Hair of the Dog

The debate continues ... and no, I'm not referring to the dueling national security speeches given by President Obama and Cheney yesterday.  I'm talking about the 'no-poo' debate.  Can a person really, truly cut out shampooing and achieve healthy, manageable hair?  And does quitting the suds cold turkey actually lead to better-conditioned, more beautiful tresses?

I'm a sparse shampoo-er to begin with, and was nearing the end of an unwashed hair week earlier this month when I read an article on MNN in which the writer raved about her shampoo-free experience and the ravishing results.  I had a head-start, I thought, and was inspired by her enthusiasm - thus my personal no-poo experiment began.  I was thrilled at the possibility of improving the condition of my hair and forgoing the eco-sins of most shampoos - sodium-laureth sulfates, plastic packaging, etc. 

Sadly, my grand experiment ended ingloriously about a week later with unmanageable, heavy, slightly malodorous, dull strands that, I kid you not, would stand straight up from my head without assistance.  I was disappointed, but glad I'd given it a shot ...

Then today I read another post on MNN, by their family blogger Jenn Savedge, that mirrored my experience in nearly every detail (I, too, was disturbed by the similarities between my dog's hair and my own toward the end of those two poo-free weeks!).  My lingering guilt is slighty assuaged ...

I have not ruled out the idea of another attempt to eschew shampoo, but for now I'm sticking to my minimal washings - and feeling a little less green, but a lot more human.

Comments

[Beth Terry, aka Fake Plastic Fish]

Hi there. Glad to see Product is still doing well since I reviewed it a year ago on Fake Plastic Fish. I just want to jump in and advocate for the no 'pooers. I've been using baking soda & water to wash my hair for about a year now. And I use a tiny bit of Product immediately after to get rid of the frizzies. My hair is great. And I really only need to wash it about twice a week or so.

I'm wondering if you were using too much baking soda? My mixture is 1 tablespoon of baking soda per cup of water. I have it mixed up in a sports bottle in the shower and I really just scrub it into my scalp. I don't run it all through my hair.

I also do the apple cider vinegar rinse, to which I add a little bit of rosemary essential oil.

Anyway, just wanted to stop by and say hi!