No 'Poo (not what you think!)

[ILLEffect]

I have started researching the idea of going "no 'poo" (short for "no shampoo") and was wondering if anyone had tried this? I found http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html - an article written by a personal experience (by someone who did their own research on the topic and ended up writing a mini article about it for friends and family because she received a lot of attention for going "no 'poo").

I'm really considering trying it but was wondering if anyone had experience with this method and/or had any tips/ideas/comments?

[Triple 6]

Looks like too much work for me....

[Yellow Sprinkles]

A girl I worked with briefly last summer was telling me about this. Apparently she and her family had been doing it for months, and it was working well for them. She was very happy and intended to continue.

Not for me though, I'm ok with chemicals seeping through my skull... as long as the hairs are pretty.

[AlanH]

Sounds like a sham..... if you remove the poo.

[Jo]

Here's a link that might be interesting to those who worry about the content of their shampoos and other personal products:

http://www.cosmeticdatabase.com/index.php?nothanks=1

I just go for any organic product that has ingredients not found on this list.

[anniecat]

Sounds like a great idea...I'm with Jo though, I buy shampoo from Nature's Fare and make sure it leaves out most of the toxic chemicals.

I dunno...the picture of the woman on your link looks like she has really greasy hair and that would drive me crazy. It would be like doing a whole lot of work and still ending up with a bad hair day....everyday

[tawnylee]

I went shampoo free for about 6 months a couple years ago due to my eczema on my scalp. It was tough to get used to, not using shampoo and conditioner after I had been for so long, but it helped tons with my eczema.

Just a note to add... Even if your ingredients are organic, that doesn't necessarily mean that they're free of irritants.

[ILLEffect]

Thanks for the link Jo!
I took the plunge and started the no 'poo. My hair got really greasy for a bit (apparently that's normal as your hair "detoxes") but I'm starting to already see the benefits - less breakage/split ends and it's starting to already LOOK healthier! I can't wait to see the long term benefits!

[peacelover]

I'm curious about the list, but when I click on the link, I get the main page and it asks to submit the name of an ingredient. Would someone help me get to the entire list? I've been told we should wash our hair no more than every four days. I'll check out the no poo - wondering if the method will be helpful if you have oily hair?

[ILLEffect]

I actually waffle between oily and dry/dandruffed hair throughout the year. The no 'poo method has actually really helped both situations to get my hair back to a normal/natural and easy to manage state. For the times my hair is going through it's greaseball period, I find the following regime works especially well (this also works for the "detox" greasiness some people go through when they first begin with the no 'poo thing):

- wash hair only twice per week using baking soda (1 tablespoon per 1 Cup of water) and NO ACV (apple cider vinegar)
- as a rinse, use a citrus rinse (1-2 tablespoons per 1 Cup of water), I find lemon juice to be a great alternative (an added benefit, this is a natural highlightener in the summer!)
- on days you don't wash your hair, for a quick fix for the greasiness, I apply just a teensy amount of cornstarch to my hair and brush it through

And for those with DRY hair, when my hair goes through the dry periods (and even when it has dandruff), I find this particular regime works very well:

- first, try decreasing the amount of baking soda (1/2 tablespoon per 1 Cup water) and increasing the amount of ACV (2-3 tablespoons per 1 Cup of water) you are using, sometimes this can be the problem and is easily solved
If that doesn't work, try:
- wash hair every 3rd day with baking soda and ACV

Also, using a boar bristle brush can help (I've never tried this, but have heard from others that it works really well in "distributing" your natural hair oils).

As for chemicals in shampoo, here is a blurb from the original article I posted the link to:

Most shampoos contain mineral oil. A byproduct of the distillation of gasoline from crude oil, mineral oil is what's left over. It's so abundant that it costs more to dispose of it then it does to package and sell it, so it ends up everywhere. It's added to shampoos and conditioners to give hair an artificial shine caused by coating it with a thick oil. Mineral oil cannot absorb into your skin like other oils do, so it sits on top and forms a barrier preventing oils and toxins from being released as a normal part of your skin's lifecycle. This is one of the reasons you'll find that the more shampoo you use, the more often you need to use it. In the long run, coating your hair with mineral oil makes it weaker, and more prone to damage.

