A few months ago I caught wind of a neat little way to use no chemicals and no products to clean and nourish the hair. It is called “No-Poo”. Although comical, the premise is to use simple ingredients to make your own personal hair cleansing rinses and eliminate all the junk that will otherwise collect on your hair and build up the grease-making mechanisms.

After three months of No-Pooing it, I am sold! Not only is my hair silky smooth and soft, I no longer have to spend our hard earned money on hair products. If you are willing to give No-Poo a go of it, you may find that your hair thanks you too.

A Word of Caution: Because you will be going through a stripping process for your hair, restoring balance in its natural oils, there will be a time of transition. Your hair has gotten used to years of heavy chemicals and build up, which it fights hard to balance out, usually resulting in very oily hair within a day or two of washing. As you use the following rinses, all the chemical build up in your hair will be stripped away, which will take your body several weeks to realize at it figures out it no longer has to work so hard to keep the natural oils in your hair doing their job. Be patient in the process, and wear lots of pony tails if necessary. If you can get through the awkward time, I think you will be pleasantly pleased with the results.

Do you No-Poo?

What you will need:

Two functional spray bottles (these can be any that you have on hand, so if previously used, give them a good washing, or they can be the little travel-sized spray bottles…your choice. I have used both) ***SEE UPDATE AT THE BOTTOM***
2-3 Tablespoons Baking Soda
2-3 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar (I LOVE Bragg because I think it is superior. I’m telling you a gallon is worth its weight in gold!)
1-2 cups of water

Instructions:

Label your spray bottles however you see fit (remember these will be in the shower, so something water-proof is helpful…I have used a Black Sharpie). Label one “Baking Soda Wash” or “Shampoo” and the other “Apple Cider Vinegar (or ACV) rinse” or “Conditioner”.
Into the first bottle, the “shampoo”, pour in 1-2 tablespoons worth of baking soda. I am not particular about the amounts in this and I have not had any issues.
Add about 1 cup of water to the baking soda. Shake until thoroughly mixed.
Into the second bottle, the “conditioner”, pour in 1-2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar.
Add about 1 cup of water. Shake until thoroughly mixed.
Place both spray bottles into shower.

How to Use:

Wet hair as usual while in shower.
Taking first spray bottle, “shampoo”, spray baking soda solution all over your hair. Massage into hair, making sure not to exclude the follicles and tips (be careful about the water dripping into mouth…kind of tastes like sweat). Rinse hair thoroughly.
Taking second spray bottle, “conditioner”, spray vinegar solution all over your hair. Massage into hair, again, and be sure to include the follicles and tips. Let this sit in your hair while you wash/rinse your body. Rinse hair thoroughly.
Repeat procedure every 2-3 days, extending out time more and more as your hair returns to its natural state of oil-production.

“No-Poo” and enjoy soft hair with frugal savings!

There you have it. I hope you give this hair solution a try. If you have hard water, there may be an additional step to add in, but I have not experienced that personally. Please let me know if you do!

What do you think? Will you give no-poo a try?

***UPDATE: After several months of No-Pooing, I have found that the spray bottles are not ideal with the apple cider vinegar solutions. I have now “broken” ~~two~~ three spray bottles with this method, because of what looks to be the mother growing slightly in the solution and getting the tubing and spray nozzle clogged. So, the new solution I have found is to use a simple squeeze bottle to dispense the solution. I have to be a bit more careful when pouring since it comes out faster than a spray, obviously, but the chances of clogging are slim to none, I still do not have to worry about replacing my solution every time I want to take a shower, which is far too much work for me, and it is WAY cheaper than paying for store conditioner. Yay for simple solutions…no pun intended =0) ***