I have joined the ” No Poo Movement” and it has nothing to do with my bowels !
‘What is it then?’ I hear you ask.
It is when you give up using commercial shampoo to wash your hair.
No I haven’t become an Earth Mother, a Feral or a Hippie.
I was reminded of this practice a few weeks ago when watching The Doctors on daytime television.
There was a segment on the show about a lady who hadn’t shampooed her hair in over 5 years. Well that statement certainly got everyone sitting up and listening.
Dr Travis Stork called her up onto the stage and had a Dermatologist, Dr Ava Shamban use a magnifying camera to check out her scalp.
Dr Shamban reported that the No Poo lady’s hair and scalp looked perfectly normal. Both Dr Rachael Ross and Dr Shamban even smelt the lady’s hair and said it smelt clean – like sebum.
I must admit the No Poo lady’s hair looked healthier and shinier than my hair so I thought, I should give this a go.
The first time I had heard about the No Poo Movement was in 2007 when ABC Australia Radio Announcer, Richard Glover undertook this challenge for 6 weeks.
I personally haven’t shampooed or conditioned my hair since the end-February 2014. I just rinse my hair in tepid water every 2-3 days. Apparently if you use super hot water on your scalp, sebum production increases.
My experience has been very positive from the start. No oiliness feeling but I think this has to do with my hair length. Mine is around 45cm [ 18 inches ] long.
My hair doesn’t get knotted or dandruff like it used to. It feels like it has more texture … and I mean that in a good way.
Another benefit is that I don’t need to add product to my hair to keep it in place. Say goodbye to gel, mousse and hairspray. Saving me even more time, money and valuable cupboard space.
You need to work with nature to spread our natural hair oils by brushing [ not combing ] your hair twice a day – morning and night.
Shampoo is a fairly new product. I remember my Grandparents using unrefined Sunlight soap to wash their hair, their clothes and even their false teeth.
SAVING YOU: approximately $120.00 per year and at least 400 sq cm [ 64 sq inches ] of space in your cupboard
Will you be trying this?
The Doctors story link:
http://www.thedoctorstv.com/videolib/init/10796
Results of Richard Glover’s experiment:
http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2007/04/30/1887681.htm
Image source: creyziness.blogspot.com
Growing Snowballs - How to Save Time & Money in your Life 
[…] you supply that loosens the dirt from your hair and scalp, not the pretty foam. Or take the No Poo Challenge and do without Shampoo altogether. Your hair will be silkier and shinier than […]
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It’s good to read another view that’s bit complex. I read a lot about apple cider vinegar and baking soda but plain water is working just find for me too.
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Can’t beat water can you. I washed my hair in water this morning for the first time in 3 weeks. I find the further down the track in this experiment, the less often I need to wash my hair. Thanks for reading. Looking forward to reading about your journey.
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I quit using conditioner a few months ago, and cut down shampooing to every third day or so. My hair seems so much healthier, not all weighed down & dried out. I have less dandruff than I did when I was using gloppy products every days. I will try doing the brushing twice a day to see if that helps my scalp as well. When the weather turns colder next month, I will have probably to use a spray-in conditioned to tame fly-aways/static.
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I “washed” my hair in just water yesterday for the first time in 3 weeks. I am finding the further into the experiment I go, the better my hair looks, feels and needs less washing. Keep me posted on your progress. I’d love to here about your experience Susan.
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[…] Shampoos & Conditioners: It seems every family member wants a different shampoo. We have ours in a plastic hanging basket in the shower recess. [ Unless, of course, you want to save even more money by giving up Shampoo altogether like I did for 9 months]. Read about my experience Take the Shampoo free challenge […]
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