"For I know that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in You...You make it Beautiful Somehow"

Monday, April 23, 2012

No Poo 30 Day Challenge Week 4 Update



The day has come! 30 days is finally complete! It has gone by fast. So...after 30 days of not using any commercial shampoo or conditioner am I happy?

YES! I am incredibly happy with my hair! I have been wearing my hair curly every day for the last 30 days, however yesterday (Sunday), I  decided to try straightening it to see how it would look.

My hubby took these pics for me in the morning, with his camera phone, in our bathroom, with no windows...hence the lighting issues, and the fact that I look a little jaundiced. For whatever reason the pic of the back of my hair picked up much more light (maybe because it is angled down? I don't know). Any way...same room...same lighting...somehow they look like completely different pictures. As a matter of fact...my hair color is more of a mix between the two pictures...not completely one or the other. Next time I'll wait and get a good picture outside. Oh well...moving on...

I am so happy with my hair! I am already seeing my curls become more defined and less frizzy. It is still going to take a while for my hair to completely "heal" from all the damage I have done to it over the years (I am sure straightening it isn't going to help much either). Plus, when I straightened my hair I did not have to use any anti-frizz, straightening, or styling products! My hair came out super smooth, shiny, and soft! I could hardly believe it! 

Monday I decided to get my hair trimmed. I haven't had it cut in about six months, so it definitely needed it! I walk in, and the lady asks me if I would like it shampooed. I tell her no thanks and sit down in the chair. She starts to play with my hair and ask me what I want done...here is the conversation that follows...

Hair Stylist "Wow I love your hair. It is so soft! What shampoo are you using?"
Me "Ummm...actually I have not used shampoo in three weeks."
Hair Stylist looking just a tad confused "What was that?"
Me "umm...I have not used shampoo in three weeks."
Hair Stylist, eyes getting bigger "I'm sorry what did you say?"
Me..saying it just a bit louder "I have not used shampoo in three weeks."
Hair Stylist now looking at me like I am completely crazy "Okay...?"

Needless to say..it made my day. She had never in her life heard of some one doing something this crazy. I explained it all to her as she cut my hair. I didn't "win her over" with my no poo ways, but she also didn't argue against any of my reasons for not using shampoo. I laughed the whole way home. That poor lady. She really thought I had lost it. 

So here is how my week went..

Week 4 Update...Days 22-30

Saturday- Washed my hair yet again. Already feeling greasy since yesterday. I still blame that hair repair recipe. Pretty positive I got it all out this time. Used way too much Baking Soda to remove all of it and dried out my scalp. (Note: if you are having a hard time with an itchy, dry scalp, just adjust the amount of baking soda you are using.)

Sunday- No wash. Hair looks great and feels great. Not oily or greasy. 

Monday- Did not shampoo. Got my hair cut. She simply sprayed it down with water to cut it. I fixed it curly after. It looked amazing!!! So beyond happy today! 

Tuesday- Hair still looking awesome. I lightly wet it down with water from a spray bottle in the morning to reset the curls. Works perfect. 

Wednesday- Washed hair. I think I have finally found the perfect amount of baking soda/ vinegar mixture that works for me!
-1 tbsp of baking soda to 1 cup water. Mix up in a bottle and use half of this for one washing. 
-1/4 cup apple cider vinegar to 1 cup water. Mix up in a bottle and pour a decent amount on ends of hair. Do not wash out. 

Thursday- No Wash. Still sooooo happy!

Friday- No wash. Yup...looking good. Wore my hair up today just because. Curls still look great. 

Saturday-Washed hair. Straightened hair. Hair looks amazing. So soft and healthy. 

Sunday- No wash. Hair still straight. Got lots of compliments today :-)

That is it my friends! The end of my 30 day experiment! This is no longer an experiment for me, but a lifestyle. I cannot see my self ever going back to shampoo again! The thought makes me cringe! 

Best bonuses since changing to "No Poo" (gotta think of a more permanent name for it!)...
                                 -Hair is less oily. 
                                 -Curls are more defined.
                                 - Holds a "style" easier
                                 - Less frizz (not completely gone yet, but definitely less. This will take time.)
                                  -Softer hair 

If you are just hearing about "No Poo" for the first time check out my other posts...
"No Poo" 30 Day Challenge -What does going "Poo" free mean?

Some additional thoughts....

