Zero Waste Hair Care - To 'Poo. or not to 'Poo?
Jennifer JacquesThis blog post is for all you lovely people who are looking for a zero waste alternative to conventional shampoo and conditioner. It is especially for those of you who have fine, oily hair.
Let me take you on a journey through the mists of time, back to when I used to shampoo and condition my hair with whatever was 3-for-2 in Boots. Oh, younger Jennie. Sigh! Anyway, back then I had super fine hair that was too silky to stay in a pony tail (why is life so HARD?!?), and got greasy at the thought of not being washed every single day.
The following is a fairly accurate visual representation of what my hair used to look like on the day that I washed it:
Such bounce! Such silkiness! Such shine!
Sadly however, each one of these days was followed by the day after, in which my hair looked this:
Oh.
I'd wake up and my hair would be absolutely stuck to my head at the roots, and then insanely flyaway at the tips.
But that was then.
These days, Gollum Jennie is no more, thanks to the no 'poo method. I won't tell a dirty lie and say that it was so easy and oh my god I just stopped using shampoo and then my hair became one with the universe. No, no, no. It was trial and error all the way.
First, I tried Lush shampoo bars and conditioning bars, and found them woeful. What followed next was a long series of trichological catastrophes, the likes of which I'm fairly certain had never before been experienced by a human head. But it was not all in vain, as in the end, I finally found the right routine for my hair. Read on...
Step 1: Assemble your most insta-worthy receptacles:
Or, you know, old travel bottles you've had since shortly after the invention of the wheel.
A little note about these bottles. This is what minimal waste is all about: using what you have until it has died a merciless death, and only then recycling it and going out to buy pretty jars and the like.
Anyway, onward.
I find squeezy type bottles to be the best. The two smaller ones are from a travel bottle set, and the larger one is from a bottle of dry shampoo I bought from Lush six years ago.
Step 2: Gather your ingredients. For this you will need :
- About a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda
- About a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar
- Around 100g of cornflour
Step 3: To make the shampoo, just put about a teaspoon of bicarb into the bottle and fill up with shower water. Squirt the whole thing onto your head and massage it in. No, there won't be bubbles. No, there won't be fake coconut smell either. But yes, there will be lovely hair, so it's grand really. What I do after I massage this into my head is I turn off the water and soap up the bod. Then I turn the water back on and rinse it out.
Step 4: For the conditioner, put about a teaspoon of ACV into the larger bottle and fill with shower water. I only have about three hairs on my head shur god love me so I only use about a quarter of the solution. Yes, it smells like vinegar. No, it doesn't smell like vinegar once your hair is dry. Massage it in, turn off the water while you wash your face and then rinse it out.
That's it! Easy peasy.
Again, DO NOT BE ALARMED that your hair smells a little like vinegar while it is still wet; the smell will disappear completely as it dries. If it really bothers you, you can always add some essential oils to the solution.
The not so fabulous news here is that for a few weeks (around 3 for me), your poor hair won't know what is going on. It will be very upset with you altogether.
Ponytails, buns and hats will be your very close allies for those few weeks. You may also find comfort in the thought that you have my sympathy during this difficult time.
It's not all that bad though, because this is where your new best friend steps in: dry shampoo, lovingly handmade by the best person ever: you!
If you prefer it to be unscented, then you can literally pour some cornflour into a bottle and you are ready to rock.
If you'd like to scent it, then put your cornflour in a bowl, add some drops of essential oils. I usually go for 4 drops lavender, 4 drops chamomile, and 2 drops sandalwood, because I use mine at night, and also because I'm fancy like that. Mix it up together and put it in your bottle. Done!
This is good for grey or blonde hair. If your hair is darker, you can add in some cinnamon or cacao powder to tint it so that it won't leave a white cast on your hair.
For me, the best time to use this is at night. I massage it into my hair and then I go haboo and let my nocturnal tossings and turnings work it into my hair even more. The next morning I just give it a good brush and lo! I am flawless once more.
This is definitely a picture of me.
I have done some experiments to see how far I could push this, and I could get away with not washing my hair for a week, if I had to. A WEEK! Can't get over it. As it stands now, I "wash" my hair twice a week and powder it for the other days. The powder gives my hair lovely body and gives it some texture so I can actually have lovely hairstyles now.
Sometimes I might give myself a nice scalp massage with castor oil, and to wash that out the next morning, I use a refillable shampoo, and maybe conditioner. Then it's back to my no 'poo routine again.
Another lovely thing you can do for yourself, or have someone do for you, is to scritch and preen. Here's a really helpful video about how to do it.
I was so sceptical at first when I was reading blog posts and watching videos about this method but once I pushed past the transition stage, it was all gravy. I really can't recommend it enough! Give it a go, battle on through the torturous transition stage, and let me know how you get on.
Godspeed.
P.S. If all this no 'poo business sounds like way too much of a faff for you, just keep your old shampoo and conditioner bottles and refill them until they beg to be recycled. Problem solved.
