Confessions of a Crunchy Mama: I'm Poo-Free

Shampoo that is.

I wish I would have blogged about the idea before I started, but I was a little embarrassed. I know I'm kinda 'crunchy', but this seemed to be too far out there.

I recently stumbled on this post about cleaning your hair without shampoo [using other natural ingredients instead]. I thought it was interesting, and that was that. I noticed we were almost out of shampoo and I was itching for a new brand too. I basically switch brand/type of shampoo each time I buy a new bottle because a change always seems to work better on my hair. So, I started thinking about trying it. I was excited too because I am super cheap. Beyond frugal. I already had baking soda and apple cider vinegar, so I wouldn't be spending any money at all. Bonus: not lugging the kids around the store any longer than I have to.

So I took the plunge. I can always go back, what do I have to lose? Except for 2 weeks of greasy hair - but hey, I'm a new mom! Great excuse. No one has to know. That's what head bands and pony-tails are for anyways.

normal looking, no-poo hair
[and i need a haircut]

Today it's been a month without shampoo. I am hooked. It has been so great, I don't really have anything to say about 'how my hair is.' It's normal. It's good. It holds style better than before. It doesn't smell like vinegar [Josh gags at the smell so I didn't tell him and waited for him to notice it: his nose is like a hounds]. There are not white dander-like baking soda specs.

The texture in the shower is definitely different. My hair doesn't get all lathery and smooth like with shampoo and conditioner. At first it was kind of stringy and wet, but it is getting softer. I DO smell the vinegar in the shower, only when I pour it on. I can't smell it afterwards if I try. And yes, my hair was super greasy feeling for about 2 weeks (maybe a day longer). I have often used baby powder to soak up extra grease on days I didn't have a chance to shower, but I stayed away from it - not sure if that would interfere with my natural production of oil.

I recently switched to using white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar and I like it better. I felt like my hair was softer and had less of a buildup. My apple cider vinegar is REALLY old though, so I'm guessing that's the problem.

A cold rinse at the end of my shower seems to help too. I heard once it closes your pores, and is good for your hair/scalp. I think it makes my hair less greasy throughout the day.

Think I'm crazy? Try it if you want. Let me know how it goes.