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.
Finding some good advise on this page. But one thing you are consistently over doing is essential oils. They are super concentrated, so start off with just a couple drops, which should be plenty.
I have been NO POO since the first if the year. My hair does NOT smell! I use baking soda n ACV. I do use dry poo if it gets oily during the week. My hair has grown about 1/4 ” since going no poo!! I am THRILLED with the results, my hair is healthy, shiny & thicker. Regular poo weighed my fine hair down. Happy hair, happy LIFE!
Thanks for sharing Patty!
I’ve been using the no poo method for about 8 months, baking soda wash and acv rinse. ( I infuse the botttle of acv with rosemary so i’m not getting to much rosemary added 🙂 ) My reasons for going ‘no poo’ were simply for my own skin health. After various trips to the dermatologist, I found the dry, flakey blotches I got after every bath/shower/facewash/hand wash was down to the various chemicals/parfums/scents/formaldehyde that gets added to many soaps//shampoos/deoderants/handwashes/conditioners. To my horror, some of the worst offenders were from the ones claiming to be ‘natural’ !! So for me, no poo is the only way for my hair. 🙂
Wow! Thanks for sharing
I been no poo for 2 yrs I been using sospnuts for mild cleansing and bentonite clay for an intense clean acv or honey for conditioner coconut milk for deep condition and aloe juice as a leave in and shea butter to seal its amazing and thriving I have a half inch ever month since no poo
I been no poo for 2 yrs I been using sospnuts for mild cleansing and bentonite clay for an intense clean acv or honey for conditioner coconut milk for deep condition and aloe juice as a leave in and shea butter to seal its amazing and thriving I have a half inch ever month since no poo
I have ALSO found rinsing my hair in cold water, MAKES my hair grow Faster!! Btw, cold showers/ bathes are EXCELLENT for the body as well! A whole host of benifits from it. Love my NO POO hair these days, 9 month in?