The NO - shampoo thread

[perfect4ofus]

I tend to loose a bit of hair, or rather it seems that way because my hair is almost waste length so it seems like more. When I started using the vingar and baking soda it gradually decreased! I have sensative skin and have been very careful with the baking soda because it is abrasive. I put some in a plastic container and keep it in the shower. When I am going to use it on my hair. I fill the container with the baking soda in it up with water. Then I use my finger to mix the soda with the water and then pour a small amount on my scalp in a few area's like the front, both sides and the crown of my head and work it in to my scalp. Not a long time mind you. Then I rinse well, I immediately pour diluted vinegar on my hair and allow this to sit while I finish my shower. I used an old glass vinegar bottle that was almost empty to start with and filled it the rest of the way with water. Now I pour about 3-4 Tablespoons of apple cidar vinegar into the jar and fill the rest to the top with water. This is what I use to rinse my hair. The bottle full of diluted vinegar lasts me for 4-6 showers. Maybe more. It doesn't take much of either thing in your hair. Your solution of baking soda may be a bit too much. Also I don't even think about attempting to comb through my hair or anything else until I have left the shower and towel dried my hair. This gives it a chance to "rest" before I am tugging even slightly on it. I would adjust the strength of your baking soda and vinegar and go from there. Your hormones might be changing as your friend suggested as well. I remember while nursing and baby getting past the 1 yr. mark I noticed a few body changes as well. Some times I would loose more hair than others.

Since summer is here the only "problem" so to speak that I am having is that I swim at the pool everyday, and I am noticing a bit of a well the only way to describe it is a waxy sort of build up on my hair. I'm wondering if it has to do with sunscreen and chemicals in the water. I'm most certain. It will even out when summmer is over. The excersize is worth the wax! It's not overwhelming just slight and completely unnoticeable to anyone but me because its texture related when I am braiding or putting my hair up.

Sorry, I'm rambling, I hope this helps you a bit!

[ehunyadi]

Okay...die-hard daily shampoo girl just washed her hair with WATER today. My brain is short-circuiting a bit...it keeps asking, "Liz, it's time to WASH your hair now...Oh yeah, you did that WATER thing" LOL I'm waiting to get grossed out.[:p][:0]

If this turns out to be cool, then I'll use AuroraWeaver's suggestion of mixing up 3tbsp of baking soda and water to make a paste. Then ACV rinse. Sounds innerestin'. [8)]

--Liz

[ehunyadi]

Oh, Okay, I get it [:0]:

Commercial shampoo strips away all of the hair's sebum. Conditioners are manufactured and pumped up with alcohol to alternately strip moisture and restore it back again. Then hair overproduces more oil at the roots which you then have to wash away with MORE shampoo. Meanwhile, the ends get overprocessed and fried. Oh, okay.[:I][xx(]

So I tried washing my hair with water and found that it cleaned my hair fairly well. It also dispersed the natural oils up and down the hair shaft, conditioning everything. So now I have clean, soft hair. I know it won't last forever so now I tried the baking soda technique and I'll see where that takes me.

Cheers, thanks!
--Liz

[natural PuNk]

I've been doing this for over a month now. And I have a system that's working well....even for my husband!

I have an old Dr. B's bottle that I put my baking soda mixture in (sometimes add honey or some EO). I keep it in the shower and just shake it up before I use it. Then I have a sports bottle that I keep in the shower with water and either white vinegar or lemon juice.

I've been doing the baking soda every 5 days or so, with the vinegar or lemon juice rinse once in between. I use the rinse after I do the baking soda as well.

My husband is totally into this! He keeps going "does my hair feel greasy...it's been four days" or whatever. LOL!

[ehunyadi]

That's cool, turning hubby on...love it, Natural Punk!

I used nothing but baking soda wash and then leave-in conditioner in my hair and my hair feels limp, dry and greasy. I'm probably going at it the wrong way by not using the ACV. [:I]

I wonder how it would be to just 'shampoo' hair with vinegar and water between washes.

--Liz

[natural PuNk]

Yeah, I would really suggest using the vinegar or lemon juice rinse after the baking soda. I love it! It makes your hair nice and squeaky and soft. A friend of mine uses lime juice instead of lemon juice and gets great results. I just bought some today to try...and I figured I would try some on my pits too [:p]...referring to the deoderant alternative post.

[ehunyadi]

Yes, you're right about the vinegar. Never tried the lemon juice...

