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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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It is important to know what exactly is no poo to get the no poo method. Also, it sounds simple that no poo means no use of shampoo. But the alternatives to shampoo are also too many. 

Depending upon where you live, your hair/scalp and your lifestyle, the no poo process differs. 

Since you are reading this post, you might be considering alternatives to shampoos. I have been following the no poo methods of washing hair for a few years. 

You can dive deeper into my insights by reading further. 

What Is No Poo Method

Past few years there has been a lot of discussion regarding the no poo method. But there are still a lot of people who may not know what exactly the phrase stands for. 

The no poo method stands for no shampoo. Yes, the whole trend of no poo is about giving up the regular shampoos. 

The regular shampoos contain SLS and silicones as the primary ingredients. They are the ones that all of us are comfortable using. The thought of going shampoo-free sounds gross and crazy. 

Most of the time I get weird reactions from people when they get to know that I have not used shampoo for years. 

Yes, I have not bought/used the regular shampoo bottle since the year 2015. But that does not mean that I have not washed my hair since then. 

Rather I have washed my hair with anything but not the shampoo. That is what the no poo process is all about. It is about giving up the usual shampoo bottle to wash hair. 

Why the No Poo Method

Now that what is no poo method is clear. The next logical question that follows is – BUT WHY? Why would one want to boycott a shampoo bottle? What is wrong with using shampoo? 

You could understand the answer to that question if you take a look at what is a shampoo made of. You can have a look at the ingredients in shampoo by looking at its label. 

I pulled up the ingredients list from a popular shampoo – Total Repair 5 by L’oreal. They are as below: 

1. Water
2. Sodium Laureth Sulfate 
3. Coco-betaine
4. Dimethicone
5. Glycol Distearate
6. Sodium Chloride
7. Guar Hydroxypropyltrimonium Chloride
8. Lactic Acid
9. Sodium Benzoate
10. Sodium Hydroxide
11. Ppg-5-ceteth-20
12. Salicylic Acid
13. Polyquaternium-7
14. Limonene
15. Linalool
16. Benzyl Salicylate
17. Benzyl Alcohol
18. 2.0leamido-1,3-0ctadecanediol
19. Fragrance
20. Carbomer
21. Butylphenyl Methylpropional
22. Citric Acid
23. Hexyl Cinnamal (F.I.L. C16847713) 

The list is exhaustive and filled with complex names. You can know more about each one of them through secondary research.  

But the important ones that raise an alarm are as follows: 

1.     Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)

It is interesting to know that it is a principle ingredient in detergents. It is a surfactant, thus popular for its lather making qualities. 

But did you know that as per the International Agency for Research on Cancer, it can be a possible cause of CANCER? Its production process can produce a certain by-product that may cause cancer. That is why I fail to understand its inclusion in a shampoo. 

2.     Coco-Betaine

This is short for the chemical name –  Cocamidopropyl betaine. It may surprise you that this chemical in your shampoo received accolades. It was the Allergen of the year in 2004 by the American Contact Dermatitis Society. Does that impress you? 

3.     Dimethicone

It does not sound that harmful when compared to others. But it is non-biodegradable. So, traces of it can be in the water that we drink. 

4.     Limonene

This ingredient gives an artificial citrus aroma. It is toxic to aquatic life. That means the use of shampoos can lead to lemon smelling dead fish. 

5.     Linalool

Another artificial aroma. It may cause irritation, pain and allergic reactions.

6.     Benzyl Alcohol

This can be the cause of irritation in the eyes during the shampoo routine. This ingredient kills the infections and the lice on the head.   Its percentage is not mentioned on the bottle. But in high concentrations, it can cause toxicity. The effects could include respiratory failure, vasodilation, hypotension, convulsions, and paralysis.    

7.     Butylphenyl Methylpropional 

This is a synthetic fragrance. It may cause allergies, contact dermatitis, and hormonal issues. 

8.     Citric Acid

It is a chelating agent. That means it helps to deal with product build-up. But in high concentrations, it can irritate and cause pain to the skin and eyes. 

9.     Hexyl Cinnamal (F.I.L. C16847713)  

It is an artificial aroma that mimics the smell of chamomile. It may cause allergies to some. 

The above data is from Wikipedia. But you can dive deep on the information by the Environmental Working Group website. They have information on the toxicity and environmental pollutants found in various products. 

They grade products as per the harmful effect it causes to humans and the environment. On a scale of 1-10, the highest is the most harmful. 

I could not find a grade of this particular shampoo by Loreal on their website. But they do have a grade on one of the Loreal conditioners as 4 (not good).

What Is No Poo Shampoo

As you can see from the list above, the pretty looking shampoo bottle looks a little scary when you intrude into it. 

