Bubble trouble

One green girl's story of ditching shampoo altogether; she (and her gorgeous new hair) never looked back.

By PlentyMag.comSun, Nov 01 2009 at 2:54 PM EST

377

HAIR GLARE: Turns out that not washing with shampoo can create shinier, healthier hair. (Photo: *Zara/Flickr)

Every day I faced off against lackluster tresses, while two friends of mine couldn’t stop raving about their own glossy, sexy hair. They had recently stopped shampooing — just went cold turkey — and the results were marvelous. Both are decidedly un-crunchy, so I knew they weren’t making some hippieish statement about evil soap conglomerates or shampoo pollution in our waterways; this no-suds policy, I reasoned, must actually be good for hair.

What did I have to lose? I tossed out my shampoo, began simply rinsing my hair in the shower every day, and waited to be dazzled by my new chemical-free, naturally lustrous mane. The payoff was a while in coming, and I soon regretted having told everyone about my little experiment. Was it dirty, friends asked? Did it smell? Most concealed their revulsion at the idea of not shampooing, but when one involuntarily put her hand to her face in horror, it made a powerful impression.

Seven months later, my hair has never looked better. It’s shinier and has more body, and my ordinarily flake-prone scalp is noticeably healthier. Plus, I get the self-righteous buzz of having beaten the system: I washed The Man right out of my hair and it stayed clean anyway.

The problem with shampoo is that most of it contains sodium lauryl or laureth sulfate as a foaming agent. Both are detergents capable of degreasing engines. Not surprisingly, they are also skin irritants. The charge against them by the no-’pooers is that they strip the hair and scalp of natural oils, creating an artificial demand for moisture that only commercial shampoos and conditioners can fill.

Bahman Karimzadeh, a Los Angeles stylist and staunch anti-shampooist, advocates a more DIY approach to conditioning. “You have to let your scalp make enough oil to bring it through to the end,” he says. “Some people say, ‘My scalp is dirty, oily, I have to wash it.’ You have to get over that feeling.”

Admittedly, when I first got off shampoo there was a funk factor. Around week two, I noticed my hair felt tacky when I wet it. Not long afterward I thought, “What’s that smell?” The answer came: “Oh. It’s me.” And I hadn’t even been hitting the gym that hard.

That’s when I contacted Karimzadeh, who counseled “shampooing” with conditioner once a week. That improved life dramatically. My hair was cleaner and softer, and it was starting to develop body I’d never seen. It fell in ringlets and held a style. It even stayed out of my face.

I should throw in one caveat here: The anti-’poo camp is dominated by folks with wavy and curly hair. Straight-and-fines may have trouble with the shampooless lifestyle — it usually just weighs their manes down. But for everyone else, says Lorraine Massey, co-owner of Devachan Hair Salon in New York City, ditching the suds is de rigueur. Something of a demigoddess among the curly-headed set, Massey has developed a line of products called DevaCurl. I now wash with Massey’s fragrant, sudsless No Poo (think of conditioner minus the slippery element) once a week.

And so here I am. There has been just one significant setback in my quest for natural hair. It happened a few days before Thanksgiving, when I decided to deep-condition using a product recommended by Karimzadeh and countless beauty magazines: mayonnaise. I wet my hair, towel-dried it, worked in about one-eighth of a cup, and rinsed a few minutes later.

After it dried, I admired the shine in the mirror, but something was off. It was a little too shiny. I rinsed again. And then I understood: The stuff wasn’t coming out. Over the next two days, my hair hung in oily clumps and developed the distinct odor of rancid nut oil. Finally, on Thanksgiving morning, dinner with the in-laws just hours away, I gave in and shampooed my hair for the first time in months. It looked great that day, but my shocked scalp immediately started to shed delicate flakes, and the texture of my hair soon got weird. That was all the assurance I needed. I’m back on the ’poo-free track, and this time I’m not getting off.

DIY Beauty

A sampling of natural cleansers and conditioners.

BAKING SODA:

This is the best natural cleanser I found, but don’t use it more than once every few weeks: Too-frequent use will strip away the lipids in the hair’s cuticle, says hair researcher Yash Kamath of Princetonbased TRI (formerly known as the Textiles Research Institute). Dissolve 1 teaspoon in a cup of warm water, massage through hair, and rinse. Leaves hair crazy silky and squeaky-clean.

BEER:

In a favorite book of mine from childhood, the heroine escapes from a Nazi concentration camp and is taken in by nuns who wash her matted hair with beer, making it lovely again. I had such high hopes as I opened the can in the shower! Instead it left a dull residue on my hair. I’ll stick to drinking it.

