Jackson Free Press

A few weeks ago, I embarked on a daring experiment. After reading about the damage that standard-issue hair products can do to your hair, I decided to go without 'poo.

I lasted about a week on a ritual of only rinsing my hair out with water in the shower every morning. It looked softer and silkier each day, and it even smelled nice and clean. That is, until day seven, when something went out of control, and I was suddenly transformed into a human grease-ball. So maybe going no-poo is not the solution for me, but I encourage you to give it a try if you dare!

Of course, quitting your hair care regimen cold turkey is not the only choice. There are many hair products you can make yourself.

-Baking soda and vinegar: Mix a few tablespoons baking soda with warm water to make a paste. Massage this into your hair in the shower. It feels a bit like rubbing sand into your head, but don't give up yet. Now rinse your hair with a sports bottle full of ¼ apple cider vinegar and ¾ water. It creates a gentle foaming sensation. If you can't stand the smell of vinegar, mix in a few drops of your favorite essential oils. The last step is to rinse everything out of your hair with water.

-Mayonnaise: Rub mayonnaise into already-shampooed hair like conditioner. Let sit for a few minutes and rinse. It is much more pleasant if you use room-temperature mayonnaise rather than a jar straight from the refrigerator. It makes for some seriously soft hair, if you can withstand the smell of mayonnaise early in the morning.

-Olive oil: Use a few drops of olive oil on dry hair as a defrizzer and split-end-protector.

-Castile soap: If the thought of raiding the kitchen for your hair care products is less than appealing, mix liquid castile soap with a few drops of essential oils or with a strong brew of your favorite tea.

How do you make your own personal care products?

Previous Commentsshow

I decided to go without ’poo. No Poo? EWW! What I have left requires a strong soapy solution, not something I put on a hamburger.

Ironghost

Jan 16 2008

If you're a brunette, a coffee rinse does wonders. It really enhances the hair color. Other than that, I really miss Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific. Nice beer based shampoo.

Lady Havoc

Jan 16 2008

Hmm.. Interesting observation. Question? Do you know where the article is about the damage that standard issue products do to hair? I'd love to read it. Also, does it specify a difference in treatment from caucasian hair to people of color? Just curious. THanks!

McG

Jan 16 2008

Grapeseed oil with olive oil and a crushed asprin on the face. Rub for twenty minutes.

emilyb

Jan 16 2008

I am familiar with some of the techniques you mention. As an woman of color with unprocessed air, I read up a lot on natural alternatives for hair care. A popular hangout is Nappturality. As far as no-pooing goes, another way to do this is to wash your hair with conditioner. Conditioner has detergents as well - it just doesn't lather like shampoo does. I can't remember what it is called, but the ingredient added to shampoo to make lather is what strips the hair of moisture. One suggestion I read about is to wash with conditioner most of the time, and occasionally wash wih a clarifying shampoo. Castile soap makes a great base for a homeade shampoo. I made it a few times using the soap, water, coconut oil and a few drops of essential oil. Coconut oil helped make more of a lather and kept my hair soft. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) makes a great clarifier. The best way to use it is after applying a diluted solution to place a plastic cap on your head and leave it in for about 15 minutes before you wash it out. To me, ACV smells like pickled feet, but it does make the hair shiny. (Trivia: Shirley Temple's mother rinsed the chid star's hair with vinegar regularly.) A suggestion for folks with dreadlocks: I saw this on YouTube, and it works great. Mix a 50/50 solution of shampoo and water in a spray bottle, and use that to get the shampoo evenly distributed throughout your hair. Just spray it on the scalp during the first shampoo, and spray on the scalp and hair during the second shampoo. In addition to scrubbing your scalp, be sure to squeeze your locks to push the soap through. Squeeze your locks while rinsing as well to get the soap out, and ring them out thoroughly. When using a towel, squeeze your hair instead of rubbing to avoid lint transfer and excess frizz.

LatashaWillis

Jan 16 2008

I use Castile soup for almost everything. I love it. I clean my floors with it, the bathroom, fruits and vegetables, my FACE. Wonderful stuff. I will caution using it as a shampoo unless you add an oil to it (such as LW stated above) because it still can be pretty harsh on your hair. I use Pureology shampoo and conditioner products. They are more expensive (25$ a bottle) but they are concentrated and one bottle lasts me around three months. I have fine oily hair that HAS to be washed at least once a day. But, the Pureology products are vegan, so I feel good about using them and they really are superior. I've regularly used them for about four years now and have always been extremely happy. That being said, I use NOTHING else natural on my face or body other than homemade lavender soap. BRING ON THE GLYCOLIC ACID! I burn my face off every other night with a 10% acid serum. LOVE IT. :)

Lori G

Jan 17 2008

Hey Lori...that's what asprin breaks down to when you crush it :) Less expensive.

emilyb

Jan 17 2008