Beauty

[shoptillIdrop]

I found this posted on the Beauty Board the other day, thanks to Iwantcoffee. This article is from Consumer Search and thought I'd share it here on the WEN forum.

"How often do you wash your hair? If you said four or five times a week, then you're on par with most Americans. But, it turns out that all that lathering up may not be necessary or even healthy for your hair. Many stylists say that less is more when it comes to washing hair because shampoo strips hair of its natural moisture. That's (partly) why many are forgoing shampoo altogether and opting for the no-poo method. Many environmentalists also favor this method because it produces less land-fill, reduces chemical use and reduces expenses.

There are three basic ways to no-poo:

1. Skip cleansing altogether
2. Use baking soda to remove excess oil and product build-up
3. Wash hair with a conditioner (co-washing)

Most no-pooers use a combination of the three methods. Many say that rinsing hair with warm water and occasionally cleansing with baking soda is all that is needed. Others add in an occasional vinegar rinse to condition hair and add shine. Some prefer to use conditioner to cleanse and soften hair at the same time.

If you are thinking of giving up on shampoo, here are a few things you should know:

• No-poo-ing may be better suited to curly hair. Since straight, fine hair tends to be oilier, those with this hair type may not be as satisfied with no-pooing results.

• It takes time for hair to adjust to less washing. Experts say that the scalp produces more oil to compensate for what shampoo strips away. There is an adjustment period before the oil production is cut down; in the meantime, don't be surprised if your hair is oiler than usual.

• It will take some experimentation to find the right way to no-poo for your hair. Experts say it's best to pay attention to the needs of your hair - use less baking soda if hair becomes overly dry and use less vinegar if it becomes overly oily.

• If your hair is very dry and/or coarse, you may prefer co-washing. Conditioners contain a slight amount of detergent - just enough to cleanse hair without stripping it - and extra emollients to soften dry hair. This method is especially favored by those who have very coarse, brittle hair. Experts say that any standard conditioner works well for co-washing. (Our new report on conditioners lists some good options.) Watch this YouTube video for a demonstration on how to co-wash.

Giving up your shampoo may require several days of braided hairstyles and hats while your hair and scalp adjusts but those who have converted to the no-poo and/or co-washing methods say that patience pays off. Most say that their hair is soft, more manageable and doesn't require extra product to hold its style. Check out instructables.com for some simple instructions on how to get started. Simplemom.net also offers some useful tips."