No "Poo" Shampoo - Green Series

Finally, I have time to start the Green Series that I've been saying I would get to weeks ago.
Yesterday the kids and I made a couple batches of shampoo and some toothpaste. We will start with the Shampoo.

Why would you want to make your own shampoo?

Better for my hair - I don't know about you, but my hair gets disgusting after using one type of shampoo for too long. I always buy those bottles (of the good stuff) from the salon, and by the end of the bottle my hair is always greasy and weighed down. I don't use conditioner because this problem has gotten so bad. It typically clears up once I switch brands or types, but then the problem starts all over after a couple months.

All shampoos strip the sebum from your hair. Sebum is natural oils that are good for your hair and protects the hair shaft. Because a shampoo strips the sebum, ingredients are added to replace them. Silicones like dimethicone are added to coat the shaft of your hair. When your sebum is stripped, it tells your hair to make more - thereby creating more grease than necessary... while the silicones slowly build up on your hair, weighing it down.

Because it's healthier! Have a look at the ingredients in your shampoo. All those words that you can't pronounce are chemicals, and some are toxic. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, so when you apply shampoo to your scalp, your pores just soak all those nasty chemicals in to your body. Here are some chemicals to avoid:


Common Ingredients

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate
Ammonium Xylene Sulfonate
TEA Lauryl Sulfate
Sulfur (in dandruff shampoos)
Selenium Sulfide (in dandruff shampoos)

Less common ingredients
Magnesium Sulfate
Sodium Thiosulfate
Sodium C14-16
Olefin Sulfonate
Alkyl Sodium Sulfate
Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate
TEA-Dodecylbenzene
Sodium C12-15 Alkyl Sulfate
Sodium Dodecyl Sulfonate

Some of these ingredients not only cause allergic reactions, cancer, nerve damage, hairloss etc. (the list goes on...), but they are also very bad for marine life and the environment. Which brings me to the next reason:

It is better for the environment! The chemicals that go down your drain do end up in the rivers, lakes and oceans. By making your own shampoo, you are using less plastic and just less consumption all around...

What can you expect from using no "poo" shampoo?

Your hair is going to go through a detox period for a couple weeks. It may get greasier as it adjusts back to "normal". After this breaking in period, you can expect that your hair will become:

• shinier
• have more body
• less frizzy
• less greasy!

And your pocket book will be heavier!

Ready to learn how?? It is so easy... you won't believe it!

First, get your ingredients.

Baking Soda

Apple Cider Vinegar
Water

Essential Oils/cinnamon stick (optional)

Empty shampoo bottle

Mix one cup of hot water to 1 tbsp of baking soda.
That is it for the shampoo! Of course, if you like, you can add an essential oil or a cinnamon stick to give it a nice smell. I used cinnamon the first time, and this last time I added a bit of lemon juice and citrus oil to help combat with the grease... and it smells fresh!

For your conditioner, you are going to mix 1-2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to 1 cup of water. I also add a couple drops of essential oil, just for a nice smell. You don't need to though. Don't worry, you won't smell like vinegar.

To use it, you shake the shampoo and add it to your dry hair (I've done it on wet hair, and it worked fine too). Squirt it all around your scalp and rub it in. This is not going to feel right at all! No suds, no lather... but trust me, it's working! After a good scalp massage, rinse it out with water. Your hair will feel amazingly squeaky clean! You will be surprised!

To condition - rinse just the ends of your hair with your vinegar solution -if you are prone to greasy hair. If you have dry hair, go ahead and rinse your whole head. Rinse with water and your done!

I was so happy with the results the very first time! I took this picture right after my hair dried. It was the first time in a long time that my hair was light and shiny.

I just love this discovery! Not only is it working so much better for my hair, but I am saving a lot of money not buying those expensive organic shampoos in addition to keeping my family healthy! I really encourage you to try it! Let me know how it works out for you!

*EDIT - May/2011 - I have recently died my hair darker and have discovered that the baking soda will strip the color! (Yes, my roots were getting lighter! - lol) So, I have had to switch back to an organic poo until I go au natural again.