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Using water only to wash hair seems to be the simple and obvious chore. But if you have never heard of the no poo movement. Then, the idea of using nothing but plain water to wash hair might daunt you. 

What Is Water Only Hair Washing? 

It is nothing but the process of washing hair with nothing but water. It could be rainwater, seawater, spring water, or from the lake/ river or any natural water body. Rather, it could be straight from the tap as well. 

As you can imagine, water differs as per the source. Thus, the results of washing depend on the source. 

Since water plays a 100% role in washing hair. It is important to know its quality to determine its effect on the hair.

Why Do a Water Only Hair Wash? 

If you are years into a no poo routine. Then, most of your hair issues must have resolved. One of the benefits of a no poo is getting rid of the common hair issues. Thus, the next progression becomes using plain water to keep the hair clean. 

Moreover, if you are worried about the nasty chemicals in the shampoo. Then, avoiding shampoo and other parabens, silicone, and sulfate loaded products makes sense. You can try no shampoo for a month to see if you can manage the no poo lifestyle. 

How to Maintain Wash With Water Only Hair Routine? 

Remember when you began doing no poo, it seemed a little overwhelming. But with time and experience, you must have gotten better. 

That is how it happens with any new hair washing method. You got to start it once and be consistent with it. Then, within a month or two, your scalp and hair will adjust to this new hair care routine. 

But you need to factor in the impurities and dissolved mineral in water, and also your lifestyle. 

Water in my geography is hard, and I live quite an active life. That is why I was apprehensive about washing my hair with water. But I took the plunge and dealt with the challenges step by step. 

The following resources were helpful: 

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

• Neem Bark Comb 

I love this one. Without this comb, I would never have thought about going water only no poo. 

The beauty of this natural handmade comb is that it soaks up the oil from the hair. Also, it distributes the oil from the roots to the ends. 

No other fancy comb made of plastic could achieve this feat. 

Among natural handmade combs,  boar bristles, and sandalwood are the other popular options.  

But I am not comfortable using the one made of an animal body. This is even though I am a complete non-vegetarian. I have heard wonderful reviews of the boar bristle brushes. But the idea of using a body part of a dead animal freaks me. 

The other option of a sandalwood comb sounds fantastic. Sandalwood is cooling and being wood, it will distribute and soak the oils well. But I have not yet found a trustful value for money resource of this aromatic bark. 

That is why I am gung ho on the anti-infection properties of neem bark. It is efficient and also economical.

• Soft Water Tap Extensions 

Water being the cleaning agent, has to be pure. Else the impurities in it will make the hair dirtier instead of cleaning them. 

You will get an idea about the purity of your water by looking at your metal taps. If they have a corroded green tint and white salt deposits, then you are safe to go no poo. 

In that case, you could do the following : 

1. deploy a water treatment system
2. deploy a soft water shower/tap extension
3. use a filtering bottle 

• Silk Scarves 

There is an adjustment period from traditional shampoo to a low poo shampoo. Likewise, there is a transition time from low poo to no poo.  

Water only washing being the extreme form of no poo also involves some time to get used to the change. 

During this transition period, you could experience no poo waxy hair. But since you cannot avoid it, the best way to deal with it is to hide it. 

For that purpose, scarves work best. I use silk scarves to wrap and tie my hair. They do not tangle the hair, plus, they provide a sheath to the head.   

How to Deal With Water Only Transition Period? 

If you use the above mentioned 3 resources. Then, the switch to water only from no poo will be easy.  

But the hair care regime cannot be the same for everyone. So, you might or might not face that exhausting and irritating phase when you want to give it all up. 

But the good part is that if you stick through the cold turkey period. Then, you might end up having the most liberating experience.  

You can wash your hair with water twice in a day if you end up with no poo greasy hair. Else you can cheat with the following methods: 

• Rice Water 

Rice water is wonderful for hair. It not only cleans the hair but also helps in increasing the elasticity of hair. Thus, the hair breaks less. 

You can collect the water from soaked clean rice. Then, after 2-3 days of fermentation, it becomes the hair rinse.

You can use this rice water to scrub your scalp and pour over your hair. After leaving it for about 5 minutes on your hair, you can rinse it with plain water.

• Rosemary and Green Tea Rinse

I love the aroma of rosemary. When combined with green tea, it gives a nice detox to the scalp and hair.

For my waist-length hair, I steep about 5 g  of dried rosemary leaves with a green tea bag. The boiled tea when cools becomes a wonderful hair rinse. 

This tea rinse will leave your hair smelling fresh and clean.

• Soap Nuts Rinse 

This is the most common cleansing conditioner among the no poo generation. 

