More No 'Poo Questions.

[Zaphirah]

I was re-reading some of the threads and I need some things clarified.

So you use Baking Soda as shampoo, then ACV 2nd, like a conditioner...or are you supposed to use these 2 on separate days.

Also, can you use the baking soda everyday? I saw that some people only use it 1-2x a month.

and the whole oil/honey/flax idea...that CANNOT be good for the drain pipes. Anyone had their pipes clogged yet?

[Shuu]

After being no poo for about 3 weeks, I use baking soda first, then ACV second in the same go. I wash about twice a week in this way and don't even get my hair wet any other day (though I do wash my bangs themselves every second day or they get stringy), and that's all I do. No honey, flax, oil, etc. at all.

You really shouldn't need to use the baking soda everyday since your hair won't get as greasy when you wash no poo. And I wouldn't use it without the ACV as I found my hair gets frizzy if I do that, but you can certainly experiment.

[Zaphirah]

thanks. Totally OT but you aren't Shuah from the TT are you? :confused: :D

[Raene]

I've been doing this for about 2 months now...actually, the first month I went no poo...didn't use anything for shampoo, but was still using a drop of Jason's sea kelp conditioner. Over the last month I've switched to using baking soda and skipped the conditioner altogether. I wash every day just b/c I have to use gel in my hair and it looks awful if I don't wash the gel out daily. Do keep in mind that my hair is only 1/4 inch long, so it might be different if it were longer.

[tinystrawberry]

i'm only washing with baking soda when my hair gets noticeably oily. I wash with ACV every three days (approx). so far my hair is doing great! it's very shiny and soft!

[Zaphirah]

I DID IT!!!! and I LOOOOVE it!!!! I have thin, brittle hair. It breaks everytime I bush it, esp in one section. I had NO trouble this morning and it's so soft that I can't stop running my fingers thru it! Oh this is what Heaven must be like! :p

[oai]

haha! awesome! :)

i've been doing baking soda/acv, since january. i'm pretty happy myself! :)

[1bigfamily]

I started last week too but how do I get rid of the vinegar smell quicker. It takes a few hours and I hate smelling when I go out.

[oai]

i add a few drops of a essential oil (peppermint) into the water i use. after the acv rinse, i use water to rinse the acv. it works for me. i can't stand the acv smell either. :p

[GoingRAW]

Do you wash your whole head with the ACV or just the ends?

[oai]

i'm not sure who the question was meant for. :) for me, i rinse my entire hair length with acv, although I do focus at the ends. it gets a little tangly at the ends, when i don't.

[queenfluff]

Raene

You can use aloe vera gel as a sub for regular gel. It would have as much hold but if you are using it to tame frizzies or for smoothiness it should work just fine. Plus aloe vera has MSM in it - which is great for hair.

[tinystrawberry]

My hair does not smell of vinegar unless i don't wash it out well enough. Maybe thats your problem, too?

i wash all of my hair with the ACV but with the baking soda paste i only focus on greasy areas.

so far, ive been doing it 2 weeks and i am loving the results.

[Raene]

Raene

You can use aloe vera gel as a sub for regular gel. It would have as much hold but if you are using it to tame frizzies or for smoothiness it should work just fine. Plus aloe vera has MSM in it - which is great for hair.

What??? That is fabulous news. I HATE using crappy gel. THank you!!

[RawSinger]

Okay, I think I may try this but I still need a few things clarified: For the first step, washing with Baking Soda, do you just mix it will a little water to form a paste (kind of like the consistency of shampoo, I guess) and then apply it all over and use it as you would regular shampoo??

For the second step, conditioning with Apple Cidar Vinegar, do you dilute the ACV with a little water, and if so, how much?? Do you leave this in your hair for a minute or two like regular conditioner? Also, to cut down on the ACV smell, do you add a few drops of essential oils right to this mixture or apply it to your hair after you've rinsed the ACV out, then rinse the essential oil out as well?

Sorry to be so nit-picky, but some clarification would be greatly appreciated!! :o

Thanks in advance!!

