojoba oil, etc. Yuck, time consuming, and didn't make much of a difference! While I haven't gone back to the big brand mass-produced, chemically-laden shampoo and conditioner, I am seeking out and trying different brands of organic, more eco-friendly shampoos and conditioners. This method just doesn't work for me for the long term. Perhaps a little vain, but to a "natural, low-maintenance" woman, the look of healthy shiny pretty hair is important! At least I tried it!

[AppalachiaAngel]

A really good brand that os a little more Eco friendly and does wonders for hair and skin is Fructis Pure Clean ... I and some of my family have bad psoriasis on our scalps and most shampoos irritates the fire out of it... we started using this after using coal tar shampoo and menthol shampoos ( menthol shampoos do work but are really irritating to the eyes and nose) and Pure Clean really worked!!!

[BDMama]

I THINK the idea is to use the baking soda and vinegar only till your hair normalizes and then wean off those, too. Also you don't need to use the vinegar every time you use the baking soda. At least that is what I picked up from other instructables.

In addition you can make your own conditioner so much more cheaply than buying it. I like this one: http://www.instructables.com/id/Eco-friendly-low-cost-hair-conditioner-and-gel/

My hair is curly and, therefore, dry and this conditioner has done wonders for my hair this winter. My hair usually doesn't curl in the winter, it just dries out and frizzes no matter what I used. But with this home-made conditioner it has been soft and curly.

[JenHen]

I am new to all the new home remedies. How do you get your hair clean if weaned off of shampoo and baking soda and vinegar? I sweat and also am sometimes in places where my hair will pick up the odor. How do I get these out w/o the above products? I also have dyed hair. Thanks in advance!

[mcowgill]

Actually, the Vinegar is a pretty crucial part of the process. I haven't tried this method yet, but it's essentially the same as why you're told to "condition" after you color your hair.

The outer layer of the hair, the cuticle, can be raised by heat and changes to elevate pH. The natural pH of your skin, hair, and nails is 4.5-5.5 on a scale of 0-14. Shampoos and soaps are more alkaline in nature, falling above the "neutral" 7 marker. This means that the sulfates (detergents) in these things, like that lovely smelling Pantene ProV shampoo in your shower, or your "antibacterial" soap (ALL soap is antibacterial) attach to the unwanted molecules so that the grease and dirt can all be pulled out of your hair and rinsed away. Sadly. these harsh chemicals don't discriminate. They strip your natural oils too. (I'm not going to go into health effects because I'm not qualified to do so, but I don't exactly think they're terribly healthy either.)

So your cuticle is raised, right? All the dirt is gone and you can just get your happy self out of the shower and everything will be okay? Wrong. You must CLOSE your cuticle, or your hair will be dry, probably very brittle, straw like, and break very easily. All because you chose to leave it's natural defense system open.

This is where the acidity of the ACV comes in. Or, you can use lemon juice, lime juice, or anything else nontoxic that is gentle enough to use, or that you can dilute to be so. Oh, hey, did you know that a lot of people rinse their hair in beer? (: I don't necessarily think it's the hops and barley that women (and even men) enjoy so much that makes their hair so soft and shiny. It's pH? 4.5 :D

So, my suggestion would be, (if you're 21 that is) buy yourself a 12 pack, and make yourself a deal. Before or after your shower (which, shouldn't involve cleansing your hair more than 3 times a week), take a mental health break and drink a beer, and use one more on your hair. And, notes to any other ladies out there reading this, I think it's a beer a week can help to prevent yeast infections. Win-win-win? I think so.

I hope this has helped. I'm an aspiring cosmetologist (which is why I have all this information. That, and I'm addicted to knowledge), so I thought knowing the ins and outs of the process might be useful. :)

[NikNice]

Wow! THANKS for the info!!! My Mom and I both have pretty oily hair. Hers is more oily and more fine. I am glad you told me this so that I do not have to hear later down the road that I suggested for her to do something that "ruined" her hair!!!
Thank you for saving me alot of pain in my ear! :)

[PearlZenith]

When I weaned myself from shampoo, I was already skipping days between shampoos, often only shampooing about 2-3 times a week, since washing my hair every day was really harsh on it.  Also, the feel of your hair is not going to be as squeaky clean as shampoo gets it, but rather a nice, silky feel instead.  Maybe switching to a milder shampoo (and only lathering once, if you're used to relathering to get everything squeaky clean) will help your hair and scalp transition, as they get used to not having to produce so much oil to make up for what is scoured away.  I like the smell of Avalon Organics, though it's pricier than I care for.  I also used a hemp-based shampoo that was really mild, but I forget the name of.  Health food stores often carry some mild brands.

Ones diet also has a big effect on hair, so if nothing seems to be working, maybe making a change in what you're eating could help out.  I notice that when I get all of my minerals and vitamins, my skin and hair and nails are much healthier than when I'm too tired to prepare food and eat processed stuff.

[elizabethfaraone]

I like the products that are made by Jane Carter and by John Masters and by Devacurl (No-poo and Lo-poo). Also, if you have a Whole Foods store near you, their policy is for you to buy their products and if they don't work for you, you can return them for a full refund. Also, their staff can often be very helpful in determining products that are good for you.