It is a must after baking soda shampoo. But it works solo as well. Apple cider vinegar and water ratio will differ from everyone. 

For me, a 1:5 ratio works the best. Unlike the previous two rinses, I do not wash this one-off. Mild acidity helps prevent scalp itchiness. 

This acidic rinse is best for hair loss due to tap water. It helps loosen the gunk stuck on the scalp that blocks the follicles. 

You can pick up any of the above rinses to add some creativity to your shampoo routine. Do let me know if you notice a beautiful shine after using these rinses. 

Conclusion

Living a minimalist hair care routine is a pleasure for sustainable living enthusiasts. 

Who would not love a 5-minute ritual to clean the hair? 

The ability to wash hair with water only is the ultimate nirvana for a no poo lifestyle. Since the time I have got into it, my hair care routine has simplified. I no longer worry about what to wash hair with. 

Now it is no more worrying about packing any hair care products while traveling. All I carry is my bottle with a filter and my neem bark comb. And that is all! 

I would love to know where are you in your natural hair care journey. How are your water only hair washing results?

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Do you need to use shampoo might sound the dumbest question? But the harsh truth is that you need not use it. Though this truth is not as harsh as the plethora of nasty chemicals that are inside a shampoo bottle. That is why since starting no poo for the last 5 years and a few months, I have never used a traditional shampoo.

No. Please do not judge me with an eww look. 

By shampoo I mean the commercial liquid packed in good looking bottles. The one that has a huge brand name and a price tag.

I know this would surprise you.

The thought of not using shampoo takes many by surprise. So, I am sure that people who are regular with the daily schedule of shampoo would be aghast by my admission.

Is Shampoo Necessary 

But before discussing anything further, let us find out if we even need a shampoo.

There is already a lot of debate on how often should you shampoo your hair. Most of the hairstylists would recommend every day. This should make sense as the hair shampoo manufacturers advocate the same as well.

Also, dust, dirt, oil secretion glands, and a whole lot of other stuff gets into our hair. So, you need shampoo to keep things clean.

But nothing can control our choice or the medium of cleaning hair.

This means that though you should wash your hair. But the choice to wash your hair should not be limited to chemical-laden products. There are several natural ways to wash hair. Though none of them harm nature or damage the hair.

Why Do We Use Shampoo 

Did you ever flip your current favorite shampoo bottle to check out its ingredients?

Most of them will be unfamiliar to you. The long list is a chemical synonym of potent toxins and cancer-causing ingredients.

For a moment if you leave all the complicated list of shampoo ingredients aside. And if you only google on SLS and artificial colors and fragrances, you will freak out.

If these chemicals fail to give you any dreaded disease in the long run. For your god sake, do not consider them safe. They are quite capable of giving skin allergies as a mild after effect.

I know you might laugh at that. On that note, I ask you to scratch your scalp. If no white powdered stuff gathers in your fingernails, then do not read any further.

I know your hands will not come out clean. White dandruff-like stuff is the scalp’s response to unwanted stuff. Now decide whether do you need to use shampoo?

Should I use shampoo in moderate amounts?

I know that you have grown a little skeptical about the insides of that bottle. Well, there was never a genie inside it. All that was there was a cocktail of detergents. Along with detergents were some cheap aromas disguised as a hair cleaning product.

But does that mean you will never use shampoo? Well that depends on how much interference you allow others to make in your life.

It is not an easy path for the no poo method. Along with a few lifestyle changes. You also get to adjust to discrimination and bias.

The moment you disclose to your social circles that you have stopped using shampoo. People begin to view you as unhygienic and weird.

It is true that no poo people are weird like me. Though the unhygienic part is untrue.

The no poo means of cleaning hair makes the hair and scalp squeaky clean. Though they all are non-lathering ones. Though by no means lather is a necessary unit of cleanliness.

Shampoos that you should never use 

It takes a whole lot of mental strength to make the shift towards a no poo regime.

If you cannot switch over to make that change. It is better to not think about it.

But if you are someone sitting at the fence. Then low poo is worth giving a try.

As the name suggests, low poo philosophy lies between no poo and commercial hair care.

Products in low poo are not crunchy. Neither are they a complete chemical toxic gunk. Though they are not raw and straight from natural substances.  But they are far better than the SLS, silicones, and parabens one.

Castile soaps made out of pure oils are the main base of low poo products. You can check out my shop to download an infographic to DIY low poo shampoo.

Low poo provides a convenient path for anyone not too brave to take the no poo route. Also, they best suit the ones who are not so gung ho on the salon products by FMCG goliaths.

