Why You Should Go No 'Poo

By Christi Colvin

Almost three months ago, I was introduced to the idea of no longer
using shampoo. I was intrigued. After looking into it, I figured I
didn’t have anything to lose. So I picked up some baking soda and apple
cider vinegar and then took the plunge.



I love the results! There was an adjustment period where I had to play
around with the measurements a bit but I finally got the hang of it. I
have straight-as-a-board, baby-fine hair that has never held a “do.”
After “no 'poo,” I don’t even have to use styling products. I just blow
dry and go; my hair now keeps any style. It’s awesome!

Reality check

You’re thinking you could never do without shampoo, that your hair
would be a big oily mess — but it’s quite the opposite. It's a supply
and demand relationship, much like nursing a baby. The more your baby
wants to nurse, the more milk your body produces. If you suddenly
stopped nursing your baby there would be a lot of excess milk,
engorgement, etc. for a while until your body returned to a state of
balance.

The oily secretions of our body are
very much the same. The more we strip away the natural oils, the more
demand we are creating and the more oils our bodies will make. So if
you stop using the surfactants cold turkey, your body will still be
overproducing oil and there will be a lot of oil until your body
reaches a balance again.

Do it for your health

The main reason to go no 'poo is your health. The number of chemicals
in shampoo and other bath and body products is frightening. Your skin
is the largest organ on your body. Whatever gets put on your skin gets
absorbed into your body, into your bloodstream, and into your organs,
as has been proven by many studies. Essentially, whatever is toxic to
put in your mouth is toxic on your skin as well.

According to Jacqueline Krohn, M.D., author of The Whole Way to Natural Detoxification: The Complete Guide to Clearing Your Body of Toxins,
"Caustic chemicals, such as alkaline solutions, can also penetrate the
skin. Once a chemical has penetrated the stratum corneum (the most
superficial layer of skin), it moves through the epidermis and into the
dermis. Then the rich blood supply of the dermis readily transports the
chemical into the bloodstream."



Chemical content of shampoo

The following are just a small sample of the toxins found in most shampoos and their detrimental side effects.



Alcohol, isopropyl
(SD-40) is a very irritating solvent and dehydrator that strips your
skin’s moisture and natural immune barrier, making you more vulnerable
to bacteria, molds and viruses. It is made from propylene, a petroleum
derivative, and is found in many skin and hair products, fragrances,
and antibacterial hand washes, as well as in shellac and antifreeze. It
can act as a “carrier,” accelerating the penetration of other harmful
chemicals into your skin.

It may promote brown spots and premature aging of skin. A Consumer’s Dictionary of Cosmetic Ingredients
says isopropyl alcohol may cause headaches, flushing, dizziness, mental
depression, nausea, vomiting, narcosis, anesthesia and coma. A fatal
ingested dose is one ounce or less.



FD&C color pigments
are synthetic colors made from coal tar, containing heavy metal salts
that deposit toxins onto the skin, causing skin sensitivity and
irritation. Absorption of certain colors can cause depletion of oxygen
in the body and eventually death. Animal studies have shown almost all
of them to be carcinogenic.



Mineral oil is a
petroleum by-product that coats the skin like plastic, clogging the
pores. It interferes with the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins,
promoting acne and other disorders.



Propylene glycol (PG) and
butylene glycol are petroleum plastics which act as surfactants
(wetting agents and solvents). They easily penetrate the skin and can
weaken protein and cellular structure. Commonly used to make extracts
from herbs, PG is strong enough to remove barnacles from boats!



Sodium lauryl sulfate
(SLS) and sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) are detergents and surfactants
that may pose serious health threats. They are used in car washes,
garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers — and in 90 percent of
personal care products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS experienced
eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin
irritation, and even death.



How to no 'poo

Dissolve about 1 tablespoon of baking soda in just enough water to make
a paste. Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a
minute.



In order to stimulate blood flow, clean your pores and get off built-up
grime, use your finger tips to scrub your scalp. Start by making a
circle on the top of your head in the area you would wear a crown.
Focus on the back of this circle to begin with. Next, fill in the
circle. This is where your part will be; grease here affects the way
your hair looks. Trace while still scrubbing with your fingertips
around the bottom edge of the circle. Keep making scrubbing circles
underneath each one, drawing lines in circles around your head.

Lastly, scrub the back of your skull
and your temples/sideburns. This will result in less grease and more
growth. After doing this, your scalp will feel alive. Many women swear
their hair grows faster after a visit to the salon — it does, and this
massage method is why.



When scrubbing, you’re actually rubbing your fingers back and forth in
short movements. Be gentle; you don’t want to break your hair. Next,
pour about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup and add
water. I keep two plastic 12-ounce cups in my shower and just mix when
I get in. After you rinse the baking soda out, pour the apple cider
vinegar over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then
rinse it out. That’s all there is to it!



No 'poo troubleshooting

Remember, there is a transition period from two weeks to two months,
depending on the person. Here are a few tips:

• If
  your hair becomes frizzy, use less baking soda or leave it on for a
  shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help.
  
• If
  your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching
  to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb
  instead of a brush. Also, make sure you’re applying the apple cider
  vinegar just to the ends of your hair.
  
• If
  your scalp itches, try the following essential oils: tea tree,
  lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil
  (any oil--I use olive) smoothed on the bottom of your hair.

Ready to make the change? Sure! Don’t
be afraid to go no 'poo. You know how to do it! Enjoy the journey –
you’re on your way to a healthier you!

© Christi Colvin

Christi Colvin is a certified labor
assistant with one beautiful son and a wonderful husband. She is also
"webmom" to a site that allows moms to market and sell their products
without the hassle of learning how to run a web site. Visit http://www.ChristiColvin.com for more information.