[rebeccacceber]

its expensive, but the shampoos and conditioners from the body shop are pretty eco freindly and work so amazingly well you will never go back to anything else.

[copycat42]

I went to the body shop, and asked for something to wash my hair. They looked at me funny, and pointed me to the bathroom, to something called GOJO. It works great! It has these little beads of pumice to really get that deep clean. It even has a clean citrus smell. Anyway, they sold me a tub of the stuff. They said that they were out of the conditioner, but they said the muffler shop down the street was supposed to get a shipment next week. I can't wait.

[xenobiologista]

ROFL (in case anyone doesn't get it, GOJO is a brand of heavy duty cleaners for people who have dirty jobs like car mechanics and have to wash a lot of grease off their hands)

[jazzhorn]

LOL! Probably the best solution in all seriousness though. MOST (not all) hand/ dish soaps have only the chemical that adheres to oils and washes away with water, without the extra ingredients. 

[chimmyanne]

(removed by author or community request)

[Helen Baq]

I've been using the conditioner only method for several weeks now and really love it. I use Suave Naturals, which is inexpensive and does not contain harsh chemicals or 'cones (silicon derivatives). I clean my hair about once every five to seven days and follow with an apple cider rinse. If my hair starts feeling a bit dirty in between washes, I can simply rinse with water and apple cider vinegar and it perks right up. I do not wash the vinegar rinse out, it doesn't smell once it's dry. My hair is very long and fine and now it's very shiny, as well! Just make sure any conditioner you use is 'cone free. You can google for an extensive list of cone free conditioners as well as the conditioner only washing method. Castile soap can work fine for any length hair, but it will make your hair dull if you have hard water. You can counter that by rinsing with apple cider vinegar and water. As for brushing, it's used to distribute natural oils through the hair. You use a boar bristle brush after you've combed and detangled. It's not brushing 100 times, it's 100 strokes, as far as the old standard goes. This isn't something you have to stick with, it's just a method for making sure you've thoroughly distributed the sebum along the hair length. Make sure, when using castile soap or shampoo, that you only wash your roots. Washing the length is unnecessary, as any soap/shampoo running down the length as you rinse is sufficient to clean it. Not only does this use less shampoo, it also helps keep your hair healthy.

[jedwards18]

In addition to using a brush to draw the oils thru your hail, it is import to use the brush to loosen the dead skin on your scalp. First brush down at your scalp to break off the dead skin, then draw the brush thru your hair to remove the loosened dead skin from your hair. Don't scrub your scalp with the brush, just start using light to medium force and over time your scalp will get healthier and you will find the right rhythm for your own hair.
Also, when starting out, you may want to do this before a gentle shampoo, depending on what condition your scalp is in when you start up and how much dander you break loose and how much oil gets freed into your hair.
After cleaning your hair with the brush, it's a good idea to clean the brush before doing the "100 strokes" (I used two brushes when I had long hair, stiffer for cleaning).
Once your scalp is healthy, from time to time when there is too much oil in your hair, instead of a shampoo, you can brush a little baby powder or talcum powder thru your hair during brush cleaning.
Factors that may alter your usual routine are how much your scalp was sweating and how much dust or floating debris from the environment got in your hair.
In effect, your healthy scalp and hair become a micro environment where conditions vary by days, activities, and seasons, and your grooming adapts to those conditions, including when it's time to wash it.
Don't confuse the above with detangling your hair for whatever reason (see next post) and do trim your split ends.

[chimmyanne]

copycat, i've heard of it. but brushing your hair is one of the more damaging things you can do to it, especially brushing improperly. it contributes to hair breaking, splitting and creasing (which leads to breakage later on). i only brush my hair as much as needed and spend the time to work through knots from the bottom, rather than pulling through them. its an essential part of growing thin hair to any length at all without having it look ratty. i don't even want to begin to imagine how bad it would look if i brushed it 100 times a day, since i left this post i have found a solution to my issues, based on a recommendation here at instructables and it's rating as one of the best value based brands. that "austrailian" conditioner line definitely does the trick! best solution i've found so far.

[copycat42]

ever try the "100 brushes" method? before you go to bed, run a brush through your hair 100 times. this distributes the scalp oils through your hair. when you see those 18th century period movies with the lady in her bed clothes brushing her hair, that's what she's doing.

[Skai]

instead of using a brush you could just use a washcloth so that your not tugging away at your hair too much. Not to say that the brushing probably wouldn't work either - those 18th century girls prob had some good D.I.Y knoweledge themselves! But to update their style, using a washcloth i think would appease anyone with concerns about brushing their hair too much, while still adhering to the commitment of not giving those beauty stores so much money!!!!!

[msgypsy]

Some health food stores (and regular supermarkets with bulk sections) allow you to purchase small quantities of their shampoos from a bulk bin. It might help your budget if all you have to buy is enough for one month at a time. Also, you really don't need much shampoo when you wash your hair. I cut it down to a teaspoon (for shoulder length hair) and it's more than enough.