In any case, if you are a strong proponent of commercial hair care products. Or, if you consider the entire no poo movement as crass. Then also, limit your usage of hair care products as much as you can. You can do that by reducing their frequency.

Instead of washing your hair every day. You can wash every alternate day.

If you have the habit of washing every other day. You can then switch to a hair wash every second day. I hope you got my point. You never know, you might even progress to no shampoo for a month.

Ditto goes for the other associated hair care products. I mean the conditioner, hair serums, leave-in conditioners, mousse et al.

Moreover, stay away from salon products as much as you can. They are the extremists of sorts for hair damage if I can use that simile.

I know that professional hairstylists would ban me from their salons for that comment.

All respect for those professionals certified by their respective brands. But I beg, borrow, and steal to differ from them. If at all the products that they prescribe were as potent as they claim. I am sure their innocuous customers never would have switched brands. Nor the brand wars between major shampoo brands would exist. The best shampoo brand would have wiped all the competition.

One or at the most 2–3 brands would have dominated the entire hair care market. But we all know that that is not the case.

This is not the case with the no poo people. They start with baking soda and then graduate to flours, soap nuts, and clay. Though many of them use water only to wash the hair. I am proud to admit that I have reached that stage after years of ditching the shampoo.

It is a fun fact to observe that companies have a dozen brands of shampoo within their hair care segment kitty. That makes me wonder if that leads to brand cannibalization?

Anyway, they are good at their job of brainwashing. I hope they were as good at cleaning the mane as well.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

Conclusion

Not using shampoo is a conscious choice. If you get concerned about the polluted water bodies, disrupted soil table, and your own body. Then, the thought of questioning what you use on your body becomes your second nature. 

No shampoo does not mean being dirty. But if you substitute natural cleaning agents to replace the traditional shampoo. Then, you will be amazed by all the possibilities available by mother nature. Fruits like lemons and gooseberries are excellent natural shampoos to clean oily hair. There are several other natural ways to clean the hair.

If you are further interested in the topic, you can dig an excellent book on no poo.

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Asking how often should you wash your hair sounds like an awful conversation starter. 

My experience of doing the no poo method since the last few years has got me into some awkward situations. 

Some have given me judgmental eww looks, while some have distanced themselves from me. 

Though in the first instance, no one could guess that I do not use shampoo. But the moment they get to know that I have been shampoo-free, they look for faults in my hair. 

Some find them not bouncy enough, not clean enough, or they find them messy and dirty. Though many expect my hair to smell gross. 

None of the above is true.  

My hair is clean, strong, manageable, and does not frizz. Though the best part is that I wash them once in 10 days. 

The last sentence might freak you out. But the truth is that in the last few years, I have never washed more than once in a week. This is when I live in a tropical country that is high on pollution, dust, and hard water. Plus, I have an active lifestyle that involves running and frequent travels. 

The truth is that how often you wash your hair depends a lot on how much you are dependent on SLS based shampoos. 

If you care to know more about the connection between frequency of shampoo and the health of hair. Then, you must read further. 

What Happens If You Wash Your Hair Every Day 

If you use a regular SLS shampoo, then, washing your hair every day becomes a habit. 

The strong cleaning powers of these shampoos wipe out the scalp’s natural oils. That puts the body’s ability to produce oils in a state of dilemma. 

That leads to the overproduction of oils, and thus, the need to wash hair daily. 

The truckload of elements in the shampoo piles up on the scalp as the buildup. Thus, the need to use shampoo to keep the scalp and hair clean increase. 

Moreover, if you have the habit of using a lot of products like conditioner, serums, mousse, gels. Then, the need to wash your hair every day is pertinent. 

So, long and consistent use of washing with a lathering shampoo leads to dry hair and a flaky scalp. That explains frizzy hair and an itch on the scalp. 

How Often Should One Wash Their Hair 

So, if you use a lathering shampoo, then try breaking the frequent washing cycle. That way you will train your scalp to calm down. 

This will produce less sebum and will cause less buildup. 

You can amend the cleaning cycle by going longer in-between washes. So, you can skip a day or two between your regular shampoo routine. 

Also, if you reduce your dependence on other hair products like conditioners. Then, adjusting to the less shampoo lifestyle becomes easier. 

With gradual skipping, you can bring down your usage to once or twice a week. 

But if you live a no poo lifestyle, then you can even manage once in a month shampoo. It also depends on your hair porosity, your lifestyle, and the environment where you live. 

So, soft water only weekly washing is fine for someone living most of the time indoors. While weekly clay/soap nuts/flour shampoo will work for someone with an active lifestyle. 

