One green girl's story of ditching shampoo (hair never looked better)

[SoCalDem]

Old article, but one I had never heard about.. Shampoo companies hope this never catches on:)

Bubble trouble
One green girl's story of ditching shampoo altogether; she (and her gorgeous new hair) never looked back.
By PlentyMag.com
Sat, Nov 01 2008 at 2:54 PM EST 219 Comments

HAIR GLARE: Turns out that not washing with shampoo can create shinier, healthier hair. (Photo: *Zara/Flickr)

Every day I faced off against lackluster tresses, while two friends of mine couldn’t stop raving about their own glossy, sexy hair. They had recently stopped shampooing — just went cold turkey — and the results were marvelous. Both are decidedly un-crunchy, so I knew they weren’t making some hippieish statement about evil soap conglomerates or shampoo pollution in our waterways; this no-suds policy, I reasoned, must actually be good for hair. What did I have to lose? I tossed out my shampoo, began simply rinsing my hair in the shower every day, and waited to be dazzled by my new chemical-free, naturally lustrous mane. The payoff was a while in coming, and I soon regretted having told everyone about my little experiment. Was it dirty, friends asked? Did it smell? Most concealed their revulsion at the idea of not shampooing, but when one involuntarily put her hand to her face in horror, it made a powerful impression.

Seven months later, my hair has never looked better. It’s shinier and has more body, and my ordinarily flake-prone scalp is noticeably healthier. Plus, I get the self-righteous buzz of having beaten the system: I washed The Man right out of my hair and it stayed clean anyway. The problem with shampoo is that most of it contains sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate as a foaming agent. Both are detergents capable of degreasing engines. Not surprisingly, they are also skin irritants. The charge against them by the no-’pooers is that they strip the hair and scalp of natural oils, creating an artificial demand for moisture that only commercial shampoos and conditioners can fill.

snip

Admittedly, when I first got off shampoo there was a funk factor. Around week two, I noticed my hair felt tacky when I wet it. Not long afterward I thought, “What’s that smell?” The answer came: “Oh. It’s me.” And I hadn’t even been hitting the gym that hard. That’s when I contacted Karimzadeh, who counseled “shampooing” with conditioner once a week. That improved life dramatically. My hair was cleaner and softer, and it was starting to develop body I’d never seen. It fell in ringlets and held a style. It even stayed out of my face.

snip

And so here I am. There has been just one significant setback in my quest for natural hair. It happened a few days before Thanksgiving, when I decided to deep-condition using a product recommended by Karimzadeh and countless beauty magazines: mayonnaise. I wet my hair, towel-dried it, worked in about one-eighth of a cup, and rinsed a few minutes later.
After it dried, I admired the shine in the mirror, but something was off. It was a little too shiny. I rinsed again. And then I understood: The stuff wasn’t coming out. Over the next two days, my hair hung in oily clumps and developed the distinct odor of rancid nut oil. Finally, on Thanksgiving morning, dinner with the in-laws just hours away, I gave in and shampooed my hair for the first time in months. It looked great that day, but my shocked scalp immediately started to shed delicate flakes, and the texture of my hair soon got weird. That was all the assurance I needed. I’m back on the ’poo-free track, and this time I’m not getting off.

[BrklynLiberal]

1. Interesting story.

Thanks.

[SoCalDem]

3. When my boys were young, I rarely used shampoo on their hair

Their hair was the color of platinum and very fine..and they hated getting bubbles in their eyes, so I just used ivory soap on their hair:)

[pipi_k]

14. OMG Ivory Soap?

I used to love the smell of it, but damn...on my skin it was like battery acid! And when I used it on my hair once, it got all gummy and coarse. Although it might have been my hair texture that was the problem...it's thin and baby fine...

[Iggo]

65. Yeah, I can only use Ivory in the Summer.

[JuniperLea]

33. I did that too...

With all three of my toe-head babies. I sometimes just rinsed their bodies with water, using Ivory soap only on the diaper area, because their skin was so delicate and I could tell even the gentle soap was causing drying.

Contrary to current popular belief among many RWers... words and images DO influence people! We've been lead to believe we NEED all those goops, lotions, unguents, salves, soaps, conditioners, feminine hygiene products, sprays, talcs, splashes, etc.

[Honeycombe8]

145. Ivory soap is much harsher than shampoo. Dove is even harsher. nt

[SoCalDem]

150. I did not use it "liberally"..just from the lather on my hands or the washcloth

and quick swish on their little domes & a rinse.. platinum blond babies have fuzz for a very long time..not that much hair there to wash:)

When they actually had some hair to wash, we used J & J no tears:)

[BoWanZi]

4. So does she condition and just not shampoo?

[Dorian Gray]

107. Once a week

I shampoo every third day, but I use shampoos with no detergents (ie No-Poo by Devachan). I condition every day, as I go to the gym and need something to get the sweat out. People have recommended dry shampoos, but I don't feel "clean" unless I wet my hair fully.

