I only started washing my hair with baking soda and apple cider vinegar for a month, but I couldn’t stop.
It’s been half a year since I stopped using shampoo. This experiment started when my editor asked if I’d like to try the ‘no poop’ method for just the month of January. I reluctantly agreed and, together with Margaret Badour, dove headfirst into the world of highly alternative hair care. Our experiment resulted in an “experiment without using shampoo.” While Margaret was out cold for a month, I continued to “wash” my hair with baking soda and “condition” my hair with apple cider vinegar.
At the beginning of July I never dreamed I’d still be doing it, but I was a true convert to the “no poop” method and had no intention of going back. There are so many things I really liked about it, and this is what I tell people who are curious about my weird hair washing habits.
There was very little adjustment period for me.
Tree Hugger / Alexandra Christina Nakamura
…I think this is common for people who have really thick hair or who only wash their hair once or twice a week. If you have thin and straight hair, don’t jump to conclusions about whether it will work or not, as it may take several weeks to adjust.
My biggest hurdle was psychological, getting over the fleeting salad dressing smell when I poured vinegar over my head in the shower (don’t worry, it disappears quickly and the smell doesn’t linger).
The longer I avoid shampooing, the healthier and more manageable my hair becomes.
Tree Hugger / Alexandra Christina Nakamura
Your hair will feel less greasy and you will have to wash your hair longer, usually 4-5 days. It’s softer, shinier, and less frizzy than before. I have fewer bad hair days and just rubbing a little coconut oil into damp hair gives me the natural, loose curls I like.
Only twice have I used natural shampoo instead of soda or vinegar. This spring, I traveled to Honduras and Mexico for a writing assignment. In both cases, I didn’t have to explain that there was a strange white powder in my luggage. I noticed a big difference after washing with shampoo. My hair became even more dry and frizzy and looked greasy within two days. I’ve also noticed that my scalp is itchy, probably because the shampoo has stripped away its natural oils.
We love how the No ‘Poo Method fits into zero waste living
Tree Hugger / Alexandra Christina Nakamura
I used up one cardboard box of baking soda in six months, but only used up half of the same bottle of vinegar. There were no empty plastic shampoo and conditioner bottles that could be recycled, nor were the accompanying hair care products that I relied on to condition my hair.
If you’re at all curious about how to avoid poop, why not give it a try? You might be surprised by the results. Here’s what I did:
Measure 2 tablespoons of baking soda into a 500 mL/1 pint glass jar. wet hair. Pour water into the jar and stir to dissolve the baking soda. Pour it over your head and let it blend into your hair. rinse. Measure 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into the same jar. Add water and pour it over your head and rinse immediately.
This recipe is for long hair. For short to medium length, mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda and vinegar in 1 cup of water. If your hair doesn’t seem clean enough after drying, use more soda next time.
You can also use white vinegar. Its smell disappears faster than ACV, but it doesn’t linger after rinsing and drying. If the smell bothers you, add a few drops of an essential oil (such as lavender) to the water and vinegar mixture before the “conditioning” step.
I’ve also heard that rye flour is used as a substitute for baking soda. It’s a little gentler on the scalp than soda and will add shine to your hair, but be careful to sift it well and let it dry completely.