For geographies with hard water, soap nuts work the best. That is why I use them every 10 days to wash my hair. 

A no poo lifestyle simplifies the process. So, the dependence on conditioners and hairstyling creams also reduces. Thus, the usage of products loaded with strong chemicals becomes minimal. 

Thus, the hair of people who do not use shampoo does not get much dirty. So, they can afford to go weeks without shampoo. 

But as a general rule of thumb, do not wash your hair more than once a week. 

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

How Should One Wash Their Hair 

I am not sure if you wish to try natural ways to wash your hair. But if you are considering making a switch, then reading a good no poo resource will help. 

Else, you will waste a lot of time trying various products that may or may not work for you. 

But irrespective of your hair type and the quality of water in your location. You can always use soap nuts or clay to wash your hair. 

Both these 2 products give wonderful results on low porosity hair too. Moreover, they also work on hard water. That is why they both are my absolute favorite ways to wash hair the no poo way. 

But if you are not ready to take a plunge to no poo. Then, you can give low poo a try. 

Most of the low poo products are handmade shampoo bars that use oils as a base. They do not have nasty and unnecessary chemicals that are not good for the hair in the long run. 

But if you are stuck with sulfate and petroleum-based shampoo. Then, please try to reduce your usage to at least half. So, if you wash your hair every day, then try to wash every other day. If you wash every alternate day, then, reduce to every 3rd day. I hope you get the idea. 

Conclusion 

You would bother to know how often should you shampoo your hair only if you have some hair issues. 

Else, cleaning your hair seems like a trivial topic that does not even require a mention. 

In recent times, consumerism has made us dependent on a lot of hair care products. There a lot of complex ingredients in shampoos and conditioners. 

The use or the overuse of these lab-made ingredients in the shampoo creates problems. The complex sulfates rip off the natural oils making the hair frizzy. Furthermore, the scalp keeps over-producing the oils to overcome the lost suppleness. Thus, the cycle of over-cleaning and overproduction of oil continues. 

Furthermore, the corollary ingredients like serums and pomades coat more oils. That leads to more and more use of shampoos. 

To break this cycle, you have to reduce your usage of commercial hair care products. Natural hair care products make an easy replacement for the usual hair care products. Plus, they do not abuse the hair and scalp. That way you can reduce your shampoo usage to once in a week. After the reduction of shampoo, you will notice better hair and a healthy itch-free scalp. 

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Most of us want a solution to fix dry damaged hair without cutting. But the solutions do not always work.

They may seem to be working in the initial phase. But they may not provide solutions for the long term.

That is the reason for making a switch to the natural no poo methods. They give sustainable results and also reduce the dependence on heavy chemical-based products.

What Does Heat Damaged Hair Look Like

Shiny, manageable, and sleek straight hair may not always be healthy.

A lot can hide behind the lustrous and thick strands.

Hair strands have keratin as the protein.

Protein as an element is heat-labile. That means the bonds in protein break at high temperatures. And as you know that most of the styling procedures done on hair involve heat. Thus, hair styling sessions spent at the spa may bring in damage to the hair.

Also, activities like blow-drying the hair may seem fine. But that daily habit increases the exposure to heat. In the long run, that heat may weaken the soft protein bonds on fine hair.

But by the time you get to identify the signs of damage, the extent must have been at the extreme levels.

That is why it is important to not ignore the initial signs of hair ruin. Most of them are as follows:

1. White Dandruff-like Build-up on the Scalp
2. Hair Feels Flat Without a Silicone-based Conditioner/ Styling Serum
3. Consistent Hair Fall
4. Change in the Porosity of Hair Strands
5. Discolored Hair
6. Graying of Hair
7. Tangled Hair

How to Fix Fried Hair Overnight

Apologies to your damaged hair, but some myths should bust.

No, there is nothing that can repair dry damaged hair that fast.

That is because the hair strands are lifeless. Life exists only in their roots.

So, to make your hair look healthy, you have to chop them off and wait for them to grow back.

But do not feel disappointed. You can try to fix dry damaged hair without cutting. The solution is not quick, but it will pump in some life to the hair within a few weeks of use.

How to Repair Damaged Hair Fast at Home Without Cutting

You can always jump to a salon that you trust. But if you wish to do things your way. Then, there are a few handmade natural remedies that you can try.

But before that, you must understand the underlying principles related to hair.

1.     Prevent Further Damage

It is important to stop the activity that causes the damage. Damage could be due to blow-drying, pollution, or even your favorite shampoo.

So, make sure that you do not do any of the following:

• Avoid Heat and Chemical Treatments

This goes without saying. But the sad truth is that all of us are guilty of doing it.