I have read that some people can not get this method to work for them. If you find yourself hating this method, but still want a more natural way to clean your hair, then check out Frugally Sustainable's Etsy store! She sells "shampoo" bar soaps" that would be an awesome alternative! I have never tried them myself...but I decided that if this method didn't work for me that I was going to give them a try. Or if you are really adventurous she gives you a tutorial on how to make your own

Remember, that everyone's hair is different. What works for me, may not be perfect for you. Take some time and experiment with it. Hair too dry? Cut down on baking soda and increase your vinegar. Hair too oily? You may need to increase your baking soda, and only put a little bit of vinegar on your ends. Also, don't forget about the transition period...your hair will have excess oil for a bit, but it will pass! 

I love that this is another way to simplify my life, cut down on costs, and live naturally. 

So how has your hair been doing? Are you enjoying going "poo" free? Thinking about starting the 30 day challenge?  Leave me a comment below! I would love to hear from you! 


















47 comments:

  1. Great Post! Thanks for sharing your adventure with us.

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  2. I decided to go without conditioner when I washed my hair today...I have some lemon vinegar I have made...I mixed it with water and used it to rinse my hair after shampooing...it seems shiner...no bad smell...my hair feels softer...I have gone from washing my hair 4 or 5 times a week to twice a week...I've seen such a big difference...my hair is healthier...holds my style better....I have wavey hair...so I use a straightner...I don't have to use it as often anymore...I'm considereing the Nopoo challenge...

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    1. the lemon and vinegar are both acidic clarifiers that help close the hair follicle. This makes your hair softer and shinier! I would say definitely go for it! If you hate it you can always go back to you old routine...if not then you have the cheapest and easiest way to achieve great hair!

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  3. Hi Lorissa,
    I just read all 4 post and have to tell you I am doing a similar test and I am on about week 2. I so enjoyed seeing your struggles and triumphs as I too am experiencing similar ones. I would love it if you could share this on Whole Foods Wednesday :) http://wholelifestylenutrition.com/blog/whole-foods-wednesday-recipe-swap-2/ I have several of my followers asking me for a recipe just like this. Thanks for sharing your 30 day experiment :) Halle

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    1. Thanks Halle! I would love to link up :-) I hope your experience turns out as well as mine did...hang in there...it gets so much better!

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  4. I have been shampoo free for well over a year now, with similar results.

    I started when I saw the infomercials for WEN, and I desperately needed something to repair my hair as the move to a new damaging climate was doing horrible things. WEN was too expensive though, so I found a slightly cheaper version called Hair One. There is now a bunch more alternatives, but later I found out that they are basically all just conditioners! And that there is a big community of what they call co-washing hair. Very popular in the curly and African hair communities.

    I tried washing my hair with just conditioner as suggested, much cheaper but the fragrance gave me a headache, so I am now going to try making my own. I found a fantastic blog that tells you all about how to make your own personal care products, and once I get my recipe down pat I will be posting my own.

    Vinegar and baking soda sounds wonderfully simple, but I have heard of problems with it that sound very likely to apply to me, (psoriasis) so I have avoided trying it thus far.

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    1. Yes you have to be very careful about the amount of baking soda used...if I use to much (like I did earlier in the week) it can dry out your scalp and make it itchy. Some one once suggested tee tree oil to help with a dry scalp. I haven't tried it myself yet...but it is always worth a try. :-)

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    2. I am currently using tea tree in jojoba oil for the psoriasis elsewhere on my body and it is clearing it up amazingly well. The theory I heard was that any build up of skin can breed bacteria or fungus, which aggravates the problem, and the tea tree gets rid of the nasty microbes which allows your skin to calm down and heal.

      The stuff on my scalp is a bit different, so I am still working on a solution. I will probably be including tea tree as part of the whole package though, in with the other beneficial herbs and oils in the cleansing conditioner recipe. I just ran out of my store bought stuff so it is time to take the plunge!

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    3. Definitely let me know what you end up using for your scalp!

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  5. I was at my son's baseball game on Saturday discussing your link with two others because one found your link on my blog and was encouraging the other to read it. I had to laugh because I was discussing going shampoo free at a baseball game! :) Thanks again for linking up last week.

    Tara @ http://simplymadehome.blogspot.com/

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    1. haha...that is too funny. I have random people I know (that I didn't even think was reading my blog) come up to me and start inspecting and feeling my hair! Ha!

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  6. i have natural curly, thick hair but not oily at all... so i dont wash everyday... my hair that is... i actually only shampoo once a week .. and i hate using styling product on my hair.. i like to have soft, run your fingers threw hair not stiff hair... but being curly i have to use some sort of gloss or anti frizz serum to keep a pretty curl and keep away the frizz... when i do wash i dont wash the top and only condition the middle to the ends... but i think you have convinced me into trying this new method out... i think it will be fun... maybe i can even talk my daughters and wife into it... giggles... fingers crossed... thanks for posting your challange!!!!