[Shuu]

I mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with 1 cup water and pour all over my head, then massage with fingertips until satisfied. If I leave it in too long my hair goes frizzy so I massage quickly and rise. Then, I'll put 1 tablespoon of ACV into 1 cup of water (maybe a bit less), dip in my ends on both sides for 10-15 secs, then pour over my head the remaining amount. I'll leave in the ACV - since my ends tend to be a bit dry - while I wash my body. I end by rinsing the ACV thoroughly in cool-cold water to cut down on the frizz. Doing this, I don't notice any residual ACV smell at all so I don't use essential oils.

[oai]

I have longer hair -- about the the middle of my back or longer.

Here's my regimen:

- i add 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to a bucket of water.
- wash my hair w/ the mix of 2 tbsp of baking soda with 2 cups water from the above mentioned bucket.
- rinse with a mix of 3 tbsp acv with 2 cups of water from bucket.
- rinse all out with water from bucket.

you really don't need the essential oils for this, but i just like the smell. plus, the bathroom smells so nice afterwards. :) peppermint & tea tree oils are good for the hair anyway.

[RawSinger]

Coolness!! Thanks!!!!!!!

[cocoanib]

I've been using baking soda and vinegar for about a year now.
I usually use it like this.
I make a paste of baking soda and water and my scalp with it. As I'm rinsing I massage the length of my hair.

I use ACV after I wash.
I use about 3 tbl acv to 1/2 gallon of cool water. I poor this over my head in the shower. I let it sit for awhile before thoroughly washing out. Sometimes I follow with a traditional conditioner.

Baking soda cleans and clarifies my hair better than anything.!
The ACV leaves my hair shiny and strong!
HTH :)

[Portia2012]

Is this good for scalp itch as well? I have a heck of a time even after washing with itchness in my head.


~Portia~

[cocoanib]

Is this good for scalp itch as well? I have a heck of a time even after washing with itchness in my head.


~Portia~

It would depend on what's causing the itchiness, but I think you should give it a try. Especially scrubbing your scalp with the baking soda. I know if I get a little dandruff sometimes, this lifts it right off.

[Portia2012]

Thanks, I know shampoo does not seem to work. I wash my head and it will start itching.


~Portia~

[tinystrawberry]

no 'pooing (or conditioning) rawks! my hair feels so great. it's been about a month for me!

[oai]

http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii81/outsideanimage/no%20poo/nopooness.jpg

On the left is my hair with no poo since Jan. '08. In the middle is a close-up. On the right is my hair with no poo and blow drying for 5-10 mins.

[Portia2012]

Wow, you have gorgeous hair :)


I have nice hair, just itchy and flaky all the time.


~Portia~

[oai]

thank you! :) do you do no poo, too?

[Portia2012]

Not yet, but I plan to give it a try since I am going high raw today anyhow :)


~Portia~

[annielauri]

Anyone still no poo? I am going on my third week and the sebum is dragging me and my hair down:(. I have washed with sea salt, and I am using a boar bristle brush, combing and massaging a ton and using a white vinegar rinse with cold final rinse too.

How long does the detox go on??

Oh, and this is kind of funny, but I went in for a trim yesterday to the same lady that has cut my hair for about 15 yrs. I was so embarrassed and explained the entire time about what I was trying to accomplish with the no poo and that I was in the "detox" phase! LOL She was cool though and didn't act like I was nutso!:D

[oai]

Oh, and this is kind of funny, but I went in for a trim yesterday to the same lady that has cut my hair for about 15 yrs. I was so embarrassed and explained the entire time about what I was trying to accomplish with the no poo and that I was in the "detox" phase! LOL She was cool though and didn't act like I was nutso!:D

that sounds awesome! i want to go in for a trim, but i don't know who to trust! http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q94/SHOE_tutorials/current%20emo/thlaugh.gif

i haven't had a cut i liked "yet" and had always waited for my hair to just grow out of the bad styling. too bad my hair isn't long enough to donate.

i've done the baking soda & acv since january. my hair is getting close to the way i would like it. i'm still tinkering with some things some raw fooders have mentioned.