The lure of having great hair that adds to our personalities makes us do a lot of bad things to our hair.

Amongst them, the most common one is using heat and chemicals to style them.

As mentioned before, heat alters the structure of hair strands. It causes the protein bonds to break. Thus, the hair begins to split and break.

Much like heat, chemicals in hair colors penetrate the hair shafts and harm them. That is why bleaching and the use of strong colors are not advisable.

So, if your hair has started showing signs of damage. Then, arrest further damage by stopping further use of heat and chemical procedures.

The absence of heat and chemicals does not mean that you cannot style and color your hair. You can switch to natural alternatives to style your hair without chemicals.

• Reduce the Products

This is similar to the previous one. Using hair care products that are full of strong chemicals causes harm.

Silicones, parabens, sulfates are the common culprits in shampoo and conditioners. They coat the hair and scalp which makes them look wonderful after a single wash. But the continued use makes the hair and scalp dry. The damage from the shampoo could make you question whether or not you need shampoo.

That is why you should reduce their excessive use. Do not use them daily, and also try to use them in little quantities.

• Switch to No Poo/ Low Poo

You can switch to nature-based alternatives to chemical-based hair care products.

Natural products have plant extracts and thus do not damage the hair.

No poo refers to the complete absolution of soap-based hair cleansers. Soap nuts, flours, clays, and baking soda are the common no poo cleansers.

No poo sounds simple but gets overwhelming if you are a complete novice. You could get acquainted with a resource on the subject before you start no poo.

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

Low poo comes between no poo and the regular SLS based shampoos. Castile soap and other lye-based shampoo bars are common with the low poo method of hair washing.

You can use either of the two methods as per your preference.

2.     Protect the Hair

If you want to fix dry damaged hair without cutting, then you must protect them with:

• Use Protecting Butter

Oils like castor and argan fortify the hair follicles. But they end up adding a layer of grease on the hair.

This could lead to frequent washing. So, to avoid the cycle of oiling and washing, you could use butter to condition the hair.

Cocoa, shea, and kokum butter are a good option. You can also use whipped coconut oil on your hair.

A layer of these butter protects the hair but does not weigh down the hair.

• Keep Hair Tied

This is easy to do. If you wish to fix dry damaged hair without cutting, then you must keep them tied.

Tying them into a bun or braiding them protects their loose ends. That way the hair does not tangle or get subjected to wear and tear.

Furthermore, you can use hair accessories that do not harm the hair. So, rubber bands and metal pins are a strict no.

Handmade scrunchies made from soft fiber or neem bark clips will help.

• Use Silk Accessories

If you wake up with a lot of hair on your pillow, then you have to shift to a silk pillowcase.

Being soft, the silk fiber causes less tension to the hair as compared to cotton or a synthetic one.

Furthermore, you can use silk scarfs to add a protective sheath on your hair while going out.

4.     Align the Cuticles of the Hair

The cuticles of the damaged hair are not aligned. Rather they spread out that is why you get tangled hair and split ends.

Since the topmost layers of hair get misaligned. The hair loses luster and thus begins to show the first signs of hair damage.

But there is hope with nature-based heat damaged hair repair products.

• Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) + Green Tea Mask

Being an acid, ACV restores the pH levels of the hair. Most of the cleansing products have a high pH. So, rinsing hair with a low pH substance brings down the average ph of the scalp.

ACV also acts against microbial buildup, further preventing an infection.

Green tea has a pH close to neutral like water. Plus, it brings shine to the hair by closing the cuticles of hair shafts.

Thus, a weekly ACV and green tea rinse helps. Using it for a month or two will revive your damaged hair strands. Hence, you will be able to fix dry damaged hair without cutting.

• Argan Oil and Aloe Vera Mask

Both the Argan oil and aloe vera strengthen the hair while aligning the hair cuticles.

Also, both of them do not make the hair greasy. That is why they both together form a super recipe to repair the damage from the hair.

• Clay and Coconut Milk

If you are figuring out how to fix damaged bleached hair. Then, this one is the best solution.

Clay detoxes the hair and scalp without damaging it. Adding a conditioning liquid like coconut milk improves its benefits.

This mask also works to remove oil and buildup. Thus, it is one of the best no poo shampoos for damaged hair.

Conclusion

Most of us give up after the hair gets dry and damaged due to perm. Fragile hair, split ends, and graying hair are some of the common issues of damaged hair.

I have cut my long hair after it got damaged due to perm or coloring. It was later that I got to know about the natural no poo methods of repairing the damage.

If you suffer from the damage or you know someone who has hair issues. Then, share this article with them and give them hope.