Hmmm...deodorant...speaking of which...I think I'm gonna do a mixture of baking soda, cornstarch, aloe vera gel and essential oil and beeswax and let it all harden and fill up a deodorant stick thingy with it.[:D]

Sounds like fun!

--Liz

[Epona19]

Hey!!
I've been using the no-shampoo recipie and I LOVE it!![:D] I have a question though, can you use any styling product and remove it effectively with the egg mixture?? I don't seem to need any product though, which is wonderful!! Also, has anyone used this long term with good results?? I'm asking because I recently cut my long hair to a funky bob because it was unmanageable and damaged [:(] But, I'm able to cope because it is "Dharma-esque". If this works well, I'd consider growing it back. Any feedback would be FABULOUS!!!
Thanks!

[perfect4ofus]

I used no shampoo for a while and had great results using baking soda watered down as my "shampoo" and apple cidar vinegar as diluted as my "rinse". I stopped using this temp. until swimming season is over which is the end of this week. My hair went from waxy to really greasy to unmanageable as far as the greasy, waxy deal going on right after a wash. My hair feels great and clean and really soft using shampoo. I am planning on going back to no shampoo in a couple of weeks when our pool closes. Until I started swimming in the chlorine bath daily my balance was perfect. I have to contribute the temp. flop to very harsh chemical exposure. Keep your chin up and unless you are swimming in chlorine daily persue this if that is what you really want to do. My advice would be to keep your wash ingredients as simple as possible. I have noticed from talking with others and reading on this forum and another that the people that have the most "trouble" with no shampoo are the ones that are using many combined ingredients. The successful ones have started really simple baking soda, apple cidar vinegar. Once they get the amount and frequency figured out THEN they start adding ingredients. I also noticed that some people found white vinegar to be too acidic. Apple cidar does not "strip" or dry the hair and is not as strong as white. If they had a problem then they could immediately pin point the source. Sort of like allergy testing in a way. I plan on a later date experimenting myself but am making sure that the basics are a good combination for me and my body chemistry. Good luck to you on this fun way to take care of our bodies as healthy as possible!

[karen joy]

Hello Epona, there seems to be several no-shampoo "Recipes" going here. I use the egg, oil, vinegar and have been doing so for years, and exclusively for nearly a year. I only need to do it every 2 weeks or so. I don't use styling products so can't answer that one. I don't imagine the shampoo would be a problem for the products, but don't know how the shampoo would do trying to then remove them and counter any dmage?

[Anonymous]

HI,



I would like to try this but my hair is color treated. Does anyone know a mixture for that? And maybe a conditioer , because if I dont use one I cant even get a comb through my hair at all... Also, I have used HERBAL ESSENCE [V] shampoo and it made my scalp itch like crazy! So something in there doesn't agree with me.. THANKS

[Cats_for_CA]

Wow, I was so excited reading this thread. I've always had trouble hair. It's very oily and tends to fall out a lot. My hair is quite thin now, and at 20 years old, that's quite troubling. I've tried all kinds of products, including Nioxin, but none of them really work for my hair. Now I'm very excited to find something to clean my hair that I know won't leave nasty residue.

I have a quick question. Instead of apple cider vinegar, is it okay to use diluted white vinegar? And if it is, then apporximately how much should I dilute it? I already buy white vinegar to clean the house with, and since I'm a starving student, buying two kinds of vinegar is a bit luxurious, unless I really need it.

[natural PuNk]

I started out using diluted white vinegar with a few squirts of lemon juice...worked nicely.

Good luck with it!

[Cats_for_CA]

Well, I'm in the proccess of figuring out what works for me. The first time I tried it, I didn't have an egg handy, so I tried just vinegar and oil, and a bit of water to dilute it in. It ended up making my hair oily (although it didn't seem dirty). So, then I needed something to wash it with, and I had already thrown out my shampoo. Luckily I had bought a bar of castile soap. It was a brand called Fruits & Passion. I looked at the ingredients and it seemed safe. I washed my hair with that, and that left it soft, and not too oily, but not stripped dry.
Today I tried the recipe, with the vinegar, oil, and egg. That also ended up making my hair oily, although it is clean. I think I will try what my friend does. She puts coconut oil in her hair for two hours before shampooing. Maybe I should put coconut oil in my hair first, and then wash it out with a mixture of 1tbs vinegar and 1 egg.

[desertmedicinewoman]

i found the egg worked better for me WITHOUT the oil. give it a try.
bakig soda followed by vinegar works pretty well too.