I’ve gone a little extremist, but it may work!

If you have been on the internet in the last few weeks you have probably seen the “no poo” trend flying around.  If you haven’t seen it or haven’t wanted to click the link, let me tell you quickly what it is.  You don’t wash your hair with traditional products.  Instead you use baking soda on your roots, rinse and use vinegar on your ends.  Some sites claim your hair will grow two inches per month and be voluminous!

After hearing my mother was giving it a try, I decided if I am going to talk the talk I am going to try and walk the walk in the hair care realm.  I am usually looking for shampoo without palm oil in it and always find the ingredients list way too long and containing some palm oil derivative.  So with two simple ingredients I knew I would be avoiding palm oil. Why avoid palm oil?  Find out by reading my short article here.

I also loved the sound of adding volume to my hair and only washing it 1-2 times a week!  So I bought my supplies and gave it a try.  After the first wash you feel amazing, then experience a grease period as your hair figures out it will be managing itself and by the end of a 2-3 week period, amazing hair.  I can do that! I am currently on day two, but after the first wash I am excited about the possibilities.

I am sure you are wondering, doesn’t your hair stink?  Strange enough I don’t smell baking soda or vinegar.  Hmmm, time will tell if this changes.  Some sites also suggest using cocoa powder on your roots to combat the grease in the first few weeks.  I’m not too sure I want to smell like a chocolate bar all day.

There are lots of sites out there that explain the “no poo” process.  My favorite that helped me create my plan with all kinds of tips was this blog post.  Check it out for all the details.  Here is the main idea:

• Create two squeeze bottles.
• One with a mixture of 1Tblsp of baking soda and 1 cup of hot water.
• One with a mixture of 2Tblsp of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of hot water.
• In the shower use the baking soda mixture at your roots, leave in for 2 minutes and rinse.
• Use the apple cider vinegar next focusing on your ends.  Leave it in for the duration of your shower and rinse well at the end.
• Add essential oils if you want a smell.
• Use coconut oil after the shower if you need more moisture or detangle.
• Dry shampoo for blondes and cocoa powder for darks for grease control.
• Only “wash” 1-2 times a week.

Here are the ingredients I bought and used.  I also saved these old dish detergent containers that work perfectly!

This isn’t the end of my recent crazies.  I have also substituted any facial moisturizer for coconut oil and olive oil.  AH!  The coconut oil is good for at night because it does leave a little sheen to your face.  Olive oil is good for the daytime as it soaks into your skin quickly.  So long wrinkles and hello soft skin.  A few days with my oil friends and I am looking good.

Now if only I could sleep through the night so I can get my beauty sleep!

Extreme gone good!