I first heard about this method of “no-pooing” hair from Kitchen Stewardship in her pioneering work on using natural health care products. Helping of Hope: This natural hair solution has saved my budget from ridiculous beauty product costs and my body from deleterious toxins. We use it for our kids too! I’m going to deal with this solution recipe-style; it’s a two-part system!
BAKING SODA HAIR CLEANSER
Overview
This simple and gentle hair-cleansing method takes a little extra time to use (due to the combing through and rinsing) but if done right it will keep your hair soft and ultra-clean: no chemical build-up here! We have used this method for almost a year. While I love using NaturOli Soap Nuts hair-care products, this simple cleanser will always be my favorite for its affordability, accessibility, and effectiveness at cleaning hair! Make sure you rinse thoroughly so excess baking soda isn’t left on your scalp (you’ll figure out how much cleanser to use soon enough!) and give your scalp/hair time to adjust: the oils in your skin will need to get used to not being scrubbed away so harshly so it may take 2-6 weeks for your oil production to reduce to “normal”.
Ingredients
- Aluminum-free baking soda
- Filtered Water
Tools
- Old shampoo bottle or small glass olive oil bottle
- Marble
- Funnel
- Spoon (to scoop)
- Wide-toothed comb or pick
Method (to make)
- Remove the cap and/or pour spout from the bottle and place funnel inside. Scoop baking soda into the funnel until the bottle is 1/4 full (1:3 baking soda to filtered water ratio). Add the marble.
- Pour Filtered water into the bottle. Air trapped in the baking soda may rise in bubbles to the surface, reducing the water level. Leave enough room at the top (an inch or so) so that the bottle can be shaken effectively.
- Replace the cap and/or spout. It is important that your child cannot remove the cap to get at the marble (choking hazard); if this is a concern for you, forgo the marble if you are using a plastic shampoo bottle or keep the glass bottle out of your child’s reach. Baking soda water isn’t harmful to ingest, but ingesting too much of it can generate a reaction with stomach acid and cause significant abdominal discomfort. Please read the warning on the baking soda package and call your pediatrician if you have any concerns.
Method (to use)
- Shake your cleansing bottle vigorously to combine baking soda and water (it will settle and separate in a short time).
- Splash cleanser over your head, particularly your scalp, being careful not to get the salty solution in your eyes.
- Brush the cleanser through your hair using the wide-toothed comb or pick (I use a comb-attachment from my hair-dryer…detached of course!)
- Rinse hair thoroughly.
ACV (APPLE CIDER VINEGAR) CONDITIONING SPRAY
Overview
This has to be one of the easiest ways to condition hair! It also works as a great, all-natural de-tangler for my kids’ hair. This method is very flexible: spray anytime, especially before you use a hairdryer, to help set hair and keep it shiny! The mild vinegar smell disappears as the hair dries, leaving a light, fresh scent that smells like…clean hair!
Ingredients
- Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), filtered
- Filtered Water
Tools
- Spray bottle
- Funnel
- Wide-toothed comb or pick
Method (to make)
- Remove the spray cap from the bottle and place funnel inside. Pour ACV into the funnel until the bottle is 1/4 full (1:3 ACV to filtered water ratio). If your ACV is unfiltered, make sure to remove any apple bits so they don’t clog the spray nozzle.
- Pour Filtered water into the bottle, leaving a little room so the spray cap and straw may be inserted into the bottle without spilling the ACV solution. Screw the spray nozzle back on.
Method (to use)
- Spray plenty onto clean hair. In the shower is fine, but do not rinse the ACV spray off.
- Brush the spray through your hair using the wide-toothed comb or pick (I use a comb-attachment from my hair-dryer…detached of course!)
- Let dry or style. If your hair needs some sprucing, ACV spray can dampen your hair effectively enough to allow some re-styling. If I forget to dry my hair “in time”, or if I didn’t get a chance to jump in the shower before leaving the house (like when I am running late for the Farmer’s market on a Saturday morning!), I spray my hair upside-down and use a hairdryer and round brush to put some volume and shape back in my tousled tresses. Works like a charm (and as a natural de-greaser, ACV spray can help extend the needed time between hair-washings. Hello camping!)
Let me know your favorite, all-natural hair care products and methods in the comments section below. Did you give this system a try? Tell me how it worked (or didn’t) for you! –A.M.
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