The first time I heard of someone doing this, it was in college. (That was in the early 90s.)

[AC_Mem]

121. I use chemical free shampoo, conditioner and body wash

Not only does it "feel" better, but the natural essential oils of lavender, tea tree, etc. actually make my mood more uplifted. I thought this was just me, but then my daughter started using them and she made the same comment. We have pretty much gone all natural with bathing and it has made a big difference!

[Schema Thing]

2. your sig pic is the best kitten photo ever.

[SoCalDem]

11. It's from this site

http://amolife.com/image/animals/cats-in-the-snow.html

[BrklynLiberal]

17. wow! thanks. great site....wondeful pics.

[femrap]

36. Wow, I could

spend hours looking at those photos.

Thanks.

[femrap]

37. dupe.

[freeplessinseattle]

43. wow, what beautiful pics, thank you! n/t

[onecent]

46. Thanks for this website...so many cat lovers

on DU..it's quite amazing!

[Jakes Progress]

59. Okay. That is a wonderful site. Thank you.

When I get a little too much DU - let alone the broadcast stuff - all I want are pictures of kittens, puppies, and babies. Cats are my favorite.

[niyad]

124. bookmarked and shared with friends. THANK YOU.

what a delightful way to start my day.

[SoCalDem]

125. Be sure & check out the horses in snow.. beautiful:)..link

http://amolife.com/image/animals/animals-in-the-snow.html

[Kalyke]

5. I have dry, naturally curly hair and my hair dresser tells

me to go all weekend without washing if I'm able (I have to watch it during the week because it sticks out everywhere if I don't and I'm in a position where a ponytail wouldn't look very professional - but I keep it up in one all weekend).

[sammytko]

8. i only shampoo every 3-4 days and my hair feels so much better

You can use baking soda mixed with water to clean the scalp and then follow with a vinegar water mix for the rinse. Rinse again afterwards. Gets scalp really clean

[Kalyke]

12. My scalp isn't flaky, actually.

People with natural curl often have dry hair with or without the dry scalp. It's because the curl impedes the natural oils from the scalp from moving from the shaft of the hair to the bottom ends.

I also "shampoo with conditioner" a few times a week, as well.

[ashleyforachange]

32. You can still use conditioner.

I recommend www.naturallycurly.com They have a curly typing system (im a 3c/4a) and tips and products(both natural and commercial) specified for your hair type. it amazing that after just using conditioner to wash my hair my hair feels great and looks great. Also baking soda can be use or a Apple Cinder Vinegar rinse can be use to clarify ones scalp and hair from product buildup. However if you are going to use just water I recommend a water filter if you have hard water.

[Kalyke]

52. Interesting - but I didn't find my hair type.

Mine LOOKS like 3a or 3b, but it's not fine - Heavens no! My hair is course and thick.

P.S. And I already use Ouidad - my hairdresser - a natural "curly" who specializes in styling other natural "curlies" - recommended it to me. :)

[seaglass]

6. I once did the mayonnaise conditioner when I was in HS and not

only did my hair NOT SHINE but when I was sitting outside during a free period I noticed these little fruit flies swarming around my head. It was mortifying.

So really this woman washes with conditioner. Hmm I might try that but not water only, that's :puke:

[pipi_k]

7. Hah...the great mayonnaise debacle....

I did the same thing 45 years ago.

Took four shampooings to get it all out.

Never again.


Anyway, yeah...interesting article. Don't know if I'd be willing to give up my 'poo.

I do, however, manage to thwart the soap/shampoo people a bit by using Dr Bronner's Peppermint Soap. Doesn't appear to contain anything artificial, and I can use it for lots of things...shower, face washing, shampoo, cleaning my dentures, etc.

[Fleshdancer]

9. I'm desperate for a solution so I'm going to try this

Dandruff shampoo is very hard on my hair and it doesn't take care of this one flaky spot that that I can't seem to get rid of. Hopefully this will work.

[hedgehog]

22. Treading lightly lest I break the rules on medical advice, but

I use Avolon Rosemary shampoo, and so far the flaky spot is gone.

[hunter]

10. I remember when I had hair... sigh.

Then male pattern baldness won and I went for the buzz cut.

So I'm shampoo free too, but not in any way that matters.