[Eva]

Anyone still no poo? I am going on my third week and the sebum is dragging me and my hair down:(. I have washed with sea salt, and I am using a boar bristle brush, combing and massaging a ton and using a white vinegar rinse with cold final rinse too.

How long does the detox go on??

Oh, and this is kind of funny, but I went in for a trim yesterday to the same lady that has cut my hair for about 15 yrs. I was so embarrassed and explained the entire time about what I was trying to accomplish with the no poo and that I was in the "detox" phase! LOL She was cool though and didn't act like I was nutso!:D

I've been doing the no poo AND no conditioner for almost a year now. Before that I did just conditioner for a long time.

You're lucky that your hair lady is not a nutso. I recently got my hair cut at a fancy salon for curly people in NYC, and for the first time in my life I did not tip the woman. She tried to lecture me about needing product and how I should use their stuff (with, like Red number whatever and Blue number whatever). No thanks.

And sorry -- I don't remember how long the detox lasts. I do know that for a couple months I was happier with my hair but not thrilled. I LOVE my hair now. It's really paying off.

[Eva]

And I have pretty curly hair, so I do not every use a comb, just use my fingers to comb through every day. I use a touch of coconut oil in a spot if I'm starting to get a tangle.

Then in the shower ONCE weekly, I use 1 T of baking soda with about 1/2 c water. Rub gently at roots. Then follow with about 1-2 T of ACV in 1 c water. Rub at roots. Run fingers through hair.

Very gently towel try.

Man, it's working well. My hair is so happy and easy these days. I do rinse with water an extra few times a week. And often I shower without wetting my hair. And some days -- I don't shower at all! LOL! I don't get BO anymore, so it's no big deal. ;) :eek:

[queenfluff]

Anyone still no poo? I am going on my third week and the sebum is dragging me and my hair down:(. I have washed with sea salt, and I am using a boar bristle brush, combing and massaging a ton and using a white vinegar rinse with cold final rinse too.

How long does the detox go on??

Oh, and this is kind of funny, but I went in for a trim yesterday to the same lady that has cut my hair for about 15 yrs. I was so embarrassed and explained the entire time about what I was trying to accomplish with the no poo and that I was in the "detox" phase! LOL She was cool though and didn't act like I was nutso!:D


I have been no poo (water rinse NOT the baking soda vinegar) since March 07 and it the best thing I have ever done for my hair. I hardly have any hair fallout at all. My hair is so much strong. I am still working on growing out the dryer formerly pooed areas but I can so tell the diffferent between my roots and my ends.

yeah, at 3 weeks, you are still at the beginning phases - you just got hang in there. It will normalize - just be patient. Actually, the more stuff you use on the more you might aggrevate your scalp to do more oil overproducing so it is best to just tough it out. You can rinse as much as you want.

I recommend scalp massage (you would think this would increase oil production but it actually distributes the oil), lots of brushing and combing to remove and distribute the excess oil.

When you do the sea salt rinse, leave it in for 5 to 15 minutes and you must rinse VERY well (rinse for like 10 minutes). If you have long hair, pin it up to get at the under parts. I use the massage setting on my shower head it really helps to clean the scalp and get some excess oil off.

How are you doing the white vinegar rinse? It is really more meant to remove build up that is sticky not really oil. The baking soda will get rid of the oil. Skip the acv rinse if you are still oily.

I used to be hairdresser so I trim my own hair - I don't have to worry about dealing with the hairdresser. :) If you can try to go to salon that supports lots of the natural hair care if you can - they might be a little more open minded about it. It shouldn't matter though - you are paying them to cut your hair so don't let them make you feel bad.

Oh, the total detox can take up to 26 weeks (not oily the whole time like you are now) but you will notice that you will have perfect days and then it will go back to being funky sometimes. After a while, it is really be normalized and almost the same everyday.

[tinystrawberry]

It's been two months for me - no poo or conditioner~
i have only one thing to complain about :) when i shower and my hair is clean (not oily/greasy looking) it dries looking oily, just from getting wet with only water :confused: i hate that bcuz i have to shower again and do the baking soda and vinegar rinse. does that happen to anyone else?