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    1. Good luck! Hope it works out well for you all too!

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  7. Thanks for sharing about your no-poo challenge at whole foods wednesday. So interesting!

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  8. Loved the Stylist conversation!! Stylists just don't get it because they've been indoctrinated in their schooling that you will not have healthy hair unless you use the commercial products. I have a daughter that is a stylist and she doesn't buy what I am doing - says my hair will get unhealthy and start to break, etc., it's what she was taught.
    I've been no poo for several years now. I started out with the baking soda and did a lot of adjustments over time with it. In the end BK damaged my hair even with vinegar rinses. I switched over to a castile bar soap. I use Dr. Bronner's Lavendar bar completely and do an raw apple cider vinegar rinse about once a week. I do not use any styling products either. Just wash, gently dry on lowest heat of my hair dryer which basically is very cool and only till it's almost dry with my head upside down, toss my hair back up, style with my fingers . I get many compliments on how healthy and shiny my hair is and that I don't have hardly any grey yet. I'm 58!!

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    1. I have heard of a lot of people having problems with the Baking Soda...especially during a pregnancy or any time your hormones change. I figured that when we have another little one or if it ever just becomes a problem for me that I was going to switch to a castile bar or homemade bar soap. Thanks for the suggestion though...I will have to remember that one. I will never go back to regular shampoo though! And you are so lucky you don't have grey hair yet! I am only 25 and I have 3 strands of grey hair! My husband loves them though and told me I cannot pluck them...haha. Oh well.

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  9. I really enjoyed reading about your 30 day experiment and am happy that it has worked so well for you. I am on day 6 or 7 so far and my hair is starting to get used to it. For the first several days my hair felt much more thick and hard to brush and while it didn't feel greasy, it felt... weird. I didn't like it at all. I really just wanted to break down and shampoo it. My teen daughter didn't make it past day two and went back to shampoo. But I didn't and it IS getting better. It's almost over that unpleasant thick feeling and I think I will be able to stick with it. I hope more people are inspired to give it a try and understand that it does take some time to adjust. Don't give up!

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  10. I'm 37 and have to color my hair (almost completely gray). If you get your hair colored by a stylist every 6 weeks, they have to shampoo the color out. Do you think if I did this, I would go through the transition period every time I go back to the salon and get shampoo'd or do you think that using shampoo once every 6 weeks is not enough time to mess up your hair and scalp again? (am I making sense? LOL!).

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    1. I'd ask to make sure that the shampoo only contains water-soluble silicones *aka build-up* (check out this page: http://www.naturallycurly.com/curlreading/curl-products/ingredients-commonly-used-in-hair-care-products-silicones)

      The other option is to just bring your own! Mix castile soap and coconut milk for a lathering shampoo that conditions. I've also had them just condition it out, and the stylist was willing. I'd ask BEFORE I went though, because some stylist will be snooty.

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    2. Yes you are making sense :-) I think a shampoo only once every six weeks would be fine...I don't think you would have to go through the entire transition process all over again. I would just make sure that they use one that does not have sulfate in it...sulfate is really terrible for your hair. Definitely worth a try :-) Thanks for stopping by Kelly!

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    3. Thanks so much for the info Angela!

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  11. I saw your original 30 day no poo challenge post and that's what caused me to start following your blog. I have been slowly finishing off all my shampoo and conditioner in anticipation of trying the no poo challenge for myself and the time has arrived! My hair has the texture of what i like to call "the white girl afro" so i will be interested to see how difficult it will be to find the correct ratio of baking soda to vinegar. I will be posting about my experiences on my blog so feel free to check it out!

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  12. Thank you for your post. I'm willing to try it, I have already done it 2 times, but I'd like to ask few questions:
    - when it comes the day of washing your hair, do you wash it only once or more?
    - You said that you pour the apple cider vinegar rinse on ends of hair and Do not wash out. Does this mean you don't put that rinse on the top of your hair at all, or you put on top and you rinse them out?
    - Do you think the Baking Soda could penetrate to the body and cause any side effects? Because I read that the Sodium is not good for those with high blood pressure (they were talking about eating baking soda)... but do you think the BS can penetrate to the blood and cause any side effects?

    Thank you

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    1. Hi Rana!

