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Liquid Shampoo has only really been around since the 1930’s. Americans shampoo their hair an average of 4.59 times a week, twice as much as Italians and Spaniards. Shampoo is big business, with an estimated value of 25 billion by 2019.
1. Shampoo Strips Your Hair
Sulfates and other grease-cutting detergents strip your hair of its natural oils. This makes your scalp compensate by producing more oil, leading to greasy hair and the need to shampoo frequently.
2. Chemicals In Shampoo Can be Toxic
Methylisothiazolinone and diethanolamine are just 2 chemicals in shampoo that can cause health problems such as nerve damage.
3. Your Shampoo is Polluting
All these chemicals are getting washed down the drain and running into our water supply. The plastic bottles are filling our landfills with waste.
Fungicides in anti-dandruff shampoos have been detected in water where it messes with plants, algae and fish.
4. Shampoo Chemicals Create Buildup
Cheap ingredients in shampoos will build-up over time, leaving your hair dull and lifeless. 2 in 1 shampoos are especially bad.
5. You are Using too Much Water
Washing your hair everyday is unnecessary and uses lots of water. We Westerners feel the need to wash ourselves everyday, but it is really counter-productive. Dermatologists recommend only washing your hair every 3 days.
6. Shampooing Takes up Precious Time
All that unnecessary time in the shower takes up time we could be using for other things. I know that a lot of you are thinking, but I have to shower everyday! And I say, unless you are getting super sweaty and dirty everyday, no you do not.
7. Your Hair will be Healthier Without Shampoo
Proponents of the “no-poo” method have said that their hair looks and feels healthier without shampoo, they have less frizz and more shine.
What is the Alternative?
The “no-poo” method is a popular alternative to using regular shampoo. One method involves only using hot water, other methods use baking soda to wash and vinegar to rinse, though I have read that baking soda can dry your hair and scalp out if used too much.
I personally have not ditched the shampoo, I have tried baking soda, and it did clean, but it is not something I would want to do more than once a week. I love vinegar rinses in my hair, they leave my hair feeling soft.
I take a middle approach, I still use shampoo, but I choose gentle, organic shampoos. I don’t wash my hair everyday. If I need to get rid of build-up I will use baking soda and vinegar.
Here is a video explaining the “no-poo” method in case you are interested in ditching your shampoo habit.
If you don’t want to give up shampoo, but still want to opt for using natural hair products you can check out my article - The 5 Best Organic Hair Care Products
Have you gone “no-poo” yet? What are your experiences? Share them in the comments below!
Yours In Beauty,
Andrea
Right now I very rarely wash my hair, it started years ago in an effort to leave pointless chemical exposure behind. Most commercial product have sents I find nauseating … And my hair is healthier and breaks less for it… I should go “no poo” and have meant too, but it’s taking a while to use up the shampoo I have left, lol.
As a rare hair washer I need to keep my hands out of my hair to stop it from becoming greasy, not always easy. Also I use almost zero hair product, only once or twice a year, seriously. That helps reduse the need to wash my hair regularly…
Thanks for the article!
Awesome Sam! I have tried washing my hair with baking soda a couple times, it really cleaned my hair! But it definitely isn’t something you want to do lots, cause it dries it out too much. I love using apple cider vinegar as a rinse, it really leaves your hair feeling soft.