Have your heard of the “No Poo” movement? Don’t worry neither had we until recently but it has been around for a few years now. It is where you ditch the shampoo and conditioner for good and go “a la naturale”.
Was that a scream of terror? Let us first explain why people are jumping aboard the ‘No Poo’ train.
There is a belief that shampoos and conditioners are unnecessary products and by using them you become dependent. Your hair becomes an addict and the detox process is usually too much bear so you continue you to give it its shampoo hit. Women didn’t even start using shampoo until the 1930’s.
Most big brand shampoos contain silicones and other ingredients to give your hair that instant softness, lustre and shine overnight! The downside is that these artificial coatings do the same job as your natural sebum.
Wait a minute… isn’t sebum a skin thing?
Yes, sebum is the natural protective layer of oil that protects your skin and keeps it healthy. Sebum also does the same for your hair.
If you are stripping your hair of sebum with shampoo (usually with ingredients called SLES or SLS that come with their own health risks) and then replacing it with silicone based conditioner, your body no longer thinks that it needs to produce sebum for your hair. So when you stop using shampoo and conditioner your hair freaks out! Dryness, brittle, increased split ends, and out of control fuzz sound familiar?
What can I expect my hair to be like after ditching shampoo?
Once your hair has detoxed from shampoo and conditioners your hair is supposed to look amazing:
- Shinier hair (yay!)
- More vibrant natural colour
- More body
- Less oily hair days
- Way less frizz (attention, curly-haired girls!)
- Save $$$ because you’re not buying as many products
- Have a positive impact on the environment
- Avoid being exposed to chemicals, some of which have health risks, even as dire as cancer
Image source: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=3849
So how do people go ‘No Poo’?
There are a few ways but the basics are this. Please note that Aaron does ‘No Poo’ but in his case it is due to a ‘no hair’ issue 
Step 1: Wash your hair with bicarb soda and water. (1tbs of Bicarb to 1 cup of water.) The bicarb soda starts the clear away all those years of silicone based products
Step 2: Rinse with Apple cider vinegar and water. (Mix 1tbs of ACV and 2 cups water and put in spray bottle). ACV balances your hairs PH and gives it shine.
Step 3: Repeat once or twice a week.
If you are willing to give it a go it will take about 4 weeks until your hair starts to improve and it will get worse before it gets better. Expect some bad hair days with dull, limp and oily hair.
But ‘No Poo’ doesn’t work for everyone
It’s important to note that this doesn’t work for everyone. It could be just too far in the other direction for your hair. Bicarb soda can be too harsh and drying to the scalp which will have negative effects on your hair. Healthy scalp = healthy hair.
Creating hair products was not high on the Woohoo Skincare ‘to do’ list but after getting so many requests for them and learning about the ‘No Poo’ movement it may be something we should look into some more.
It could be that we are oversimplifying it but it seems the best way to care for your hair is the same as taking care of your skin.
- Wash it gently so it is clean without upsetting the delicate oil balance
- Moisturise and nourish so your hair is naturally soft, voluminous and shines.
Would you like to see some Woohoo Skincare hair products?
We have a few ideas already but we would love your help. The big questions we need your help answering are:
- What is most important when it comes to your hair products?
- What are your hair problems? (Dry? Frizzy? Oily? Dull?)
- What products do you use at the moment, and what are their positives/negatives?
Please leave us a comment below – we’d really appreciate it 
