If you haven't heard of the "no-poo" method, it's basically where you cut out hair products that contain chemicals.
Typically, you use a baking soda and water solution in place of shampoo, and an apple cider vinegar and water solution in place of conditioner.
This seems like a great option for health nuts on a budget, and it probably is for specific hair types - a lot of people have had great success with the no-poo method.
My problem: My hair was already incredibly damaged from years of chemical treatments. I'm 23 years old, and I've been dying my hair since I was in the 4th grade. There have been a couple times where my hair -melted- because of coloring.
From my experience, I believe the no-poo method is not suitable for chemically-damaged hair.
I started the no-poo method on August 4th.
It's often noted that there is a transitional period where you may have excess oil, as your scalp needs to get used to the change.
My hair felt -waxy-. It literally felt like candle wax on my hair. I shrugged it off for the first three weeks, then decided to cut out the ACV rinse to see if it would make a difference.
The waxyness was instantly eliminated.
However, my hair became so dry and brittle so quickly that it started breaking off in massive amounts, but only the part that had been colored (I have about two inches of uncolored regrowth, as I've stopped dying my hair).
I'm not at a point in my life where I would be comfortable being bald.
So, I decided it was time to develop my own "kinda-poo" recipe.
I bought a pack of Kirk's Castille Soap (All natural, vegan friendly. Ingredients: Coconut soap, water, vegetable glycerin, coconut oil, natural fragrance). I grated about 1/4 of a bar, and dissolved it in about 4 cups of water. I used that as my shampoo.
For conditioner, I diluted a few tablespoons of coconut oil in about 6 cups of warm water. I left that in for about 10 minutes in the shower before rinsing, then also applied some to my ends as a leave-in treatment.
I'm pretty sure there is no hope left for the very bottom of my hair (there is literally no way to repair damaged hair), but the rest of it feels quite a lot better after just one use.
I'm satisfied with these concoctions as there are no harmful chemicals, and they are still pretty freaking cheap (a 3-pack of the bar soap was $4 at Kroger).
In conclusion, if you have chemically damaged hair and were considering doing the no-poo method, I strongly urge against it - unless you fancy looking like Sinead O'Connor. If you do, more power to you. But I would never be able to pull that look off.
As for the meal plan and budget lists I promised, they're coming soon! I apologize for how long it's taking.
