Thread: Ditching shampoo?

Hi ladies! I'm fed up with my fine, oily hair. I've been reading up on going shampoo-free (the "no 'poo" movement), and it seems that many ladies have had excellent luck with it, despite an awkward and very greasy transition period. But I haven't read anything from other professional performers.

Have you tried going without shampoo, and for how long?

I've been going without shampoo (except at the hairdresser's every 3-4 months) for, like, a decade. I stopped using it because I have curly, fine, dry hair. Shampoo strips away precious moisture so now I only use conditioner. Since this winter, I even started washing my hair every other day and using pure coconut oil in my hair for 12-24 hours before I wash it for an extra moisture boost.

I understand you have oily hair but I've heard that over-shampooing aggravates this problem. Also, my friend with fine, oily hair started using "dry shampoo" (spray-on cornstarch) on her roots on non-wash days to tame the oily roots. Lots of ideas!

I've recently tried the baking soda "Non-shampoo" and I really like it. It's one Tablespoon of Baking soda in a cup of hot water...massaged into the hair and then rinsed. I follow that with a "conditioning" of one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in one cup of hot water. I really like what it does for my thick, dry hair.

You'll find a lot of resources in the "curly girl" book or online here.

I have dry wavy hair, and have tried the baking-soda & vinegar method and the conditioner only method. I did both for over a month and didn't see great results. My hair was less dry, but my scalp got this weird white build-up.

I switched to sulfate-free shampoo & conditioner (I really like the organix brand) and my hair is so soft and bouncy. I only wash my hair 2-3 times a week and use a dry foam shampoo for curly hair (suave, $3 at walmart) on days it looks flat or oily. That's what works for me and it's a lot less messy than the baking soda method. I'd recommend that you try that first and if it doesn't work try the no-'poo methods.

Originally Posted by lively_psyche

You'll find a lot of resources in the "curly girl" book or online here.

I have dry wavy hair, and have tried the baking-soda & vinegar method and the conditioner only method. I did both for over a month and didn't see great results. My hair was less dry, but my scalp got this weird white build-up.

I have dry, curly hair (3B) and use the conditioner-only method when wearing it curly. The solution for the build up, should you decide to give it another try, is to mix brown sugar with conditioner and massage it on the scalp, then rinse and condition.

Another vote for conditioner only. If your scalp feels icky, try a light conditioner with lavender oil to wash your scalp/roots. Rinse. Then regular conditioner.

Of course shampoo is necessary after hair color, but it can be avoided for the rest of the month/6 weeks.

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer

Of course shampoo is necessary after hair color, but it can be avoided for the rest of the month/6 weeks.

Is it really necessary? Would not conditioner only work for the wash for that too?

I've just about stopped using shampoo, and now the few bottles I have lying around are used by my nieces when they're over, or I'm using them up in liquid soap dispensers. Even if I feel like I need a shampoo every now and then, I put a scant bit in a pointy top dye bottle, add water, and distribute that all over my scalp to massage in and rinse out. The biggest thing I worry about when cutting back on shampooing is if my hair smells! But I've been making hair mists to help alleviate my fear of that.


P.S. On a related note, sometimes when I go a long time between washing, my hair actually looks matte with no shine. I'm sure it's some kind of buildup of products and environmental dust and whatnot, and even doing the conditioner only takes care of it. Just throwing that out there in case someone else stretching between washes has the same experience.

Originally Posted by Athallia

The solution for the build up, should you decide to give it another try, is to mix brown sugar with conditioner and massage it on the scalp, then rinse and condition.

I doubt that I'll go back to it, but it's good to know.

I've been reading a lot on curly hair care. I couldn't get myself to not shampoo, so I'm using an all natural (no sulfate, 'cones, parabens, etc.) shampoo and conditioner. So far I am happy with the results. I may ditch the shampoo at some point and just use conditioner... but not right now.

I'm also conditioner only - and don't use shampoo after dyeing. Conditioner has enough surfectants that it handles the dye well.

I have fine, thin, straight hair and shampoo is just too harsh for me. I haven't used shampoo in probably 2 or 3 years at this point, and my hair has never looked better. I didn't have any weird transition phase when I started CO and I can now stretch my hair washing to every other day or every few days - I try not to wash my hair more than 3 or 4 times a week.

I use a very cheap conditioner (Vo5 or Suave) as they don't have silicone. I like silicone styling products, but using a conditioner with silicone will cause too much build up in my hair very quickly. You use a ton of conditioner since it doesn't lather up, so it's good this conditioner is cheap! I lather it in at the beginning of my shower and rinse it out well at the end.

I used to use an apple cider vinegar rinse as well, but it seemed to dry out my hair.

I love all the different solutions! I went 'poo free for about six weeks, and it drove me crazy - even with baking soda shampoo and apple vinegar washes. After trying out different sulfate / dimethicone free shampoos - my hair still felt dirty and gross - I found success with Bumble and Bumble super gentle shampoo and super rich conditioner. I now shampoo 2x week and wash with conditioner if my hair looks dirty between washes. I'm trying to get it down to 1x week with the shampoo - certainly my hair grows faster and looks healthier than it did when I was shampooing every day...and I'm constantly surprised by how my hair adjusted the rate at which it produces oil. It used to be I HAD to wash every day, or my hair would look disgusting. Now it takes 3 days to look noticeably greasy.

More discussion here:
Conditioner only hair washing?

Originally Posted by sabrinabellydancer
Of course shampoo is necessary after hair color, but it can be avoided for the rest of the month/6 weeks.
Is it really necessary? Would not conditioner only work for the wash for that too?

