No pooing for thick long dark hair

[Halfasianmomma]

Hi mamas,

I've been making a big effort lately to get rid of chemicals in my body care products. We've successfully ditched the supposedly "mild" Aveeno lotion and have replaced it with coconut oil. My face cleansing routine has gone the route of the OCM, which has been wonderful. I'm still working on finding a homemade deodorant that can overpower how strong I smell, especially in the humid summer months.

Now for the hair products. I've been doing the no poo BS+ ACV for about 4-5 weeks. I did go through an excessively greasy stage at first, but it seems to have calmed down. However, I find that ACV *always* makes my hair greasy, whether I apply it to my whole head or just to the ends. I have very thick, slightly wavey, nearly black shoulder length hair, so if I don't use ACV, it's a tangly mess and it feels "crunchy".

I tried switching to a lemon juice rinse, but that dried out my hair a bunch. I tried another diluted version of lime juice, but now I've got the greasies again.

I just can't seem to find the right mix, though I realize I need an acidic rinse if I'm going to be using BS to clarify (DD and I both sweat a lot from the head resulting in very greasy hair).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to adjust my no poo routine so I don't get the greasies or horrible unmanageable hair? All the suggestions I find online seem to apply to curly hair or thinner hair...

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by Halfasianmomma 

Hi mamas,

I've been making a big effort lately to get rid of chemicals in my body care products. We've successfully ditched the supposedly "mild" Aveeno lotion and have replaced it with coconut oil. My face cleansing routine has gone the route of the OCM, which has been wonderful. I'm still working on finding a homemade deodorant that can overpower how strong I smell, especially in the humid summer months.

Now for the hair products. I've been doing the no poo BS+ ACV for about 4-5 weeks. I did go through an excessively greasy stage at first, but it seems to have calmed down. However, I find that ACV *always* makes my hair greasy, whether I apply it to my whole head or just to the ends. I have very thick, slightly wavey, nearly black shoulder length hair, so if I don't use ACV, it's a tangly mess and it feels "crunchy".

I tried switching to a lemon juice rinse, but that dried out my hair a bunch. I tried another diluted version of lime juice, but now I've got the greasies again.

I just can't seem to find the right mix, though I realize I need an acidic rinse if I'm going to be using BS to clarify (DD and I both sweat a lot from the head resulting in very greasy hair).

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to adjust my no poo routine so I don't get the greasies or horrible unmanageable hair? All the suggestions I find online seem to apply to curly hair or thinner hair...

Sorry, I don't.    My hair just doesn't do well with a lot of the non-traditional products or methods.  

I have had some luck with the Aubrey Organic Honeysuckle Rose range or the Organix Coconut Milk range.  Sure, neither are as pure as something like ACV or BS, but that's what works for me.  Also, maybe just washing with a shampoo/conditioner like that once a week may make a difference in your hair when you do use the BS/ACV.  For tangles, you may really like a Tangle Teaser.  

Also, as odd as this sounds, my hair has been really helped by adding in some olive oil when it's wet.  I don't know why, but it really helps and isn't greasy at all.  Now, I only use it on the ends (well, shoulder length down), but it makes a big difference.  I have used sweet almond oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil, but all of them make my hair greasy and wet looking when dry.  They make work for you (and since you have the coconut oil it may be worth a try), but the olive oil is the only one that works well for me.

[csboles]

Hello! I've been no-poo about 2.5 months... my hair is STILL going through a greasy stage, has been since about day 4. I don't go out much, so it doesn't bother me too much, lol. I have been researching a lot to figure out solutions.

I read about mixing up a solution of egg whites and water (I did one egg white and 3/4 cup water) and putting it like a mask on your hair for a few minutes. I've also read about putting on your head for up to 30 minutes. Always rinse with cool or lukewarm water... hot water will cook it :)

Anyway, I did the egg white mixture yesterday, and my hair is a TINY bit less greasy. This is awesome for me though, as it was getting worse. I'll do it again tomorrow... Research some no-poo greasy hair solutions and maybe something else works for us thick, long, dair-haired people! :)

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by csboles 

Hello! I've been no-poo about 2.5 months... my hair is STILL going through a greasy stage, has been since about day 4. I don't go out much, so it doesn't bother me too much, lol. I have been researching a lot to figure out solutions.

I read about mixing up a solution of egg whites and water (I did one egg white and 3/4 cup water) and putting it like a mask on your hair for a few minutes. I've also read about putting on your head for up to 30 minutes. Always rinse with cool or lukewarm water... hot water will cook it :)

Anyway, I did the egg white mixture yesterday, and my hair is a TINY bit less greasy. This is awesome for me though, as it was getting worse. I'll do it again tomorrow... Research some no-poo greasy hair solutions and maybe something else works for us thick, long, dair-haired people! :)

If you're doing frequent egg white treatments, you may want to follow up with a moisturizing treatment.  In general, protein treatments should be followed up with moisturizing treatments.

[csboles]

Originally Posted by Mulvah 

If you're doing frequent egg white treatments, you may want to follow up with a moisturizing treatment.  In general, protein treatments should be followed up with moisturizing treatments.

Thanks :) My hair is looking better finally, yay.

[littleserene]

here's what i do: wet my hair all over (before i get in the shower) rub bicarbonate of soda onto scalp first then all over. i hang about n leave it for a few minutes, then get in the shower rinse it all off, then pour some white vinegar on and massage it in, leave it about a min then rinse it out! the vinegar makes it really soft. works great

[Mulvah]

Originally Posted by csboles 

Thanks :) My hair is looking better finally, yay.

That's great.  I'm glad you found something that works for you.