Hello!!! I have been waiting a long time to FINALLY post about this experiment that I started back on September 06, 2014. And I believe I can finally talk about this! I am at the point where my hair has completely adjusted to no shampoo so we will start from the beginning!
Questions:
What is No Poo?
The No Poo Method is basically giving up shampoo and conditioner and using alternative products (normally more natural products that do not contain chemicals) to cleanse your hair. There are many different methods to go no poo! I've heard of people using Baking Soda in place of shampoo and Apple Cider Vinegar. I've heard of people just going cold turkey all together and not washing their hair for a whole week and only washing once a week with just water. There's different ways to approach this, but the main thing is giving up shampoo and conditioner all together.
Why did I go No Poo?
Many reasons.
1. I have a very sensitive scalp. It does not matter what kind of shampoo I use, the shampoo gave me terrible dandruff and my scalp was ALWAYS irritated and sore. I even tried baby shampoo because it is supposed to have less chemicals and be more gentle. That didn't work. I have been struggling with dandruff for years and just assumed that it was just "normal" to have mild dandruff now and then and I absolutely had to wash my hair every other day or my scalp would get so oily. But after washing, my scalp and hair would become extremely dry and hurt. I hated what I have been going through and decided to just go without the products.
2. Save money. Who wouldn't want to save a couple dollars here and there?
3. Same time in getting ready! I feel that maintaining your hair should not be that complicated and just easy.
What Did I do to go No Poo?
I started off with trying to go one day, then two days, then three days, etc without washing my hair. (It was really hard to do by the way) and also looking for other ways to "shampoo" my hair. I tried a honey shampoo with water and honey and some other products but those weren't the best methods for me. So when I eventually did get my Apple Cider Vinegar in the mail (I was deployed with I started my No Poo Experiment) I switched completely to just using the ACV with water. And that worked the best for me.
***I actually kept a log of my journey. I started a day by day log, and then switched to a weekly log, and then switched to whenever I felt was necessary to log! So if you are interested in reading every detail and what I went through, go ahead and scroll down after the Q&A section and read that!***
What was the worst part of going No Poo?
So the first couple weeks are by the far the WORST weeks that I had to go through. My scalp felt extremely clogged and so oily! It was so hard to me to NOT use shampoo. I did use shampoo one or twice after starting the experiment to cleanse my scalp but I IMMEDIATELY regretted it afterwards because I basically started all over again with the sensitive scalp and dry hair and dandruff! So it was such a struggle getting over that hump of an oily/gross feeling scalp/hair.
How long did it take your scalp to completely adjust?
So I THOUGHT I was good after one month of no poo because I no longer had any issues with dandruff. Around the 6th week, I suddenly had a lot of dandruff pop up and my scalp was SO dry! And dumb me, thought that I could fix it by using the ACV/water mixture. So I did that and I know I used too much ACV and all it did was irritate my scalp even more and dry our my scalp and cause more dandruff!! It was TERRIBLE. I didn't know what to do! But then I thought about it and went to the Shopette and bought this Parnevu T-Tree Creme that is supposed to be good for your scalp. I started rubbing the creme on my scalp and massaging it every night and after a week, my dandruff was completely GONE! It was amazing! And my scalp was being kept moisturized now because I had the creme.
How often do you wash your hair now?
Depends how much product I use in my hair now. But I can go an entire WEEK without washing my hair! It's awesome! I no longer have issues with dandruff and oily scalp. My scalp is just like my normal skin now. It's super dry. LOL!!! So when I do wash my hair (once a week with water/once with ACV every 2-3 weeks) I immediately massage creme in my scalp, and some other oils on the ends of my hair and wrap it up that night. The Second day, I will massage some hair lotion in my hair/scalp. After the 2nd day, I don't touch my hair at all for the rest of the week. I'm pretty much good! My hair is pretty much low maintenance now.
That's all the questions I could think of. If you have any questions for me, please let me know! I'm sorry I did not take any pictures throughout the entire process, but here is an image of my hair now!
September 6, 2014. I have been struggling with my hair and scalp for four months now. My scalp has just been hurting and itchy and I have had so much dandruff for these past four months! I don't know why this suddenly became an issue. It may be due to my drastic change in environment and I don't know what other things could cause my scalp and hair to become so extremely sensitive. I have always had a sensitive scalp anyways but it's just gotten worse. Because I got so tired of this issue, I started washing my hair less and then trying to reduce the amount of shampoo I use. I still had the issue and then decided a month ago to try just cowashing (washing with conditioner). I still had the same issues!
