Coming Clean

My "Dirty Little Secret"
I have been trying to figure out when it's appropriate to share my "dirty little secret," and I have decided to just "come clean" and make it public knowledge to all three or so of the my regular readers (and anyone else who happens to read this). I haven't shampooed my hair in 7 weeks. There I said it. Okay, there have been two trips to the salon where my hair was shampooed by my stylist (despite my telling her both times that I had just washed it), but I personally have not used shampoo in 7 weeks. Before you get grossed out, let me explain that I am still washing my hair, just not in a "conventional" way. Aside from my husband's initial comment, "Your arms are getting tighter around that tree all the time," nobody has said anything. Maybe they haven't noticed a difference, even though I have. I suppose that is good since I have been trying to appear to be a "normal" person, however, I am really hoping to start getting some compliments soon because I want to share my "no 'poo" success.

A Seed is Planted
Sometime over the summer, my friend Jenifer announced on Facebook that she had stopped using shampoo. I had never heard of such a thing, so admittedly, I thought it sounded a bit odd. However, she is a very green person and I respect and admire that about her, so the idea stuck with me. Then, when I read that Green Grandma (one of my favorite new blogs) was also no 'pooing with positive results, I felt like it was time to give it a try.

I didn't even realize a person could wash her hair without shampoo, and since it had taken years of trial and error to find the commercial products that give me the best results, it was natural to have some reservations about ditching my Pantene. My biggest fear was that I would look like a greaseball and that was not going to be okay since I was just getting started with my chocolate business and I figured that people wouldn't want to eat or buy food from someone who looked like she hadn't showered in awhile. So I asked Jenifer for some advice, which she quickly provided. She joked that pony tails were her best friend for the first few weeks, which I can understand. And not to be shocked if my hair gets flakier. That's just the scalp getting back to normal (more on that later). Mostly, she gave me some reading to check out, and this helped me understand more about no 'pooing before I jumped in with both feet. Here is another blog that Jenifer suggested, and I found to be quite informative.

My other concerns were pertaining to the vinegar rinse. I worried that vinegar isn't the best smell on earth, and what if my hair ends up smelling like it? Jenifer assured me that rinsing helps get rid of the smell, and by the time my hair is dry, it will not smell like vinegar. And she's right. Also, most of the websites I looked at (including Green Grandma's) said to use apple cider vinegar and I only had distilled white vinegar in the house. I asked if this was okay to use, and Jenifer said yes. It's what she uses. I asked about the difference and she suggested that it was personal preference (and budget) comparing apple cider vinegar to sirloin and distilled white vinegar to hamburger.

Debunking the "Squeaky Clean" Myth
I'll let you in on a secret that the shampoo companies don't want you to know. Washing with shampoo, especially as frequently as they have led us to believe is necessary for clean hair, is actually bad for your scalp. It strips it of natural oils, which causes the oil glands to kick into overdrive, which is turn means that we have to wash our hair more often to keep up with the excess oil that is being produced. Your hair does NOT need to "squeak" to be clean. That is marketing, pure and simple, and most of us have bought into it for years because we didn't know there was an alternative.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat -- No Thanks!
Getting away from using shampoo is an eco-friendly choice. The amount of energy used to produce and package baking soda and vinegar is much less than what is involved in creating shampoos and conditioners. Using commercial shampoo guarantees that you will use commercial conditioner, because shampoo is so harsh, you will have to add moisture. Shampoo is essentially detergent. Detergent is not really good for your hair, and I assume this means it isn't good for the environment either since shampoos are filled with chemicals to do everything from produce extra suds (completely unnecessary for cleaning hair) to preserving the shampoo and preventing growth of bacteria (nice to know you aren't using bacteria-laden shampoo, but doesn't it make you wonder why this is needed in the first place?) to making it smell nice. In other words, by using shampoo, you are massaging chemicals right into your skin, which is your largest organ. Scary, huh?

