How To Make Your Own Shampoo

Are you part of the No-Poo Movement?  This was asked by Sophia Uliano on the Home & Family Hallmark Morning Show. When Sophia asked others on the show if they were part of the No-Poo Movement, all said they were, including Michele Bachmann (R-MN), and co-host Cristina Ferrare.   Not being familiar with this, I was very interested in this question.  Later in the show it was explained.  Hearing about it, I realized I HAD heard about it, I just wasn’t aware that now there is an actual No-Poo Movement! Here’s a liytle more information about it as well as how to make your own shampoo.

What’s the No-Poo Movement?

The No-Poo Movement means you don’t use shampoo to clean your hair.  In fact, you don’t use anything, other than water, to clean your hair, ever!  The first No-Poo advocates wanted to eliminate the chemicals they were using on their hair.  Not only did the shampoos contain chemicals, the products were causing their hair to become greasy, brittle, frizzy, and produced more dandruff; so they decided not to use any products on their hair to clean it, other than water.  One woman in the No-Poo Movement hasn’t washed her hair in 3 years.  You can see her video at LittleOwlCrunchyMomma.com.

Make your own No-Poo Shampoo

To become part of the No-Poo Movement, according to Sophia Uliano’s explanation, there are a few steps you can go through.  First, you start by shampooing less and less, until eventually you don’t use any shampoo or conditioners at all.  Next, you can also switch from your regular shampoo to a DIY product.  Sophie offers this recipe for her Coconut Milk Shampoo, which is quite simple.

Instructions:

Combine 1/3 cups each of coconut milk, Aloe Vera juice, and liquid Castille Soap, and if you want to add some fragrance, you can add 10-20 drops of essential lavender oil.  Mix this together and pour into an empty plastic bottle, like an empty shampoo bottle that you no longer use.  This shampoo can be stored in the refrigerator up to 6 months.  She says you can also use it as a body wash.

Other products to use in place of shampoo

Along with using a shampoo such as the one suggested by Sophie Uliano, there are other products you can use.  You can use about ½ to 1 tablespoon of baking soda mixed with water in your hand to form a paste.  Apply this paste only to your scalp, scrub, and rinse with apple cider vinegar (1 tablespoon to 1 cup of water).  Remember, the goal is eventually to stop using anything on your hair, except for water.

Apple Cider Vinegar as a rinse

Sophie mentions the use of apple cider vinegar as a final rinse.  You can use this throughout your hair or use it just on your scalp.  The Apple Cider Vinegar book by Bragg, says that using their apple cider vinegar after shampooing leaves hair “squeaky clean, softer and much easier to manage.”  Other interesting facts about Bragg’s are that “the high acidity (organic malic acid) plus the powerful enzymes in the Apple Cider Vinegar kill the bottle bacillus, a germ responsible for many scalp and hair conditions.  The problems caused by this are dandruff, itching scalp, thinning hair and often baldness.  Every hair has its own oil can.  Bottle bacilli can clog these tiny openings.  Scales and small dry crusts are formed, resulting in itching and dandruff.  The oil-starved hairs either fall out or break off, causing hair thinning and baldness.  Apple cider vinegar not only kills bottle bacillus, but stimulates the oil cans for healthier activity” (p. 42).

Combating an oily scalp

Years ago I used to wash my hair every day, but over time I have decreased that number to washing my hair only 2-3 times a week.  I agree with the women on the program yesterday who said that their hair looks its best when it’s not absolutely clean.  If you have an oily scalp, you can rub a little Arrowroot or cornstarch into the roots of your hair.  Brush it out and your hair is good for another day.  Michelle Bachmann, along with a couple of the other women on the show, said they also use coconut oil on the ends of their hair.  All said it leaves their hair silky smooth, but they also said it takes a bit to completely wash it out of their hair, but that it was worth it.  Aarti Sequeira, host of Aarti Party on the Food Network, said that her husband hasn’t washed his hair in over a year!  She says his hair smells “organic” but that it looks beautiful.  Eww!  I’m a fan of organic foods and products, but not hair that smells “organic”!

To Poo or No-Poo

So, there you have it, some information that I’m Giving Back about whether or not you’d like to join the No-Poo Movement.  Though it wasn’t mentioned, think of all the water you’ll save by not washing your hair.  A typical shower can use up to five to ten gallons of water every unneeded minute (www.eartheasy.com).  You don’t have to go to extremes of not washing your hair at all.  You can cut back on the times you wash your hair each week with your own shampoo, use a DIY shampoo like the one suggested by Sophie Uliano, or simply use some baking soda and apple cider vinegar.  Finally, you can only join the No-Poo Movement and use only water to wash your hair.  It’s up to you, whether you No-Poo or Not!