      - when it comes the day of washing your hair, do you wash it only once or more?
      I wash it once, very thoroughly. I make sure to really massage it into my scalp and get it all over my head. Then I let it sit for a few minutes while I wash or shave. Then I rinse.

      - You said that you pour the apple cider vinegar rinse on ends of hair and Do not wash out. Does this mean you don't put that rinse on the top of your hair at all, or you put on top and you rinse them out?
      My hair is naturally oily. This method has helped to tone down the oilyness (if that is a word) way down. But I still only put the ACV rinse on the ends of my hair only, not the top. And I do not rinse it out. If your hair is more dry on the top you could put it on the top of your head as well.

      - Do you think the Baking Soda could penetrate to the body and cause any side effects? Because I read that the Sodium is not good for those with high blood pressure (they were talking about eating baking soda)... but do you think the BS can penetrate to the blood and cause any side effects?
      I honestly don't know the answer to this one. I tried to do a bit of research on the subject, and what I found seems to suggest that it can be absorbed through the skin (don't know if that means it goes to the blood stream). I have no idea how much and to what extent though. So I would consult with your doctor and double check just to be on the safe side.

      Thanks for stopping by Rana! Hope this method works out for you just as awesome as it has worked for me!

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    2. Thank you Lorissa for you reply!
      I have an oily hair too, so I'll try your way of ACV and the other way and see what works best.
      I really wish it will work for me, I suffered a lot from chemical shampoos, from oiliness and fall. I already told this method to my sister and she started it too.

      Thank you so much for taking time to research and to reply to me!

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    3. Happy to help! And the longer I use this method the more I see my hair "healing" from all the damage done over the years. The transition period is the hardest time to get through, but once you are past that, it just gets better! :-)

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  13. I have crazy curly hair, and I was thinking about this no 'poo challenge. I was a little skeptical, because all the articles/blogposts I have read thus far relate to people with straight hair! I was so happy when I cam across your blogposts, and it has inspired me to take up the challenge! The only thing is that I have a huge dandruff problem (probably owing the numerous amount of product/damage it receives #curl issues), so I heard that rosemary water can help soothe the scalp and get rid of the dandruff! I am so excited to get started. This is officially day one of my challenge! Crossing my fingers that I can get through the next 4 weeks!!

    Thanks!

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    1. Good luck Mira!!! Please keep me updated on your progress! I notice the longer I keep using this method the better my hair gets! My hair has lost the kinky/frizziness it used to have and the curls are much more defined and manageable. I love it! I would also have occasional problems with dandruff, I don't have that problem any more though.:-)

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  14. First of all, congrats on finding a great hair care solutions! I am just starting this challenge too! I have wavy hair and my hair is always really poofy and frizzy so I hope to get the amazing results your getting!! Quick question, I know you said earlier that the ACV doesn't leave a bad smell, but if you don't rinse it out like you mentioned, won't it smell worse because the vinegar isn't washed out completely?

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    1. No the smell completely dissipates away before I am even done showering. I only smell it for a few seconds when I first put it on my hair, then it is gone. It doesn't leave any smell at all. Good luck! Hope it works out wonderful for you!

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  15. I have oily hair too. I started this like a week and a half ago, and my hair is so much better. I was always confused by the fact that the more I shampoo, the oilyier my hair gets, but if I don't shampoo twice a day it's a greaseball. My hair is naturally light, I don't know if you would call it blond or light brown. I make the acv rince, only I put 1tbs vinegar in 300ml camomile (extra stong, 3/4 bags) instead of plain water and it really makes my hair nice. Also, I pour it all over my hair AND head, and it doesn't seem to make it oily. But maybe that's cuz I shower every day. I would never miss a day, even if my hair isn't oily it'll be sweaty and full of dust and stink from being outside.

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  16. This is so inspiring!!! After our road trip I'm going to try it!!!!!!!

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    1. Let me know how it works out for you! I love hearing about other people's experiences!

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    2. It didn't work! My hair got all stringy, my scalp turned bright red and my head stank like cheese. And i stopped weeks ago, but my head is still red and cheese-smelling! I wish it could work, but i gave up. My hair IS less oily though, so I guess it isn't a total fail.

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    3. Oh wow. I have never heard or read about that happening to any one. Maybe you are allergic to it some how? Sorry it didn't work out for you, hopefully you can find another natural alternative that would work well for you. Good luck!

