A ramshackle start to my no poo adventure

Last washed hair: Sunday 12^th April, evening

Current hair state: greasy but not unbearable

OK so I’ve decided to embark on the ‘no poo’ adventure. I’m starting this in a rather spontaneous fashion without much planning and this seemed like a sensible time to start a blog to document this painful but hopefully rewarding journey.

The story so far:

Last week, I read Lucy AitkenRead’s book ‘Happy Hair’ after finding out about the whole no poo craze (highly recommend her book as a practical, no fuss, no poo guide). For those of you that are new to this, it's simple - you don't wash your hair with commercial shampoo and conditioner. There's all sorts of science behind it, but the basics are that shampoo and conditioners strip your hair of its natural oils, which prompts our hair to make more oil (making our hair greasy) and we then have to wash it again to combat this. It's a vicious circle. Not to mention all the harmful chemicals and silicones that are found in many products. Without shampoo and conditioner, our scalp does a pretty amazing job of balancing everything for us - and if you can get through the awful transition period where your hair is screaming for product and grease has become a very real problem in your life - you are then left with fuller, softer locks which wash themselves. That's the theory anyway, and there's all sorts of natural products that you can then use to wash and condition your hair, without completely stripping it of all its natural goodness.

I was instantly drawn to the idea – my inner hippy was thrilled by the concept, and I hate the idea of dousing my body with hundred of chemicals every day. It’s just not natural. And then there’s the distant hope (after reading so many success stories) that I will discover some luscious curls beneath my frizzy, half-arsed wavey auburn hair. I live in hope – watch this space.

So I read the book. I was intrigued. I told my partner that I was considering it and was relieved by his reaction... non-fussed, interested, told me he would rather I not be smelly. I’ve been hitting him with a few new revelations recently about using natural products for moisturizers etc. so I don’t think he was that surprised.

Then last Friday I went out with two of my friends and casually floated the idea over dinner. Needless to say, they were both pretty horrified. Cries of horror, disgust and "rather you than me" filled Wagamamas. One of my friends even argued that all shampoos and conditioners are made up of natural ingredients anyway. This is not true. I gleefully told her about all the harmful acids, carcinogens and man-made chemicals etc. that currently reside in our beloved shampoo and conditioners (although rather vaguely as I don’t really know). Anyway, they weren’t convinced and I wasn’t deterred.

Sunday night arrived and my partner and I were having a bath together. We have a rather soppy tradition where he washes my hair and he asked if this would be the last time he would do it. We shared a sentimental moment where I reflected that maybe it would be as I can’t imagine him being involved in a baking soda and apple cider vinegar routine.

On Monday, I realised I need my hair cut and was acutely aware that I probably couldn’t turn up during the sticky transitional period insisting on no shampoo and conditioner. I decided to delay my no poo plan until after the hairdressers on Monday... well at least I thought that’s what I was going to do (read on...).

Tuesday arrived – the day I would normally wash my hair and something inside me told me to just hold off. My hair was greasy – I spent 20 minutes brushing it, moulding it, and trying various combinations of hairstyles to see which looked least greasy – I opted for a side plait and put a little dry shampoo in my roots (I know this is against the rules, but I thought I wasn’t beginning no poo until Monday). The day came and went – I was a little overly aware of my greasy locks and thought I looked rather unwashed, but I went with it.

And now Wednesday – I’ve caught myself up in time and this is where I’m at. This morning, again, I felt the urge not to wash my hair. If possible, my hair looks a little better than yesterday (and I think this was my main motivation to plough on). So I didn’t wash it. I had a shower – hair in a bun – got out questioning my decision at every turn, but still – no poo.

Now I would be lying if I said it was just my ‘urge’ which told me not to wash my hair. I also spent half an hour in bed this morning reading through no poo blogs and I learnt something new which helped me formulate a new plan.

Lesson: For the last wash before your new no poo regime, wash your hair with clarifying shampoo.

Clarifying shampoos help to get off the silicones that are found in commercial shampoos and conditioners. These silicones build up over time and actually stop conditioners and hair treatments from reaching the hair (apparently). Now this step isn’t necessary, but tonnes of people have said this makes the transition period easier – and I’m all for that.

So I reveal to you all the new plan... I am not going to use commercial shampoo and conditioner again. I can’t face it. I am going no poo until Monday – I haven’t yet decided if I’m going to just water wash or use baking soda/apple cider vinegar but keep following my journey and you will find out. Then on Monday, I am going to wash my hair at home with clarifying shampoo for my final wash. I am then going to go the hairdressers and tell them I washed my hair that morning, and could they just do a rinse. Voila – a rather ramshackle, patched no poo plan! And I’ll have had the added bonus of being no poo for a whole week before the clarifying treatment, so hopefully it will be ever so slightly less of a shock for my hair.

So, if you are considering no poo... why not join me on my journey? You have until Monday to iron out the details, or like me just plough ahead with very little thought. I haven’t even bought baking soda or apple cider vinegar yet.

One thing I did order this morning after reading several blogs was a new hairbrush . This blog was particularly helpful: http://almostexactlyblog.com/2013/06/09/brush-your-hair-correctly-to-keep-it-healthy/

Following advice, I’ve opted for a boar bristle brush in a medium range price bracket (namely, the Spornette DeVille 100% Boar Bristle Paddle Brush for £18.79). I will keep you posted on what this is like. Next on the list is to get a wide tooth comb for de-tangling.

My no poo shopping list:

·         Boar bristle brush

·         Wide tooth comb

·         Baking soda

·         Apple cider vinegar

·         Spray bottle

·         Coconut oil, lavender oil and maybe some others?

So call me foolish, but this is the beginning of what I will imagine will be a grease-filled itchy adventure (and also my first public blog)... go on... join me.