1367 comments
https://github.com/Wimonporn22/Phupakdee22/issues/1
https://github.com/Kaewmala00/Weerasak00/issues/1
https://github.com/Thammarat00/Kommak00/issues/1
https://github.com/Jongjanya00/Nannapin00/issues/1
https://github.com/Jantrapa00/Pitiwat00/issues/1
https://github.com/Wongwarang00/Bongkoch00/issues/1
https://github.com/Anupongprasit00/Chokchai00/issues/1
https://github.com/Jirapat00/Panupon00/issues/1
https://github.com/Chaiyasak00/Siladee00/issues/1
https://github.com/Petcharat00/Chayon00/issues/1
https://github.com/kaina12345678999/kaina123/issues/2
https://github.com/Bunyaporn22/Nannapin22/issues/1
https://github.com/Neeraya22/Chokchai22/issues/1
https://github.com/Sitapat22/Chidchon22/issues/1
https://github.com/Prisana22/Rassameechot22/issues/1
https://github.com/Sunisorn22/Marika22/issues/1
https://cccv.to/eahs9yrtp7c2msn
https://cccv.to/zt4uee9n1oh
https://cccv.to/s96pp
https://cccv.to/9akehs2bzjpn8vs
https://cccv.to/9wkea1qvfj4r
https://cccv.to/2z7ncimc
https://cccv.to/ekqhbawy12wkj
https://cccv.to/ocixvvjzj2b76i
https://cccv.to/saq3p9s3jguky
https://cccv.to/pzr5ovy2e28w3
https://cccv.to/7awe9zidp1
https://cccv.to/ytz4du5saq
https://cccv.to/jqxagk7po
https://cccv.to/j4sx23ru5c4
https://cccv.to/cpvyst65
https://cccv.to/9td1zmtbkc
https://cccv.to/us6unvdy7
https://cccv.to/7jy97a8yd6rdadyj
https://cccv.to/x8esschtr
https://cccv.to/3mv9vcgny
https://cccv.to/vdo98z9
https://cccv.to/wi8w9wwc5
https://cccv.to/g1kn1d52
https://cccv.to/faudfqtub133pse
https://cccv.to/51cy22c
https://cccv.to/advpidfpyw
https://cccv.to/ph91edxw6h18g
https://cccv.to/g38zgpm595jaku
https://cccv.to/7sk4m7bhx
https://cccv.to/gqjvt5t17ci44ce
https://cccv.to/58agxb
https://github.com/Suwankaruna23/Kiatsakul23/issues/1
https://github.com/Chayud56/Pattanadech23/issues/1
https://github.com/Tangtip339/Reongrit23/issues/1
https://github.com/Prangsub23/Suchart23/issues/1
https://cccv.to/s57vr1xid
https://cccv.to/2cvecr
https://cccv.to/3s48ja3z
https://cccv.to/24c8iop
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/fX7Y6D
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/tQtja8
https://github.com/dmpe/R/issues/16
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/482
https://github.com/Vithun235/Senasakul235/issues/1
https://github.com/Santipipak235/Nathayu235/issues/1
https://github.com/Sarayut235/Wannasiri235/issues/1
https://github.com/udlbook/udlbook/issues/275
https://github.com/selfteaching/the-craft-of-selfteaching/issues/1204
https://github.com/LeeJunHyun/Image_Segmentation/issues/99
https://cccv.to/muwkrw
https://cccv.to/pvyh3m5cqfgw8os
https://cccv.to/idzcy98zqkgb7f
https://cccv.to/7guc2znqtc
https://cccv.to/9euxx
https://cccv.to/bywg2769mxebdgch
https://cccv.to/gjhupwmy4q
https://cccv.to/p1xn1
https://cccv.to/ht7jejo
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/ffPEOy
https://telegra.ph/JOP-DIAMOND168-03-06-2
https://telegra.ph/JOP-DIAMOND168-03-06
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/IRIIGX
https://telegra.ph/DIAMOND168-JOP-03-05
https://telegra.ph/SLOT-PG-JOP-DIAMOND168-03-05
https://cccv.to/zhbjyr95cqkpdh
https://cccv.to/7mkryare9i
https://cccv.to/n6xhq3v7sj
https://cccv.to/m9etzq4eywgiwi
https://cccv.to/os12cmn1xi
https://github.com/voidint/g/issues/153
https://github.com/mit-pdos/xv6-riscv/issues/326
https://github.com/mit-pdos/xv6-riscv/issues/327
https://github.com/xiesuichao/KLineView/issues/36
https://github.com/nicklockwood/iCarousel/issues/912
https://telegra.ph/Mack-diamond-03-04
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/IEWvXx
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/tsnXzs
https://telegra.ph/Mack-NaKaDIAMOND-03-05
https://telegra.ph/Mack1688-03-06
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/ryga5S
https://telegra.ph/Mack-11-2-4-03-06