So Sept 6, I decided to just completely give up shampoo and conditioner all together and go No Poo forever! I have thought about trying the baking soda shampoo but they don't have any available here and I think with my sensitive scalp, it would not be a good idea to use. I'm just so tired of my scalp hurting.
September 5: washed hair with shampoo and conditioner that night.
September 6 (Day 1): Frizzy/fluffy hair in the morning. Very itchy scalp. Hair felt soft. But had to spritz with water in the morning to let it sit correctly. A lot of dandruff! Washed hair last night with just water and scrubbed. looked at scalp and saw dandruff. Scalp was very itchy all day and could not stop scratching.
September 7: Morning: hair sat very flat on head. Not itchy. Used a bit of coconut oil to get back hair to stay down. Doesn't feel oily but scalp is tender from constant scratching from days before. Scratched head in the afternoon and had a lot of dandruff under nails, but it isn't as bad as before.
Washed hair with honey/coconut oil and water shampoo. Took less than a pea size amount of coconut oil and a small squeeze of honey in warm water in a small travel size bottle. shook it up and washed scalp with it.
September 8: hair is calm. scalp feels fine. i see no dandruff right now and scalp is not itchy or tender. hair is super thick on top of my head e__e Hair feels very soft and moisturized, not oily or heavy. My hair density is just thick!
September 9: calm, non-itchy hair all day! feeling a bit gross by night time though and couldn't help but scratch scalp to get rid of the dandruff and brush it out with a comb. It was gross, but not itchy. Just gross feeling.
September 10 (day 5): Washed hair in the morning because my scalp felt so clogged and needed a quick rinse with water. Used only water and scrubbed head to get dandruff off. Dried hair with a towel and then got a tiny bit of coconut oil and rubbed on certain parts of scalp that felt the itchiest. My hair feels much cleaner now. It's shiny and my scalp is a bit tender from the scratching. I'm hoping the dandruff stops soon and itchiness! Waiting for my oils to get here already! (I had to order them on Amazon.) Hair feels silky smooth and has a nice shine and not greasy. Not dry either.
September 11: washed hair last night with just water and felt fine in the morning. Not itchy. Combed hair and scratched head and saw bits of dandruff still. NEED MY OILS SOON! Hair is calm, normal, looks healthy with healthy shine. Scalp feels fine. There is still that regular itch and dandruff on the crown of my head but just need my oils.
September 12: Washed hair last night with warm water, honey and coconut oil. scrubbed scalp. Thoroughly dried scalp with towel and then wore head wrap. Next morning, scalp is feeling fine, but still have traces of dandruff. Hair is normal, not dry. No frizziness. Flat, calm hair. Scalp is not itchy.
Sept 17 (day 12): Received my ACV and baking soda yesterday! Decided to not use Baking Soda in my hair because it's an alkaline and will damage hair. DID however use the ACV last night in a small bottle with water and put in hair. Scrubbed my scalp and let it sit in my hair for a good 10 minutes and then thoroughly scrubbed it out. Hair smells like vinegar the next day and it's not lovely. I didn't wait for hair to fully dry before wearing my hair cap though so that's probably why I smell. But my scalp isn't itchy and feels much cleaner and haven't seen any dandruff yet! Checked after my shower last night and did not see specks of dandruff. Hair is very soft and not as calm as it has been because it did strip the dirt away from my scalp so I have some alfalfa flying around. But scalp feels better and hair feels soft. Not frizzy!
Sept 21 (day 16): still only washing hair with water. After the ACV wash, did use a mix of tea tree oil and water in hair and it felt alright. I haven't had bad dandruff since the ACV day. Just very very little specks of dandruff here and there and my scalp feels clean. (Got my oils a few days ago. Been spritzing hair with rosemary and sage mixture in water every morning to keep it moisturized and it feels soft and clean. Need to massage coconut oil in scalp tonight (and maybe some castor oil).
week 1: Sucked! Gross feeling hair for the entire week! Tried to go two days without washing and I could not do it. My scalp had so much build up of dandruff and oils and could not stop scratching my scalp. Hair is much calmer though. Not frizzy nor fluffy!
week 2: Alright. Still itchy and have dandruff and I need something that will get rid of my dandruff! Water alone isn't helping it go away so I have to wait for either my ACV or essential oils to get here. While waiting, did scrub scalp with just water and after showering, would rub coconut oil on scalp where it hurts the most and massaged scalp. Finally got ACV on day 11 and used it. Such a miracle! Scalp isn't itchy (only when using that stupid headset!) and did not see any specks of dandruff at all after shower! Hair/scalp feels clean and not oily and gross.
week 5: Oct 15: Hair is fine. Scalp has dandruff/buildup after two days. Not oily feeling at all! Hair feels soft and super thick and shiny. Been using a rosemary and sage water mixture in a spray bottle on hair for a few weeks now. Dandruff is larger pieces? Not sure if that means anything. But it isn't even a lot as it used to be. Not a big build up of oil/skin on my scalp anymore. Just a little bit of dandruff and that is it. Really white scalp too! Not irritated. Not very itchy either. I only scratch it to get rid of some of the dandruff but it isn't bothering me throughout the day. I did use lavender oil on my scalp last night. I took a few drops on finger tips and rubbed throughout scalp.