[annielauri]

My hair was only oily for like the second day. Now it is the sticky waxy stuff. I can brush it and it looks good, but then separates as the day goes on and I have to keep brushing or just wear it up. Even my bangs haven't gotten oily. It feels icky and sticky though. That is why I tried the white vinegar instead of ACV. Some days I have been just using water only and washing my head with a washcloth to try and move the wax down the hair shaft. Kind of like a brush in the shower.

[rawforthesoul]

Ahhhhhh!!! I just did the whole no 'poo thing for the first time and although my hair looks and feels amazing, IT SMELLS! And yes, i did use too much ACV (I used a cup full, rather than diluting it in water). Does anyone know how to get rid of the smell without using regular shampoo? Ugh, I smell like salad dressing!

[annielauri]

Just keep rinsing with water to rid yourself of the smell.

I am at the 20 day mark. I haven't been using anything but water some days and white vinegar the opposite day. Today I tried using chamomile tea and lemon. OMG my hair is soooooooooo soft and not greasy or waxy at all. It is softer than I can ever remember. I am liking this no poo stuff. I have read that weeks five and six can be the worst though, so I am not looking forward to that. I guess I will just wear my hair up and try to get past it.

[mmmfood]

For no pooer's who have been no-pooing for quite awhile (and not using baking soda or vinegar), not sure if there's any out there, but do you wash your hair more often now or before the no-pooing days?

[beckx]

hmm.. i'm officially out of shampoo so i think i will be starting a trial of this as of tonight. i've been using ocm for my skin for a while, might as well go all the way. ;)

[queenfluff]

For no pooer's who have been no-pooing for quite awhile (and not using baking soda or vinegar), not sure if there's any out there, but do you wash your hair more often now or before the no-pooing days?

I have been water washing only since March 07. I tried the baking soda and acv once and didn't like it. My hair likes water only.

I was an everyday shampooer and conditioner in my poo days. My normal schedule is to water rinse every other day. But there is no 'definate' schedule for everyone - water rinse as much as you need too. Sometimes I will do every day and sometimes I will go three days and not do it. I know people who go longer.

So, I guess I wash it less. :)

[mmmfood]

Thanks for the response Queenfluff.
How many months did it take before you were washing it less often? I used to wash my hair about twice a week because I have such dry hair with shampoo and if I ever waited a bit too long to wash it, it always came clean with the shampoo. Now if I wait a little too long and wash it with water, it's like I have to start all over again with the detox thing! I haven't used shampoo since about Aug of last year and I quit using baking soda this March. Is it just important with the water only method that I don't let the oil build up in my hair too long?

[annielauri]

27 days now of no poo or conditioner. I have used various natural products - vinegar (both white and apple cider), baking soda, sea salt, chamomile tea with lemon added. For the past week I have been only water with an occasional vinegar rinse. Today I massaged my scalp with aloe vera gel and let it dry. My hair looked ok, but I had done some yard work, so decided to shower and WO wash. OMG, my hair is amazingly soft and fluffy. I think the aloe took off some of the sebum coating, but it feels GREAT!:D

[queenfluff]

Thanks for the response Queenfluff.
How many months did it take before you were washing it less often? I used to wash my hair about twice a week because I have such dry hair with shampoo and if I ever waited a bit too long to wash it, it always came clean with the shampoo. Now if I wait a little too long and wash it with water, it's like I have to start all over again with the detox thing! I haven't used shampoo since about Aug of last year and I quit using baking soda this March. Is it just important with the water only method that I don't let the oil build up in my hair too long?

Well, the first few weeks when I started of course things were pretty gross - no amount of water rinsing seemed to help - I just had to ride it out. It really depends on the individual but it can take up to 26 weeks for your scalp to really normalize to the point where you have the correct amount of oil production.

I would say it took really six months before I really got into the routine where I knew every other day worked for me - before that I just winged it. If it felt nasty, I would water rinse. I also found out that a longer water rinse worked for me. I also do sea salt rinse which helps with the oil too.

