No poo! (no, it's not about colonics :P)

[Beth]

What is no poo?
To go No Poo is to stop using shampoo. Why would you want to do this?

1. Shampoo is expensive.
2. Chemicals in shampoo can irritate and dry out your scalp and hair.
3. Chemicals in shampoo can be hazardous to your health.
4. Your body produces oil to naturally condition your hair and keep it healthy. Using shampoo daily upsets the natural balance and causes you to produce more oil than necessary to compensate.

What you put on your body is as important as what you pot in your body (especially since it's absorbed through your skin!). I used to be poo-free and don't remember how I got back to shampooing again. I've been poo-free for 2 weeks now and I hope to stay this way. Anyone else ever gone poo free or thinking about it?

I've ben just using water (and thorough but gentle scalp scrubbing). My hair feels thick and awesome. It's a bit oily but I know that in another week or so my glands will catch up to the fact that I'm no longer stripping my hair so it doesn't have to overproduce. PS: Aloe is the best hair gel ever.

Links for fun reading:
http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/daily-green-tips/‘poo-for-you/
http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Go-No-Poo/
http://community.livejournal.com/no_poo/
http://babyslime.livejournal.com/174054.html

[Viv/Andrea]

Hi Beth, I am doing the baking soda/vinegar combination on my hair. Baking soda for washing and vinegar for rinsing. After a couple of weeks of eating raw, I threw away all of my standard hygiene products and my standard cleaning products. I use baking soda as deoderant when I go out. At home, I don't use any. I use baking soda and vinegar for cleaning as well. I use baking soda or just water to brush my teeth. I feel so free! I am going to check out the websites you posted to see what more I can learn.
P.S. I had been wondering about aloe for hair gel :)

[Rocking Raw]

HI Beth!!

Yes of course no poo is the best. I have been no poo for a little over a week and did the baking soda and vinegar thing tonight. My hair is still a little oily but I wear it in a ponytail at work and nobody notices (believe me; I have asked my friends and Mum to check)

No stink yet..!

[Denise Duffield-Thomas]

For a while I was using camomile tea bag water as a conditioner. It was quite nice.

Now I alternate between normal shampoo and this block of camomile natural shampoo from Lush (in the UK). I still think this is too harsh for my hair, and have been curious about no-poo for a while but I'm scared - esp since I'm about to start a new job and I don't want them to think I'm weird.

Thanks for the links tho.

[robyn]

What a great discussion thread!!! I've heard and read about this a while ago and since have cut way back (for me) on washing my hair. I've gone from every day to about every 3 days or so. Haven't quite been able to go cold turkey but would like to at some point. Thanks for the links. I will definitely be checking them out.

[Beth]

re: body odors (head and pits...) I've noticed that when I don't eat smelly spices, my sweat doesn't smell. As soon as I take a bit of onion or garlic or ginger or curry, I sweat it out that night and eeeeeeeeeeeeew stinky!

I've been using the crystal spray stuff for deodorant.

[Jamie]

I have naturally thick, curly hair and for YEARS I have only "poo'd" my hair once a week due to my lack of oil. I remember a time when people thought I was "way out there", but this is how I kept from losing my curly locks! So, I held firm to this belief and guess what happened...TONS of people are now cutting down on their daily shampoo's. I also switched to WEN which is wonderful for my hair and doesn't contain a lot of those chemicals that make the lather. I use it to shave as well. I gotta tell you...after using WEN for awhile my hair is happier on my head than down at the drain....kudos to Chaz Dean. Of course, others might disagree, but it wouldn't be the first time....

[rebeccaj]

yea! a grooming chat! i sweat for a living, and i am very aware of the changes in what my sweat smells like. i haven't used deodorant in over 10 years. i wash my hair when i think to, usually every 10 days or so. and my hair is super-duper thick. i use coconut oil, aloe vera, and raw honey for everything skin related.

what is the dilution for the vinegar rinse for hair?

and jamie de-ann, what is WEN? and where do we find it?

[Jamie]

rebeccaj:
For some reason I can't seem to reply to message today...so I am having to post again.

You can buy WEN (NEW backwards) at a few different places including Amazon. However, I might strongly suggest that you visit Chaz's site at www.chazdean.com.
After clicking on products on the left side of the screen you will see different hair types listed, and what products work best for your hair. This is why I suggest his site rather than others due to the fact that you can really research which of his products would suit you. Some people think it is a bit pricey but really it isn't when you consider that #1. It ROCKS and #2. You use so much less than normal shampoos because he promotes the fact that with this product you don't need to "shampoo" daily...more like every 3 days for normal hair. I still only use it once a week, and rinse my hair daily, add maybe one pump to keep my locks tamed and I am out the door. They smell GREAT too. Not like other chemical crap you get on the market. Scents like Fig, Lavendar, Almond Mint...I could go on....yum...love it!
He also has a ton of stars using his products...you might want to check out their testimonials. This may sway some people, or turn some people off...who knows?

[Tiffany]

I've read that raw honey can be massaged into the hair and scalp for a "shampoo" cleaning. I've not tried it yet. I often forego shampoo in favor of a vinegar rinse. Apply a small amount of raw coconut oil to the ends of your hair or all over including a massage into the scalp for the occasional deep treatment. I love how washing with vinegar and then an application of coconut oil makes my hair feel and look! Commercial cosmetics are way over-rated!
rebeccaj said:

yea! a grooming chat! i sweat for a living, and i am very aware of the changes in what my sweat smells like. i haven't used deodorant in over 10 years. i wash my hair when i think to, usually every 10 days or so. and my hair is super-duper thick. i use coconut oil, aloe vera, and raw honey for everything skin related.

what is the dilution for the vinegar rinse for hair?

and jamie de-ann, what is WEN? and where do we find it?

[Tiffany]

I prefer coconut oil as a lotion and leg shaving cream. I haven't used deodorant in over a decade. Funny how you stink less after giving it up!
milalulu said:

way to go! thanks for this beth!
after reading Sarah's blog about her 'no-poo' .. i want to give it a go! she said to try it for one month...so i am going to! ^___^
perfect timing too, for i just ran out of my wee sample bottle of the Dr. Bronner's stuff.

question for everyone here: what do you use on your body?

and, for me, as far as deodorants..i agree with beth, the more spices...the more stink. i actually do not use any deodorant and have not used it since i switched to raw back in march (not 100% until august 1st though, CAN'T WAIT!)

p.s. thanks for the links!

[Jason Janiak]

I like using Aubrey Organics, it is one of the most natural shampoos out their, and also Dr Bonners soap is excellent.

milalulu said:

Tiffany said:

I prefer coconut oil as a lotion and leg shaving cream. I haven't used deodorant in over a decade. Funny how you stink less after giving it up!
tiffany, what do you use to wash your body? as far as a lotion: i just use fresh aloe leaves after i have cut out the 'meat' to use in smoothies.

[rebeccaj]

here's what i use to wash my body: i sweat a lot to clean out my skin from the inside, shower with water only and scrub with loofah and apply coconut oil while damp. i also do "dry" coconut oil baths a couple times a week.

coconut oil is THE BEST massage oil. at my yoga studio, we offer massage, and since i turned the therapists onto it, it's the only thing we use. if you're getting massage, take it with you - your therapist will love it!

what i really love is that everyone is always complimenting me on my skin and then they freak out when i tell them that i neither wear sunscreen nor avoid the sun! coconut oil is also a great sunning oil.

did i mention i love coconut oil?