Why You Should Go No ‘Poo
Posted: Beauty & Body » Health & Wellness » Go Green! » Hair & Nails »
Green Living | March 1st, 2005
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By Christi Colvin
Almost three months ago, I was introduced to the idea of no longer using
shampoo. I was intrigued. After looking into it somewhat, I figured I
didn’t have anything to lose. So I picked up some baking soda and apple
cider vinegar and then took the plunge.
I love the results! There was an adjustment period where I had to play
around with the measurements a bit but I finally got the hang of it. I have
straight-as-a-board, baby-fine hair that has never held a “do.” After “no
‘poo,” I don’t even have to use styling products. I just blow dry and go;
my hair now keeps any style. It’s awesome!
Reality check
You’re thinking you could never do without shampoo, that your hair
would be a big oily mess — but it’s quite the opposite. It’s a supply and
demand relationship, much like nursing a baby. The more your baby
wants to nurse, the more milk your body produces. If you suddenly
stopped nursing your baby there would be a lot of excess milk,
engorgement, etc., for a while until your body returned to a state of
balance.
The oily secretions of our body are very much the same. The more we
strip away the natural oils, the more demand we are creating and the
more oils our bodies will make. So if you stop using the surfactants cold
turkey, your body will still be overproducing oil and there will be a lot of
oil until your body reaches a balance again.
Do it for your health
The main reason to go no ‘poo is your health. The number of chemicals in
shampoo and other bath and body products is frightening. Your skin is
the largest organ on your body. Whatever gets put on your skin gets
absorbed into your body, into your bloodstream and into your organs, as
has been proven by many studies. Essentially, whatever is toxic to put in
your mouth is toxic on your skin as well.
According to Jacqueline Krohn, M.D., in The Whole Way to Natural
Detoxification: The Complete Guide to Clearing Your Body of Toxins (Buy
on Powells.com) by Jacqueline Krohn, MD, “Caustic chemicals, such as
alkaline solutions, can also penetrate the skin. Once a chemical has
penetrated the stratum corneum (the most superficial layer of skin), it
moves through the epidermis and into the dermis. Then the rich blood
supply of the dermis readily transports the chemical into the
bloodstream.”
Chemical content of shampoo
Following are just a small sample of the toxins found in most shampoos
and their detrimental side effects.
• Alcohol, isopropyl (SD-40) is a very drying and irritating solvent and
dehydrator that strips your skin’s moisture and natural immune barrier,
making you more vulnerable to bacteria, molds and viruses. It is made
from propylene, a petroleum derivative, and is found in many skin and
hair products, fragrances, antibacterial hand washes as well as shellac
and antifreeze. It can act as a “carrier,” accelerating the penetration of
other harmful chemicals into your skin.
It may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. A Consumer’s
Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients says isopropyl alcohol may cause
headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental depression, nausea, vomiting,
narcosis, anesthesia and coma. A fatal ingested dose is one ounce or less.
• FD&C color pigments are synthetic colors made from coal tar,
containing heavy metal salts that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing
skin sensitivity and irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause
depletion of oxygen in the body and death. Animal studies have shown
almost all of them to be carcinogenic.
• Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic,
clogging the pores. It interferes with skin’s ability to eliminate toxins,
promoting acne and other disorders.
• Propylene glycol (PG) and butylene glycol are petroleum plastics which
act as surfactants (wetting agents and solvents). They easily penetrate the
skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to
make extracts from herbs, PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from
boats!
• Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are
detergents and surfactants that may pose serious health threats. They are
used in car washes, garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers — and in
90 percent of personal care products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS
experienced eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe
skin irritation and even death.
How to no ‘poo
Dissolve about 1 tablespoon of baking soda in just enough water to make
a paste. Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a minute.
In order to stimulate blood flow, clean your pores and get off built up
grime, use your finger tips to scrub your scalp. Start by making a circle on
the top of your head in the area you’d wear a crown. Focus on the back of
this circle to begin with. Next, fill in the circle. This is where your part will
be; grease here affects the way your hair looks. Trace while still scrubbing
with your fingertips around the bottom edge of the circle. Keep making
scrubbing circles underneath each one, drawing lines in circles around
your head.
Lastly, scrub the back of your skull and your temples/sideburns. This will
result in less grease and more growth. After doing this, your scalp will
feel alive. Many women swear their hair grows faster after a visit to the
salon — it does, and this massage method is why.
When scrubbing, you’re actually rubbing your fingers back and forth in
short movements. Be gentle; you don’t want to break your hair. Next,
pour about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup and add
water. (I keep two plastic 12-ounce cups in my shower and just mix when
I get in.) After you rinse the baking soda out, pour the apple cider vinegar
over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then rinse it out.
That’s all there is to it!
No ‘poo troubleshooting
Remember, there is a transition period from two weeks to two months
depending on the person. Here are a few tips:
• If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on
for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help.
• If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar,
switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a
comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure you’re applying the apple cider
vinegar just to the ends of your hair.
• If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender,
rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive)
smoothed on bottom of hair.
(Editor’s note: This Natural Living Des Moines Blog notes the following: “If
you’re thinking about trying this method, be forewarned! Most people
experience a week or two of “icky hair” while their scalp struggles to
adjust to the new routine. I did not experience this transition time, but
many do. If you can outlast this period, though, you’ll be rewarded with
beautiful, all natural hair and scalp!”)
Ready to make the change? Sure! Don’t be afraid to go no ‘poo. You know
how to do it! Enjoy the journey – you’re on your way to a healthier you!
© Christi Colvin
Christi Colvin is a certified labor assistant with one beautiful son and a
wonderful husband. She is also “webmom” to a site that allows moms to
market and sell their products without the hassle of learning how to run a
web site. Visit http://www.CraftyMommy.com for more information.How do you get tangles out??????
I'm not sure. I posted because there has been questions about hair on here
lately. I'm not sure I can do the transition because of my thin hair but I am
interested in the benefits of no chemicals in my body. I'll try it and report
back to all of you.
Sounds interesting Lori...I've been using a baking soda rinse for years as a clarifyer, cuts all the built up mousse, gels and hairspray I use. When I was a teenager we used a lemon juice rinse and sat in the sun to lighten our hair...sun streaks. I use Ojon shampoo and conditioner, it's expensive but really good on my fine, permed and colored hair.
sounds like a bunch of tree hugging hippie crap Thanks Lori. I'd love to know how this works out. I have a terrible time with shampoos, conditioners, and body washes. Oh and make ups. Sheesh. I can only use a product for so long (like a month or two) and then I have to change. Or it tears up whatever I'm putting it on. Or it breaks me out, or gives me dandruff, or oils me up, etc etc. My quest has always been to find ONE freaking product I could stick with. I may have found it in body washes - I've finally been able to use Oil of Olay's Sensitive Skin body wash for almost a year now. That's a new record for me. I should check the ingredients to see if there's a trend there!hmmmm i will def try it! i try to wash my hair as little as possible now bc i was shampooing everyday and my hair was super fine, broke easily and it was greasy quickly! i will give it a shot and see how it works out! [QUOTE=lorster]... use your finger tips to scrub your scalp. Start by making a circle on