[hlthe2b]

13. So why not just shampoo with something that doesn't contain

foaming agents, sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate? I'm all for cutting out unnecessary products and I agree that we probably shampoo too frequently, but something to function as shampoo would seem a convenience as well. :shrug:

[laundry_queen]

20. Shampoo bars are another option

There are some soap makers out there, probably some on Etsy, that make shampoo bars - basically homemade superfatted soaps specifically for your hair. I know some people who love them. I've tried them once or twice and didn't care for them, but that might be a good option for someone else.

[Codeine]

83. Shampoo bars are nice.

They last forever! And the best part is you won't have nasty, dirty hair like this silly person clearly has.

[HughBeaumont]

15. I only wash my hair 1-2 times a week.

I've been reading a lot lately about how over-laundering/washing everything is detrimental. We don't need to use as much laundry detergent, shampoo, chemical cleaning solutions or dishwasher detergent as we think we do.

[BrklynLiberal]

18. +100

[underseasurveyor]

19. I wash mine only once or twice a week too

and I use about 1/4th of the amount of laundry detergent they say to use.

I use mostly baking soda, borax, and vinegar around the house for cleaning. Borax not only works great in the laundry but sprinkle it on carpets before vacuuming for freshening and it kills fleas.

Borax = it's natures cleaner and it's cheap :-)

[Le Taz Hot]

113. Borax is a great laundry additive.

It's particularly good for taking out odors.

[Hello_Kitty]

30. I once forgot to put laundry detergent in the wash.

It was a load of whites and I don't use bleach. I realized my mistake when I saw the cup of soap still full on the shelf about the washer. I figured I'd have to run the load again but I pulled some of the stuff out and it seemed just as clean as if I'd used detergent. There must have been plenty of residual in the fibers. I now use about 1/3 as much detergent as I used to.

[onecent]

47. You just reminded me, once I forgot to add Cascade to my

dishwasher...and it was very clean...I do think alot of these "high priced" things are overstated..

I still DO use dishwasher soap, but VERY little...

My son NEVER uses dishwasher soaps to his appliance...and there is never any trouble with any of his dishes.

[Hello_Kitty]

66. Most of the cleaning is done when you rinse and scrape the stuff before you load the washer

I think of the dishwasher as sterilizing them. Those ads where they put a plate with a cake on it in the washer and then just drop a tab of fizzy stuff and comes out clean are bull.

[jeff47]

73. Actually, they're not

But that's because cake dissolves very easily in soap and water.

[Honeycombe8]

144. Me, too. nt

[XanaDUer]

16. I use a WEN knockoff from Sally's

Hair One. It does contain some menthol, though, which I hate. Like WEN, it does not lather. I think it is conditioner and it works well.

[catzies]

71. Ah, I've seen that, don't know anyone who's tried it. Did you try WEN first?

How do they compare? Aren't there several of the Sally's WEN knockoffs? Which one are you using?

[XanaDUer]

77. No, I cannot afford WEN

The Sally's product is less than $10 bucks and works like WEN, according to the reviews I've read.

However, I understand that WEN, like HairOne from Sally's (what I use instead) both use peppermint and/or menthol, which can be incredibly irritating to certain people's skin. So, I keep it off my shoulders with a small towel and won't let it on my face. I use the Jojoba version for colored hair, which seems to me to have less menthol "burn". I wish they made a version for sensitive skin.

I will say that it works well, my hair smells clean and fresh, and is much shinier and softer than regular shampoo. I only use it 2-3 times a week.

[catzies]

78. Thanks for the feedback. I would probably try the jojoba version too. Appreciate it!! n/t

[XanaDUer]

81. Here's the link

http://www.sallybeauty.com/cleansing-conditioner/HARONE01,default,pd.html

I am looking for an online homemade recipe that I will make and leave out the menthol! but I found one awhile back that is too complicated for me.

Also, I use another, admittedly, expensive product, Moroccan Oil, before I dry and InStyle my hair.

http://www.moroccanoil.com/

[cally]

86. You can buy just Argan oil from Moroccan stores

and it's much cheaper. I bought some a few years ago and am still using the original bottle. I don't have a link any more.

[XanaDUer]

89. I think it is argan oil plus silicon

which I really really need for my hair, and I need to see if Sally stores have a cheaper version of that, too. It looks like they might.

[Dappleganger]

109. Same here--just posted about it below.

Sorry to not have read yours first and added a comment instead. I've been using this for awhile and it works well for me, but I also do an apple cider vinegar rinse once a week.

[Mother Of Four]

115. I swear by Hair one-

I started getting it when we couldn't find anything to tame my daughters curls. She has super fine hair, that drops in ringlets. An hour after her hair air dried it would be fly away city, like she'd been stuck with a cattle prod. The amount of product she would have to use to get her hair to curl right was insane. In steps "Hair One", and she looks amazing. Product? A little hair one in the palm of her hand with a small bit of gel, tease through the curls and they stay all day. She has to tell the people behind her in class to leave her "Boingers" alone- (They like to take the ringlets and go Boing!)

