31 Days off Your Duff {Day 3} - Going No 'poo... and No Everything Else Commercial

Once again, here is another sensation sweeping across the internet. But naturally, I went and tried it for myself, so I shall tell you about it now!

The Breaking Point

It all started back in March. I was about ready to shave my head in hopes that it would cut down on the amount of frizz I was always covered in. I had been trying different shampoos and conditioners for about a year, and my boyfriend had even dropped seventy bucks on a deep conditioning appointment at our local hairdresser. It was clear though that nothing was working. And every new product I bought somehow required another product to go with it, supposedly to counteract any harmful effects by the FIRST product.

Why, I wondered inside my frizzy head, am I using products who's sole purpose is to create new problems?

It was then I remembered this weird, shampooless way of life that some women lived. At the time I first read about it, I had thought it sounded like something only strange fantasy-land women would do. But seeing as how "normal" products had been failing me, I was ready to give this odd "no 'poo" method a try.

Ingredients for my head in the shower

Mixing it Up

Every place I looked said to start with 1 cup water, one tbs BS/ACV. So the first morning of my weekend, I combined some baking soda/water, stole some of my roommate's apple cider vinegar to make the conditioning water, and hopped in the shower. It felt weird washing with just flat liquid, but I went with it.

Now, my hair takes hours and hours to dry, so once I was done I tried to forget about how dirty it was probably going to look and move on with my life. Eventually though, my hair was ready, and it was time to look in the mirror!

Holy sh...

My hair. Looked. Amazing. In fact, it looked like I actually HAD hair, instead of just medusa-snake-esque frizz strands. And it was SOFT. I had read about scary "transition periods," where peoples' hair rebelled against such a drastic change in habits, but mine was just flourishing. I think it was actually smiling at me. I know I was certainly smiling at it.

Never Looking Back

That's the exact moment it all started.

Thinking about all the chemicals and who-knows-whatsits that I had been ruining my head with all this time almost made me feel sick. I began wondering what other useless products I had been buying and slathering onto my body, and researching ways to make them myself. Then THAT led to wondering about the modified and sugar-ladden food I was putting INTO my body.

From the advertising market's point of view, it was all downhill from there. They no longer held any power over me, no matter how largely their actors smile.

I now know I can do everything better myself. We all can.

P.S. Two Quick Things...

I've recently taken to adding a couple drops of essential oil to my "conditioner." The wonderful smell stays in my hair for about two days, plus it gives an extra health boost. Rosemary and Lavender are said to be great for all hair types, and are even pretty good for dandruff. But as I have neither of those yet, I have been using ylang ylang for the fragrance.

Also, if I am drinking any tea before my shower, I'll use that in place of water or as a final rinse. Tea has so many health benefits, both inside and outside your body!


So tell me, special readers; have you tried the no 'poo method? Did you have a natural living epiphany one day?

Let us all know!

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My Simple No 'poo Recipe

1 tbsp baking soda to 1 cup water 1 tbsp ACV to 1 cup water tea and essential oil optional Wet your hair, and slowly pour the baking soda mixture onto your scalp, massaging as you go. After a good rub down, let sit for a minute and rinse. Follow with the ACV (don't forget to rinse first, or your whole head will start fizzing!) I soak my ends in the ACV mixture before pouring it all over my hair. Then I finish my shower before rinsing it out in cold water.