No Poo Help, please!

[barcelona]

Hi Ladies...
I read another no-poo thread or two, but didn't find the answer I was looking for, for my specific situation.

I have been no-pooing for two months now. I did a gradual shift from shampoo to BS and ACV over the summer, and it's been two months of no poo. I cut the ACV out, b/c it was making my hair very oily and heavy. But, now, as I'm just using BS, probably every three days, my hair feels dry, thick, but not in a good way, and just not shiny and healthy-feeling and looking like before. Is it possible to have this look with no-poo? Can someone help with what might help my hair get this look? It's important, as I'm a performer, so I do need to look good.

FYI, My hair is fine and straight (thought it has had a bit of wave and body with no-pooing, which I don't mind, but would like it to have the shine and better feeling). I have a medium amount of hair--not thin, not crazy-thick either. It is below my shoulders and ash-blonde.

Thanks SO much for any help, tips, advice, insight, etc! I really want to make no-pooing work for me.

[amynbebes]

I have that trouble with acv if I tend to get too much on my scalp. If I'm careful and just get it everywhere but the scalp I'm good.

[FluffiB]

You need an acidic rinse to get your hair back to its natural pH and to close the shaft from an alkaline (BS) wash.

I love lemon juice. Dilute the same way as you would ACV. It detangles and makes my hair really soft! I use the bottled kind. Lime juice will work also.

You can also apply a bit of olive oil or whatever oil you have laying around. Rub between your palms and run your hands down your hair.

[LauraN]

The BS is drying you out way too much! You need to find the right balance of BS and ACV. I dilute both heavily, especially the BS as it tends to dry out my hair, too.

I use maybe 2 tablespoons of BS diluted with a cup of water. Then I use ACV (probably the same amounts--2 tbs ACV per cup of water. With the ACV, I try to keep it off my scalp, and use it only on my hair.

[FluffiB]

ITA w/ PP. I have just-below-shoulder-length hair, and I dilute about 1 tablespoon of BS into a cup of water. I only massage my scalp and not the length of the hair.

And I dilute about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice into a cup of water. I don't avoid the scalp w/ lemon juice because it doesn't feel greasy like ACV.

Oh, you can also mix a bit of honey into the BS/water mixture too. I found it weighs my hair down though, so I sometimes apply it on the ends of my hair. Make sure it's nice and diluted too as it's very acidic.

[barcelona]

Thanks so much for all the tips, ladies! I am definitely going to try lemon juice, and honey, too.

As for the oil suggestion, FluffiB, would I use that after BS, similarly to lemon juice? Does it serve the same purpose?

By the way, out of desperation the other day, I did use some "natural"moisturizer on my hair, so it is back in good shape for now, but I want to continue on without using any product...Did I undo the two months of no-pooing by using that?

Thanks again! Lemon Juice, here I come!

[FluffiB]

Oops, sorry about that - you'd apply oil on dry hair.

No, you didn't undo anything. Using regular shampoo will set you back a little, but not too much.

[Ruthla]

When you used the ACV, did you dilute it before using it and then rinse it out? That's what I do:

1) wet hair and scalp
2) make baking soda paste in my palms
3) scrub BS into scalp
4) rinse
5) wash the rest of my body
6) pour diluted ACV over my head
7) rinse with tap water
8) turn off water and dry off

You could also try using white vinegar if the ACV doesn't work well for you.

[kellykins]

I am TOTALLY in the same situation!!!! I had been trying no-poo to try and resolve my (yuck) scalp psoriasis - but gave up after a week, I had a gummy, but dry, puffy thing going on... I have the same hair texture as OP, fine strands, generally straight...
I tried again tonight, using ALOT less ACV (used 2TB diluted in.. uh.. a big drinking cup of water...), and now have no gummy feeling, but my hair feels pretty dry and staticy... Should I put some olive oil on it? wont I be a greaseball???

[Ruthla]

If you want to put oil straight on your hair, you only use a TINY bit. Put a few drops on your hands, rub them together, then rub your hands over the ends of your hair.

[LionessMom]

dont forget that the scalp needs to re-regulate itself (the oil) now that you are not stripping it with shampoo. it takes a while for the scalp to balance itself again. i have been no-pooing for 3 months now. i gave up once and went back to shampoo b/c i couldnt deal with the grease but it just made my flakes come back. i cant even bring myself to do it again. after 3 months my hair is feeling pretty good and getting better everyday. i am down to washing every 3 days.
1 wet my hair
2 bs in cup with warm water, i add tto and leo ( a couple drops each)
3 pour it on and rub it around, i get down to the scalp b/c i have seb derm.
4 i use wdv with tto and leo, sometimes i add a little hydrogen peroxide (i was told it help seb derm)
5 rinse right away

i prob use more bs than everybody else. i have very thick, very long hair. sometimes i add a little aloe vera to my bs. i really liked that the last time i washed. my hair used to be very statically charged but it is getting better.

[swd12422]

Originally Posted by LionessMom

dont forget that the scalp needs to re-regulate itself (the oil) now that you are not stripping it with shampoo. it takes a while for the scalp to balance itself again....

Yep, what she said! Not to discourage you, but it took me close to a year before everything evened itself out. I got very greasy for awhile and then just really greasy roots. I started out using white vinegar and switched to ACV, then realized I needed to dilute both the BS and ACV much more than I had been. That seemed to work, and I only use them when my roots start getting oily (like once or twice a week).

I also found that the more I used the BS/ACV as opposed to just "shampooing" with only water, the more easily I got greasy. It's a vicious cycle. So if you're going to be in for the day, or you can pull your hair back, give your head a rest for the day and just massage your scalp in the shower with plain water. Do that as much as you can, and you'll find you need to "shampoo" with the BS/ACV much less frequently.

[SeekingMyZen]

Originally Posted by kellykins

I am TOTALLY in the same situation!!!! I had been trying no-poo to try and resolve my (yuck) scalp psoriasis - but gave up after a week, I had a gummy, but dry, puffy thing going on... I have the same hair texture as OP, fine strands, generally straight...
I tried again tonight, using ALOT less ACV (used 2TB diluted in.. uh.. a big drinking cup of water...), and now have no gummy feeling, but my hair feels pretty dry and staticy... Should I put some olive oil on it? wont I be a greaseball???

I just noticed you mentioned about having scalp psoriasis.. my DH has that, or should say had- had it for a long time, it was pretty bad, the only thing that would work before was that nasty Tgel shampoo.. what worked great for him was the 'dirt soap' pine tar bar soap.. seriously, cleared everything up within a month (not even a pink outline on the forehead anymore) it got rid of the psoriasis he had everywhere else as well.. without all the crap in the store shampoo.. He doesn't use any rinse with it either (his hair is prolly about 4 inches past the shoulder) Comes out great tho- shiny but not greasy or weighed down.


My DD goes without any shampoo or rinse- just water (never was planned or anything, just happened).. her hair is always so perfect and soft.. I'm jealous, lol.. just a little bar soap still for me.. just going from the store shampoo to a little bar soap took a while for my hair to transition- prolly 2-4 weeks..