
What does “no poo” mean?
In the broadest sense, “no poo” means no shampoo. It’s a philosophy and method of cleaning your hair without traditional shampoo. People are attracted to the no-poo method for a number of reasons....
What is the ‘no poo’ method of washing your hair?
By using shampoo, these natural oils are stripped from our skin. The idea behind the ‘no poo method is washing your hair with a less aggressive alternative to shampoo, like baking soda and apple cider vinegar or even just water.
What is the “no-poo” method?
This is the method most people associate with the no-poo method. With this approach you don’t use a shampoo, hence the term “no-poo”, and go straight to a conditioner. Many of these products are marketed towards thicker, coarser, curly textures, and The Curly Girl Method encourages to take up this routine.
What does it mean to go no-poo?
To go no-poo is to go without shampoo. The proponents of no-poo (no-shampoo) believe that cleansing our hair with shampoo upsets the natural balance and causes the scalp to produce more oil than necessary. Shampooing strips your hair of its natural oils.

How often should you wash your hair with the no poo method?
How often should you wash your hair with the No poo method? This is down to personal preference, but most newbie 'No Pooers' usually leave it every ten to fourteen days before washing it9 – sans shampoo of course.
Is no poo method healthy?
With the no-poo method, your hair is still being cleansed, just not with shampoo, therefore eliminating the risk of stripping away those natural oils. Ultimately, it ensures that the hair and scalp are balanced and healthier.
Can no poo damage hair?
While it might be tempting to jump into the no-poo method because of its popularity, the reality is that the no-poo method does long-term damage to your scalp and hair.
How long does it take for no poo to work?
By rule of thumb, it will take at least six weeks for your hair to transition properly. It usually takes this long because your scalp is so used to its oil being stripped, it will be overcompensating for a while.
Does no poo make hair thicker?
Has your hair changed doing No Poo? Yes, it is MUCH thicker. It used to be limp and thin and flat and now it has much more volume and is buoyant and even sometimes has a wave.
What happens if you stop shampooing your hair?
When you don't wash your hair, oils may accumulate on your scalp. This can cause odor on the scalp and hair. If you use hair care products, these can also build up on your scalp and create odors, even if the products themselves smell good.
How do you wash your hair without poo?
No poo method water only You scrub your head with the baking soda, so that it absorbs oil, and then rinse with apple cider vinegar, which adds shine to your hair. Some people then add a couple of drops of essential oil to damp hair so that it doesn't smell too much of vinegar.
Does washing hair with just water make it greasy?
The simple answer is yes. You can wash your hair with just water and it is actually beneficial to protect your natural oils which shampoos with sulfates tend to strip out. But over washing your hair with just water does make your hair greasy over time.
What happens if you don't use shampoo and only conditioner?
If one uses conditioner everyday without shampooing then the hair and the scalp will become overly soft, stagnant, irritated, and will feel "weird". Shampooing the hair gets rid of impurities, unclogs pores, and cleans/sanitizes the scalp keeping it fresh. Conditioners don't use cleaning properties in order to do this.
What happens if you don't wash your hair for two weeks?
Prolonged periods of not washing can cause cause buildup on the scalp, damaging hair and even impeding its ability to grow, Lamb said. Grime from dirt, oil and hair product can show up within four to six days for people with finer, straighter hair.
How can I make no poo smell good?
Stir one tablespoon of baking soda into one cup of warm water (increase the amount of each if you have very long hair). Pour over your scalp and massage thoroughly (this is important). Let sit in hair for at least one minute. Rinse thoroughly.
What happens if you don't wash your hair for a month?
Going a long time without washing your hair can cause a buildup of a yeast-like fungus called Malassezia on your scalp. Over time, this leads to a layer of dead skin cells that shed from your head in the form of oily, yellow-ish dandruff flakes. Dandruff can also make your scalp red, scaly, and itchy.
Does the no poo method work for thin hair?
This might be because fine hair gets greasy faster, and most no poo methods can't get rid of it easily. I'm going to save you some time and energy: most no poo methods don't work with fine hair. But, no poo can work with fine hair, just not as well as they do with other hair types.
What happens if you don't shampoo your hair for a month?
Your hair could smell nasty or stop growing Prolonged periods of not washing can cause cause buildup on the scalp, damaging hair and even impeding its ability to grow, Lamb said. Grime from dirt, oil and hair product can show up within four to six days for people with finer, straighter hair.
Does your hair clean itself without shampoo?
Anabel Kingsley, a trichologist from the Philip Kingsley clinic in London, agrees that hair does not clean itself. "Imagine if you didn't wash your face or underarms for a week - the same logic applies to your hair and scalp," she says.
Is shampooing hair necessary?
For the average person, every other day, or every 2 to 3 days, without washing is generally fine. “There is no blanket recommendation. If hair is visibly oily, scalp is itching, or there's flaking due to dirt,” those are signs it's time to shampoo, Goh says.
What is no -poo?
As we mentioned above, “no-poo” is an abbreviated way of saying “no shampoo.” It’s the philosophy of cleaning your hair without traditional or standard commercial shampoo.
Why are people reluctant to try no-poo?
