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Washing your hair every day is overrated. It takes up valuable time, and it can give you quite the chill in the wintertime. What if you could skip this morning ritual and find natural ways to wash hair without shampoo?
You can. The cleansers in many shampoos can strip hair of natural oils and shine, especially if you use them every day. Instead, try one of these alternatives. Here are eight natural ways to wash your hair without shampoo.
Goat’s milk is a natural source of protein and valuable minerals like calcium, magnesium and potassium. It also contains a readily bioavailable form of vitamin A, a nutrient that can add luster to your hair.
This method does involve getting wet. However, you can go minimalist in the shower, using one bar for your body and hair alike. Get a good lather between your hands and rub the froth onto your scalp. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.
If you’re prone to oily hair, you might think washing it every day is your only recourse to keep your head from resembling a slick. However, you might unwittingly do more harm than good. When shampoos strip essential oils from your hair shaft and scalp, your body ramps up production, leaving you greasy.
Baking soda washes away surface oils without stripping your scalp and inspiring more production. To use this method, mix four tablespoons of baking soda with ¾ cup of water. Massage it into your hair and let it sit for one to three minutes before rinsing. Towel-dry and style as usual.
Lemon juice is a natural astringent, making it another great choice for oily hair. Applying it to your hair will rinse away the oils from your strands, restoring body while imparting vital nutrients like vitamin C. Since it’s a liquid, it’s a breeze to apply and rinse.
There’s a caveat to this method if you dislike blonde in your strands. If you go out in the sun while your hair is still wet after using such a rinse, your hair might lighten a bit. Of course, you might consider it a bonus if you like such an effect.
Is there no end to the ways to remove oil from your locks without using stripping, chemical-laden shampoos? Rye flour is yet another alternative for going no ‘poo.
But wait — won’t flour turn into paste, making your hair into a paper mache nightmare? Only if you choose spelt, wheat or all-purpose flour containing gluten. With light rye flour, all you have to do is blend a bit with water to form a thin paste and apply it to your hair. Rinse thoroughly — it works best if you have a water softener system, as hard water can leave a residue.
You might have heard of apple cider vinegar’s impressive benefits for helping you manage your blood sugar and control your weight. You can add a tablespoon of this mixture to sparkling water for a healthy cocktail for which your body will thank you. Sip away while you kick back in the bathtub and let this mixture do its magic.
All you have to do is add a few tablespoons of vinegar to distilled water and leave it on your hair for three to five minutes. When you’re finished, rinse with warm water.
Reetha is also known as the “soap nut tree.” In Ayurvedic medicine, this substance is ground to a powder, mixed with warm water to form a paste and applied to the scalp to cut dandruff and kill head lice.
You don’t have to have creepy crawlies on your head to benefit from this natural way to wash your hair without shampoo. You can find whole soap nuts and sometimes reetha powder at select health food and specialty stores — try an Indian market if you have one near you.
You might have used this ingredient as a face mask to soak up pimple-producing oil and sebum. Guess what? It has the same effect on your hair.
To wash your hair with bentonite clay, add one cup of water to one cup of clay with a half cup of apple cider vinegar to rinse away dullness. Massage into your hair and leave it on for five to ten minutes at a time before rinsing. Your hair will be silky soft without greasiness.
What is co-washing? No, this term doesn’t refer to sharing a shower stall with another. It means using a conditioner to wash your hair.
Oily hair gets a lot of love, but dry locks need extra moisturizing. All you need to do is find a conditioner that’s free of silicones, which creates buildup on your tresses. Massage in the conditioner the way you would a shampoo, and rinse. Many experts recommend alternating between this method and regular shampoo, choosing a sulfite-free shampoo for use every seven to ten days.
Taming your tresses can be an inconvenient hassle — but you can go no ‘poo. Try one of these natural ways to wash your hair without shampoo today.
