Would You Ditch Your Shampoo?
MSNBC uncovers an underground, eco-friendly hair trend.
I wash my hair using shampoo and conditioner every day, and sometimes twice a day if I’ve had a particularly grueling workout session. When I first heard about this “no poo” beauty trend, in which women abstain from washing their hair for long periods of time (in some cases, as long as six months), I admit that I felt a little queasy. Many of the women who gave up shampoo use only hot water to rinse their hair, or a teaspoon of baking soda. The longest I’ve ever gone without washing my hair was 4 days, when I was on a volunteer trip without hot water, and my hair felt greasy and dirty.
According to some experts, shampoo cleanses by “stripping the hair of its natural, necessary oils, causing the scalp to produce more oil in response, making it impossible for some to skip shampoo for even one day without sprouting a gigantic greaseball.” Paradi Mirmirani, M.D., a dermatologist in California, says that “shampoos are fine to use every day, but there’s nothing gross or unsafe about ditching shampoo.”
What’s the longest you’ve ever gone without washing your hair?
More on MSN Lifestyle:
<p>Yes, and triclosan also degrades slowly in sediment, causing negative impact on the environment, including acting as an endocrine disrupter in other animals. One study from UC Davis found that "the chemical attached itself to special "receptor" molecules on the surface of cells. This raises calcium levels inside the cell. Cells overloaded with calcium get overexcited. In the brain, these overexcited cells may burn out neural circuits, which could lead to an imbalance that affects mental development. Some people may carry a mutated gene that makes it easier for triclosan to attach to their cells. That could make them more vulnerable to any effects triclosan may cause." </p>
<p> So...messes up hormones, the environment, and possibly makes certain segments of the population more susceptible to its effects. Oh, but the FDA said that it's safe, so it must be - because we haven't had the FDA be wrong before, right (remember Vioxx and Meridia)?
When I first read about not washing your hair...I thought "NO WAY" but I decided to try it. So, I have been rinsing & using the baking soda thing followed by apple cider vinegar. Well, it has been 5 days since I washed my hair and it looks & feels great. I use spray gel & hair spray regularly. People at work have commented that they like how it looks. I haven't told anyone I haven't washed it, so that just shows me people around me cannot tell the difference. As a matter of fact when I blow dry & style, I do not have to work as much to style it. I am amazed - I have been a daily washer for years because I have fine hair that gets oily fast. When I first tried this I thought for sure I'd prove it wrong...but I got the surprise. I don't think I'll go for months like some have, but I can definitely see that hair color would last longer not being stripped out by daily washing. I'll keep track of my coloring time table too...there may be something to it...
For jlguedn I say try it...1 tsp baking soda with 1 cup water message into hair (like washing) rinse then follow up final rinse with apple cider vinegar - your hair doesn't end up smelling like the vinegar, it gets absorbed into the towel. style just like you have in the past... Let me know how it works for you. My gram said that back in the day women never washed their hair daily, maybe every week or two and they had great hair!
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Rebecca Pattee
Rebecca is the Beauty & Fashion producer for MSN Lifestyle and manages the Your Look category.
Kristin Larson
Kristin Larson is a NY-based fashion and beauty writer, and she's written for the Chicago Tribune, Women's Wear Daily, glam.com, Life & Style Weekly, Footwear News and Chicago Magazine.
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Kathryn Wexler writes about fashion, style and beauty, often for The Miami Herald and other McClatchy publications. She is based in Miami Beach.