Comments on: Some Thoughts on the No Shampoo (“No Poo”) Movement http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/ About finding balance in your life, connecting with who you are, and creating a lifestyle where you wake up each morning eagerly anticipating the day ahead. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:29:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Petalla http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-105605 Petalla http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-105605 Apple cider vinegar rinse--not apple cider rinse. I also forgot to say that there was also someone who commented about lemon juice--it is also one of the many alternatives. And, the vinegar does not smell after it is dry. However, if do re-wet your hair, or it gets damp in the rain, or go swimming...(you get the picture) it will "reactivate" the vinegar, and it will smell once again. Apple cider vinegar rinse–not apple cider rinse. I also forgot to say that there was also someone who commented about lemon juice–it is also one of the many alternatives. And, the vinegar does not smell after it is dry. However, if do re-wet your hair, or it gets damp in the rain, or go swimming…(you get the picture) it will “reactivate” the vinegar, and it will smell once again.

]]> By: Petalla http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-105603 Petalla http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-105603 I've been "no-poo" (I put it in quotes because it truly is an awful name for the process) for quite some time now. I'm mostly water only, but once a month (or sometimes longer) I do a baking soda rinse, followed by an apple cider rinse (I use less than a teaspoon for each, mixed with filtered water). I do have hard water, but I have a filter in one of my sinks. I also use that for rinsing my hair after the treatments (which are less than thirty seconds each). I use a spray bottle for each of the mixes. It truly is fantastic, and for those of you just starting, hang in there! Yes, for some of you, your hair may be a grease pit for a bit (different times for different people), and for some, you may find you have some dandruff (try using cool/cold water in final rinse instead of hot/warm!). Hot and warm water will dry out your hair. As some people have mentioned, there are other alternatives as well (eggs, coconut oil, jojoba oil, herbal infusion rinses, water only, conditioner only...). Good luck, and stick with it! I’ve been “no-poo” (I put it in quotes because it truly is an awful name for the process) for quite some time now. I’m mostly water only, but once a month (or sometimes longer) I do a baking soda rinse, followed by an apple cider rinse (I use less than a teaspoon for each, mixed with filtered water). I do have hard water, but I have a filter in one of my sinks. I also use that for rinsing my hair after the treatments (which are less than thirty seconds each). I use a spray bottle for each of the mixes.

It truly is fantastic, and for those of you just starting, hang in there! Yes, for some of you, your hair may be a grease pit for a bit (different times for different people), and for some, you may find you have some dandruff (try using cool/cold water in final rinse instead of hot/warm!). Hot and warm water will dry out your hair.
As some people have mentioned, there are other alternatives as well (eggs, coconut oil, jojoba oil, herbal infusion rinses, water only, conditioner only…). Good luck, and stick with it!

]]> By: CH http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-78123 CH http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-78123 If there is a question about shampoo, I think looking back in history provides some great answers to shampooing in general. Look at how women were advertised to in the 1940's about shampooing more often (every 2weeks) and look at us now. I don't recall there being a big scare about cleanliness and health in the 1940's due to us not washing our hair enough. Think about how older women (like my grandma) get their hair done once a week. Ever wonder why? I thought it was because as we age we don't need to shampoo as much, but I think now, that perhaps our grandparents are doing what they have always done in the past. If there is a question about shampoo, I think looking back in history provides some great answers to shampooing in general. Look at how women were advertised to in the 1940′s about shampooing more often (every 2weeks) and look at us now. I don’t recall there being a big scare about cleanliness and health in the 1940′s due to us not washing our hair enough. Think about how older women (like my grandma) get their hair done once a week. Ever wonder why? I thought it was because as we age we don’t need to shampoo as much, but I think now, that perhaps our grandparents are doing what they have always done in the past.

]]> By: Mairead http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-57483 Mairead http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-57483 I'm in my fist week of the "no-shampoo" method, and I'm pretty happy. I started this method on a whim because I swam one day and, since I had shampooed my hair only the night before, I didn't want to dry my hair out by washing it again. I simply rinsed with water and conditioned (with my normal conditioner--I have to buy some apple cider vinegar). My naturally wavy hair stayed lovely for almost a week; I decided to rinse it with water again yesterday. I'm noticing a little grease, but it's not weighing my hair down. Next time I rinse, I suppose I'll use the baking soda concoction. One question, though--if I stick with the "no-shampoo" method, what do I do when I next go to the hairdresser? She usually shampoos and conditions my hair--and then practically saturates it with products. Would one day of shampooing and product...ing...upset the "natural balance" my non-shampooed hair has achieved? Or should I kindly let my hairdresser know that I've gone au naturel? I’m in my fist week of the “no-shampoo” method, and I’m pretty happy. I started this method on a whim because I swam one day and, since I had shampooed my hair only the night before, I didn’t want to dry my hair out by washing it again. I simply rinsed with water and conditioned (with my normal conditioner–I have to buy some apple cider vinegar).
My naturally wavy hair stayed lovely for almost a week; I decided to rinse it with water again yesterday. I’m noticing a little grease, but it’s not weighing my hair down. Next time I rinse, I suppose I’ll use the baking soda concoction.