Week 6: October 20, 2014: grrr I have been dealing with big chunks of dandruff now! It's SO much now! My entire head has these big flakes of dandruff!! I think the ACV might be too much for my scalp and I think it's the reason my scalp is getting so dry and causing the big flakes. It's not so itchy honestly because it doesn't bother me all day but once I start to scratch I just don't want to stop and it's mainly because I want to scratch all the dandruff off my head! I think this is a dry scalp issue honestly. So I bought Parnevu T-Tree Growth Creme. Supposed to restore the scalp and promote hair growth. It smells amazing and feels nice on the scalp. I just rubbed some all over my scalp and put my headwrap on. I washed my hair earlier with ACV and water this morning and I was still scratching my head and seeing flakes so I hope this helps. My scalp no longer has an oily build up issue. Now I have a dry scalp issue. grrr!!!
Hair looks amazing though. My hair is growing in really thick and fast. Hair looks healthy and is not frizzy. Calm and has a natural shine. My only issue is my scalp. I hope I find a cure soon. My hair is super soft and smooth now and the ACV really makes it soft and smooth and feel so clean. But my scalp is suffering so we will see if the cream and rosemary/sage water mixture heals it. I haven't been using the rosemary/sage mixture for a couple weeks now bc I've been trying to save it bc I didn't have a lot left but I refilled it and hopefully it will last me the next month! Will use it more often now and the creme every night.
Oct 20: used Creme that night before bed. Put on finger tips and massaged into entire scalp. And then put headwrap on before bed.
Oct 21: Used Creme that morning. My scalp was less itchy and less dandruff but there was still a lot (mild amount compared to day before)
Oct 30: Been using the Parnavu T-Tree Oil for 9 days now and my dandruff is gone! It finally went away a day ago. It took a week for the dandruff to go away. Every night I would scratch my head to get rid of as much dandruff as I could before showering and putting on the creme on my scalp. I would use my comb and lightly scratch my head to prevent irritation. Also, the water is much colder now so I think that has also helped in making my scalp heal. Before, the water used to be so hot because of the heat and I'm sure that was a contributing factor to the dry scalp and dandruff. I'm actually a bit wary to continue using ACV and it has been over a week since I've used it because I think that also made my scalp super dry and contributed to the dandruff. erk. I haven't gone a day without the T-Tree creme but have bought a leave-in conditioner by Parnavu and a hair growth cream Profectiv Mega Growth with a lot of great ingredients in it that I tried last night and liked a lot! I think I will continue to use the T-Tree creme until I run out and then just use what I have left. Maybe I just need a reg moisturizing creme for the scalp and it doesn't specifically have to be the T-Tree creme. Not like I didn't like it though. It was less than 4 dollars for a decent size tub! It smells super amazing and isn't greasy or heavy or oil on the scalp. Love it! ;) hehe but anyways, will continue experimenting!
Also: no more buildup on scalp, no itchiness. Hair and scalp feel moisturized and healthy. Hair feels silky smooth and scalp feels clean. Been just moisturizing hair at night and washing hair every two days with just cold water.
Nov 10, 2014
Hair update? 9 weeks now shampoo free! So I skipped a day without massaging the t-tree scalp treatment in my scalp one day and I regretted it because my hair and scalp were so dry! grr! never again! I saw little flakes of dandruff! But BARELY. Still doing the same thing. Wash every two days and the first day after washing, I just use the T-Tree and then the second night I do that and add in the mega growth butter on the rest of my hair focusing on the ends. I can't use it two days in a row because my hair gets too oily. Other than that hair is fine.:) No more updates until I get back to Utah and there is a diff to my hair bc of the water and climate.
Nov 19, 2014
I finished my container of Parnevu T-Tree creme two days ago... been just relying on the Mega Growth butter and it's actually not so bad when using by itself. My hair feels soft and moist for the day and I just have to not use a lot when I do apply it into my hair. Works better when I use it on my damp hair. It's much easier to spread around on my hair. ^__^ Won't be applying it before I travel tho. eck. e__e
