No Poo?

I read about the no-poo method for hair on the Internet. If you Google no-poo, you will get several sites that explain why shampoo is bad for you. Here's a good article about no-pooing . Some of the ingredients in shampoo reportedly cause cancer. Whether they are carcinogens or not, I don't know. I've found other web sites that say that they don't, so it depends who you trust: Snopes article about Sodium Lauryl Sulfate or this About My Planet article about shampooing Supposedly the chemicals used in commercial shampoos strip you hair of natural oils, causing damage. Basically the theory is that oil glands work on a supply & demand basis. Supposedly if you stop washing your hair, then you will stop producing excess oil. I'm not a dermatologist, but I don't think I believe this theory about oil production. Why do some people get acne? Why do some people have oily skin or dry skin? If I don't do anything to my face except splash some water on it in the morning, it's still greasy by evening. That has nothing to do with harsh cleansing products.

The proponents advise to just use baking soda & apple cider vinegar to cleanse your hair. Apple cider vinegar? It stinks. Supposedly the vinegar doesn't smell after your hair dries. I beg to differ, though. I've used baking soda occasionally to remove build up of product from my hair, but it is drying. It's too gritty & abrasive. It seems to me that it shouldn't be used very often on hair.

My hair has been getting thin, and I've been worried about all the hair left on the shower floor when I get done bathing. So I decided to give it a try. Anyhow I managed to go for 4 days without washing. Then I couldn't take anymore. Supposedly there is about a 2 month adjustment period, where your hair goes through a transition, and gets really greasy. Then it gets better. Well I can't go around with greasy, gross hair for that long. I do have to go out in public. After that experience I decided to use more healthy shampoo. Now I use Avalon Organics, and I love it. There is less hair that falls out in the tub after my shower. The drain hasn't gotten clogged, since I switched.

My husband says I spend entirely way too much time surfing the net. I have also learned that you can't believe everything you read. It's worth checking into things for yourself. I figure there's no harm experimenting.