No 'Poo Update

Hey guys! It's been 45 days since I've started my No 'Poo journey. It's been interesting so far!

I didn't really notice too much difference at first. The dandruff was still there and after a week and a half my hair was starting to get mad greasy because it was going through a transition. Eventually it tapered off and, man oh man, my hair got really, really soft.

Because the flakes weren't going away, I decided to get a chlorine shower head filter on Day 16. I got it for $18 at Home Depot. It's made my water feel softer and I feel like it doesn't irritate my skin as much as it used to.

Day 21, my curls started to come back. They had disappeared because of the heaviness of the grease.
By Day 27, flakes had returned with a vengeance... I realize now it was a sebum build up because I wasn't using ACV on my scalp after using BS on it.

Day 33, my hair was ultra soft but I still had that flake problem. I didn't realize until Day 40 that it was a sebum build up and that maybe I should use less BS and use ACV on all of my hair.

So, I've come to the conclusion (though many have before me) that this BS/ACV mixture isn't going to work for everyone. I have been considering doing WO, which is water only, and between BS/ACV washes I will do (and have done) WO. I bought a boar bristle brush to distribute the sebum from the top of my head down to the tips of my hair, which has helped reduce the sight of the flakes from the sebum build up, and while at Day 45 I do still have an itchy hairline, this is still an experiment. I am still going to stick to it because the dandruff I suffered from before doing this wasn't any better or worse than it is now, so there is no reason for me to use chemicals on my scalp if it isn't going to improve anything. I feel like my hair has mostly gotten back to "normal" and I am happy with the softness it has gained after all this. It doesn't smell like anything, just hair, and that's always good news, too. Haha.

I also wanted to mention that around half way through this experiment that I have also stopped using soap to wash with. I still use it on my hands but when I'm in the shower I just use warm water and a wash cloth. My skin feels normal, if not better. It doesn't feel dry or irritated and I don't stink. Because there is no fragrance, I'm no longer sneezing up a storm in the shower and I feel like I'm using less time and water to clean myself. Our bodies have natural oils and things to help clean itself... I'm not saying we should stop bathing--please, keep bathing! But the use of chemicals is really unnecessary. If you want to smell like a flower or something, just use some essential oils to rub on yourself, or mix it into some water to put in your hair. Honestly, I like smelling neutral.

If any of you have any questions, I will do my best to answer them. Otherwise, good luck in your natural endeavors!

No 'Poo?!

That's right. No 'poo. As in no shampoo. I have a terrible case of dandruff and I just can't stand it any longer. I'll be getting my hair cut before the end of next week, and then I will start my no 'poo adventure. Some people claim it helps, some people claim it doesn't. I believe it has to do with the amount of baking soda, or apple cider vinegar...or both! And you can add tea tree oil to your mix...and that should help.

Basically, all No 'Poo is, is literally a tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of water. You'll wash your hair with it in warm (not hot) water and then you'll use a tablespoon of ACV and a cup of water on your ends (not your scalp!), rinse and you're done! Some people will wash in this way twice a week, sometimes with water rinses in between actual washes. You don't want to do more than two baking soda cleanses a week, as it will dry your scalp out something fierce. Eventually, once you go through the process of your oils and such going back to its normal, healthy levels, you could go as little as once every two weeks of actually using the BS and ACV! That's amazing. And the ingredients are so cheap! So I'm down. I'm ready!! I'll keep track of my "stats" and if anyone is interested, I'll post them up here for anyone's viewing pleasure. Hah.

To better explain to you why I would do such a thing as stop using commercial shampoos and conditioners, well... These products are full of chemicals that are unsafe and strip the oils from your hair. They can and do cause skin irritations (like dandruff) as well as just dry skin in general (like with commercial soap). Temperature has something to do with it, too, so I'll be taking cooler showers...and since I am currently using city water, I'll be getting a chlorine filter for my shower head, which apparently I can find for $20 or less, so that should help with the skin irritation I'm experiencing, as well.

Not only is choosing to not use commercial shampoo and conditioner good for your hair and your skin, but it's also good for the waterways. Sure, not everyone is going to be bought by the no 'poo method, but the less people that use those products, the better, right? Not to mention it's GREAT for your wallet. Baking soda and ACV are both products we use in our kitchen, so when I need to wash my hair, voila!

If anyone has any experiences they'd like to share with their journey with No 'Poo, please feel free to leave a comment! This post has simply been a nice update in ways we are making progress with our "natural" outlook, which will really help when we get off grid. Can't wait to start the no poo journey!