Most people are reluctant to try the no-poo method due to their fear that their hair will be too oily and less healthy. On the contrary, your hair may become healthier as shampoos aren’t constantly stripping your hair of its natural oils.
How to transition to no-poo
Like all habits, your hair won’t immediately adjust to the no-poo method. That’s why it’s important to have patience when waiting to see results after you first switch.
What is the no poo method?
The theory of “No Poo” is this: by washing hair with a gentle alternative to shampoo, such as baking soda and apple cider vinegar or even just water only, you'll achieve clean hair without the damage or dependency on daily shampooing. So, in short, instead of allowing chemicals in shampoo to strip your hair, ...
When did shampoo become the norm?
Decades later, the first synthetic shampoo was developed and that frequency increased to every two weeks, with daily shampooing becoming the norm by the 1970s. Shampoos on the market today might be gentler than past formulas, but they can still wreak havoc on your quest for a sexy mane.
Can you use baking soda instead of no poo?
Most start weaning themselves off slowly, saying yes to no shampoo more and more often during the week, and eventually embrace the water only or baking soda and apple cider vinegar shampoo alternative. While it may not be a method for everyone, don't knock “ no poo” before you try it.
What is the no poo method?
This is the method most people associate with the no-poo method. With this approach you don’t use a shampoo, hence the term “no-poo”, and go straight to a conditioner. Many of these products are marketed towards thicker, coarser, curly textures, and The Curly Girl Method encourages to take up this routine.
What Does the No-Poo Method Even Mean?
For those of you that may not have heard of the no-poo movement, it is the choice to not use a shampoo that contains harsh detergents to cleanse your hair. Whenever I approach this conversation with a new client, the majority of the time they are unaware that using traditional shampoos means putting detergent on a scalp and stripping the oils that a scalp and hair need to be healthy.
Can you use shampoo without shampoo?
When you choose to use no shampoo in your hair, you can take up one of many no-poo method variants that have been developed out of the need for people to cleanse their hair without using detergent. These include using only water, rinsing hair with DIY creations, or using cleansing conditioners and creams.
Is there a cleansing component for no poo?
The downside to this method is there is no cleansing component and it will not be suitable for all hair types. If you have tried a traditional no-poo and been unsuccessful, it is probably because you need a specific cleansing component.
Can you use water to stop shampoo?
The first and most extreme method for opposing shampoo is to stop using any form of cleanser altogether and just use water. This is one I would not recommend.
Can you use no poo shampoo and shampoo?
You cannot use a no-poo method one day and shampoo another. It is not a treatment, but a new and better way to wash your scalp and treat your hair. If you avoid these mistakes and commit to a gentle detergent-free hair care routine, good hair results are sure to follow. Save.
What exactly is the "no-poo method"?
As mentioned, no-poo is a play on the phrase "no shampoo" (which, duh, I guess) but what it actually means is slightly more nuanced than that. "No-poo, in the modern world, stands for a 'no-lather cleansing system,' says Dorsey. "If you have really curly hair, if you have wavy hair, or if you have hair that requires a ton of moisture, no-poo won't have any factors that will strip it with the detergents that a stronger-lather shampoo would have."
Who can use the no-poo method?
Take note: A solid shampoo to break up the product residue can help in your good-hair-day plan every once in a while. If you're interested in giving the no-poo method a go, here's what to know.
What type of no-poo products should you use?
"My theory behind DIY’s is stay away," he says. Instead, he suggests Oribe Clean sing Crème ($46) and Deva Curl No-Poo ($ 11). A quick myth-buster on some of the internet's favorite natural no-poo products:
How does no poo work?
No-poo products work by helping to balance the pH of your scalp. Many have a pH of 4.5—the same as that of healthy skin—and don't require pH yo-yoing that many traditional shampoos and conditioners do. Shampoos with intense cleansing agents are meant to remove all of the gunk from strands, and do so with a higher pH lather, which can also dry hair out. "We’ve removed those harsh ingredients, those sulfate-based ingredients, and replaced them with gentle botanical cleansers and a balance of hydrating ingredients."
Why is no poo bad for hair?
If you've got curly hair: The conversation surrounding no-poo often centers around curly hair because spirals tend to need more moisture than straight strands. Not only is it harder for oil from the scalp to make its way to the tip of a curl (think about rolling a ball down a spiral staircase versus a straight one), curly hair is frequently styled more between washes, which in some cases can dry it out. When washing, no-poo can dissolve much of the gunk in products while leaving curls moisturized.
Why do you need no lather?
"Some of the benefits of using a cleansing system with no lather would be to maintain the moisture balance of your hair ," explains Dorsey. If you have curly hair, for example, and you're styling it on a daily basis, you need that extra moisture to protect the integrity of the strands. "Those with curly hair need all of that moisture—especially like for the ends." Ends of hair aren't just the oldest, most brittle hair on the head, they're also exposed to the same cold, dry weather that the skin is and the same reaction occurs.
Is no poo good for straight hair?
If you've got super straight hair: The no-poo method is a go for straight hair, but with one caveat: "If you have really, really fine hair you should stay away," says Dorsey. "Super straight hair I would stay away from it."
