I resisted the siren song of Pinterest for quite some time.
Once I got the hang of it, I became enamored. I know now that I have a problem and I have to take Pinterest in small doses as to not actually fuse with the bed after spending an embarrassing amount of time looking at fruit bread recipes, remedial crafts and pictures of Sam and Dean.
I also became obsessed with making my own household products. For example, I made laundry soap. It was cheap! It lasts forever! It irritates Randy’s skin!
I was thinking about making my own shampoo and while searching for recipes, I stumbled across some people advocating going completely shampoo free. What do they use instead? Baking soda.
Hahahahah. Hippy freaks. I’m not giving up shampoo. What’s next? Conditioner?
YES! Instead of conditioner, they use apple cider vinegar. Really!
That just seemed like crazy talk. Baking soda instead of shampoo and vinegar as conditioner was out there like wearing all natural fibers, being vegan and actually wearing Crocs.
My sister in law told me that she’s been rinsing her hair in apple cider vinegar and that it really makes a difference. I’ve tried it a few times and it’s kind of stinky, but it really did make my scalp feel good.
This morning, before our Sunday morning trek to the grocery, I read another article advocating going shampoo free. The woman who wrote the article said she hasn’t used shampoo for over a year and doesn’t plan to ever go back. She said on most days, she dissolves a tablespoon of baking soda and a few drops of lemon oil into a cup of hot water and works that through her hair and rinses it out in the shower. She didn’t say anything about the apple cider vinegar conditioner, though.
As we were driving to the store, I thought about it. Why not? Why not give it a shot and see how it turns out. Sure, you’ll smell like a salad head and Randy really hates the smell of vinegar, but it should dissipate quickly. If it’s better for your hair, then why not try?
So, if I’M doing it, it can no longer be considered a strange practice used only by those out in the hippy fringe. I’m not part of that fringe! I am mainstream! I use Pantene and every so often, I give myself a hot oil treatment. If I am willing to try using a chocolate chip cookie dough ingredient on my head, then we’re going to have to go ahead and classify it as ‘not weird’.
I’m not saying that I’m giving up shampoo. I’m still pretty fucking far from being convinced. But I AM going to give it a shot. One week without shampoo. If it’s not intolerable, I will extend that to a month and then decide from there.
I’ll let you know how shampoo free hair goes.
Also, where’s the best place to get patchouli?
I’ve been considering this option as well. Shampoo is expensive and full of chemical crap my hair probably doesn’t need. I should probably just do it.
Next up, not shaving! 😉
Well, today is day one for me. We’ll see how it goes
Yah, I’m dying to hear how this goes. I hate the chemically crap that gets on our skin from using these products and have been considering it too, but wow, yah… I’ve eliminated almost every other kind of skin goop except hair products and eye makeup, but not sure if I’m ready to go bohemian with the tresses yet. Definitely let us know when you have a conclusion.
xo
J
So far so good. I just ‘not washed’ with baking soda and rinsed with apple cider vinegar. I DID use a little conditioner on the tips. It’s drying and doesn’t feel heavy or greasy at all.
Smelling like a salad reminds me of Kids in the Hall “Cabbage Head”
How does that concoction work for color treated hair?
I do not know..other than I did it today and my hair is color treated and it didn’t fall out or anything.
I HAVE A CABBAGE FOR A HEAD!
Okay, now that it’s dry, it is rather greasy. Sock bun to the rescue. I’m sticking with giving this at least a week.
My hairstylist says that the first week of no shampoo is the greasiest. Your scalp is not used to being stripped of all its natural grease so it goes overboard. I’m also going to try the no shampoo thing but my hair is so greasy even after one day of not washing it… We’ll see. I hear cornstarch helps dial down the grease once the hair is dry.
It’s pretty bad right now…I didn’t have lemon essential oil so I added a tiny bit of olive oil. Pretty sure that was a big ass mistake.
Yea I think olive is too oily. I put coconut oil on my ends and sit for 10 minutes before showering to deep condition it
Can you use dry shampoo? That might help or is that considered shampoo?
Well…this is just my own experiment, so I can do anything I want (like the olive oil fiasco) I’ve used dry shampoo before and didn’t love it, but I could try again
I don’t love it either. It makes me grey sometimes.
I’ve heard that your hair will get really greasy for a little while but then end up beautiful. I haven’t tried it… I really love the smell and feel of shampoo so I don’t want to give it up… but it does make sense!
I cheated already because I dyed my hair tonite…I had to get rid of the gray around the temples if my hair is gonna up in a sock bun for a while
I just read a funny FB post saying shampoo that gives your hair extra volume is what is making us all fat because it runs all over our body in the shower. Maybe I’ll start trying your method. My body has enough volume already 🙂
Hey!! We may be on to something here!
I’ve used baking soda as a way to get buildup off of my hair, but that was in addition to shampoo. Will try just the baking soda. How did you make your laundry soap? I’ve made with Fels Naptha, washing soda and borax. Shouldn’t irritate skin.
well, we’re gonna try it without the shampoo part. It’s possible that I will be fairly disgusting soon.
I will be very interested to see how you like it long term. I have been toying with the idea myself.
I also made the laundry soap and adore it! I used the Zote soap in mine. Haven’t had any skin irritation issues, which is amazing since I am the most skin sensitive person ever. It also gets all the grime out of my hubby’s side of the sheets that comes from being a big sweaty dude in Houston in the Summer.
I’m on 9 days and it’s not so bad. I haven’t taken it out of the bun yet this morning, so we’ll see…
I haven’t used shampoo in months and now I hardly ever use the baking soda/vinegar method. I just rinse my hair really well with hot water in the shower. I have curly hair and live in humid FL and not using shampoo has really decreased the frizziness of my hair.
I have already noticed a big decrease in the frizziness and it feels pretty good still
Yaa I too…realized big decrease.
If its greasy afterwards, you’re not using enough baking soda. My hair is naturally very oily and very thick, and I use about 3/4ths of a cup of baking soda each time I wash it, made into a paste, and worked through with a little more water. I let it sit a few minutes (it makes a difference, rinse, apply ACV, an rinse again.
I’ve been completely shampoo and conditioner free since June 1st last year. I’ve seen a few major improvements- I have a skin condition on my scalp that has dramatically improved since I ditched shampoo, and my hair seems to growing faster, but that might be my imagination. And a giant box of baking soda and gallon jug of ACV is way cheaper than that Garnier we were using before.
I’ve only been using a tablespoon in a cup of water..maybe I’ll up that a little. Thanks for the tips!!
If only I’d read this BEFORE I bought, in bulk, the shampoo I use from the warehouse !!! I may have to give it a try once I’m finished all my shampoo and see how it goes.
THIS is why I have never got into Pinterest – I’m sure that A would be rolling his eyes much like Randy does !!!
Have the best day !
Me xox