So, I get my own. For color treated hair. First few times, was UGH. Then after my hair stopped over producing the oil in the scalp gone are all my little flakes, not to sound vain but my hair is awesome! It might be because I don't have to fight with it anymore. It's waist length, and I don't have to deep condition. I wash my hair with the conditioner every three days and I have ZERO split ends which used to be the bane of my existence.

I was going to post my own about Hair one further down, but decided to add to yours. :hi:

[LiberalEsto]

21. I'm extremely sensitive to most shampoos

as well as soaps, detergents, cosmetics and fragrances. By trial and error I found that hair products with sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate were among the things that irritated me. Many chemical fragrance additives also make me itch, give me headaches and make my eyelids swell.

For the past few years I've been using Trader Joe's Nourish shampoo, which has only a slight natural scent. I wash my hair about 3 times a week, and use a pea-sized dab of Paul Mitchell's Original conditioner after towel-drying. The fragrance doesn't seem to bother me.

I also color my hair 3 or 4 times a year with henna, which gives it a wonderful texture and shine. I buy a small box of henna at an Indian grocery store for $1.74, mix it up with lemon juice and boiling water, and freeze 2/3 of it in a self-sealing storage bag. This gives me 3 henna treatments for just pennies. There's a good website, http://www.hennaforhair.com/ that gives lost of information on how to use it. They can tell you how to mix henna with things like tea or lemon juice to vary the color.

[BrklynLiberal]

26. Thank you for this info.

[hedgehog]

27. The wildest thing about shampoos is that if you compare the ingredient

list on the cheapest grocery store brand vs. the most expensive salon name, you'll find water, sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate. Hop on over to the organic section to find something different.

[Retrograde]

68. You can get pure sodium laurel sulfate

You can buy it for about $10 for a small jar at quilt shops, where it's sold as Orvus, or about $20 for a gallon of it at feed stores - it's sold as horse shampoo. I use it for washing my quilts, woolens, silks and other hand-washables. It's very mild. A little bit goes a long way (It also changes consistency depending on temperature - solid in cold weather. liquid in warm)

[jmowreader]

140. There is a trick to it, though

The salon stuff has a lot more of the two detergents in it than the grocery store brand.

My hair is nearly collar-length. If I wash it with the cheap stuff, the only way I can work lather through all of it at once is to use a huge blob of it. With the salon product, a blob about the size of a nickel--easily a fifth of the cheap-stuff blob--does the same amount of work. Yeah, a quart of Paul Mitchell costs $12, but it's a once-a-year indulgence because it works so well.

[femrap]

39. I'll have to try this

shampoo. I'm going to check out Aldi's shampoo as well...since they own Trader Joe's. I love Aldi's Body Wash.

[rivercat]

62. trader joe's nourish shampoo

is actually giovanni's 50/50. good stuff.

[cally]

87. Thanks...I'm beginning to be more and more sensitive to chemicals

I'm going to try this.

[LiberalEsto]

129. A word of advice

What works for me might not work for you. People have different sensitivities to chemicals.

I can also use Trader Joe's citrus shampoo, but found that it dried my hair too much. My biggest problem is that when I find something that works, it eventually gets discontinued and I have to start hunting for something else I can tolerate.

By the way, I'm also very sensitive to laundry detergents and softeners. (I have what's called multiple chemical sensitivity). I used Shaklee Basic L for washing clothes for years, but Trader Joe's laundry detergent is just as good.

[SoCalDem]

133. I used Basic H for years..especially when the kids were little

& rolling around on the floors.. I think I'll look for it again,.. I hate the overly scented crap in the stores these days..

I don't want my dishes to smell like lilacs or my tile floor to smell like Febreeze..thankyouverymuch

[LiberalEsto]

136. One of my daughters was allergic to Basic H

Believe it or not. She started sneezing and her face got red when exposed to it. So I never used it again. Just goes to show that what doesn't bother one person can be a problem for another.

Febreze - ugh. Can't stand the stuff.

[watrwefitinfor]

23. Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap.

Only takes a few drops for mountains of lather. I like the fragrance-free. Lavender ain't bad.

Wat

[BrklynLiberal]

25. THANK YOU! I was trying to remember that name!!!!

[demmiblue]

29. I like the peppermint... makes me feel tingly! n/t

[hobbit709]

31. been using the Peppermint one for 35 years.

[JuniperLea]

35. That's my favorite!

I put it in pump dispensers for washing hands and faces too. Trader Joe's has a really nice face soap with similar ingredients, plus tea tree oil. It works a lot better than the pricey Clinic and Estee Lauder soaps I used to use.