If mineral oil doesn't bother you, maybe the other ingredients will. SLS and SLFS (sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate) are skin and eye irritants that also acts as a foaming agent in soaps, shampoos, toothpastes, dishwashing liquid... and just about anything that produces a foamy lather. The Materials Safety Data Sheet cautions to avoid body contact with SLS, it also puts infants and children (whose eye are developing at a more rapid rate) at risk for improper eye development when it's absorbed through the skin and accumulates in eye tissues. Because of residual levels in internal organs, it's questioned how safe our current rates of exposure are. "Debunkers", and companies who sell products containing these ingredients claim that the short exposure (shampoo and rinse) isn't enough for it to build up, and that by itself, in the dilution present within the product, the ingredient won't cause damage. This is basically true, however neither take into account recent reports (within the last five years), exposure due to the amount of products which contain SLS/SLFS and how often we use them, and the known chemical reaction with other ingredients commonly found in these products. While not carcinogens, both these substances, when mixed with other ingredients commonly found in shampoo bottles, may cause carcinogenic nitrates to form. Using it in moderation, and even in high amounts probably isn't going to kill you - but it's certainly not improving your health. The suggested safe percentage of SLS or SLFS to be used in products like shampoo and toothpaste isn't adhered to as often as it should be.

In its final report on the safety of sodium lauryl sulfate, the Journal of the American College of Toxicology notes that this ingredient has a "degenerative effect on the cell membranes because of its protein denaturing properties." What's more, the journal adds, "high levels of skin penetration may occur at even low use concentration."

Interestingly, sodium lauryl sulfate "is used around the world in clinical studies as a skin irritant," notes the journal. The publication expressed additional concerns:

* Carcinogenic nitrosamines can form in the manufacturing of sodium lauryl sulfate or by its inter-reaction with other nitrogen-bearing ingredients within a formulation utilizing this ingredient.
* Other studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact. This poses the question whether it could be a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos, cleansers, and toothpastes.
* Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties.
* Although sodium lauryl sulfate is not carcinogenic in experimental studies, it has been shown that it causes severe epidermal changes in the area it is applied, indicating a need for tumor-enhancing assays.
* Additional studies have found that sodium lauryl sulfate is heavily deposited on the skin surface and in the hair follicles. Damage to the hair follicle could result from such deposition.

Hope this helps, sorry it was dreadfully long!

[ILLEffect]

Also, in case you're interested:

What kind of herbs can I use to improve my hair's health?
Burdock: root helps prevent dandruff
Catmint: leaves encourage hair growth and soothes scalp irritations
Chamomile: flowers soften and lighten hair
Flannel Mullein: lightens hair
Goosegrass: tonic and cleansing, helps prevent dandruff
Henna: red hair dye and conditioner
Horsetail: non-fertile stems and branches strengthens the hair
Lavender: antiseptic, antibiotic, stimulates hair growth, and degreases
Lime: flowers clean and softens
Marigold: lightens hair color
Nasturtium: for hair growth
Parsley: enriches hair color and gives a nice luster
Rosemary: tonic and conditioner, one of the best herbs to use, gives luster and body, also slightly darkens the hair. (This is good to use if you notice your hair lightening due to baking soda use.)
Rhubarb: the root makes a yellow hair dye
Sage: tonic and conditioning, darkens the hair
Southernwood: encourages hair growth and helps prevent dandruff
Stinging Nettle: tonic and conditioning and helps prevent dandruff
Witch Hazel: leaves and bark are astringent and cleanses oily hair

[peacelover]

Thank you for the great info!

[ILLEffect]

Anytime