What the Heck is No ‘Poo Anyway?

21 by Becky Striepe on August 13, 2009

No Steaming Poo. CC photo by Flickr user goosmurf Whenever I mention to someone that I'm doing the no 'poo thing, it gets quite the reaction! Despite its confusing name, no 'poo has nothing to do with fecal matter. Though I have to admit that the association does make me giggle.

So what is this no 'poo business about? The 'poo is short for shampoo. It's a hair care regimen starring those superstars of natural living: baking soda and vinegar. No, you don't do a volcano experiment on your head (though if you try this, please send me a picture!). Depending on who you talk to, you'll get a dozen different methods, but here it is in a nutshell.

Baking Soda Cleanse

Make a paste of baking soda and water in the palm of your hand and massage it into your scalp. Let it sit for a few minutes before you rinse it out thoroughly.

If making a paste in the shower on the fly seems like a bit much, you can also premix your baking soda solution in an old, well rinsed shampoo bottle. Start out with 1 part baking soda to 3 parts water and sort of go from there. If you feel like your hair is on the oily side, you might up the baking soda a bit at a time until you get a mix that works for you. For drier hair, start with a bit less baking soda.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse

You'll probably want to pre-mix your apple cider vinegar. You just need about 1 part vinegar to four parts water. If the vinegar smell bothers you like it does me, try adding a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the bottle to mask the smell. I've even heard of folks putting fresh herbs or cinnamon sticks in there! Just massage a bit of the mixture into your scalp and through your hair, let it sit for a few minutes, and rinse!

What to Expect

A lot of folks who go no 'poo for the first time have to deal with the dreaded "transition period." This is tougher if your hair is longer, but it's so worth it to stick things out! That transition is your scalp getting used to producing its own oils freely again. Once it's regulated itself, things will mellow right out. Then, they get really, really amazing.

A lot of folks who do the no 'poo thing say they only have to "wash" their hair once or twice a week, and many don't need as many (if any) products to make their tresses behave.

Not only is this method healthier for your hair, it's better for the environment, too! Unlike a lot of the ingredients in your typical shampoos and conditioners, baking soda and vinegar are biodegradable and nontoxic. It doesn't hurt that they are also dirt cheap, unlike the organic hair care products you'd buy at the store.

Image Credits: No Steaming Poo. Remixed Creative Commons photo from goosmurf; ACV and Baking Soda. Photo by Becky Striepe

http://rogueapron.com Lady Rogue

this sounds super intriguing. but i have about 30 pounds of locks … wouldn’t this just be a disaster?

i like that i have all this stuff in the pantry anyways …

do you feel like your hair looks different?

http://glueandglitter.com/ Becky Striepe

Yea, you do have thick hair! You’d probably use more of the solutions each time, but it should still work for you!

I just started back on this regimen this past week, but last time, I didn’t notice much of a difference in looks or anything like this. It definitely didn’t need to be washed as often as before making the switch, though, which was my favorite part! I secretly hate washing my hair.

Andrea

What do you use for conditioner? Or does it leave your hair feeling good enough that you don’t have to condition?

http://glueandglitter.com/ Becky Striepe

No conditioner necessary! I know…I was skeptical, too!

Rebecca

I’m doing no ‘poo too, but I use conditioner only. It has a good set of ingredients (among other things, I don’t use products with parabens in them) and my mother (who cuts my hair) has noticed that the quality of my hair has improved a lot during the two years I haven’t used schampoo!

There are also people washing with eggs and says it works for them. Lots of ways to make do without ‘poo. Good that you brought this up!

(I use baking soda as deodorant, works great!)

http://glueandglitter.com/ Becky Striepe

Oh nice! I’d never heard of using conditioner only, but that might be a good option for Lady Rogue, who was asking about a method for long, thick hair!

How do you do the baking soda deodorant? It is in a solution that you spritz, or do you apply it like baby powder?

Rebecca

Deodorant: Pretty much like you wash your hair, but less of it and just enough water to keep it together (a couple of drops). I use a quarter of a tablespoon of baking soda or something like that.

http://kateekat.blogspot.com/ Kathryn

I read about this somewhere else a few months back. I wasn’t that interested at the time ’cause i was pleased with the minimal chemical/no SLS/no paraben stuff i was getting from the health food store. Then i started having allergy issues to nearly everything, so i started this.

I use a few drops of a soap nut solution & aloe vera juice instead of water. And it does not work at all if i forget the vinegar rinse. Sometimes i do use a few drops of shampoo, but nothing like i used before. I bought some lemon juice recently to try, also.
Melanie

Does this leave a smell? I wouldn’t want my hair to smell like vinegar.

http://glueandglitter.com Becky

I had the same concern, but it actually doesn’t! The vinegar isn’t very concentrated, and as long as you rinse thoroughly, there should be no smell.

Melanie

Ok =]
I’m really excited to try this out!
Hopefully it will work for me.
Susan

I have been using baking soda and ACV for a couple months now. I did go through a transition period but things seem good now. I added a little brown sugar and some honey to keep from drying my scalp. It is excellent. My hair feels so clean and is very shiny. I used molasses and conditioner to do a deep moisturizing treatment. It turned out Very nice!!!

http://glueandglitter.com/ Becky Striepe

Susan, what great ideas! I’ll definitely give the brown sugar and honey thing a try. My scalp always gets dry in the winter.

Jenn

Can the baking soda be pre-mixed with the water or not so much?

http://glueandglitter.com Becky

Absolutely! I keep a premixed bottle in the shower. Just give it a good shake before using it.

Catherine Clark

I used 1 c. warm water + 1 tbsp. honey + 1 tbsp. ACV for rinse with a few drops of lavender oil for the scent. Works great for a rinse! Never thought of premixing the shampoo part; will have to try that.
http://mollyonmoney.wordpress.com Molly On Money

I think I can do my entire health beauty regiment on baking soda, ACV and honey. I’ve heard (and tried) cleaning my hair with baking soda but it was messy and unsuccessful. This sounds easier.
To condition your hair try some honey with a bit of olive oil. Put a shower cap on for 30minutes and then rinse (honey rinses right off with warm water).
Jenny

I’m intrigued, but I think putting up with vinegar-smell in the shower is going to take alot of selling for me to buy it. Have you tried using a type of vinegar that doesn’t stink so bad?

Becky Striepe

I hear ya. The vinegar smell is not my favorite part of this regimen. You could try white vinegar and adding some essential oils to mask the smell. I have a feeling the ACV is effective partly bc of its pH. I tried to find the pH values of different vinegars but didn’t have much luck. lmk how it goes if you try it out!

Kat Slonaker

I have been using this method for at least a year now and have done it ONLY with Distilled White Vinegar. No problem. I do tend to use a higher ratio of vinegar to water. Probably about 1/3 DWV to 2/3 water.

Tip – you know those squeezy sport water bottles we all stopped using because of worries about the plastic used? They make a terrific container for the vinegar/water solution!

Bluesubaru4me

here is an idea, just don’t wash your hair so often. I had to quit ashing so much, because my hair was breaking and falling out. once i quit washing my hiar every day it started to make it’s own oil agian. olive oil is also great for skin and nails. I am so thankful baking soda, vinegar and olive oil can solve most problems. makes me wonder why peopel started using commercial products anyway.