One question, though–if I stick with the “no-shampoo” method, what do I do when I next go to the hairdresser? She usually shampoos and conditions my hair–and then practically saturates it with products. Would one day of shampooing and product…ing…upset the “natural balance” my non-shampooed hair has achieved? Or should I kindly let my hairdresser know that I’ve gone au naturel?

]]> By: Lel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-53140 Lel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-53140 Oops. Correction of previous post. I said I hadn't used baking powder - well, I haven't, but I haven't used baking SODA either, which is more to the point. Here's a tip for a nice body scrub - a good cold pressed oil - olive or macadamia, say, mixed with enough brown sugar to make a wet sort of paste. You can use it all over. As you scrub it in, water disolves the sugar crystals so it's not too rough, and the oil cleanses and leaves your skin soft. Do try the egg wash. You'll love the results. Just rub it through wet hair, leave for 15 seconds, rinse out. Oops. Correction of previous post. I said I hadn’t used baking powder – well, I haven’t, but I haven’t used baking SODA either, which is more to the point.

Here’s a tip for a nice body scrub – a good cold pressed oil – olive or macadamia, say, mixed with enough brown sugar to make a wet sort of paste. You can use it all over. As you scrub it in, water disolves the sugar crystals so it’s not too rough, and the oil cleanses and leaves your skin soft.

Do try the egg wash. You’ll love the results. Just rub it through wet hair, leave for 15 seconds, rinse out.

]]> By: Lel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-53138 Lel http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-53138 Baking soda can be hard on scalp and skin, and being alkaline, it mixes with the scalp's natural oils to form a very organic "soap". So it's still stripping oils. A milder wash, which gives beautiful results, is to rub a raw egg yolk into the oily parts of your hair/scalp. The egg yolk acts as an emulsifier, and clears away excess oils by breaking then into tiny bubbles and encapsulating them. Warm water washes it all away, and your hair will be REALLY shiny, and feel marvelous. Shampoo and conditioner have never made my hair look as good as raw egg yolk has. And don't forget to brush 100 strokes with a natural bristle brush, every night. This stimulates the scalp, removes dust and distributes the natural oils. I've been shampoo-free for only a couple of months but have not used baking powder. A really good massage under the shower every day, and an egg yolk every couple of weeks has been good enough (with some serious brushing at night). (The egg yolk doesn't leave any smell behind. Be careful to remove as much egg white as possible when you separate the egg because the white is stringy and might not rinse out as easily, and don't rinse in very hot water in case you cook the egg.) Baking soda can be hard on scalp and skin, and being alkaline, it mixes with the scalp’s natural oils to form a very organic “soap”. So it’s still stripping oils. A milder wash, which gives beautiful results, is to rub a raw egg yolk into the oily parts of your hair/scalp. The egg yolk acts as an emulsifier, and clears away excess oils by breaking then into tiny bubbles and encapsulating them. Warm water washes it all away, and your hair will be REALLY shiny, and feel marvelous. Shampoo and conditioner have never made my hair look as good as raw egg yolk has. And don’t forget to brush 100 strokes with a natural bristle brush, every night. This stimulates the scalp, removes dust and distributes the natural oils. I’ve been shampoo-free for only a couple of months but have not used baking powder. A really good massage under the shower every day, and an egg yolk every couple of weeks has been good enough (with some serious brushing at night).

(The egg yolk doesn’t leave any smell behind. Be careful to remove as much egg white as possible when you separate the egg because the white is stringy and might not rinse out as easily, and don’t rinse in very hot water in case you cook the egg.)

