Okay, so my whole family has not ditched conditioner and shampoo; it’s just me.

I know it sounds kind of gross, but read on to see how it’s actually good for your hair not to use shampoo or conditioner. In January I decided I was going to stop using those products. I am a pretty simple person, especially when it comes to hair and beauty products.  But I can’t stand to have frizzy, dry and limp hair. In my very Hispanic family, healthy hair was of utter importance. It’s the first thing everyone comments on when you walk through the door (that and your weight).

I was online doing some “research,” as I call my Pinterest obsession (though I do actually like real research). So while researching I found this blogger and this blogger who shared how they went “no poo” and how it changed their hair dramatically for the best. I thought, that just sounds ridiculous. Well, by late November, my hair was limp and split-end-infested and I was desperate for a solution, so I took the plunge.

So what is “no poo?”  No Shampoo and no conditioner. You wash your hair with baking soda and vinegar, that’s it.

Let me clarify; my desire to go “no poo” has nothing to do with the environment or saving money–it’s purely vain. I don’t spend a lot of time on my hair or at salons but I do care about the health of my hair. I wanted my healthy and shiny hair back. Before you judge my vanity, let me assure you there are environmental and money saving advantages to going “no poo” as well.

This is how I go “no poo,” keeping in mind everyone has their own method that works best with their hair type. I experimented with it some and this is what finally worked for me: 1 tablespoon of baking soda.  I wet my hair. Then I take the baking soda and pour it in the palm of my hand and then put drops of water over it, just enough to create a paste.  Then I rub it into my hair and scalp, but focus on massaging it into my scalp and covering my hair with the mix.

Finally, you rinse just like you would if you had shampoo in your hair. Don’t forget the rinsing with water step or you will end up with a fizzing science experiment. Ahem, I won’t tell you how I found that out. Only after you have rinsed with water you will condition your hair with apple cider vinegar.  I also experimented with the amounts here.

I do this every other day (3x a week) and my hair has not been shinier and healthier in years. Give it some time. Everything I read says your hair needs at least a month to “detox” from the shampoo and conditioner you have been using. Apparently, shampoo and conditioner work like detergent and strip your hair of its natural oils.

How to go “no poo”:

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