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  17. I have been doing the no poo challenge for about three weeks now. I have naturally curly hair that has always been unmanageable and have a mind of it's own. I can really see a difference, my hair is much more manageable, my curls are more defined and it's much easier to care for. I started out using the baking soda wash and ACV rinse. My second week was horrible, my hair was so oily but I just stuck through it. I started out trying to wash my hair every second day, then every three days and now I'm at every 4 days. I have strayed away from the baking soda wash though, I think its useful when you have really oily hair near your scalps or you want to "clean" your scalp. I have been using a homemade 'shampoothie', cucumber, lemon and honey. I use about 1/3 of a peeled english cucumber, 1 lemon (or 2tbs juice) and 1 tbs honey (blend it all up), followed with a ACV rinse on the ends. Actually the shampoothie is a perfect natural 2 in 1 shampoo/conditioner, and you can use it all over your hair and scalp. I also add peppermint oil to the shampoothie and lavender oil to the ACV rinse. Great smelling essential oils that help take care of your hair.
    ~Emma

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    1. Glad to hear it has worked so well for you! That is really cool about your "shampoothie". I have never heard of using that but I may just have to try it! Thank you for the suggestion!

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  18. Help! I read your original no poo post in the beginning of October and decided to give it a try. The first two weeks were GREAT! But here I am in week four or five and my hair is a hot mess! It is SOOOOOO greasy and unmanagable. It's like a giant mass, it doesn't fall like hair should or have individual strands anymore. I tried using more baking soda mixture but it doesn't really help. I even tried using all baking soda and no ACV mixture. I REALLY want to "convert" to the no poo lifestyle, does it get better? Is this a phase? Or am I doomed? :-(

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    1. It sounds like your hair "transition" period is just lasting a bit longer. Every one's transition period is different. I would give it another good 2 weeks to detoxify. I would keep using a normal ratio of baking soda and ACV mixture. You may try putting your ACV mix into a spray bottle so you can get it on all your hair evenly but don't soak it since it is greasy right now. Also are you using any other products in your hair? Certain products have ingredients in it that are difficult to strip out using the no poo method. I recently posted about my own troubles with the No Poo method during my pregnancy and several different trouble shooting methods for different possible causes for problems. You can find it here http://beautifulsmhw.blogspot.com/2012/09/no-poo-during-pregnancy-hair-update.html
      Hopefully you can find a solution if there is some other problem. Although it may be just that you are still in the transition period. I have read it taking up to two months for some people. Hang in there!

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  19. Hi there. I have been trying to go shampoo free for a couple of days now. It is working great and I love it. I have naturally curly hair, and from what I can tell from you pictures it is curlier then yours. I was wondering though if you brush or comb your hair. I have not found information on that other then using a boar bristle brush. I have not used a brush on my hair in over 10 years. I have heard that this is supposed to help make it softer, but I tried using a brush twice, and all it did was make my hair friz out like crazy. I usually stick to a comb, or finger comb. What do you do?

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    1. I use a wide tooth comb or fingers when my hair is wet and I am going to style it curly. The only time I use a brush is if I straighten it. I believe most people recommend using only fingers or a comb when working with curly hair though. So it sounds like you are on the right track!

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  20. So, when you say you don't wash out the vinegar, does that mean you don't rinse it out at all?

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    1. yes, and the smell of the vinegar fades so don't worry about the smell.

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  21. Hello!
    I just tried to skim all of the comments to see about anyone's experience with a smelly scalp....
    Do you use ANY product in your hair? I have been doing the BS and ACV method for about a year (washing with shampoo every 2-4 months when I go to the hair dresser). I have found it pretty good, although I get more dandruff (never had an issue before when I used shampoo and conditioner) and my head it itchy. Yet, about 6 weeks ago, I stopped using the mousse that I have always used to try using no product at all. I have been ok with how my hair looks, but I have noticed it smells...and I don't like it! It reminds me of dreads...which I wouldn't want on myself! My friend smelt my head and agreed that it is kind of unpleasant! I shower regularly, etc. and I don't know what else to try. I am pretty sure I am going to just return to shampoo and conditioner...or perhaps try just conditioner again, because I really don't want to smell offensive, especially since I work in health care in close proximity to people!
    ANY ADVICE?

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    1. Use essential oil and mix it in with your baking soda or vinager.

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  22. Yesterday was day one of no poo for me. I have used wen fig fir years and loved it, but I no longer accept wheat or grains in my life and unfortunately wen had wheat like most conditioner. Ever since going grain free my hair had been wack, so I started reading about no poo. Your blog was really helpful to me because I have curly hair also. I added a few drops of lavender doTERRA essential oil to soothe and rosemary doTERRA essential oil to stimulate the scalp for new growth - to the acv. It feels amazing for hours! So far so good!

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