]]> By: Gill http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-45764 Gill http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-45764 I've just started this whole 'No Poo' thing, and I'm started on a bit of a whim. My boyfriend stumbled a page that showed a girl who had done this, she never used shampoo anymore and now her hair is beautiful! I've always had flat, limp hair that will occasionally flip up at random parts and generally isn't all that great. I used to wash and condition every other day, and now I've gone cold turkey. So far: my hair is becoming very greasy! Mind you, I've only been rinsing with water, which is why I'm online looking for the 'proper' way to do this. I may try the baking soda, since my hair is naturally more greasy and I may need a weaning period before I go completely 'poo-less'. However, I can honestly say that my hair feels a little thicker, it's not getting as tangled as it used to when it was so fine which is a miracle! I didn't even blow it dry today and my fingers are running easily through it. It's not quite that heavy greasy feeling I used to get, it's more of a feeling that my hair is gaining 'body' so it's not as fragile and temperamental. I'm very excited about it! I'm going to try the baking soda to try and keep myself presentable (although I am a student, so I only have to be presentable to my profs, and they generally don't care that much). I’ve just started this whole ‘No Poo’ thing, and I’m started on a bit of a whim. My boyfriend stumbled a page that showed a girl who had done this, she never used shampoo anymore and now her hair is beautiful! I’ve always had flat, limp hair that will occasionally flip up at random parts and generally isn’t all that great. I used to wash and condition every other day, and now I’ve gone cold turkey. So far: my hair is becoming very greasy! Mind you, I’ve only been rinsing with water, which is why I’m online looking for the ‘proper’ way to do this. I may try the baking soda, since my hair is naturally more greasy and I may need a weaning period before I go completely ‘poo-less’. However, I can honestly say that my hair feels a little thicker, it’s not getting as tangled as it used to when it was so fine which is a miracle! I didn’t even blow it dry today and my fingers are running easily through it. It’s not quite that heavy greasy feeling I used to get, it’s more of a feeling that my hair is gaining ‘body’ so it’s not as fragile and temperamental. I’m very excited about it! I’m going to try the baking soda to try and keep myself presentable (although I am a student, so I only have to be presentable to my profs, and they generally don’t care that much).

]]> By: Victoria http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-45025 Victoria http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-45025 Four months ago,I started using baking soda and water to wash my hair and body. I use a plastic cup like what you'd get soup-to-go in from a Chinese restaurant. lol. I put one cup of baking soda in and put enough water to make it like a silt consistency. Then I scoop a handful out and start massaging my scalp with it. Once I've scrubbed my scalp,I flip my head over and rub the length of my hair between my hands. Then I also scrub my body with the baking soda "silt." Next,I rinse with clear vinegar. I use a quart mason jar, fill with vinegar about 1/4 of the way and then fill the jar with warm water. After rinsing the baking soda out of my hair, I pour the vinegar water over my scalp and hair. I'm very pleased with the results. I no longer have to wash my hair every other day. It's been four days since I last washed it and it feels and looks fine. It is also a lot more manageable and I've noticed I that I haven't been plagued with static electricity hair this winter. I don't notice a vinegar smell unless I'm working out and my head starts sweating. Another interesting development occurred about two months after switching to baking soda and vinegar to wash body and hair. I have a mole under by left arm just along my bra strap that was brown and raised and about the size of a pencil eraser. It started to itch and scale up and bleed a little. I think the bleeding was due to the bra-strap. Well, it is mostly gone!! I searched online and discovered that both baking soda and vinegar are used to remove moles and warts!! Every morning, I drink 8 oz. of warm water with a tsp of raw, unfiltered, Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 tsp of raw honey, so that might be contributing to the detox as well. @JoAnna: I too use a conditioning mask on my hair that consists of avocado, mayonnaise and a slice of aloe vera. My hair is very long, down the middle of my back, and my hair stylist also raves about my hair being so healthy for my age (52) and how I lose so little when she combs it out. I put coconut oil on my skin per my Naturopathic Doctor's suggestion. Works for me. =) Anyway, all this to say, I LOVE how much money I'm saving using the baking soda and vinegar, and especially pleased with the results. P.S. I LOVE THIS BLOG!! Been reading through it for the last several hours. What a blessing you are, Shirley. Keep up the good work! Four months ago,I started using baking soda and water to wash my hair and body. I use a plastic cup like what you’d get soup-to-go in from a Chinese restaurant. lol. I put one cup of baking soda in and put enough water to make it like a silt consistency. Then I scoop a handful out and start massaging my scalp with it. Once I’ve scrubbed my scalp,I flip my head over and rub the length of my hair between my hands. Then I also scrub my body with the baking soda “silt.” Next,I rinse with clear vinegar. I use a quart mason jar, fill with vinegar about 1/4 of the way and then fill the jar with warm water. After rinsing the baking soda out of my hair, I pour the vinegar water over my scalp and hair.

