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No 'Poo Results

Ok, I've found the routine, and the product, that works for me. Key word here is ME. What works for me may not work for you. I began this challenge with the hopes to use a simple baking soda paste for cleansing, a bi-weekly lemon juice rinse and possibly skipping putting anything in my hair. But I've found this doesn't work for me. Or maybe it would work if only I could tough out the transition period. I can't. I don't do well with greasy hair.This is how my experiment looked:

Day 1 - Day 4  Baking Soda Paste
~ I keep my jar of baking soda just outside the shower (this prevents water getting inside the container and hardening the baking soda) so before jumping in I fill my medicine cup (the little one tablespoon cup that comes on the top of cough syrups) half full of bs -baking soda....not the other bs. Once in the shower, I wet down. Add a little water to the bs and apply to hair.
~Hair feels clean and soft. However my scalp in feeling tingly. Hmm.

Day 5 Baking Soda Paste and Lemon Juice
~Clean hair following same procedure mentioned, followed by a lemon juice rinse (approximately 1/4 c. fresh lemon juice and 1 cup water). HINT: Add the water to the rinse while in the shower. If this is done ahead of time (like the night before) the rinse may be startling cold. ACV, or apple cider vinegar, can be used in place of the lemon juice.

Day 6 - 7 Baking Soda Paste
~Still feeling good.

Day 8 - Baking Soda Paste and HAIR CUT!! Before heading to the salon, I decided I'd let this be my "cheat" day and let her shampoo my hair. However she didn't! She knows that I am thrifty ( meaning cheap...don't worry, I DO tip!) so she just wet down my hair. I normally get my hair cut once a year. However when I got my yearly cut in January I decided to go a little shorter. My hair had grown to that "in-between" stage and I wasn't able to quite get it into a decent looking ponytail (necessary for summer heat) so I decided to go shorter. A LOT shorter. It took me a couple of weeks to get used to but now I love the easiness of my new do.

Day 9-11 - Baking Soda Paste
~My hair looks good but my scalp is tingly. Not a itchy sensation but tingly. I wasn't experiencing dandruff. I mention this weird sensation to my husband, who suggests that maybe it's from the baking soda. I scoff at this notion and I blame the hair cut.

Day 12 - Castile Soap  ~ I mix this up ahead of time in my reused honey bear using a 3 parts water to 1 part Dr. Bronners Liquid Castile Soap.
~I was starting to feel a little greasy so this was my alternative. My castile soap/shampoo is what my husband uses to wash his hair and he's noticed a huge improvement in his skin - no more dry spots!

Day 13-15 - Baking Soda Paste
~Still tingly. Feels weird but hair is clean and soft.

Day 16 and 17- Water Rinse
~My hair is doing so well that I decided to try skipping a "cleansing agent". By day 17 I was beginning to get a little greasy...ok, I'll be honest. It was a lot greasy...disgustingly greasy. The plus side? The grease acts as a nice styling gel. ;)

Day 18  - Shampoo Bar ~ Chamomile and Orange Blossom Shampoo and Body Bar
Hair was disgustingly greasy and I decided to eliminate the bs to see if that was causing my head to tingle. I bought this shampoo bar from a Apple Valley Natural Soap which is operated by homeschooling family. I LOVE it and I'm happy to give my business to a family owned and operated business.

Day 19 and beyond - Shampoo Bar
Shampoo bar is working fabulously! Hair is clean and manageable. Tingles have completely disappeared. Last fall I made my own shampoo bar (lavender/lemon) which I also loved but just haven't had time to make again. When I get a little extra time I will make that recipe. Meanwhile I will continue to use Chamomile and Orange Blossom Shampoo and Body Bar.


At first I was a bit disappointed that I couldn't go longer without washing my hair but my objective in this no 'poo venture was to spend less money and to rid my shower of chemicals. I feel that my hair regime has accomplished this.

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