HAIRBRUSH:

Brushing every single night makes my wavy hair too straight, but 100 strokes twice a week helps to distribute the natural oils evenly.

LEMON JUICE:

Some people swear by it as a clarifying cleanser, but after applying the juice of one lemon to my hair and rinsing, I found it lank and lifeless for a couple of days.

MAYONNAISE:

The ingredients in this supposed miracle conditioner — eggs, lemon, and oil — are the holy trinity of home hair remedies, but I say leave the stuff on the sandwich.

OLIVE OIL:

Good for long hair that gets dry on the ends. A drop or two — no more — rubbed between the palms and applied lightly to dry hair will moisturize and add shine.

Story by Traci Hukill.

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Nik 01/23/2012 00:08 AM

Or you could just go to your local health food store and buy some shampoo and conditioner with natural ingredients.

AJD 01/22/2012 16:56 PM

I wanna recommend Pantene Pro-V Blonde Expressions.
The shampoo and conditioner are actually for dyed blonde hair, but I found it to be great for my wavy-curly brown hair. it doesn't lather up like most shampoos. in fact, it feels just like a baking soda rinse. it leaves the hair super shiny, clean, full and manageable.
for straight hair, I'd say give it a go. even if you have darker hair. my cousin has a very dark brown and thick straight hair, and it still leaves it gorgeous..... More

Andrew 01/16/2012 15:52 PM

I agree to a point, I am a guy, afraid of going bald, it seems to me that the harsh detergents of shampoos can't be good for follicles, natural SOAP be it vegetable or animal in origin has been my shampoo for over 20 years, full head of straight blonde hair still. I rarely lather up fully but ya gotta get that funk out somehow before it goes rancid. Ivory or Dove SOAP not detergent has given me good results, and i'm not bald yet at 49.
.

pamphyila 10/28/2011 15:52 PM

I hv alwys hd lovly hair - & that's becaz I have never washed it daily with shampoo - brushed it & used dry shampoo when parts got oily - Shampoo once wkly or wk & 1/2 - & then let it AIR DRY. The less you torture yr hair - the healthier it will B.

Nikki 10/16/2011 18:16 PM

I actually did this after reading this article and I gave up shampooing everyday maybe around 9months ago. At first it was really hard, my hair got really greasy and it was tough for a while. I ended up shampooing my hair once a week about a month ago. Its manageable now. I wouldn't recommend doing this unless you are ready for the commitment. Its not that easy.

theadeliashow.tumblr.com

Ana 09/05/2011 02:16 AM

what do you think about baby shampoo? i bought johnson's calming lavender thinking it'd be a healthier alternative but now that i've read the label i'm not quite so sure...

Anonymous 01/16/2012 15:27 PM

Johnson's baby shampoo contains toxic carcinogenic chemicals that are banned in Europe and other countries. Not the best choice for a healthier shampoo at all, especially for children.

LoveLiveLife 08/14/2011 03:51 AM

I use baking soda and then for conditioner I use a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water. It's amazing.

A 08/10/2011 11:20 AM

i've used burts bees shampoo and conditioner--they have NO sulfates. they work well

Sydney 07/30/2011 23:44 PM

If you just rinse your hair with water in the shower, won't the oil still be in yourhair?

Chels 07/30/2011 03:04 AM

I stopped shampooing about two months ago and my hair has never looked better. It's shinier, smoother, and my red color is lasting much longer. I use a conditioner every other day called Weightless by Soma. Try it!!

CLW 07/29/2011 21:09 PM

Im black ( African American) and I can say this is soooo true! It's funny, because this is what black people have been doing for YEARS ( washing our hair once every week or even two weeks, and conditioning with mayo, leaving it in all day) . When was younger, all of my white friends though this was weird, but now they tell me they have to do almost the same thing because the shampoo is killing their hair. Its a curly hair thing, the thing that makes hair curl on itself also makes it dryer then.... More

Claire Cupcake 07/27/2011 23:21 PM

I've got super thick and kinda straight hair ( it's almost wavy but not really...IDK) and I LOVE to my hair mostly with Manic Panic type stuff. So would this work for me?

Also what about that leave in shampoo stuff that Treseme makes would that do anything or does still have the chemicals and "Bad stuff" in it.

Lola 07/26/2011 16:28 PM

It suits different styles of hair. I stopped washing my hair and it just was gross.. didnt wash i for 2 weeks. Now I use two different types of shampoo, and conditioner. I only wash my hair 3 days a week.. Best hair I've ever had...so I can't complain about the ingredients in the shampoos.

Alida 07/14/2011 04:07 AM

Hi, just wondering if I should do this, my hair is super super curly and frizzy, I almost always straighten it. Would doing this make my hair straighter?