I’m very pleased with the results. I no longer have to wash my hair every other day. It’s been four days since I last washed it and it feels and looks fine. It is also a lot more manageable and I’ve noticed I that I haven’t been plagued with static electricity hair this winter. I don’t notice a vinegar smell unless I’m working out and my head starts sweating.

Another interesting development occurred about two months after switching to baking soda and vinegar to wash body and hair. I have a mole under by left arm just along my bra strap that was brown and raised and about the size of a pencil eraser. It started to itch and scale up and bleed a little. I think the bleeding was due to the bra-strap. Well, it is mostly gone!! I searched online and discovered that both baking soda and vinegar are used to remove moles and warts!!

Every morning, I drink 8 oz. of warm water with a tsp of raw, unfiltered, Apple Cider Vinegar and 1 tsp of raw honey, so that might be contributing to the detox as well.

@JoAnna: I too use a conditioning mask on my hair that consists of avocado, mayonnaise and a slice of aloe vera. My hair is very long, down the middle of my back, and my hair stylist also raves about my hair being so healthy for my age (52) and how I lose so little when she combs it out. I put coconut oil on my skin per my Naturopathic Doctor’s suggestion. Works for me. =)

Anyway, all this to say, I LOVE how much money I’m saving using the baking soda and vinegar, and especially pleased with the results.

P.S. I LOVE THIS BLOG!! Been reading through it for the last several hours. What a blessing you are, Shirley. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: JoAnna http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-35352 JoAnna http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-35352 I stopped using traditional shampoos about 2 years ago and switched to water and vinegar. I am very happy with how healthy my hair feels compared to using styling products with chemicals. I also bathe with a locally homemade bar soap that is made from olive oil and use an abrasive wash clothe I bought at walmart which cleans well and leaves my skin heavenly. After I bathe I put olive oil all over my damp skin (including my face) and my skin stays soft for up to 2 days without needing any lotion. It doesn't leave your skin oily, it takes some time to soak in but you don't have to apply a lot. I also use natural deodorant, the rock salt kind. After I started this natural method all over, people compliment me all the time on how great my skin looks and how soft my skin and hair is. If my hair gets dry feeling in the winter I will make a mask from avocados, egg, and olive oil, leave in for 15 minutes and wash. Stylists have told me my hair is very healthy. I think this is the correct way to go. I have done a lot of reading about this stuff online and a lot of older women (80 yrs +) have healthy skin and hair from using these methods their entire lives. I also save loads of money every year because olive oil, rock salt, baking soda, and vinegar can last a very long time. I don't waste my money on any chemical based stuff. I recommend this to everyone. I stopped using traditional shampoos about 2 years ago and switched to water and vinegar. I am very happy with how healthy my hair feels compared to using styling products with chemicals. I also bathe with a locally homemade bar soap that is made from olive oil and use an abrasive wash clothe I bought at walmart which cleans well and leaves my skin heavenly. After I bathe I put olive oil all over my damp skin (including my face) and my skin stays soft for up to 2 days without needing any lotion. It doesn’t leave your skin oily, it takes some time to soak in but you don’t have to apply a lot. I also use natural deodorant, the rock salt kind. After I started this natural method all over, people compliment me all the time on how great my skin looks and how soft my skin and hair is. If my hair gets dry feeling in the winter I will make a mask from avocados, egg, and olive oil, leave in for 15 minutes and wash. Stylists have told me my hair is very healthy. I think this is the correct way to go. I have done a lot of reading about this stuff online and a lot of older women (80 yrs +) have healthy skin and hair from using these methods their entire lives. I also save loads of money every year because olive oil, rock salt, baking soda, and vinegar can last a very long time. I don’t waste my money on any chemical based stuff. I recommend this to everyone.

]]> By: Channah http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-30217 Channah http://www.choosingvoluntarysimplicity.com/some-thoughts-on-the-no-shampoo-no-poo-movement/#comment-30217 In reply to the comment about hard water: I have heard that if you add baking soda to boiling water, and use that as your baking soda wash, it will work. I tried it, and I think it worked for me, but I am unconfident about my ability to judge these things. In reply to the comment about hard water: I have heard that if you add baking soda to boiling water, and use that as your baking soda wash, it will work. I tried it, and I think it worked for me, but I am unconfident about my ability to judge these things.

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