[Cleita]

48. I like to use tea tree oil products on my pets.

It seems to get rid of fleas and ticks.

[GoCubsGo]

50. Tea tree oil is awesome, versitile stuff.

It's an antiseptic, so you can use it on minor cuts and scrapes. I once bought some "Veterinarian in a Bottle" for cats, but never needed to use it on them. I wound up using it all on myself. On the other hand, I grew out of the need for tea tree facial wash (from The Body Shop, good stuff) for acne, but I wound up using it on my cat, who had feline acne--with my vet's permission. It cleared up each outbreak within days.

Some of the "green" web sites suggest adding a few drops in a homemade cleaning solution as a disinfectant. It makes the solution smell nice, too.

[JuniperLea]

55. Hey! I'll try that!

I keep hearing about a cedar oil based product for fleas, ticks, AND bed bugs. Advertised on the Steph Miller show... I keep forgetting to find the website and ask my vet about it. Cedarcide?

[shanti]

54. dr. bronner's

i like the product in principle, but the underlying castile soap smell nauseates me so i can't use it. peppermint or lavender doesn't mask it either. yeah, i'm weird :)

[Arugula Latte]

75. That is much better than Dr. Boehner's Magic Soap

That stuff turns your skin orange.

[kath]

105. Bwah!

Good one - had to read a second and third time before I got it!

[Erose999]

118. Makes your skin smell like booze, ciggs, and lobbyist money too. LOL nt

[Lorien]

122. +1. I also use coconut oil as a conditioner. Best stuff EVER

towel dry your hair, take the tiniest dab of coconut oil (pea sized for very long locks) and rub it between your palms, then work through your hair from the ends up. It conditions like crazy, as a slight bit of hold, lots of shine and de-frizzes completely. I've used some of the most expensive conditioners on the market, and coconut oil beats them all!

[pipi_k]

126. I posted the same up above someplace...

The stuff is great.

I like the peppermint, but will have to try the lavender sometime.

[BrklynLiberal]

24. Recipes for making your own natural shampoo....

http://www.brighthub.com/environment/green-living/articles/15787.aspx

http://www.longlocks.com/hair-care-recipes-cookbook.htm

http://www.squidoo.com/Hair-Conditioner

[Ichingcarpenter]

28. I sometimes use my expresso grinds for a conditioner

It also helps take some of the gray out but not the white.

http://www.greenerlivingblog.com/2010/11/22/10-ways-recycle-coffee-grounds/

[99 Percent Sure]

42. The gray/white is tough especially if one

Is going as non-chemicals as possible. Interesting that the Bible speaks of gray hair as being glorious, because it's tough to tame, just like the tongue.:D

I've used Dr. Bonner's chemically-free soaps off and on since the mid-70s too, as well as having discovered other good handmade natural soaps and shampoos.

Thanks to the OP for an excellent piece.

[pipi_k]

130. I'm liking my gray/white hairs except for one minor thing...

My haircolor is sort of a medium ashy brown.

The grays/whites look very nice interspersed with the natural color. I used to frost it but now I don't have to.

The problem is, like you said, the coarseness of those gray/white hairs. My hair is naturally babyfine, and quite limp. The gray/white hairs are wild in comparison, sticking up all over the place.

I'll actually be glad to see it turn totally gray/white, because at least it'll be all one texture. :)

[SoCalDem]

134. the secret is a good layered cut..shorter is better

my hair is salt & pepper & when it;s very short, it's easy to get some "poof" to it.. when it's longer, it's wispy, straggly & flat:(

[GoCubsGo]

51. You can use potato peels to highlight/darken gray hair, too.

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/fashion-beauty/potato-peels-highlight-hair.html

[madamesilverspurs]

34. Sodium lauryl

is also in toothpaste, and seems to have been the culprit that was causing some very unpleasant burning pain on one side of my tongue. Everything I ate or drank burned, yawning or pronouncing some words caused pain. So far I've only found one toothpaste (Sensodyne) without the substance. Stopped using the old toothpaste about two weeks ago and the pain diminished radically in about three days, it's almost entirely gone now.


-

[pansypoo53219]

38. impossible for me.

i am a oily oily person. i HAVE to wash my hair every day. but i only use it once. that repeat is bullshit my mom believed til recently. REALLY. i could even do it twice a day!

[SoCalDem]

40. You will bless that oil someday

:)

[pipi_k]

128. How true!!!

I've always been an oily person too. Probably one of the main reasons why my skin has aged relatively well.

[Codeine]

69. When I had hair

that shit got oily fast. Twelve or thirteen hours after a shampoo my hair was nasssssty.

