Let's talk about hair care. More specifically, let's talk about shampoo or the lack thereof. I have a confession to make. I haven't used shampoo in a few weeks. And no, that's not why I was wearing a hat in my last outfit post. ;) My hair is just as clean as any normal person's and here's why. Baking soda and vinegar. That's right folks, just like that volcano you made in your first science class. Except without the exploding fizz.
I first heard about this from the same place I come across most great ideas: Pinterest. A link took me to a very interesting article about "No-Pooing" which just means washing your hair without shampoo. I was intrigued. More research lead me to the conclusion that it couldn't hurt to give it a try, especially since it boasted frizz-reducing qualities. I decided to take pictures of the before and after of my hair for "scientific documentation." Mostly because I thought you might be curious if this actually works.
I'm showing off my greasy hair for the world to see. This is what blogging does to you...
These are the before pictures. Not as bad as it looked in real life. This was the 3rd day after I had washed my hair with shampoo. I usually wash it every other day.
Now let's talk about how you actually clean your hair with volcano ingredients. The baking soda washes your hair. Mix 1 Tbsp with 1 cup of water and pour this over your head at the scalp. Scrub with your fingers. You won't get any lather, but it does feel kind of slippery. Don't scrub down the length of your hair, just at the scalp where it gets greasy. You can let it set for a minute, or rinse it out right away.
The vinegar acts as conditioner, smoothing the hair. Again, mix 1 Tbsp in a cup of water. Pour this over your hair from the base of your head down. Don't pour this part over your scalp, unless you have really dry hair. What I've been doing is dipping the tips of my hair in the vinegar solution for a little while, then letting that sit for a while. Then I dump the rest of the vinegar water over my head, because my hair needs the extra conditioning. I let it sit for a couple seconds, then rinse.
And yes, it does work.
Here's the after pictures.
All clean! Puffy, but clean. And surprisingly, your hair doesn't hold the vinegar smell. You may be able to detect it while it's wet, but once it's dry, the smell is gone.
So far, this process has worked just like regular shampoo and conditioner for me. No noticeable difference in frizz or grease level. I'm trying to go further in between washes and let my scalp get used to not having to produce as much oil. I think it's working. I'll keep you posted.
Are you intrigued by this method? I was! I couldn't believe I actually wanted to try it. It seems so crunchy and green. But hey, baking soda and vinegar are cheap, they don't contain artificial ingredients, and they work, so why not? Let me know if you decide to give it a try!
Niki
