no, i'm not writing about impostor fecal mater; i'm talking about being anti-shampoo. last summer, i decided to join the ranks of the no-sudsing, ammonium-lauryl-sulfate-free, sparing-the-natural-sebum people. and i'm glad i did.
it's no secret that many shampoos are sketchy, chemical-laden, toxic, perfume-filled cesspools of grossness that do a questionable job of keeping our hair and scalp clean. if you need convincing, just go without shampoo and other scents for a month and stand in an elevator next to a user of herbal essence. bring a bandanna ready for the near-tear-gas experience sure to overwhelm your senses. if, for some strange reason, you are not completely incapacitated by the smell and need additional convincing, just peruse skin deep's database of shampoos, 77% of which are deemed to be a moderate to high hazard based on manufacture declared ingredients.
i'm also a little suspicious of the overnight creation and marketing of cleaning products that humans managed to live without for millinia, then suddenly just had to rub all over the skin daily to be healthy or normal. don't get me wrong, soap is great. but that's not so new and toxin filled. modern shampoos (ie. non soap-based shampoos), on the other hand, started in the 1930s and became widely used thanks to the poofy-haired good looks of ladies like farrah fawcett in the 70s. she did have great hair....
but, that's no reason to bathe in this crap, folks.
plus, shampoo's expensive. especially if you search for the 100% natural, organic, plant-based, not-tested-on-cuddly-baby-animals, hypoallergenic, non-drying, sensitive, completely stripped down version of shampoo that i did because i didn't want to put a science experiment on my scalp, pollute our waters, or make myself stink like a chemical floral bouquet so badly i gave myself a headache. that's right, shampoo's a friggin rip off from cheapo pert plus to nature's gate to vidal sassoon--or whatever the new, not-so-80's salon quality shampoo is. then, add the additional cost of conditioners (to restore all of the oils ripped from your hair) and you're talking about a ton of ching for the mere pleasure of turning your hair into a stinky, dried-out version of a could-be luscious mane.
so, this summer, completely unawares, when i finished the last bottle of shampoo and looked to other ways to wash my hair, i guess i joined a movement. that's at least what a quick search on wikipedia tells me. the no poo movement. and, about six months later, i'm glad i did. my hair is much better than before. it is less dried out and stronger, it dries more quickly, and it's shinier, less oily, and less tangly than before. this also works for beto, who has the ever-fun affliction of dandruff.
so, what do we use instead of sham-poo?
1. make a baking soda paste (sodium bicarbonate) by adding a bit of water to a bowl of the soda to get a desired consistency. (we generally start with a toothpaste-like thickness that ends up like runny pancake dough after enough wet hands dig in.) gently rub your baking soda paste into your scalp. i very methodically start at the nape of my neck and work my way up to the hair line around my face. run your fingers from the root to tip of your hair a couple times to coat the full length with the baking soda.
2. rinse well with water. (otherwise you'll get the equivalent of a science fair volcano on your head with the next step.)
3. fill that old shampoo bottle (well-cleaned, of course) with about 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar (apple cider or just plain old white work well). rinse your hair with this diluted vinegar mixture.
4. rinse well with water.
that's it! you'll find you don't need to do this daily. i do it when my hair feels like it needs a little scrub, about twice a week on average.
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