If it's a permanent chemical colour, you have paraphenalyne diamine and peroxide on your head among other things and I wouldn't be comfortable with the risk of leaving quite a bit of it there by not shampooing. Even if there aren't allergy issues - and believe me you can develop sensitivities after years of using colour with no problems - the colour could continue to process on your head and the hair would potentially become more damaged and the colour not what was intended.

I tried the baking soda wash and apple cider vinegar conditioning. Unfortunately, I have straight-ish, oily hair and a very sweaty scalp. I tried not using shampoo for a couple of weeks and my hair got really gross and greasy. I kept waiting for that miraculous moment where my scalp stopped producing as much oil but it never happened.

I gave up when I realized it just wasn't going to work for me. I had medium length hair at the time. I have short hair now and can't go for more than a day without washing it.

I still like the ACV rinse. (I have to dilute it well so it doesn't make my hair too oily.) But I've gone back to sulfate-free shampoo, olive oil bar shampoo, Lush bar shampoo, or a diluted concoction of Dr Bronner's castile soap with rosemary and lavender oils. I also use henna for coloring.

I can't IMAGINE this. I've got fine, straight hair that tends to be oily. I run every day and I SWEAT. How does using plain water or even baking soda/water clean out the sweaty hair? Not to mention all the hairspray, volumizers, mousse and other styling products?

When we've camped for a week at a time I was only able to rinse and it was horrid. Even when Ididn't use any styling products. A baseball cap was my only friend that week. You all must have a lot of hair.

I've been trying to cut back on shampooing, too. I'm sweating at Bikram Yoga every day, and my stylist told me to just rinse my hair afterwards, and try to avoid shampooing more than a couple of times a week. I can tell when it's time. I have pretty fragile hair and use Bumble & Bumble products because they seem the most gentle.

I have to agree, going 'poo free would drive me crazy too! My hair is dry and I color it but using just the conditioner doesn't seem to get it clean and leaves it feeling gunky no matter how much I rinse. The vinegar rinse sounds like it would help but I wonder if it would affect the color? If I'm careful about how much product I use on it, I find I only need to wash it once a week.
I also sent off for the Wen offer so will see how that goes as well. But I wasn't thrilled to find that they set you up on a scheduled plan to receive their products. Has anyone else tried it?
Patricia

Originally Posted by lilya

I love all the different solutions! I went 'poo free for about six weeks, and it drove me crazy - even with baking soda shampoo and apple vinegar washes. After trying out different sulfate / dimethicone free shampoos - my hair still felt dirty and gross - I found success with Bumble and Bumble super gentle shampoo and super rich conditioner. I now shampoo 2x week and wash with conditioner if my hair looks dirty between washes. I'm trying to get it down to 1x week with the shampoo - certainly my hair grows faster and looks healthier than it did when I was shampooing every day...and I'm constantly surprised by how my hair adjusted the rate at which it produces oil. It used to be I HAD to wash every day, or my hair would look disgusting. Now it takes 3 days to look noticeably greasy.

I have long hair and am hoping to be shampoo free one day. I have started the process by
cutting down the number of days I wash my hair. I use to have to do every other day, but now I can go four days. Trying for 6 days. On those extra days I wet my hair and but it up in a bun to get by. Will start the vinegar rinse next.

i've never done that before but i would think that it would get really oily and gross after a while. People with curly hair can get away with it though because their hair hides oil better than straight hair. You should try it though and see what happens. You would take quicker showers then. ha best of luck!

Originally Posted by Bahtya

I can't IMAGINE this. I've got fine, straight hair that tends to be oily. I run every day and I SWEAT. How does using plain water or even baking soda/water clean out the sweaty hair? Not to mention all the hairspray, volumizers, mousse and other styling products?

When we've camped for a week at a time I was only able to rinse and it was horrid. Even when Ididn't use any styling products. A baseball cap was my only friend that week. You all must have a lot of hair.

I also have fine, straight, oily hair. I don't run, but I do work out and my hair gets very sweaty. I have been using conditioner only to wash my hair for months now and I can assure you it does a beautiful job of cleaning the hair. The secret is to use LOTS of it and really lather it up. There is enough surfactant in conditioner to wash off any dirt/oil/hair product you might have on there.

The payoff is healthier hair that is less frizzy/static-y and you can grow it longer because your ends are healthier. I also find my hair does not get oily as quick as it used to.

^This could well be true. I've never done a conditioner-only wash, but when I do an oil treatment on my hair, conditioner is what I use to get it out. If I use shampoo, I have to shampoo the hair two or three times. Conditioner I can put on once and it gets it all out. Go figure.

Originally Posted by kiaroskuro

Hi ladies! I'm fed up with my fine, oily hair. I've been reading up on going shampoo-free (the "no 'poo" movement), and it seems that many ladies have had excellent luck with it, despite an awkward and very greasy transition period. But I haven't read anything from other professional performers.

Have you tried going without shampoo, and for how long?

Hi Kiaroskuro!

I am a hairstylist of 17 years. I have never heard of going shampoo free. I use to have very oily, fine hair and the only that worked for me and it also cleared up my acne was Accutane!

Your body will continue to produce oil even if you go shampoo free. You need the soapy shampoo to connect with the oils to get it out of your hair. I wouldn't apply a conditioner on your roots or the top of your hair at all. Just to the ends if they are dry. If your hair isn't dry, then apply a spray conditioner to the ends. Good luck!