Adios shampoo!

Ok, I really hate the expression "no 'poo" as I think it just brings to mind constipation. Also, you've only eliminated 4 letters, so it doesn't save you that much energy! So, lets just say right off the bat, I have eliminated commercial shampoos from my beauty regime, and move on from there.

Today I switched to a baking soda wash, and apple cider vinegar* rinse. It's only day 1, so I can't really tell you anything special about results, but here's some information about my reasons behind the change, and what my experience has been so far.

Frankly, I decided to give this more "natural" hair care method a go because my hair looks like crap, and so I have nothing to lose! I have always had really fine, straight, moderately oily hair. It doesn't hold a curl, it goes fly away if someone sneezes to close to it, and if it gets wet, it disappears...really, I look like I am wearing a brown bald cap.

When I lived in the states, and then again in the UK with my hubby, I could buy these really fancy-schmancy expensive salon products that made my hair feel amazing, look amazing, and do all the things pretty hair was supposed to do. But I was spending more than $50 a month on hair care! Insane!

Since living in Korea, I have pretty much given up on knowing what shampoos would work for me (I can't read Korean) and so go with whatever is on sale...usually shooting for something for "damaged hair" if I can find anyone to read the bottles for me! Needless to say, my hair has gone into the crapper, and before I chopped it all off, I usually had it in a ratty ponytail. Not a sexy mane by any culture's definition.

The point of all this rambling is that I had nothing to lose by getting rid of the store bought shampoos. So I started looking online for recipes. At first I was looking for actual homemade shampoos, and found a ton of different recipes for whatever kind of hair you have. I settled on a recipe made with coconut milk which I still plan to use on my hubby and daughter once I make the coconut milk this weekend. But for me, I decided to give the old baking soda and vinegar a try. Worst case scenario it doesn't work, and I try some other ideas.

What I did was mix 1Tbs of baking soda with 8oz of hot water into a cup, and then in another cup, 1 Tbs. of apple cider vinegar with 8oz of water. This supposedly would have been enough for 3-4 washes, but I did them in cups the first time, so wasn't able to save the leftovers. Tomorrow's batch will go into bottles...no more wasting! Also, I heated the water in the kettle right before my shower, so it was wicked hot when I poured the mixtures onto my poor head. Yowza! I will make tomorrow's batch tonight so that the hot water can cool. The hot water dissolves the baking soda better I guess.

When I first put the mixture on my hair, I was worried that it wasn't doing anything. I mean, it felt like I had just poured water on my head, but then I realized it was a bit slick, and that my hands were feeling really soft. As I rinsed my hair after the baking soda, it felt much less greasy than if I had only used water. And after the vinegar rinse, it definitely felt softer. One of the tips I read was to brush your hair really well first before you shower. Mine is pretty short now, but I can see where that would be a good thing if you had longer hair and will definitely remember it as I am now growing mine back out!

Anyhow, after drying, my hair seemed shinier, but wasn't as soft as it usually is after I wash it normally. However, there were less fly-a-ways, without feeling greasy, and it was super easy to style. So, I am still really hopeful that this will work. And after sniffing my hair with extreme caution, my hubby said it didn't smell funny...something we were both worried about with the vinegar rinse. I can now confidently say that whilst it smells when you put it on, the smell is tolerable, and goes away almost immediately!

So that's it for day one. Updates will follow!

*About the apple cider vinegar...If you live in Korea like me, you will look and look and never find "apple cider" vinegar. But you will find TONS of "apple" vinegar, and sometimes this apple vinegar says "fermented apple" vinegar. From everything I have been able to find, "fermented apple vinegar" is the same thing as "apple cider vinegar". It is most likely not organic, but it will work for you. If you are keen to have organic here, or you just want to have your own with the "mother" included, here is a nifty recipe I found to make your own "apple cider vinegar!" Happy homemaking!


**Update**
So, been shampoo free for about a month now and am of two minds about it.

On the plus side, my hair has never been so manageable, and when I blow-dry it in the morning with a round brush, if keep sits shape all day. This is something my hair has NEVER done before. Even when stylist did it in the past, it would hold a curl or shape for about 3 hours and then die. So this is awesome, and I am loving actually having a "style" for a change.

On the negative side, it just doesn't feel as nice as it used to after shampooing and conditioning. And I am totally confused as my hair feels oily and dry and the SAME time!!! What the crap is that about? I've spaced the baking soda washes to every 3 days now, and use the apple cider vinegar 1-2 times a week now, but nothing seems to be balancing out.

However, friends say it looks nice, so even if it feels like crap, visually it pleases.

My hubby's biggest complaint was that my hair smelled "hairy"...yes, he has a way with words...meaning not that it smelled badly, just that is had no pretty smell at all. I fixed this by brewing some rose petals into a "tea" and using that as my water, both in the baking soda mixture and in a squeezy bottle just by itself to apply at the end of my shower when I am just washing with water. He is much happier now, and is back to sniffing me when we cuddle!

ALso, about 2 weeks ago, I started the whole process on my daughter (32 months old, blonde, naturally curly, fine hair). Her hair looks feels and smells amazing! We won't ever go back on her hair care now. Both of us are so pleased and she loves the smell of the apple cider vinegar! LOL!

Oh well, I will keep going on the no shampooing for a few more weeks, but might end up having to try some alternatives. I'll keep updating! :-)