Does No Poo Hair Stink?

Something I get asked more often than I’d like to think about is if my hair stinks. Even my mom lovingly said she thinks it all sounds kinda “gross” after reading my ebook The No Poo Method and that she loves the smell of clean hair.

Well I’m here to tell you that my hair does smell clean. And my hair is clean.

“No Poo” simply means that I don’t use commercial shampoo. I still wash my hair, I just use natural alternatives to commercial shampoo full of toxic chemicals. When someone uses a natural cleaner to clean their house, we still call it cleaning, right? I know I do. So cleaning my hair with a natural cleanser is the same thing. It’s still clean, I just use a natural cleanser.

There are an average of 15 toxic chemicals in a bottle of commercial shampoo. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, allergies, fertility problems, autoimmune disorders, and hormonal disturbances. I chose to avoid those chemicals. And honestly, my hair smells better now. Yes, immediately after washing my hair with a fruity smelling shampoo, my hair would smell like a (synthetic) floral arrangement. But after a couple days when that smell would wear off, I’d be left with the toxic aftermath and my hair would smell a little off.

But not anymore.

Now that I have detoxed my hair and my scalp of all those nasty ingredients, my hair no longer gets “that smell” between washes. You see, it’s the toxic buildup causing that smell. Not your hair in it’s natural state.

But don’t worry. You can still add yummy, delicious, intoxicating smells back into your hair care routine by using essential oils.

Using essential oils in your no poo hair care routine is completely optional. Essential oils are great for your hair health and they smell great. It’s important to note I am only talking about therapeutic grade essential oils. While perfume grade essential oils that you find at your health food store smell great, you won’t get some of the added therapeutic benefits from them – like hair loss prevention and maintaining a healthy scalp.

My personal favorite essential oils for my hair are rosemary, ylang ylang, sage, and lavender. Find essential oil recipes here along with lots of information about using essential oils with hair.

But What About the Vinegar Smell?

Apple cider vinegar is commonly used in the no poo method.

Most people report that the vinegar smell is gone by the time their hair dries. But I have heard some complaints that the smell never goes away. Here are some things you can try if your hair smells like vinegar:

• Dilute your vinegar more. I do about a 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. You can go as low as a 20/80 mix.
• Try a different brand of vinegar. I like Bragg’s Apple Cider Vinegar.
• Add essential oils to your vinegar. You can add 10-15 drops of essential oils to about a cup of vinegar / water mix. See what essential oils are good for your hair here.
• You can spray your hair with an essential oil / water mix after you rinse the vinegar out. Don’t rinse the essential oils out, leave them in your hair. You can add about 10-15 drops of essential oils to about a cup of water in a spray bottle. See what essential oils are good for your hair here.

Personally, I don’t use apple cider vinegar very often. My favorite wash is rye flour. Rye flour is pH balanced and does not need an acid rinse. See more about pH levels here.

For More Info

For more info, be sure to check out my ebook, The No Poo Method.