darkemeralds. No 'Poo Update (Reply)

As I reported a couple of weeks ago, I've quit using shampoo.

Disclaimer: I started with pretty good hair. It's thick, wavy, slightly oily, and fast-growing. In a bit of unexpected grace shared by no other family member, it has changed from dark brown to all-over silver, a shade I'm happy with and refuse to dye.

I've washed and blow-dried my hair daily for years, employing two different shampoos, a conditioner, gel, spray and styling brushes. My hair looked sharp, but was dry, brittle, and thinning.

If I skipped a day of this regimen, I'd have noticeably "second-day hair". If I went three days, my hair would be smelly, lank and greasy.

So, what does sixteen days without shampoo look like?

Well, fabulous, if I do say so myself. Fresh, smooth, soft, bouncy, clean, and static-free.

And shiny? Hell, I'm practically a traffic hazard. I'm getting compliments on it from strangers in the street. Who are squinting in the glare. (Okay, that was hyperbole.)

Here's what I do:

A hundred brush strokes at night--this loosens oils and dirt and stimulates the scalp.
Every second or third morning in the shower, I wet my hair and apply a little baking soda to the roots, rub it around, and rinse it out--this has a freshening effect
Then I put some diluted apple cider vinegar on the ends and rinse that out--this rebalances the pH.
All the other mornings I just rinse with warm water--this removes dust and distributes the oils.

No shampoo, no soap, no conditioner, no styling products, no blow-drying.

The first week, I had Homeless Person Hair and I nearly gave up (though it was never stinky). The second week was slightly better, so I stuck with it.

Then yesterday, sudden transformation! My hair came alive. I'm wearing it down, and it's bouncing around my shoulders and being generally fabulous. Seriously, I feel like a million bucks.

What's more:

My scalp doesn't itch
My hair smells nice
Way less of it is falling out
I'm saving at least fifteen minutes of primp time every morning
I'm saving quite a lot of hot water, too.
No more deafening blow-drying. God, I hated that blow-drying!
I've got only a single jar of baking soda and a pump bottle of diluted vinegar on my bathtub edge
These products are practically free, they're so cheap to use
I leave the house with damp hair, like a teenager, then pull a comb (a comb!) through it when I get to work--and it looks good. How awesome is that?

No 'Poo: one of the best changes I've made so far in Project Empty.