That is the reason a lot of health and environment-conscious people say no to shampoo.  

So, when they abandon the regular shampoo, they switch to a no poo shampoo.

A no poo shampoo contains none of the ingredients listed above. Rather it contains natural products that come from plants or the soil.  

It does seem unbelievable that natural products could replace shampoo. But the truth is that they can, and they do. 

Over the years, I have used a variety of natural products to clean my hair. Some of them include: 

1. Baking Soda
2. Apple Cider Vinegar
3. Clays – Fuller’s earth, Bentonite clay
4. Borax powder
5. Soap nuts
6. Eggs
7. Coconut milk
8. Shikakai
9. Honey
10. Flours – Chickpea, Arrowroot, Rice
11. Plain tap water

Surprised? Yes, I have used each one of the above-listed products to wash my hair. 

Of all the above methods, water only hair washing results were the most disappointing. 

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.

I can get into more specifics below:

No Poo Results 

Back then 5 years ago, I did not have much idea how to go begin the no poo procedure. With some preliminary internet research, I got to know the most popular method of no poo – baking soda. 

Baking soda did help my hair in the beginning. But over time it did not give me good results. I still use about half a teaspoon of it once in 6 months. But not as a regular no poo shampoo. Also, it is mandatory to follow it up with diluted apple cider vinegar rinse. Else, your hair will break and you will have a no poo itchy scalp.

After the baking soda debacle, I invested in a few books by the no poo experts. After that, the process of not using the shampoo got better.  

In particular, the No Poo method books were the most helpful. You can read that book before you venture into the no poo journey. Else, it will take you a lot of trial and error to troubleshoot the process. 

Some of my experiences with every step of my no poo journey are as below: 

1.     Baking Soda 

It is wonderful to remove build-up. But not good when used often.

2.     Apple Cider Vinegar

It works wonder to tame the no poo itch. But not good at removing oil and dirt.

3.     Clays – fuller’s earth, bentonite clay

They remove dirt and oil. They also straighten the hair.

4.     Borax powder

It makes the hair super soft. But is not good at removing oil.

5.     Soap nuts

They remove all the traces of oil and dirt. But can overdry the hair when used often.

6.     Eggs

They are remarkable in removing dirt and oil. But the shampoo process is a little messy.

7.     Coconut milk

It conditions the hair while cleaning. But does not remove oil.

8.     Shikakai

Not only it cleans the hair, but it is also a  no poo conditioner and hair detangler. It is my favorite form of no poo shampoo.

9.     Honey

It works well when the water is clean and pure. But it does not clean the oil. It can also cause the greying of hair.

10.    Flours – Chickpea/Arrowroot/Rice

All the flours remove dirt and oil. But they require a chelating agent to remove the build-up.

11.    Plain tap water

It works well when there is no water pollution. Else, tap water leads to hair loss and makes hair messier.

Troubleshooting the No Poo Method

Now I wash my hair with a no poo shampoo made of shikakai, reetha and Indian gooseberries. All three ingredients are in a dried and powdered form.

I add water to the mixture and use it to rinse my hair and scalp. But it took me a lot of trials and errors to zero in on them.

The performance of a no poo shampoo depends from individual to individual. Meaning what works for me may not give you the best results. The quality of water also plays a role in the effectiveness of a no poo shampoo.

Since there is no SLS in these natural products, that is why most of them do not work on hard water. You can use a charcoal water filter to reduce the impurities in water. But if you indulge in oil massages, then the water will not clear the oil.

Baking soda does clear off the oil, but it is also ineffective with hard water. Plus, it spoils the ph balance of the scalp and also spoils the hair when used for long periods. Hence, it can never be the regular no poo shampoo.

After a lot of trials and errors, I found shikaki and reetha the best among all the no poo shampoo options. Neither do they give an itch on the scalp, nor do they underperform with hard water.

You can find a lot more easy and useful recipes in the no poo method book. Following the book will make your natural hair care journey a lot easier and worry-free.

Conclusion

As per Wikipedia, shampoos have come around in the year 1814. Before that people have used natural resources to clean the hair. 

It is nice to know that history is repeating itself through the no poo process. 

Although no poo is not as simple as abandoning shampoo at the drop of a feather. It requires a lot of permutations and combinations to get it right as per your hair and lifestyle. But once you get into it, you will love the no poo before and after results. 

If you wish to shorten the curve of getting free from the nasty chemical-filled shampoos. Then, you can widen your no poo knowledge by using a good no poo resource. That way you will know which methods to avoid before you spend time on them. Else, you will keep on experimenting till you jump on the perfect solution that works for you. 

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