[femrap]

41. Years ago a stylist told

me that I wasn't washing my hair enough...the oil was filling the hair follicle resulting in my hair falling out. So I guess the conditioner removes this oil that clogs the follicle?

[Cleita]

49. Great Grandmother used to brush her long hair

100 strokes every night and only washed it once a month. The brushing distributed the natural oils through the hair as well as removing dirt.

[shanti]

57. yes

i remember the hair brushing routine too. when i look at old photos (from the 1800's or so), people's hair always looked oily to me.

[eShirl]

112. most stylists are full of shit when it comes to scientific explanations

and they conveniently sell just the (overpriced) hair product you happen to need in their opinion

[SoCalDem]

114. yep.. they make BIG BUCKS on the "products" n/t

[jmowreader]

138. You just need to go to the right stylist

The lady who does my hair sells her retail stuff at just a touch over wholesale. It might help that she's got a little shop with only herself in it, and she's not trying to get rich on retail products.

Yesterday I had to take my dad to the doctor in Spokane, and we stopped by the mall to exchange one of his Christmas gifts. In there is a Regis salon that has a deal going on: one quart of shampoo plus one pint of conditioner for $24. That's more than I pay for a quart of each at my stylist, and it would be a suck ass deal for me because I condition every day but shampoo twice a week.

[femrap]

152. I never buy their products....

I just go to a cheap place....whoever has a coupon.

The fact is....my hair was falling out.

I'm going to try Aldi's shampoo next. I really like their body wash. Very cheap....as well is their moisturizers. Aldi's is German. Europeans never use mineral oil like here in the states.

I use Aldi's baby wipes on my face to clean. 72 for $1.49....very soft on the skin. I think Ponds wants $5.00 for 30 wipes.

I'm glad I discovered Aldi's. Good Harvarti Dill cheese too....cheap!

[felix_numinous]

44. I cleared out my bottles

and bottles of stuff a couple years ago. I found a site that sells solid shampoo and conditioner, Lush.com. My scalp stopped breaking out and the products work well for me. Also I color with vegetable (henna and black walnut) since so many dyes are carcinogenic. I feel better about my impact on the environment also. Cosmetics and hair products have so many toxins in them these days.

[Xenotime]

45. What a great environment friendly story. Good job!

[tammywammy]

53. I wash 1-2 times a week with a sulfate free shampoo & conditioner. n/t

[catzies]

72. Trader Joe's Nourish brand's shamp/cond are sulfate-free and really work! n/t

[tammywammy]

85. I use Organix's Coconut Milk shampoo & conditioner

http://www.organixhair.com/FAQ.asp

[spanone]

56. i never quite got the 'rinse-repeat'

why do you need to wash your hair twice? always seemed like directions to sell more product

[SoCalDem]

58. bingo!

:)

[pipi_k]

131. Not only that, but...

I've found that I can dilute the shampoo a bit with water and it works just as well as full strength.

One bottle lasts twice as long. :)

[stuntcat]

60. I mostly stopped shampoo

My hair grows fast and I lose a lot in the shower so I still use a little watered down 2-in-1 shampoo and a brush to loosen knots up. I don't wanna shed like a creep all day :blush:

(and btw my hair is pretty and certainly does not smell) (NOT that I have anything against hippie-scent!)

[Arugula Latte]

61. Question: What about if you work out?

I work out maybe 3-6 days a week, and I feel like I "need" to wash my hair afterward. Do other people work out and skip the shampoo, but just rinse w/ water?

[Holly_Hobby]

64. I rinse with vinegar and water after working out rather than

shampooing. It neutralizes any odor and the oil rinses out with the vinegar. Plain white vinegar. Close your eyes tight!

[Arugula Latte]

74. Thanks, I'll try that.

[GoCubsGo]

104. I sweat like crazy during a workout.

I have gone to washing every other day, unless I swim. On the days I skip, I just rinse. It has been working so far. I am at the age where hair starts drying out, and I'm also getting more unruly gray hairs. The grays have been behaving themselves a little better since I quit washing them every day, and my hair has been less dry, in general.

[RobinA]

63. Thanks, No

I work with people who don't particularly like to bathe and wash hair. I don't know how people posting here are truly successful at not using shampoo, because from my observation it's kinda gross after a couple days. It's stringy, greasy, and doesn't smell particularly good.

[Codeine]

101. They'll give you that

"this is the way humans are supposed to smell" line. :puke:

[Catherina]

67. Been doing this for 2 years. My hair never looked more fabulous.

A conditioner rinse every few days, other days just a warm water rinse, sometimes combined with an apple cider vinegar rinse.

It's saved me a fortune and my scalp and hair are the healthiest they've ever been.

