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?

"No Poo" Week 2 Update

"No Poo" Week 3 Update

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! 

Linking to Simply Made Home, Homestead Barn Hop, Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Healthy 2day Wednesdays, and Whole Food Wednesday

No Poo 30 Day Challenge Update

 I planned on doing my "No Poo" updates on Mondays, however, this Monday we will be in Kansas. I am super excited about it, since we will be meeting with our whole church planting team for the first time! We have a "skype" meeting with every one on Thursday nights, but there is just something different about being in person. So I will be mia till Wednesday.

If you don't know what the "No Poo" 30 day challenge is, check out my first post, on the why and how to go sans shampoo and join us!

This week was still a transition week for me. My hair was oily. Oily, but not greasy or gross. My hair was as oily the first day of washing with baking soda as it would be my second day after using shampoo. No big deal. I simply wore my hair in a pony tail or messy bun. It did get better throughout the week.

Week 2 

Day 8 Monday- Washed Hair. Top of hair looks fine. A little oily later on in the day.

Day 9 Tuesday- No wash. Oily hair. Put hair in bun.

Day 10 Wednesday- No wash. Trying to let my hair go a little longer between washing. Hair is actually no more oily than it was yesterday. Hhhmmm. 

Day 11 Thursday- Washed Hair. Increased the amount of Apple Cider Vinegar and used it as a leave in treatment on the ends of my hair after my shower. Hair feels very soft. Top of hair looks really good. Not oily. Was able to fix it curly and wear it down.

(I will add on Friday-Sundays to next week's update.)

I did some experimenting this week. I Increased the ACV on Thursday since my ends were a little dry. One reader said that she doesn't rinse out the ACV, but uses it as a leave-in conditioner. I tried this and it works great. No left over smell either! I also increased the number of days I went without washing. Not sure if you are supposed to wash every other day with this method or not. Many of the other bloggers I read go about three days between washing. Their hair doesn't get oily or dirty as fast.

So how did your week go? Please comment below with an update...I would love to hear! It isn't too late to join either. If you would like to join in with the challenge just leave a comment below, then once a week give us an update!

"No Poo" 30 Day Challenge

Okay so are you scared already? I am sure that by the title you are. Don't be, I haven't lost my mind...completely.

Ready....I will not use shampoo or conditioner for 30 days!

Wait! Don't leave....keep reading! I know this sounds crazy! I will explain how I came to where I am now with this challenge.

One month ago, I stumbled across this blog post on Simple Mom. She shares that she has not used shampoo or conditioner in three months! (definitely read her post...she explains it all so well!) My first reaction...GROSS! Which I am sure was, and is your reaction to my challenge. (probably that and...Lorissa has gone off the deep end!)

I learned that shampoo is actually a detergent. When you use it, it strips your hair of the healthy oils it needs, resulting in a vicious cycle...

Here is the vicious cycle that happens:
You wash your hair with shampoo.
It strips out the natural oils and creates a barrier.
Your hair over reacts and produces more oils to compensate for what is lost and hair becomes greasy.
You are frustrated with your oily hair so you wash it almost daily.
You keep stripping your hair of the oil it needs and the ends become frizzy, brittle and damaged.
Now you have to use a conditioner.
The top of your head is oily again. The bottom is dry and frizzy. 
And to top it off, you now need a full arsenal of hair care products just to get it to keep a style.

This has been my frustration! My hair is oily on the top, frizzy and dry on the bottom, and lays flat. Sure, I have curly hair but it just lays flat and is frizzy.

What I use on a daily basis...

I use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner, silk drop, a leave in conditioner, curl shaping spray, mousse, or straightening cream.

All that, and my hair still doesn't look how I wish it would! It is still frizzy, dry, brittle, and falls out like crazy!!!! Seriously...it is amazing I still have hair left with the rate that it falls out! Oh, did I also mention I battle with dandruff. This post is quickly becoming embarrassing.

You might just tell me to switch to a more expensive shampoo, conditioner, or hair care product...but really?! I do not want to, nor will I, spend $15 on a small bottle of shampoo just to get the "results" I think it may give me. Maybe you are one of the lucky ones that has gorgeous hair with out even trying. To you I say...I hate you....I mean...wow, I am so happy for you, that is awesome!  But for me, I am at the desperate...I will try anything point! And that is where this challenge came from. From desperation!

