The "No Poo Method"
Step-by-step, getting started.
If you haven't read our short introduction article about the No Poo method, including how and why it works, we highly recommend you read it first! CLICK HERE TO READ IT!
What you'll need to get started:
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an old shampoo squeeze bottle (you'll use this as your handy dispenser)
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aluminium-free baking soda
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apple cider vinegar “with mother” (organic, full of enzymes, see photo at left)
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distilled water
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a large comb
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a spray bottle from the dollar store
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a small container of Jojoba oil (from the health area of your supermarket), or failing that, Grapeseed oil (these two are the closest to your scalp’s natural sebum, or ‘hair oil’.
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a small spray bottle from the dollar store (like the travel ones).
WASHING
There are two simple ways of washing your scalp the ‘No Poo’ way:
The first way is by combining 1 Tablespoon of baking soda with 1 cup of regular water in an old (and very well rinsed out!) shampoo squeeze bottle. Mix well. Some folks prefer to use cold water this way you can feel where it's going in the shower, while others prefer warm water so their shower experience is friendlier. Squeeze onto the scalp and gently (very gently, not rubbing, as the rubbing will increase hair sebum and sticky-feeling in your hair) “swipe” the mixture on your scalp, covering thoroughly. Don’t worry about the lengths of your hair, just the scalp. Then rinse out completely with water.
The second way is by placing 1 Tablespoon of the baking soda in a small dish, and creating a paste with regular water. This paste would then be gently (again, VERY gently!) rubbed onto the scalp, then rinsed out completely with water. Over-scrubbing your scalp will create sebum within 10 minutes (the healthy scalp oil that makes your hair look greasy) and you’ll be disappointed to see you have greasy hair next day.
Watch Video (click)
CONDITIONING
Since baking soda is very alkaline, we need to restore the PH level, for which we use the apple cider vinegar (ACV) dilution. Without restoring the PH level, your scalp would automatically want to do it on its own thus creating more sebum and oiliness, and giving your hair a dry, crunchy, and ‘sticky’ feeling.
Combine 1 or 2 tablespoons of the ACV with 1 cup of distilled water, in the spray bottle you purchased. You will use this bottle over a long period of time, so ensure it’s distilled water you use so that it doesn’t mold easily over time.
After rinsing out the baking soda, gently shake and spray your whole head with the ACV mix. You shouldn't need more than 6 or 7 sprays.
Rinse out thoroughly and then immediately and gently use the large comb to comb out your hair. It's always best to comb your hair and not brush it when it’s wet, as dampened hair has a tendency to stretch and break.
JOJOBA: LEAVE-ON HEALTHY SHINE BOOST
After you have combed your hair and crunched it with a towel to remove as much moisture as possible, then you can spray lightly with the following combo:
Using the small travel-size bottle filled with distilled water, add 5 or 6 drops of Jojoba oil. (you can also add a couple of drops of beautifully scented essential oils for hair, such as lavender, rosemary, or rosebud).
Shake and spray over whole (damp) hair and especially tips, which will care for hair against drying – since hair is "dead matter" it will quickly begin to dry out due to wind, sun and just its natural distance from the scalp.
IN-BETWEEN WASHES: SCRITCHING + PREENING
When you’re between washes, you will most likely find that the hair surrounding your face will be greasy, while the length of your hair will get dry. This is because your scalp will continue to produce sebum (natural oils that protect the scalp and hair) on a daily basis, but especially if you have long hair, the oils may not reach the length of the hair causing it to dry out.
Scritching and preening can help fix this issue. Scritching is a method of gently massaging your scalp using the pads of your fingers, which will encourage the hair follicles to produce more sebum within a five to ten-minute timeframe. This oil is then drawn out of the scalp and redirected to the length of the hair by brushing (or “preening”) using a coarse brush – we recommend a boar brush.
Part the hair in sections and do this method at night, before bedtime, and maybe while you’re watching television or reading a book. In the morning your hair will feel wonderful and your scalp + hair oil distribution should be much more even.
To become more familiar with this method, watch this handy video HERE:
ONCE PER MONTH: SCALP CLEARING + ADDED PROTEIN
You may find that, a couple of weeks into the “No Poo Method” of cleaning your scalp, your hair may feel sticky, scalp itchy, and you just feel gross! This will usually occur within the first month of transition, while your hair follicles get used to cleaning out and your pores open up. If this is the case for you, we recommend clearing your scalp and hair with an egg wash.
Say what?? Yes, do not fear! Eggs are a wonderful way to cleanse the scalp, clear the hair of any impurities that may be stuck to it. Eggs are high in protein, so they can give your hair follicles and egg length that extra boost of energy and shine, while you clear and clean the hair.
NOTE: This method really shouldn’t be used more than once every 3 to 4 weeks, as too much protein can also promote breakage.
How to:
In a plastic cup, place an organic egg yolk and 1 cup of warm water, and mix well using your fingers (2 egg yolks for long hair). We use only the egg yolks as the whites can “cook” in your hair with the warm water rinse, causing your hair to have bits of egg white left throughout… not very attractive! Keep the egg whites for cooking breakfast!
DO NOT WORRY, your hair will NOT end up smelling like eggs! We highly recommend using organic eggs for this, as they are the cleanest form of eggs and - in our experience - produce the best results (less scent).
TIPS + TRICKS
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If you colour your hair, you can still follow the no-poo method. Just follow your colour instructions using the shampoo and conditioner provided, and then continue with your No Poo method.
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If you are a swimmer who visits chlorine-pools, you may still use the No Poo method without an issue.
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If you have thick and very curly hair, we don’t recommend using the Scritch and Preen method using a brush, but instead using your fingers to preen your hair through the lengths of your hair.
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This method is safe for anyone, at any age, and especially good for children instead of teaching them that they need to wash their hair every day using shampoos, which can contain very toxic ingredients.
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