[Codeine]

70. I'm sorry, but her hair looks dirty.

Mostly because it is dirty. Bet it stinks.

[alphafemale]

82. I thought the same thing. Her hair looks oily, stringy and nasty.

What next? Don't launder your undies. That layer of crust will be velvety soft if you let it ride there a few weeks.

yuck

[Raine]

93. Yeah that's what I think too, It looks

really greasy. Sure it shines, anything full of grease shines. When you don't wash your hair for several days it gets that dirty aroma that anyone near can smell. x(

[delightfulstar]

76. I actually do this, and it works.

My stylist recommended it, because I'm naturally wavy and very prone to frizz. I do use conditioner, so that takes care of anything funky. My naturally very coarse hair has gotten a lot softer, and frizzes less, even when it's well over 100°. And my color holds better, too.

A few of you were talking about the horrors of getting mayonnaise out of your hair. Years ago, in my infinite twelve-year-old wisdom (which apparently wasn't!), I put Vaseline in my hair to try to make it stop frizzing. It literally took two weeks to get it all out of my hair. YUCK.

Some of the "natural" hair treatments that actually have worked for me are raw eggs (beaten), and surprisingly, beer. White vinegar works really well, too.

[pipi_k]

132. aughhhhhhhh!!!!!!

NOOOOOO!!!! Not vaseline!!!!!!!!!


oh you poor thing!!!!!


About the beer...it's about the only thing that made my babyfine hair have any body at all.

It's gotta be stale though

[SoCalDem]

135. My friend once used olive oil...but

she used the WRONG kind & ended up smelling like pizza:)

[jillan]

147. Olive oil makes a great conditioner - and body lotion - the smell goes away after a minute and you

can always add essential oils.

[Fire Walk With Me]

79. Reject shampoo.

Demand real poo.

[Codeine]

84. .

:spray: Well done!

[reorg]

80. I use nothing but Aleppo soap ...

it's all natural and has a nice, earthy smell. Haven't had oily hair in years, ever since I quit using shampoo.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleppo_soap

[Codeine]

88. She put fucking mayonnaise in her hair?

And just figured she could rinse it out?!

Where do people like this come from?

[Matariki]

90. This is true.

I use a baking soda rinse to wash followed with apple cider vinegar rinse to restore ph. My hair used to be greasy by the end of the day, after ditching shampoo that no longer happens and my hair has never looked better.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

91. I just use a bar of soap.

If soap can get the rest of my body clean... it will work for my hair and face.
I don't see the need for 20 different hygene products.

Bar of soap (Shower)
Crest (Teeth)
Barbasol (Shave)
Old Spice (armpits)
Cologne (only if I'm having company/visiting)

[Codeine]

96. It got simpler once I shaved my dome.

Now it's body wash or bar soap from head to toe.

[ohheckyeah]

92. After reading this I

decided to try my hand made soap that I buy from Soapanetta on my hair as my scalp has been broken out lately. I used the Cucumber peel soap and I have to say my hair is as soft and shiny as baby hair. My scalp doesn't feel dry and itchy. I'm so glad I read this today.

I also used the soap on my face and for the first time in ages my face didn't break out and burn after washing it. My skin feels like silk.

[LanternWaste]

94. Great story on good stewardship practices... and her hair looks great!

Great story on good stewardship practices... and her hair looks great-- at the least, it looks better than many of the females at my office who spend a week's salary on theirs. :shrug:

[Codeine]

95. It looks stringy, greasy, oily, and gross.

She's straight-up dirty.

[LanternWaste]

98. I imagine some people may see it that way...

I imagine some people may see it that way... :shrug:

But again, it looks more attractive and much cleaner to me than many who have their hair done professionally.

[Raine]

97. I'll pass and stick to shampooing

I don't have any problems. I use a different shampoo everytime I wash my hair, rotating them ... no flakes, no dryness, no itch and no split ends, never had a problem. :-)

[Odin2005]

99. Her hair is GROSS, I could change oil in a car with that hair.

I have extremely oily hair and have to wash it every other day.

[Codeine]

102. LOL!

I'd keep her around to grease cookie sheets. That's green, right? :rofl:

[Raine]

106. ECK I'll say, it looks so greasy

and disgusting. :puke:

[renate]

100. i went to school with someone who never washed her hair

The smell was pretty overwhelming after a few weeks. It was weird that she didn't see how gross it looked, because she wasn't generally an unkempt person. She'd heard that eventually the odor goes away, so she just kept on waiting and waiting... it never happened.

I've read in several places about just using conditioner instead of shampoo, and have gotten good results doing that myself. Conditioners must have emulsifiers or some other kind of lipid-soluble components that dissolve the hair grease.

