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Written by Natalya Stanko   
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Thursday, 29 December 2011

Shampoo Use

No ‘Poo… what's the longest you've ever gone without using shampoo? I'll admit it—on a bike trip I once went 11 days without showering, and my hair became an oily, knotty mess! That's why I was surprised to hear that there are many people who happily go without shampoo for weeks, months, even years at a time. They call themselves no 'poo-ers, and, no, they are not constipated—‘poo is short for shampoo and refers to the synthetic chemicals often found in hair products.

Some don't use shampoo for beauty reasons. Because going no 'poo strips hair of its natural oils, many people who go no 'poo claim that their hair is shinier and more voluminous than ever before.1 Your hair's natural oils also help protect against fungal diseases, which means less dandruff for some no 'poo-ers. Others go no 'poo for the environment. Most shampoos are shipped thousands of miles and packaged in plastic bottles that will never biodegrade. They're also laden with toxic chemicals. SLS, DEA, and parabens are all found in shampoos, and all may increase the risk of cancer.2 SLS and DEA are used to make shampoo foamy, while parabens act as a preservative. Such chemicals may not only endanger the bather but can also pollute our waters, killing fish and other wildlife.

Many skip shampoo simply to buy less and save money. They reason, “why spend $15 on a bottle of organic, toxic-free shampoo when I can skip the poo altogether?” Richard Glover, a radio host in Australia who challenged his audience to go no 'poo for six weeks, said, “We’re tired of feeling like cogs in the machinery of consumption. There’s this feeling of liberation to be able to say no to an entire aisle of the supermarket.”3

For most, going no ‘poo is hard for the first few weeks or so. The hair is used to overproducing oils because it's also used to getting all of its natural oils stripped away by mass-produced shampoo.4 Many no 'poo-ers go through a “grease-ball” stage (like I did on that bike trip) but most are later rewarded with silkier, fluffier hair … if they dare to stick it through long enough. Of course, no 'poo-ers still shower and soap up their bodies, preferably with organic soaps, just like the rest of us. Some clean their hair with water only, but most use a natural cleanser at least once a week. Many wash their hair with baking soda, then follow with apple cider vinegar or white vinegar (but they never combine the two, because that results in a science experiment in the shower). Others use applesauce, rice water, herbal infusions, cucumbers and lemon… you name it! To succeed, no 'poo-ers have to get to know their hair and then be willing to experiment with many different methods. Success also depends on hair type—curly heads have it easier—and water quality—soft water is better.5

Even if you use shampoo, you most likely know someone that hasn't used it, at least at some point in his or her lifetime. Your grandparents or great-grandparents were probably no 'poo-ers. That's because, back in the day, everyone was a no 'poo-er. The first modern shampoo wasn't introduced until the 1930s.6 Even then, bathers used shampoo only a few times a year. It wasn't until the 1970s that Americans took up shampooing daily. Here is a commercial for shampoo that aired on U.S. televisions in 1958 in case you’re interested:

Are you interested in going no 'poo? Here's what you need to know:
  • Expect your hair to be greasy for the first few days, weeks, or months.
  • For beginners, many suggest washing with baking soda and vinegar once or twice a week. Mix 1 part baking soda to 6 parts water and apply to scalp. Then mix 1 part organic white vinegar to eight parts water and apply to hair.7
  • The above recipe may not be suitable for your hair. You won't know until you find out! You will need to dedicate time and energy to experimentation.
  • For tips and encouragement, check out the no 'poo online community: no-poo.livejournal.com

After doing some research and realizing that I just ran out of shampoo, I decided that I, too, wanted to try no 'poo. For the last five days, I've been washing my hair with water only and combing frequently. Surprisingly, my hair looked nice and voluminous for the first three days. Today it appears greasy but still looks acceptable when coiled into a bun. I do miss the smell of shampoo in the shower, even though I realize that most of those smells came from yucky chemicals. From now on, I plan to make my showers more fragrant by scrubbing my head with a cucumber-lemon mix and then rinsing with an herbal infusion (sage, rosemary, and lemongrass) about once a week. I wonder: Will I make it past the greasiness, or will I be tempted by the shampoo bottle?

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1 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102062969
2 http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient.php?ingred06=706110
3 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/21/fashion/21SKINOne.html?
   &nbsp _r=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
4 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102062969
5 http://no-poo.livejournal.com/
6 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shampoo
7 http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=935




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Last Updated ( Thursday, 29 December 2011 )

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