No Shampoo - A Baking Soda & ACV Hair Update {Part 1}

*I am no expert and am only relaying my own experience with this process. Please do your own research before deciding to use this method. It works great long-term for some, but I do have a reader that had her hair start to fall out after using this method for several months and could possibly be due to dry-out from the baking soda. I do currently use the method with no issues, but I take a break and use shampoo a couple times a year for a few weeks. Also, I use less baking soda than I did  in the beginning - read the 8/11 Part 2 Update for the current measurements I use.

I really didn't want to do this in 2 parts, but with the pics and my lengthy explanations - 1 post would just be too long!  First I'll tell you the basics and show pics, and then on Part 2 I'll give you exact amounts that I use and what changes I've tried.

Last year I had my first exposure to "washing" my hair with a baking soda solution and rinsing with diluted apple cider vinegar (ACV) instead of using shampoo.  It was for a challenge, but I ended up liking it for many reasons.  I posted an update about it after trying it for a week.  I did it for several months, but felt like I wasn't quite getting the great hair results I had expected.  I went back to shampoo...and hated it!  Right back to greasy hair by the 2nd day - yuck! I tried various natural shampoos for 2-3 months and then went back to the "no poo" (yes, that's really what it's called!) way about 6 months ago.  I adjusted my amounts of baking soda and ACV and have had better results.

Why do this?  It's a more natural way to keep your hair clean and avoids any possibly harmful chemicals (there seem to be many in shampoo these days).  It's better for the environment and it's also super frugal!  When your hair fully adjusts, you shouldn't need to "wash" it as often.

I'll show you some hair pics so you know I'm not just hiding out with bad hair or throwing it up into a ponytail every day so it doesn't matter what it really looks like - my hair is clean and looks fine (no it doesn't look like supermodel hair, but it didn't with regular shampoos either).  Then in Part 2 I'll give you my current amount and method for "no poo."

For this series of pics, I wanted to see if I could go a whole week before "washing" again with baking soda and ACV.  I "washed" it in between with water - just water.  Also, I no longer use any hair styling products other than some hair spray at the end.  Oh, and you should know that I'm not thrilled with these pics - it's not that easy to take pics of your own hair every day.  But I was too lazy to do another entire week of pics trying to get prettier ones!!  :)

Day 1 - baking soda, ACV, blowdry, curling iron

Started this series of pics a few days after getting my hair cut and highlighted.

Day 2 - brushed, curling iron

Terrible pic, but wanted to give you a side view.

Day 3 - water, blowdry, curling iron

A good hair day. And yes, my hair is super thin and super fine.

Day 3 - a view of opposite side

In case you were tired of the same view.  :)

Day 4 - brushed, curling iron

Leaned forward so you can see it's not plastered to my head!

Day 5 - brushed, curling iron

This day was pushing it though the pic looks ok.

Day 6 - water, blowdry, curling iron

Another forward shot to show movement.

Day 7 - baking soda, ACV, blowdry, curling iron

This pic is after I had been out late at a function, so by this time my hair was pretty flat.

Day 7 - another view

And we start all over again!

See?  No greasy, matted hair.  What do you think so far?  Are you surprised that hair can be clean with just water or with baking soda and ACV?

I have to remind you that it takes about a month for your hair to adjust after stopping shampoo.  You WILL have scary hair during that time - sometimes dry or full of static, sometimes super greasy and flat, sometimes normal.  But after that, your body figures out how much oil to produce for your scalp and you get fairly good hair!  Mine would be better if it wasn't highlighted which dries it out and if we didn't have hard water - those minerals don't help.

Come on back for Part 2 and I'll tell you what proportions I use and how I prepare it and store it.  I'll answer some questions I know you'll have and I'll give you a couple links so you can see how it's going for others.

The baking soda/ACV hair-washing is definitely working for me, so I linked it up for WFMW at We Are THAT Family!

Have you tried the "no poo" method?  What do you think about it?

Have a great day friends!