Anonymous 08/11/2011 09:34 AM

I have pretty curly and frizzy hair. I still wash it every once in a while, but my curls are happier and less frizzy when I only condition. I also skip brushing much of the time. My hair is actually curlier, and the curls are a bit bigger, when I'm not washing it. That said, I'm not a true no-shampoo person. Just thought I would share.

Bree Today 16:40 PM

Sorry, but this is only suitable for certain hair types. I know everyone wants a chance to be more "minimalist" and pat themselves on the back for not being so attacked to material things, but unless you have the right head of hair, you're in for a world of trouble with giving up shampoo.

I have thin, straight, dark brown hair, that I wear short (just slightly longer than my chin) because it is so thin that it only looks good short. I tried to GRADUALLY move away from shampooing and.... More

Trevor 07/07/2011 22:55 PM

I'm a boy, with short hair, should i do this? i feel like it would benefit me by saving money, but i want girls to be able to run there fingers through my hair without getting stuck

Anonymous 08/03/2011 22:29 PM

My boyfriend extremely rarely shampoos his hair, and only uses water. His hair is the best hair ever! Might not work the same if you have been using shampoo like everyday for a really long time and then stop, but I can say that my boyfriend doesn't use shampoo and his hair is very shiny and soft and doesn't stink at all.

Anonymous 07/22/2011 13:34 PM

As a girl, i would say wash your hair. There is nothing that can turn a girl off more than greasy, dirty, hair. I hate to ruin the just of the article, but shampoo is not that expensive at all. You pay only about 3 bucks for clean hair that smells and looks great :)

Nicole 07/02/2011 19:04 PM

I wish I could do this but since it was mentioned that women with straight hair may find it more difficult I don't know if it is even possible for me. I have stopped shampooing my hair before and I noticed it was really tacky, very easy for me to make a mohawk without trying :) I used just conditioner and my hair was limp and sticking to my face. I would love to ditch shampoo once and for all!

itsnatashaamia 07/02/2011 13:11 PM

I'm interested in this anti-poo idea, but i have curly hair and use Noodle Head leave-in-conditioner and curling cream to style. Does this anti-shampoo movement require anti-hair styling products in general?

bbworley 06/26/2011 13:17 PM

this gets the gel and 'product' out of your hair? the only reason I shampoo is so I can style it again - I'm all in favor of cutting out shampoo but if I don't every day, my hair gets stiff & won't DO anything

cupcake 07/27/2011 23:03 PM

That would be my problem too. One of them anyway.

Tarrant 06/27/2011 10:49 AM

I don't know if it gets the product out of your hair. I tend to use a wax on a recalcitrant cowlick when I need a product.

Do you have really fine straight hair or curly/wavy?

I have to admit--I didn't go without shampooing on purpose. We moved from a house with a shower only to one with a bath. I tend to take baths more often and realized that I wasn't washing my hair as frequently and that the dry scalp and dandruff issues that had plagued me for years--vanished. Now I only.... More

GreenBikeGuy 06/26/2011 12:28 PM

I might be called "semi-'poo" in my approach: I simply rinse some mild conditioner through my hair every other day. About once a month, I'll run the baking soda through it, like the article says, just to clean everything out. So far, so good, but the article makes me wonder....

MrsJWeems 06/26/2011 11:46 AM

Do any of you ladies notice that your hair behaves differently around your time of the month? I usually shampoo 2-3 times a week, and I notice my hair 'behaves better before/after my period than during. It feels like I have to shampoo more during my period.... just my imagination?

JackieFitz 06/26/2011 14:25 PM

No, mine's the same.

tiff 06/26/2011 02:48 AM

can i go no poo if i dye my hair?...
or after i dye it do i just wash it with the baking soda solution?

ry 06/25/2011 23:49 PM

Yep, I went poo-less in November. I have straight hair that's fine but there is a ton of it. There was an improvement really quickly, I'll vouch for not using baking soda too much. I switch it up between baking soda and corn starch. Because one day I was out of baking soda and I said "wth let's see what happens" and it was awesome. Also vinegar rinse, but like two tablespoons to a cup of water other wise I smell like a salad until it's dry. It's kind of cool more people are trying it lately,.... More

Maddie 06/24/2011 23:18 PM

This is a great system! I have ditched shampoo, and my hair feels much smoother, and less frizzy. I go swimming often, so I recommend to any one else that does, condition every time after you exit the chlorine. Otherwise your hair will be HORRIBLE, no matter how long you rinse it.
Also ( I don't mean to seem like a commercial here, i'm sorry)
I found the WEN hair products work excellently. The conditioner acts as a clenser, but not as shampoo, so your hair feels clean, but has.... More

sg 06/23/2011 14:23 PM

i have ditched shampoo for about a month now and although my curls fall nicer and are much more bouncy, i have lost a ton of hair. it sheds like crazy!! is this temporary or will it continue - because at this rate i might be bald in 6 months!

