Comments on: Life After Shampoo: How and Why I Went #NoPoo

By: Mary Helen

Mary Helen — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 14:07:35 +0000

I usually don’t use the whole cup of mixture in one wash. I use just enough to soak my scalp, then rub it in very gently. It’s not as important to get the mixture into the rest of your hair, since the roots and scalp tend to be where oil and sebum collect throughout the week. The vinegar rinse, on the other hand, you can use much more liberally. Try to soak all of your hair with the vinegar rinse, as it acts like a natural de-tangler and conditioner.

By: mchugha619@gmail.com

mchugha619@gmail.com — Thu, 10 Apr 2014 15:08:08 +0000

When you mix the cup of water with tablespoon of baking soda, do you use the entire mixture in one wash?

By: Mary Helen

Mary Helen — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 15:46:33 +0000

Hi Mandy. I would definitely recommend diluting both ingredients. Baking Soda can actually be really harsh on your hair and scalp, and using it at full strength might cause breakage and irritation. Plus, it might be leaving too much residue. Give the diluted version a try, then hang in there for a few weeks to see if your hair evens out.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:20:22 +0000

I just started the no poo method a week ago, but the blog I found it on did not say to dilute the products; I simply rub the baking soda on my scalp and rinse thoroughly and then spray with ACV and rinse again. The first few days went wonderful but now I’m getting very greasy and frizzy. Should I dilute the product or do I just need to tough it out?

By: Mary Helen

Mary Helen — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 12:21:25 +0000

Hi Talya,
Thanks for visiting Mary Makes Pretty! I feel your pain. My husband struggles with very frizzy hair and a troubled scalp too. One thing that seemed to really help was avoiding SLS and other harsh detergents in his shampoo. The surfactant base could potentially be enough to upset your scalp, especially if your scalp is very sensitive. I would suggest trying the no poo method with baking soda and ACV, or trying out some cold processed shampoo bars (while also using ACV as a rinse). Shampoo bars are a great alternative if you don’t find the no-poo method working for you. You can find a good selection of cold process shampoo bars on Etsy.
Another really important thing to incorporate would be a conditioning oil, like Jojoba or Virgin Coconut Oil. Your hair probably needs some extra moisture, and classic conditioners aren’t always enough to provide that. When you finish washing your hair, let it dry a little, then try rubbing in a small dab of Virgin Coconut Oil, starting at the tips, and working your way toward the roots. Try that for about a week, and if you still find your hair to be dry, try switching to Jojoba Oil next. Remember that you only need a tiny dab, even for medium length hair. Too much will leave your hair greasy and heavy.
One last tip that I found really helped reduce the frizz in my hair: stop towel drying it. (If you do.) I used to tousle a towel through my hair after I hopped out of the shower. When I stopped doing this, and simply pressed the towel firmly over my head instead, my hair stopped breaking, and the frizz reduced. While I still think my frizz went down mostly thanks to Virgin Coconut Oil, I know that breaking my bad towel habits helped too.
I hope some of this helps! Whatever you try next, I’d recommend keeping it as natural as possible and steering clear of any harsh detergents or chemical additives. Sensitive scalps tend to suffer when subjected to that kind of thing. Thanks again for your message!

By: Talya

Talya — Fri, 28 Mar 2014 08:01:32 +0000

I’m really struggling with this crazy hair of mine. I’ve always suffered with a dry flaky scalp – so that pushed me into the no-poo method. But it just left my hair super duper frizzy and dry. So I did buy a natural shampoo in desperation, and the ingredients say “surfactant base” and rosemary essential oil. I’ve added a conditioner that is all natural (rosemary essential oil etc) and non-toxic, and not even that helps! Now…I’m wondering…could it be this “surfactant base” that is causing havoc?
Should I use baking soda and abc, and occasionally the conditioner? (The conditioner has all ingredients that one eats). These frizzes are just getting worse and worse! Help a girl out?