Over the years, despite my hormones having settled considerably, I have been unable to stop washing my hair every day without having unsightly greasy hair. It’s become something of a nightmare, getting in the way of quick (non-embarrassing) trips out and easy getting ready routines, with two small children in tow. Desperate for a solution, I took to the internet.
Alternative haircare
A quick search turned up several articles about going “poo-free”. Poo free is a hair movement that is characterised by individuals who are rejecting shampoo and its toxic chemicals. It is backed by names such as Prince Harry, Jessica Simpson and Robert Pattinson and many claim to have found great success and much improved hair health, shine and manageability as a result. Intrigued by these claims, I decided to try the most popular solution enjoyed by thousands: A baking soda and apple cider vinegar solution. I was told to expect a transition period, which I was happy to brave. However, after several weeks of rubbing baking soda into my hair and rinsing with apple cider vinegar, I was still suffering with limp and greasy hair. Worse still, it became brittle and for roughly 6 months after trying the new routine, I could pull clumps of my hair out by the handful.
So, I decided to settle for an organic shampoo and conditioner combination. After trying several different brands I am happy to report that I can now wash my hair every other day, sometimes longer in summer. But, this isn’t quite the success I had been hoping for though my hair certainly feels softer and healthier. What’s a girl to do?
Drastic action
When my eldest daughter’s hair started showing signs of heading in the same direction as mine, I decided to take drastic action. Though we have only ever washed her hair once every couple of weeks at most, we always used shampoo and I noted that her hair would become greasy a few days later, for roughly 2-3 days, but would then be followed by weeks of looking clean and healthy until we washed it again. So I cut out the shampoo completely and the results have been a revelation.
I now haven’t washed my daughter’s hair with anything other than water, though she showers often (usually without even organic soaps), in over 6 months now and, apart from the odd slightly limp day once every month or so, her hair has been looking incredible. Soft, shiny and full of life. It doesn’t smell, doesn’t look dirty and most importantly it doesn’t need to be washed. Water has removed acrylic paint, honey and even oily tuna from her hair with little effort.
How does it work?
Shampoo strips the hair and scalp of sebum, an oily substance which is produced to repel water and bacteria. As a result our scalp overcompensated by producing even more which leads to greasiness. More shampoo keeps the cycle going around and around.
According to many haircare experts, it takes approximately 4 weeks of going shampoo free for a seasoned shampoo user to restore their hair to its natural self-cleaning cycle. Meanwhile, tending to it with a natural bristle hairbrush, such as boar hair, can help to evenly distribute the oils.
So, I’ve become intrigued again. My daughter’s hair is perfect, but she has yet to experience the hormonal imbalances of puberty. Does this really work? I’ve decided to give it a go, watch this space.
