With the rise in awareness of the all the chemicals in beauty products, it’s no surprise that more and more people are looking for natural, safer alternatives.
I’ll be honest, I’ve been contemplating ditching shampoo for awhile. I’ve flip-flopped from natural clean products, to old reliables and to be fair, many drug store and higher end brands have taken the leap to cleaner, natural products because there is a higher demand for it- win! When it comes to shampoo, I’m a sucker for decedent lingering smells that will trail and infuse the air. I’ve gone plastic free and ditched the shampoo bottles and opt’d for the shampoo bars, I’ve done the expensive salon shampoo (which sadly wrecked havoc on my scalp, more on that shortly) but I always go back to clean ingredients.
I’ve been using clean ingredients for the last 5-6 years and commonly you will hear from most people who have made the switch “it doesn’t do the same job as the chemical stuff, but at least it’s safer!” There is a level of “not fully clean” you get when you’re using natural shampoo products I’ve observer but it’s not so much so that would completely deter me from it all. I’ve experimented with plenty of different brands and formulas and still to this day I haven’t found a brand that I would permanently use in my hair care routine.
One afternoon I was at Home Sense and I stumbled upon a high-end shampoo that Marsha in high-school imagined adult Marsha would use. For some reason it was the “I’ve made it” shampoo in my mind. I put it in my basket and had a grin on my face the entire time while I was in the store, happy at my manifestation!
However, after using the product for about a month I noticed I had developed a rash on my scalp right at the hairline- it was itchy and red and irritated and immediately knew it had to be the shampoo paired with all the negatives winter brings along with it.
It was clear to me that the “natural” movement is truly not a hype. By not used products like that for many years my body cleansed itself from the toxins . When I introduced these chemicals back my body was not having it.
Enter the no ‘poo movement!
Simply put, it is ditching the shampoo altogether and opted for water or natural products. Not just meant for the hippies, more people are opting for this method as it’s a fool proof way of cleaning your hair and knowing knowing all the ingredients used. Not to mention the ease and cutting the cost of hair care products. Some potential benefits of ditching the ‘poo is:
- healthier hair and scalp that produces a balanced amount of oil.
- more voluminous hair.
- better textured hair and less need for styling products.
- less exposure to potentially irritating chemicals.
- less plastic packaging waste.
I have done research on homemade shampoos and found these formulas that are excellent entry level to ditching your shampoo!
At Home Shampoo Alternatives with Ingredients You Have At Home
Easy Go-To Shampoo :
1/2 cup of water
1/2 cup of vegetable based liquid soap like Dr.Bronners
1 tsp of light vegetable oil (omit if you have greasier locks)
A few drops of essential oil (optional)
Combine ingredients and mix well. You can use a recycled shampoo bottle or find any other container that fits. Use a palm-full of the shampoo or less to lather once, and then rinse with warm water. This homemade shampoo is thinner than commercial shampoo and it won’t suds as much (thats due to the fact that this diy doesn’t contain SLS) — but it will eliminate oil and grime just as well as the over-the-counter stuff.
Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo:
1 part apple cider vinegar : 1 part water
Few tablespoons of baking soda
Combine the acv, water and baking soda in a repurposed bottle shake the bottle to mix the ingredients together and allow to settle a few minutes. Once settled apply to wet hair and work it through before rinsing it out.
Egg Yolk Conditioner:
1 egg yolk
1/2 tsp olive oil
3/4 cups warm water
- Beat the egg yolk until its frothy.
- Add the oil and beat again and then slowly begin to add the warm water whilst still beating the mixture.
- Apply to dry hair before you’re about to hop in the shower
- Allow it to set a few minutes before you rinse it off.
There you have it! We’ve given you the basics on ditching shampoo and creating your own, natural formulas for cleaning your tresses. Feel free to experiment by adding tea tree oil, coconut oil, avocado and honey to the mix.
Shop no ‘poo method ingredients:
Happy no ‘pooing! Be sure to share your observations in the comments!
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