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If you are researching how to go no poo, then why not read a no poo book?  

Giving up shampoo sounds simple. But trust me when I say that it gets a lot more confusing after the cold turkey period ends. 

Plus, if you intend to become a real natural hair care diva. Then, apart from the shampoo, you will have to give up on a lot more other hair care products too. 

To name a few, conditioners, serums, mousses, gels, hair spas, and hair sprays. 

You can create handmade alternatives for these from scratch. Or you can jump the line by gaining from the experience of those who have done it before you. 

I am someone who likes to immerse in the craft by grabbing up all that I can on a subject. So, if you can relate to me, then you need to read further. 

Know How to Have Better Hair With No Poo Book

First things first——>

Why You Need A No Poo Book 

I started my no poo journey with baking soda and vinegar rinses. The initial results were fabulous. 

My hair had a lively bounce, they had luster, and my pestering dandruff was gone for good. 

Before going no poo, I would avoid touching my scalp. My scalp had flakes of dandruff and buildup which was horrific and gross. 

The alkaline soda rinse washed off every trace of dead skin that was lurking on my scalp. The layers of silicone from shampoo and conditioner stuck on my hair also vanished. 

But the good hair days did not last long. That was because I got comfortable with the good results from the initial days of no poo. 

Since the baking soda gave such good hair, I thought it was fine to use it every week. That was much like the way I was using the regular shampoos before going no poo. 

And that is when I woke up to the horrors of going shampoo free. The routine of baking soda and apple cider vinegar rinses damaged the hair cuticles. Thus, they ended opening up and then a lot of hair problems followed. 

Some of them were as below: 

No Poo Hair Problems 

1.     The Hair Begins to Fall

This is the most common problem that no poo beginners get to face. If you falter on the proportions of baking soda and apple cider vinegar. Then, you can end up hurting the hair at the follicles level. 

The switch from a strong basic solution to a strong acidic one pushes the hair to a state of shock. 

Over time, the hair begins to weaken causing it to break, hence the hair fall. 

That is why you need proper guidance on how much of the baking soda/ ACV rinse to use. 

Most of the information on free websites do not mention that you cannot use baking soda on a regular basis. You should always use it in small quantities (not more than a teaspoon), and that too once in months. 

Also, an acidic rinse is a must after the baking soda shampoo. Most of my no poo issues started because I skipped the ACV rinses. Had I invested in the complete information on how to do no poo the correct way, my hair would not have suffered.

2.     The Scalp Gets Super Itchy

An itchy scalp is the sign of your pH balance gone wrong. By default, the human scalp stays in proper shape at a ph between 4.5 – 5.5. 

But a dirty scalp needs an alkaline environment to get rid of the oil and dirt. The basic substances stick to unwanted stuff like oils and dirt and get washed off along with water. 

But then, the cleaning act has to follow up with an acidic substance to bring back the pH levels. 

But when they do not reach the optimum levels. The issues of an irritated scalp and along with that other numerous issues emerge. 

You can avoid all that unwanted drama by knowing what exactly to use and not to use by reading a good no poo book.

3.     Hair Splits Into 2-3 Strands

As mentioned in the above point, a disrupted pH of scalp and hair leads to problems. 

A major one is the split ends. This one is a common hair problem across the globe. 

The hair could split due to many reasons like malnutrition, underlying diseases. But in the context of no poo gone wrong, the reason is high pH. 

The hair is most comfortable in a little low pH environment. Therefore, in a situation of high pH, it gets into a confused state. That then leads to the loosening of individual hair strands in a single hair unit. Thus, the pandemic known as split ends. 

To avoid this mishap, you need to listen to the people who have got it right and can offer the solutions. 

4.     The Hair Color Fades

An acidic rinse follows the alkaline baking soda to avoid the mishaps. But an overdo of the acidic rinse can also be fatal. 

I have been guilty of lightening my hair color with 2 of the popular no poo products. 

As you could guess, the first culprit was the ACV rinse. 

After my heart and hair breakage due to baking soda, I started getting regular with my ACV rinses. But since it is an acid, it began bleaching my hair. So, over time the color of my hair lightened.

So, I gave up on the entire baking soda and ACV combination and switched to honey rinses. 

I was naive into thinking that since honey is a natural product, it would be good. But I had not factored in the data that baking soda and ACV were also natural, much like honey. Hence, the honey also damaged my hair, much like soda and vinegar. 

Honey did not wash off the oil from my hair. Plus, it also gave me blonde hair. So, I put it off my no poo shampoo list as well. 

I wish I had known about such cons beforehand. 