Yes, the baking soda works similar to shampoo - it is actually stripping - just not as much as shampoo. But it still removes sebum from your hair.

I find that when I do my water wash - I need to do for at least 10 minutes. I use a shower filter and the massage setting on my shower head. It helps to clean the scalp.

One tip is to get a fine toothed comb - this will help distribute the sebum and loose the extra amount. Don't forget brushing too - I use a wide-tooth wooden brush but you can use what works best for you. Usually a natural bristle brush will move the sebum around the best but I am finding the fine toothed comb works better for me .

Scalp massages will also help will oil and loosen flakes if you have any - it helps move circulation around the scalp.

[Shoney]

Okay, you all have really got my curiosity up now! I have had a heck of a time growing my hair out because of oiliness at the scap and extreme dryness at the ends. Two years ago I chopped it all off at the roots, but ended up dyeing and perming it again anyway. Argh. So now I have mostly blonde hair with about an inch of roots. I normally shampoo and condition every day simply because if I don't my fine, and now thinning, hair is limp and greasy and by the end of the second day is stinky.

What is bad about shampoo? Conditioner?

I am definitely going to try this no poo thing. Has anyone noticed their hair getting thicker doing this routine?

What a wonderful thread . . .

[annielauri]

My hair definitely feels much thicker. I don't have to use hairspray on my bangs anymore either. If you have 1 inch hair, you will be able to do all those cool spikey things without any product!!!

I have a patch of hair on one side of my head that keep breaking off, I am hoping that this will help it to actually grow since neither myself, or the lady that cuts my hair can figure out why it does that only on the one side.

[mmmfood]

Ahh..I see. I didn't know it can take 26 weeks!! I guess that means there is still much hope for my hair. I really can't brush it unless I'm washing it right after because it goes flat to my head on the top and looks absolutely sickening. I think I will spend more time washing my hair because I definitely haven't been spending ten minutes doing so. Gonna start massaging too!
THanks =)

[queenfluff]

Argh. So now I have mostly blonde hair with about an inch of roots. I normally shampoo and condition every day simply because if I don't my fine, and now thinning, hair is limp and greasy and by the end of the second day is stinky.

What is bad about shampoo? Conditioner?

I am definitely going to try this no poo thing. Has anyone noticed their hair getting thicker doing this routine?

What a wonderful thread . . .

If you hair is short, the whole process should be easier for you. In fact, I know several people who have chopped all their hair off to start afresh. They said the process is so much easier because you are starting with virgin hair (no chemical, no shampoo). It is like baby's hair. Ever notice how a babies hair stays soft and clean? that is until someone decides to put shampoo or soap on it that it gets "dirty" and they feel they have to keep shampooing it.
That said...

What is bad about shampoo? Well, if you are wondering why your hair is so icky and gross if you don't wash it - it is because the shampoo WAY overstrips the hair. So much so, that the scalp thinks it needs to produce more oil to keep the hair moisturized - so it overproduces oil. So basically, your hair on shampoo is causing your problems. Stop removing the natural oils from your hair and you won't have that problem. Make Sense?

Here is how the shampoo/conditioner method goes: Shampoo overstrips the hair - removes all your natural oils. Conditioner is basically an artificial replacement of the natural oils that you have just removed with the shampoo. What do you think is better for you hair? Natural oils or fake ones?

Most conditioners don't even have "oils" - they are all chemical waxes and silicons that "coat" your hair. No matter what the marketing for the product says they do not penetrate your hair. The hair on your head is dead - it can't "drink" in anything. Except water because the sebum has been stripped from it. The purpose of sebum (your hairs natural oils) is to protect the hair from water and other polluants. The alive part of your hair is in the follicle - inside your head.

Your body knows what it needs and it knows how to keep the right balance. That includes the oils on your hair and scalp. Also, why would you want to pay money for toxic fake conditioers when your body gives to the best natural oils for free?

And yes, my hair is thicker. It feels thicker. It has body. It used to be stick straight and now has wave. It dries faster than it did on shampoo. If I want curl, it actually holds curls better than it did on shampoo with products put in it.