In addition to saving me money by passing on the shampoo, my scalp is now healthier. I wouldn't be surprised if my overall health is better, too, given the toxins that are in that Pantene I was using. (Check this list of shampoo ingredients to avoid if you want to know more about your current shampoo.) I don't wash the kids' hair all that often since it doesn't really need it, but I am considering transitioning them over to no 'pooing. The biggest concern that has kept me from doing it is the vinegar rinse. I am afraid they will fight me on this because it doesn't smell fruity like what they are used to, and if it happens to get into their eyes (which, face it, it very likely will), it will burn. However, after learning more about the chemicals used in shampoos and how the FDA does little to regulate them, I may have to change this how we wash the kids' hair. The Suave Kids shampoo they currently use has the same bad ingredient as Pantene: sodium lauryl sulfate. When it comes down to it, exposing them to toxins is a much greater concern than the temporary stinging in the eyes, especially when the FDA is not going to protect consumers from known carcinogens.

My Wash Routine
When I began no 'pooing I tried to go 3 or 4 days between washings like Green Grandma, but it just didn't seem to work and I wasn't all that happy with how I looked. (My pony tails look like weird stubs, not really cute, so I really wanted to avoid that option.) At this point, I am washing every other day, which is half as often as I used to wash when I was using shampoo. Online, you will find many different variations of how to no 'poo. This is mainly due to the fact that everybody has unique hair, so your washing needs may vary from mine. It may take a bit of trial and error before you get it figured out. Here is my routine:

1. Before washing, I brush my hair and scalp well. This is actually very new to me. Having curly hair has meant that I formally did not brush it since it would create frizz and damage the hair. I haven't noticed any damage, and since I am washing immediately after, frizz isn't a concern. The brushing helps distribute the natural oils before washing. Note: Natural bristle brushes are recommended, although I haven't purchased one yet.
2. Next, I add 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda to a measuring cup and get in the shower. (Initially, I used a full tablespoon, but I have tweaked it to fit my needs.) I fill the rest of the measuring cup with warm water, and mix the baking soda in with my finger. To wash, I just pour small amounts at a time all over my scalp, gently massaging as I go. I then rinse out my hair as usual. 
3. In place of conditioner, I use about 1/2 tablespoon of distilled white vinegar (again, I started out with a full tablespoon, and I have tweaked the amount as I've gone along). I pour it into my measuring cup, and then fill the rest with warm water. I pour this mixture over my entire scalp, and then wait a few minutes before rinsing it out. Since I am only washing every other day, I use this time to shave my legs, which works out nicely. Lastly, I rinse. Note: Since I'm on a "hamburger budget", I've been using the distilled white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar.
4. That's it. I let my hair air dry, and I no longer need to use styling products to make my hair behave.

Ready for My Close Up
My naturally curly hair looks different depending on what point in the "wash cycle" I am at, but it's actually more predictable now than it ever has been before. I've always joked that my hair has a mind of it's own, which I am sure other curly-haired people can relate to. Now, I know that it will be curlier on the days I wash it -- really nice, almost controlled looking curls that are soft, shiny, and very nearly frizz-free. (And believe me that last detail is enough to convince me this no 'poo business is a good thing that I am doing for myself. I never would have guessed I would have such beautiful hair without the use of styling products considering that I was never able to get it to behave with any of the commercial products that I have tried over the years.) On the off days, it loses some curl, but it is fuller than before and it looks nice when I finger comb it and fluff it out.  

I have never been as happy with my curls as I have since I gave up shampoo. I think my hair is beautiful, and honestly, I don't know if I have ever felt that way before. The funny thing is, I am not buying expensive salon products-- just plain old vinegar and baking soda: safe, cheap, and effective. What more could I ask for from a shampoo and conditioner?

{I washed my hair the day of this photo.}

{See how happy I am with my hair?}

{Close-up of hair on day after washing.}

{Best bed head ever.}

By the way, stay tuned to the blog for an upcoming review and giveaway of the book Vinegar Fridays by Green Grandma. Vinegar has more uses than you can even imagine, so I can't wait to share.