5.     The Hair Becomes Sticky and Dirty 

This problem is not exactly because of the preliminary no poo shampoo methods of baking soda. But due to the kind of tap water you get where you live. 

Since water is an important factor to wash off the hair. That is why it is of utmost importance to use soft and clean water. Else, the hard and contaminated water makes the no poo methods redundant. Thus, the hair becomes sticky and messy. Hard water is the reason why regular shampoos have SLS. 

But you can avoid all that drama by getting to know what no poo products to use that perform even with hard water.

After checking the quality of my water, I got to know why my no poo attempts were a failure. 

Since then I installed a water softener and also use a filtering bottle during my travels.  (I can afford to spoil my no poo life because of my travels) 

Now I am confident to use all the no poo methods. 

So, to avoid all the guesswork and time-consuming trials and errors, you need a good no poo resource. Being a no poo devout since 2015, I put my trust in 2 resources on this subject. They are as below:

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

1.     The No Poo Method Book

I stumbled upon this resource after 2 years into my natural hair care journey. 

If I had known about this book earlier. Then, I would not have wasted my time experimenting with various no poo resources. 

There is a dedicated chapter in this book on understanding the Hair Porosity. This particular topic was an eye-opener for me. 

The extent of the porosity of the hair strands creates the frizz. Then, as per the porosity, you get to decide what pH shampoo will suit you. 

This no poo book made me understand the porosity and pH relation. So, now I look for the pH of the shampoo to determine its effectiveness on my porous hair. 

Plus, this book has a bonus resource. It has a 6-page guide to help you determine the probable no poo method that will best suit your hair type. This guide is a quick help to put aside all the assumptions in choosing a non-lathering shampoo. 

It is a no poo book for those who have some experience of natural hair products and would love to advance further.

2.     Happy Hair: The No Poo Book 

After I did no shampoo for a month, I was looking for some support online. I wanted to know if others who had taken the plunge before me. 

It was then that I got to know about Lucy AitkenRead and her Happy Hair Guide. 

Lucy was my go-to resource for getting the strength to continue the no poo journey. 

She talks about the issues that a newbie no poo person goes through. For instance, she guides in dealing with no poo hair smell that builds up in the initial days. 

Also, she has a video course on the subject as well. That is super helpful for those who got no idea how to use no poo products. The course also has a bonus content on styling and coloring the hair.

Thus, Lucy and her no poo book and video course is helpful for those who are beginning their no shampoo journey.

Conclusion 

It is good to have a reading material by your side when you start your journey of abandoning shampoo. 

After all, it is not easy to deal with the various no poo options. 

The shampoo and its pH has a strong bearing on the porosity levels of your hair. So, if you end up with a wrong cleaning product, you might hamper your hair. That way your quest to achieve beautiful hair might go kaput. 

Furthermore, it is good to learn from those who are ahead of you. That is one of the good ways to lower the learning curve. 

Both the no poo books in this article provide hair care tips through alternative methods. They will be good resources to be by your side when you take the bold decision to go shampoo free. 

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Do you know how to start no poo method from the beginning? 

I did not know when I gave up on shampoo 5 years ago. Rather I stumbled upon the no poo method because I had given up on the false promises of the shampoo. 

The hair care industry advertisers their products as the end-all of hair problems. It seems as if I am a mere one shampoo/ conditioner/serum away from abandoning the bad hair days. 

Though the sad truth is that it never happens. It is a vicious circle of products that you go through. The lure of healthy hair makes you purchase endless products. Following that you achieve nothing but disappointment and strands of broken hair. 

I have gone through it many times. That is when I left the regular hair care products forever and made a transition to nature-based ones. 

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you purchase any of the products mentioned in this article through routing via the links in this post. Then, I may end up receiving a certain monetary percentage from the sale. Though the one who purchases through the link does not end up paying anything extra apart from the mentioned MRP on the product. Full disclosures on the Affiliate Page.

After trying a lot of products from my kitchen and reading resources on the subject. I zeroed in a few herbal plants from the apothecary shops to continue my no poo journey. 

If the thought of leaving the shampoo intrigues you. Then, you have landed on the right article. Go ahead and gather the information on how to get it right from the beginning. 

Know How to Start No Poo the Simple Way 

1.     Relax Your Shampoo Routine 

I know many people who wash their hair daily with an SLS based shampoo. If your hair and scalp receive such a rigorous cleaning routine. Then, the scalp is bound to produce a lot of oil to counteract the dryness due to excessive cleaning. 

Also, the silicones and other fatty esters in the shampoo add to the oils. That is why the hair feels waxy and the scalp seems full of gunk. 