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/KpQu8u
https://telegra.ph/Mack-DIAMOND-03-07
https://www.bitsdujour.com/profiles/yIFx2a
https://github.com/DAMDAMme11225566/Natoo/issues/1
https://github.com/MAVKMAVK11111111111142/Mack1259/issues/1
https://github.com/sggsdfsdfdsfds6745123/NAgoo168/issues/1
https://github.com/DIAMOND168N/Mavk/issues/1
https://github.com/11DIAMOND168/Mac/issues/1
https://github.com/22DIAMOND168/Mack/issues/1
https://github.com/DIAMOND168MM/Mac/issues/1
https://github.com/4DIAMOND168/Phan/issues/1
https://github.com/5DIAMOND168/May/issues/1
https://github.com/3DIAMOND168/Muay/issues/1
https://github.com/6DIAMOND168/Mack/issues/1
https://github.com/2DIAMOND168/Mack/issues/1
https://github.com/1DIAMOND168/Mack/issues/1
https://github.com/12DIAMOND168/Mack/issues/1
https://github.com/16DIAMOND168/Mack/issues/1
https://github.com/8DIAMOND168/Mack/issues/1
https://github.com/7DIAMOND168/Mack1/issues/1
https://cccv.to/ccni8bzzwvedmm
https://cccv.to/tmx63jm4dzhgt5
https://cccv.to/97n8u9q
https://cccv.to/uxdfjj8cdj3px5
https://cccv.to/eb9mg
https://cccv.to/dm1tayz19kwk2j
https://cccv.to/z7p9xcwnbgnmjqf
https://cccv.to/fpexade65i1tysp
https://cccv.to/kiyivv8
https://cccv.to/rc51d39bd
https://cccv.to/24ntippanfgz4
https://cccv.to/tuemv
https://cccv.to/t4p67et99n73nxw
https://cccv.to/679njdk477os9
https://cccv.to/xyripq8
https://cccv.to/dzzyfr5
https://cccv.to/st5qozh5fwkt2w
https://cccv.to/i6gq3unvqcf
https://github.com/Wattanasaksakul1/Kanjanee-/issues/1
https://github.com/Reongsamai154/Thammapak-/issues/1
https://github.com/Tanasombat/Kiatsakul-/issues/1
https://github.com/Wiwatthanasak/Ronnaporn-/issues/1
https://github.com/Supannapakin/Chompunut-/issues/1
https://github.com/antaraprasert/Patanapreecha-/issues/1
https://github.com/Patamadecha/Nichakarn-/issues/1
https://github.com/1Chalermkwansiri/Prapol-/issues/1
https://github.com/Jeerawongsa/Kiatwittaya-/issues/1
https://github.com/Bannawan/Weerachai-/issues/1
https://cccv.to/317dk8zdt19mg8yh
https://cccv.to/zch5uw3fm
https://cccv.to/m12rbakx48
https://cccv.to/jx3f12o4orbot
https://cccv.to/37xuk6
https://cccv.to/7b1tp738jvhz7u
https://cccv.to/92j92wjxuusfjw
https://cccv.to/fzcor7wtxqj1u
https://cccv.to/uezudxbstufpt
https://cccv.to/bp1mofi9n
https://cccv.to/h93tzqjgg3h7
https://cccv.to/hv4dzxdrpc5eyj
https://cccv.to/nm8wc24zxbeot
https://cccv.to/ygzu87esb9yr3y
https://cccv.to/n6hz9g4p48
https://cccv.to/wkc37k1grf4fvq
https://cccv.to/82vp429vvtkvi7ir
https://github.com/ethereumbook/ethereumbook/issues/1231
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/481
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/480
https://github.com/zserge/o/issues/8
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/484
https://github.com/Usani2541/ASS4_SEC1_603021736-0/issues/1
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/483
https://cccv.to/edv86
https://cccv.to/n89jm76fpg1vjms
https://cccv.to/kwwy5k
https://cccv.to/zrcpgsz7m
https://cccv.to/c5i15ins6
https://cccv.to/1e11gzuq4j6z
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/484
https://github.com/Usani2541/ASS4_SEC1_603021736-0/issues/1
https://github.com/mit-pdos/xv6-riscv/issues/325
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/483
https://cccv.to/edv86
https://cccv.to/n89jm76fpg1vjms
https://cccv.to/kwwy5k
https://cccv.to/zrcpgsz7m
https://cccv.to/c5i15ins6
https://cccv.to/1e11gzuq4j6z
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/484
https://github.com/Usani2541/ASS4_SEC1_603021736-0/issues/1
https://github.com/mit-pdos/xv6-riscv/issues/325
https://github.com/adamdruppe/arsd/issues/483
https://cccv.to/edv86
https://cccv.to/n89jm76fpg1vjms
https://cccv.to/kwwy5k
https://cccv.to/zrcpgsz7m
https://cccv.to/c5i15ins6
https://cccv.to/1e11gzuq4j6z