Yes, you read right. I have decided to try not using shampoo! I’ve been reading a lot lately, and I found about the great uses of baking soda and ACV (apple cider vinegar). As of Tuesday, I decided to try washing my hair with a handful of baking soda and then doing a hair rinse of an ACV mixture (1/2 cup of ACV and 2-3 cups of water…some people use less ACV). The first day I just used the baking soda, my hair seemed fine, but my scalp itched just a little. My hair seemed a little messy, but I solved that with a pony tail. The next day I used only the baking soda again, but took a little conditioner to my hair, because my hair hits below the middle of my back and was a little hard to comb through the first day. The third day, I searched online and found the ACV rinse idea, so I decided to give it a try. It made it so that I didn’t need conditioner. I added a couple of drops of lavender essential oil to the mixture, to try to cover up the vinegar smell. I always let my hair air dry, so after it dried, there was no ACV smell at all. Just a little hint of lavender. I had two people tell me that my hair smelled great and asked what I had used. Brian told me that my hair was beginning to look better than it has in a very long time. I have to admit, it is looking smoother than it has in so long.
I was warned that most people’s hair goes through a transition period and your hair may not look that great for up to 2 weeks, but after that, it will be soft and hold a style without effort. I also read that this is a great idea if you have dandruff or an itchy scalp, because after about 2 weeks, you will be saying good-bye to flakes and itching forever. The ACV rinse helps make it so that your hair is easier to comb through and it also closes the shaft of the hair, to make it lay smoother and look shiny. If your hair seems to be getting dry, add a little honey to the ACV mixture and that will give your hair more moisture. The ACV rinse was huge in the 50’s and 60’s to make girl’s hair shine, except they poured it on straight, not diluted…I think that is too much. I would recommend diluting.
I read the following articles, which give directions and amounts of the baking soda and ACV.
http://www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/389/why-you-should-go-no-poo/
http://farmlet.co.nz/?p=40
If you google “baking soda hair” or “vinegar hair rinse” you will come up with all sorts of support for both of these. Imagine not ever having to buy shampoo or conditioner again! I’m just trying to figure out what I’m going to do with my mega bottles I already have of the stuff! :p
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