But once you have made up your mind to try the no poo method. Then, you have to prepare yourself to leave the shampoo.

To get to the no poo stage, it is a good idea to reduce the use of shampoo in a gradual manner. 

The best way to do that is by going longer between the washes. So, if you wash your hair every day. Then, start by washing every other day. 

If you wash every other day. Then, start washing every 3rd day. That way you can stretch it to using shampoo once every week.  

Pat yourself on the back once you reach the once in 7 days shampoo routine. Because you crossed the first step in going no poo. Now you can step up to ——-> 

2.     Switch to a Low Poo Shampoo 

Once your hair gets accustomed to fewer washes. Then, the time is right to introduce a low poo shampoo in your hair care regime. 

A low poo shampoo does not have detergents or any petroleum-based derivatives. Instead, it has oil-based cleansers made through the simple saponification way. 

Most of the low poo shampoos are solid bars. They are easy to craft. I make them all the time. But if you do not want to create a handmade shampoo yourself. Then, you can buy any of the low poo shampoo brands available in the market.  

They work much like the SLS ones, but they do not contain SLS. 

You can stick to once a week low poo shampoo routine. Also, using a low poo conditioner after shampoo can help with dry/tangled hair issues. 

3.     Start Using a No Poo Shampoo 

Once you get comfortable with a low poo shampoo for about a month or two. Then, the next jump is to a no poo shampoo. 

If you have never gone shampoo free. Then, the first best no poo shampoo is baking soda. 

You will find a lot of conflicting information regarding this powder. It is a boon to remove chronic build-up and to clean the scalp pores. But it can turn into havoc if used on a regular basis or in a large quantity. 

But there is no harm in using a teaspoon of it once in 6 months. It is wonderful to remove all the gunk and flaky layers from the hair and scalp. 

Though the best part is that it works in the first wash itself. Meaning you do not have to use it again and again to see the results. You will get super soft bouncy hair after the first no poo wash with baking soda. 

After the baking soda no poo shampoo, it is mandatory to use an ACV rinse. Since the baking soda is basic, an acidic rinse restores the scalp’s natural ph levels. 

Also, the more porous your strands will be. The more you need the concentration of ACV in the rinse and less the amount of baking soda. As a general rule of thumb, do not use the baking soda more than a teaspoon; and use a minimum of 1 teaspoon of ACV.

4.     Try Various No Poo Products 

Since baking soda and apple cider vinegar cannot be a frequent shampoo. Thus, you will have to work out a better no poo shampoo alternative. 

Considering the retail products, DevaCurl No Poo from The Curly Girl Method is a popular one.  

This product does not retail in my country, so I have never used it. But they claim to have no sulfates, silicones, and parabens. Thus, their entire range works as a no poo product.  

The term no poo means no shampoo. But the options within that term are huge. Although it has been more than 5 years and I have not touched the regular shampoo brands. But you know I am still exploring no poo shampoos. 

The more I travel and try to gain experience of others in going shampoo free. The more I get to know natural shampoo alternatives. 

I went from using baking soda and apple cider vinegar (ACV) washes to clays, eggs, and flours. But these days I am regular with my trip of amla, shikakai, and reetha. 

If you are not from the Indian subcontinent. Then, you might not have heard about these products. I have known about them for ages. I have even used them when I was younger. But I forgot about them while growing up. But I got back to them after reading the No Poo method book. 

You can also read the book to find several natural ways to wash your hair. I am glad that this book brought me back to my natural hair care routine which I had long ignored. 

5.     Go Ahead With the No Poo Method That Suits You 

The no poo method that you choose depends upon your hair type, lifestyle, and location. 

For instance, you might not like the chaos associated with an egg wash. Or you might not get soap nuts where you live. Or you have a busy routine and can only use a bottled product. 

Furthermore, there are a lot of people who use nothing but tap water to wash their hair. Because of the water and air pollution in my country, I cannot use water only hair washing method. Else, that would be the simplest and minimalist of all ways to keep hair clean. 

Likewise, you will have to figure out the suitable no poo shampoo method as per your preferences. 

If you face a lot of failures, then try the troubleshooting options from a good resource on the subject. That way you will be able to try the options without hesitation.

Conclusion 

If how to go no poo is on your mind. Then, do not delay the decision. Today is the best time to scrap off all the superfluous products from your hair care regime. 

The truth is that you can do without these products that have strong chemicals. Hair washing is a simple chore. You can do it with an abundance of natural products. 

Not to mention, the price of natural products is way less than the store-bought ones. So, get on to the task of throwing away your entire haircare range and make the switch to no poo. 

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