I have pretty thick and frizzy/curly hair (it drives me crazy); this technique probably wouldn't work for people with fine hair.

[Codeine]

103. There was a white dude that insisted on growing dreads

here at work. God he stank. It was foul beyond belief.

[Erose999]

119. Yeah one of my friends (also, a whiteboy) was showing off his dreds. He used maple syrup to stick

them together. After about 3 days it smelled absolutely foul.

Apparently dreds can get a fungus that grows inside them. And when a dred is filled with sugary syrup... yeah LOL

[Dappleganger]

108. I shampoo once every three days and then use a rinse of organic apple cider vinegar

on Saturdays. You wouldn't believe how soft it is after that rinse! My hair is extremely thick with natural wave and oily, if that is help to anyone. I have tried going completely without shampoo before about a year ago, but broke down in week 3 because it was just overwhelming to me. Thick hair holds in the stink (hot, humid FL summer) and you can't just rinse it out with plain water. One product I love to use is called Hair One, which isn't a shampoo but a cleanser--that works quite well for me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

110. No link?

[SoCalDem]

111. Wow.. I could have sworn I put the link in.. you're the first to notice i goofed

Here ya go ..:blush:

I know it was there, but I must have "edited" & lost it:)

http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/bubble-trouble

[Overseas]

116. K&R ! //nt

[Broderick]

117. Reminds me of something about someone

Mary perhaps. hehe.

[Erose999]

120. +1 for Dr. Bronners. LOVE the "Hemp-Almond" flavor. I heard you can even brush your teeth with it

tried it once... wouldn't recommend it. It may not be as harsh as most "soaps" but it still tastes like soap.

Dr. Emmanuel Bronner was an interesting chap. Apparently he was born Jewish in Germany and emigrated to America in 1929 to escape the Nazis. At one point he also escaped from a mental hospital where he had been committed and given electro-shock.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dr_Bronner

[MattBaggins]

123. This principle is the reason I have no toilet paper in my house.

[jmowreader]

141. So how DO you use the three seashells?

[NNN0LHI]

127. I don't know? Looks pretty greezy to me

And is she a Mime artist? I never seen anyone that white before.

Don

[LisaL]

137. Is that an "after" photo of the supposedly great looking hair?

If I saw that photo without reading an article, "great hair" wouldn't be the first thing that came into my mind.

[RagAss]

139. Mayo...work it in and leave for 30 minutes...then wash....best conditioner ever.

[Hannah Bell]

149. don't even leave for 30" -- leave for 10", shampoo, rinse with diluted vinegar.

it's as good as anything on the market, at least for my hair.

not that i've tried everything on the market.

[Trajan]

142. LINK Here

http://www.mnn.com/lifestyle/natural-beauty-fashion/stories/bubble-trouble-0

[SoCalDem]

143. and in post #111 too.. It was too late for me to edit in the original

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=235055&mesg_id=239788

[Honeycombe8]

146. This has been floating around for some years. Dates back to the hippie days, I think.

The girl DOES shampoo her hair (read her article again). It's just that she doesn't use formulaic shampoo. She uses conditioner (which is full of chemicals, and therefore washes out the grime from hair).

I have old organic, home beauty books with all sorts of food items to use as beauty products. (Mayo IS good for your hair, but you do have to shampoo it out...it has a lot of oil in it.)

There is now a booming business in organic shampoos and conditioners. Purology is one brand (I use that one), but there are many others.

I rotate hair products, using organic one time, a mild Pantene the next time, then organic again. I rotate hair conditioners, which I use religiously. As long as the shampoo is mild (read the ingredients), I haven't noticed any difference between the mild Pantene and the good organic shampoos (except that when my hair got very very dry from a certain hair color, I used ONLY the organic shampoo and its conditioner for a few months, and my hair did indeed get much better).

The best thing probably is not to use heat on your hair. Or rollers. Those things probably do more damage than mild shampoos. But yes, I've heard that you can use conditioner instead of regular shampoo to "shampoo" your hair (if your hair is dry).

[JCMach1]

148. I really don't buy it... if I did that my hair would smell like $hI% and would be greasy as hell

Sorry, but I will keep my shampoo thanks...

[last_texas_dem]

151. I have some doubts that this would work for everyone

I have the kind of hair that gets visibly oily if I skip a day of shampooing.

When I've had longish hair, I've tried to skip the shampoo and only use conditioner sometimes; it helps tame the "wildness" of it a little bit, but also makes it oilier than I'd like. (Basically, it gives me hair that looks O. K. but that I wouldn't want anyone to touch!)

Maybe going without for a while *would* eventually stabilize things, but I'd have to wonder if this would ever work for people who have both oil-prone skin (foreheads, etc.) and oil-prone hair...