smithgun2011 06/20/2011 00:42 AM

My hair is much more managable and not as kinky and with fewer split ends than before. I descovered that Aloe Vera works real well to help stay soft and have fewer knots.

kpatricia 06/11/2011 22:04 PM

to people who are afraid to totally skip washing your hair altogether, a good thing to try could be a cleansing conditioner. i use wen cleansing conditioners. they don't have any of the bad, natural oil-stripping chemicals in them, but they get rid of product and grease buildup in hair while moisturizing.

stormi 07/27/2011 21:47 PM

What type of cleansing conditioner and where do you buy it? thanks.

Anonymous Today 23:27 PM

I have the stereotypical hippie hair down about to my elbows. In the summer I'm pretty active so my hair has to be washed every day. I was told by a few people (don't you dare laugh) that Mane n Tail horse shampoo would be good for my kind of hair. It just seems like if I don't use anything that my hair would just really pack on the dead ends and get obnoxious frizzy. Advice??

Anonymous 01/22/2012 16:42 PM

don't be fooled by the product name! Mane and Tail is a very rich shampoo and conditioner, and for long hair, it's great. My hair was up to my butt when i was younger, and I remember using it when my momma bought me it. It is great. it's really trial and error. it might have worked for my hair, but it might not have the same results for you. but it never hurts to try. :)

Anonymous 06/18/2011 16:35 PM

I think those few people that gave you that advice have the right idea. I have two horses and their Mane and Tail shampoo is great for long hair.

anon 06/09/2011 04:02 AM

mane and tail works wonders. used it on my horse and my hair. i have thick curly hair and it made it soft and less frizzy. thats why its sold in the pet area and in the shampoo area! mane n tail has also come out with dye friendly products

rachel 06/10/2011 08:02 AM

Mane N Tail Now has a "human" line sold in beauty supply stores... theres atleast 5 different varieties in the one here in my town.... it is amazing my hair was never softer than when I was using it.

Anonymous 06/10/2011 23:16 PM

its also sold at walgreens or walmart

Emily 06/03/2011 22:00 PM

This seems like it would be good for me to try, since I have such a sensitive scalp. But I'm afraid to try it! My scalp is so oily, that my hair and scalp looks and feels better after its been dyed.

Linzi 06/02/2011 21:32 PM

Does this still work for coloured (specifically, bleached) hair? Or will it remove the colour quicker =\?

MargaretT 05/31/2011 15:23 PM

I have thoughtof doing this, and after reading this article, I think I will!
I'll be working as a counselor this summer, so it seems to be the perfect time to start. I'm sure all hair takes a while to adjust back to healthy oil levels and such, so I'll just have to make it over these first few weeks and ill be golden!

Autumn 06/19/2011 13:39 PM

It's funny that you say this. Right now I wash my hair about twice a week, and all of it started when i was a counselor. I got maybe two showers a week, and over those summers I noticed that my hair just stayed less oily, and it ended up being a great way to transition to washing it less often.

Laura 05/18/2011 22:09 PM

So, you never washed your hair in 7 mths....just once a week with Deva Curl conditioner?

omg 05/12/2011 19:36 PM

for those of you not ready to give up shampoo, by far the best natural shampoo I've found is ShiKai brand, and it's cheap to buy at iHerb.com ...for sure I always avoid shampoo with SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) or anything like it, including Ammonium LS etc. IMO it's best to get a good shampoo and ok to use a cheap conditioner. Also the conditioner is more to restore the pH of the hair to acidic after cleaning with a basic shampoo. For myself I'm not sure I could go shampoo free, I have very.... More

Alex 04/29/2011 18:34 PM

If I don't shampoo my hair it get's really greasy on top, no matter how much I rinse it out with water.

I have straight-ish hair : /

Anonymous 06/14/2011 16:07 PM

use a little bit of baking soda at the roots and rinse out, and to condition dilute 1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water and apply it and rinse out

AB 04/21/2011 00:13 AM

I have thick curly hair and use head and shoulders daily or i get oil spots on my scalp. Will I have this problem if I quit shampooing?

Bubble trouble

One green girl's story of ditching shampoo altogether; she (and her gorgeous new hair) never looked back.

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Bubble trouble

One green girl's story of ditching shampoo altogether; she (and her gorgeous new hair) never looked back.

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