No Shampoo? What?!!
(note: I no longer use this method, a new post will soon come explaining it all.)
Yes, in fact no conditioner either. I spent countless days months debating whether or not I should give up these products, for good. I did not dare attempt to do it during school, looking like I have not washed my hair in weeks? No thank you. Summer break has begun and so has my no shampoo journey. I have not used ¨normal¨ shampoo and conditioner for 6 days now, my hair? Oh it feels amazing! My curls are softer, healthier, and the roots of my hair is curly! Usually I have this ugly shape going on where my curls don't appear until halfway down my head. EWWW!
For those who have no idea why I went ¨no shampoo,¨ let me explain.
1. The chemicals! Sulfates like sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. These are chemicals in shampoo that is used to create the foaming agent. These chemicals can irritate your scalp, which create nitrosamine; linked to Cancer. Other chemicals include, BHA & BHT, Coal Tar Dyes, Dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde-releasing preservatives, Parabens, fragrance, PEG compounds, Petrolatum, Siloxanes, and Triclosan. PHEW! To go more in depth about each of these chemicals click HERE. As if that's not enough I'll give you more reasons.
2. When you wash your scalp with shampoo, the chemicals soak into your hair and strip the natural oils. Your scalp then goes into shock and produces even more natural oils to replace what the chemicals from the shampoo has done, hence the reason your scalp gets greasy so quickly,not to mention a head full of frizz. I had to wash my air everyday just to keep grease from accumulating, then every other day because my hair was damaged and dry. Now, every few days, I wash my hair; yes I shower everyday... shower caps are a must!
3. From other ¨no shampooers,¨ their hair is frizz free, shiny, soft, and grows fast! All those years commercials has been saying that their products do just that, in return, my hair was still dry and damaged. Other than chemical free hair, with all the benefits mentioned above, who would not want that?
My Experience
THE FIRST 24 HOURS:Prior to starting, I started showering my hair every other day. This allowed my hair to have a break in between my shampoo usage days. I did this for about 6 months, then school ended. This takes us to last Saturday,(6/14/15); when I started. I made a replacement shampoo consisting of essential oils, water, honey, grape seed extract, vitamin E oil, jojoba & Castor oil, and pure Castile soap. I will have a recipe soon posted up, here (in the next few days). The reason I did not create the usual baking soda and vinegar is because of the PH... and the smell. I went researching and created my own formula for the balanced PH shampoo. With the correct PH, the transition period for your natural oils to get into the groove would take a quicker amount of time versus the baking soda and vinegar would.
After I heated the ingredients together and poured it into a container, I took a shower and scrubbed my scalp for a good 3-5 minutes. When I washed it all out, I noticed my hair was not as soft and smooth and at that moment I knew that my hair would be a pain to brush. That theory was correct, I put my brush into my hair and, well, it did not move an inch. If the next couple of weeks turned out like the first day, I would have quit. I did not use any conditioner since I could not find a good recipe. In a quick panic, I went to Pinterest to find a detangler. Aloe Vera juice and ACV was my answer. I poured a little of each into my hands and soaked it into my snarls. Within minutes, I was able to comb through! I woke up and my hair was feeling...healthy! It did not have the usual greasy or dry feeling to it. It was balanced, not too dry and not to greasy. I made a detangler spray of one part aloe vera and one part ACV with essential oils that assist and improve the health of your hair, the recipe for this will also come within the next few days!
DAY 2
My hair was not greasy... at all! Still felt nice and healthy. Did not wash it, I let the natural oils do its thing for day 2.
DAY 3
Washed it. Still no grease... My theory is that the 6 months of washing it every other day and the balanced PH, helped shortened/ rid of my transition period.
DAY 4 and 5
No grease, neither did I wash it. I put my hair up into a ponytail to get my hair out of my face.
DAY 6
I washed it the night before, grease has made an appearance today. I'm happy the natural oils have started to give in! I made a dry shampoo to help with the grease, cocoa powder and arrowroot powder. I will post a recipe for this soon.
NOTE:
I will have a week 2 coming next week, if you have any questions, feels free to ask.
BELOW:
These are pictures of my hair on the days after I showered my hair. You can how my curls are starting to show more at the root and that my curls are more, curlier!
Sorry for the lighting change, I tried to take them at the same time of day, but it did not work out so well.
 |
| Day 1 |
 |
| Day 3 |
 |
| Day 6 |