Okay,  enough of how I got to this crazy place...what to do now?!

Drop the bottle of shampoo, put away the bottle of conditioner, and hide the 300 bottles of hair care products you currently have. Go to your kitchen and grab a box of baking soda and a bottle of apple cider vinegar. Yes, you heard that right! Hang in there...keep reading!

Here is the recipe I am currently using:

"Shampoo" : 1 Cup Water
                      1 Tablespoon Baking soda

"Conditioner": 1 Cup Water
                        1 Tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar

I simply mix up the solution and pour into a squirt bottle that I keep in the shower. From what I have read, you may have to tweak the recipe a bit to what suits your needs. If you have super dry hair you will need to use more vinegar to soften it. Super oily hair, increase the amount of baking soda. You may have to experiment for the first week to find what works for you. I have found that a little does in fact go a long way!

It will take some adjusting and getting used to. For me, getting used to not having a soapy, lathery feeling when I shampoo has been the hardest. I found out pretty quickly, that just because it isn't lathering doesn't mean it isn't getting clean! All of the other bloggers I have read also say, there is a period in which your hair re-adjusts how much oil it makes. After all, it is used to you stripping it out every day with washing it. Because of this, it will over produce oil for a time. This takes about two-four weeks (possibly as long as eight)...hang in there because your hair will adjust!

I have decided to keep a daily record of how my hair looks and is changing. I will update every week to let you know how my hair is progressing...both good and bad!(Remember this is one of the "transition" weeks so my hair will be more oily than usual while it is adjusting)

Week 1 

Day 1- First time to wash with baking soda and vinegar. I was worried the vinegar would make my hair smell funny, but it rinses completely clean- no smell! Hair feels soft and clean! Top doesn't look oily at all! I think I used too much baking soda, the top looks a little dry for once.

Day 2- No wash needed. Hair doesn't look oily yet. Still kind of dry. Must remember to use less baking soda mixture.

Day 3- Top of hair looking oily, time to wash! Hair feels clean and smells clean. Once again, I think I used too much baking soda.

Day 4-No wash. Hair looks a little oily. Put it in a pony tail. No big deal.

Day 5- Washed Hair. Getting used to not lathering. Used a little more vinegar on the ends than the last two times. Hair looks clean and feels clean.

Day 6- Top of hair looks oily. Washed hair. Didn't use enough baking soda. Hair looks and feels oily still. Washed hair again. Much better.  Hair looks, feels, and smells clean this time. I am starting to notice a change in my hair's texture. I also noticed that when I combed my hair only a few strands fell out rather than a huge amount. I wonder if that is at all related?

Day 7- Hair slightly oily but pretty normal for me even when using shampoo. Pulled it back into a pony tail.

So far I am pretty pleased with it. I wonder what my hair will be like when the transition period is over. If it is anything like the other blogger's results, I will be thrilled!

What do you think? Are you brave enough? Desperate enough? Crazy enough to give this challenge a try?

If you are still not convinced take a look at these posts: 

MSNBC.com actually wrote an article on this! Read it here!

Simple Mom gives you a hair update after using this method for two years! Read it here!

Great information from The Hair Pin on switching from shampoo and why...read here!

On Just A Couple Acres has a very encouraging post about her transition with curly hair...here! and some great "No Poo FAQ" here! 

Think about it...what if you could have beautiful hair and it not cost you a small fortune?! Forget about all of the money, chemicals, waste, and frustration that go with shampooing your gorgeous locks!

On top of that ...why not? Why not give it a try? If you hate it, you can always go back to shampoo. But if you love it, you have found the cheapest and easiest way to achieve beautiful hair.

If you are brave, desperate, crazy, or hippie enough (I think this may be why I am pretty open to the idea...my mom secretly wanted to name one of us girls Moonbeam when we were born...no joke!) to give this challenge a try with me, leave a comment below and let me know you are in! Then each week I will share my progress with you, and you all can let me know how you are doing!

Here's to hoping this is just crazy enough that it works!

Linking to Frugal Days Sustainable Ways, Living Green