[sjstower]

I have been using a vegetable based shampoo (without conditioner) that I get at the health food store for a couple of years now. The only time I've used something else is when I've run out of it. To cover my gray, I have my hair colored and highlighted four to five times a year. When I was younger, this used to leave my hair dry and tangled, but since I've been using the vegetable based shampoo, I don't even have to use conditioners any more! My hair stylist and friends are amazed at how healthy my hair is. Here is what I discovered: try different brands of natural shampoos until you find the one that works best; use just enough to clean, not strip your hair- if you have a head full of suds, you've used too much (even though the brand I buy costs around $10, a bottle last me for months, and I don't have the additional expense of a conditioner, so I think I'm actually saving money); if you need a conditioner after washing, you washed your hair too well- leave a little of your own oil in- it's a free and natural conditioner. It'll take a few hits or misses before you find the perfect balance, but believe me, it's worth it!

[rlsearles]

Would you mind telling me the exact brand of shampoo you use? I'm not sure what you mean by "vegetable based". Thanks, Rebecca

[sjstower]

Rebecca, The brand I finally settled on is called BWC. BWC makes different shampoos and conditioners but the one I use says "organic aromatherapy shampoo, moisture plus, benefits dry / treated hair; 100% vegetarian." The last time I got my hair colored caused it to dry out, but after using the shampoo for a month it was silky and soft again. I also have soft water so I don't know if that makes a difference.

[rlsearles]

Thanks for the tip, I'll give it a try.

[jeanlandes]

I wonder if you are brushing your hair to distribute the natural oils produced by your scalp? Using a natural bristle brush is key. Old fashioned 100 strokes, being gentle too. Just a thought. Jean

[jenbair]

Can't wait to try this. I have icky dandruff no matter what shampoo I use. Right now I am using Bronner's and rotating between that an another organic shampoo but this might be a better option. Thanks for posting. Baking soda and vinegar works wonders for my laundry to the point I don't need bleach or fabric softener at all any more so it could work for most people's hair too.

[angeladesouza]

Jenbair, can you tell me how much Baking soda and vinegar you use in your laundry as I would like to try it. x

[Nakedinthesun]

How do you use baking soda and vinegar in your laundry? Is it in addition to traditional laundry soap, or instead of? Do you have a link to refer me to?

[jenbair]

use about 3/4 or 1/2 cup baking soda in the wash cycle. You can also use Borax or washing soda. In the RINSE cycle, use about 3/4 or 1 cup of white vinegar. I buy the cheap stuff in a gallon jug to use for cleaning everything. There will be no vinegar smell if you use it correctly...just a clean smell. Use your regular detergent or try a "green" brand which is not made from petroleum and has no optical brighteners, additives, scent, dyes etc. I like Method and Seventh Generation. You may find you don't need pre-rinse products, stain removers, fabric softeners, dryer sheets any longer! I have a front loader so i put the vinegar in the compartment for fabric softener to make sure it gets released int he rinse cycle.

[rathmiron]

i talked about this with a friend, and she says this would make your skin itch of dead skincells (that;s dandruf right? i'm dutch)
is this true?

[kaypgirl]

It depends. Some people rub and massage their scalp before washing to get the dead skin cells loose, then massage (but not too hard) the scalp w/ the bs mixture. There is also a dandruff cure of applying white vinegar to scalp before doing bs and acv.

[arachnian]

Yep, this happened to me. I tried no shampoo for a month last year and the itching started two weeks in; it only went away with a good shampooing. Nowadays, it comes back full strength if I leave my hair unwashed for only a day or two.

[pam819]

I read this somewhere else about using Baking Soda to wash your hair. I tried it and really didn't like the way it made my hair feel it was like really thick and straw like. Only problem is the directions did not tell me to use Apple Cider vinegar as a rinse. I will try this and see if my hair feels better.

[fireplume]

You could do the cleaning and conditioning all at once if you mix the baking soda with the vinegar - and then you've got a science-project volcano to entertain you while you shower!

[bleh5573]

yeah I actually tried this and it dried out my hair really badly.

[blodefood]

No, this won't work.  The PH level has to be alkaline (baking soda) in order to clean and freshen.  Then the PH level is restored with the acid (vinegar).

[mcowgill]

baking soda IS alkaline. pH of around 8. 10 times STRONGER than the pH of pure water, 7. and 1000 times STRONGER than the average pH of skin/hair/nails: 5.

the baking soda/vinegar experiment with CO2 and H2O wouldn't work if it wasn't alkaline.

[whitacrehill]

CAREFUL!!! mixing vinegar and baking soda in a closed container can cause an explosion that can send pieces of exploded container into your eyes. Spending time in an emergency room sucks - so does the pain of having shards of stuff in your eyes, not to mention impaired sight.

[Helen Baq]

Mixing vinegar and baking soda causes a chemical reaction that quickly breaks the two ingredients down into carbonic acid and then carbon dioxide and water. It would not help clean hair.

[nrgy]

Think I'll give the soda/vinegar shampoo/conditioner a try this week and see what is what. Maybe even save enough to go PRO. Cheers