No Poo has grown immensely popular in the last few decades. With an ever-increasing number of followers, it is quite reasonable to ask does No Poo work for everyone?
Going No Poo can be quite an undertaking, so I decided to see whether it would be the right course of action for everyone.
No Poo uses natural ingredients to keep hair healthy and clean. Whilst No Poo can work well for most people, those in hard water areas, or those with fine hair, may find the transition more challenging. With the wealth of available methods and ingredients, most people will be able to transition successfully.
No Poo has a wealth of options and alternatives for anyone to try.
Read on to find out more about No Poo and which hair is most suited to going No Poo stress-free.
Does No Poo Work For Everyone?
No Poo is a hair care regime based on only using natural ingredients and removing the chemicals found in traditional shampoos.
No Poo is not a single method of hair care, but various methods that are all aimed at keeping hair clean and healthy, using natural products only. The most well-known No Poo methods include:
- Water Only
- Conditioner Only
- Baking Soda and Apple Cider Vinegar
- Sebum Only
There is no such thing as the ‘best’ hair to go No Poo with, but, people with certain hair types will find the whole process of No Poo a great deal easier.
Hair types most suited to No Poo hair washing, are:
| Hair Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Curly Hair | Curly hair tends to be dry. No Poo method help to bring the scalps natural oils down the hair shafts |
| Porous Hair | Porous hair takes up oils well |
| Dry Hair | Dry hair can benefit from the moisturizing sebum created naturally by the scalp |
| Frizzy Hair | Many people have reported that frizzy hair is tamed by going No Poo |
| Greasy Hair | No Poo helps to regulate oil production |
If you have curly or greasy hair then I recommend you read these articles I wrote, to give you a more in-depth understanding:
‘Does No Poo work for oily hair?‘
Conversely, the following two hair types will be more difficult, although not impossible, to No Poo:
| Hair Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Fine Hair | Hair can look greasy and heavy unless the right No Poo method is found |
| Non-Porous Hair | Sebum finds it more difficult to penetrate through the hair shaft in non-porous hair. This may mean that hair is weighed down and limp |
If you have low porosity hair, then my article ‘No Poo Low Porosity Hair‘ is well worth a read to help you get the most from your No Poo journey.
1. Options Available
Whatever type of hair you have, there is a No Poo method or recipe for you.
The vast majority of people start by using baking soda to wash their hair, followed by an apple cider rinse to moisturize and balance out the pH. If you get the dilution rates wrong for your hair though, it can be damaging.
Tip: It is always better to dilute too much at first until you find the right level for you and your hair.
With rinses, clays, masks, and DIY shampoos all being No Poo, the options open to you and your hair needs are vast.
2. Essential Oils
If you have a particular hair or scalp complaint, you can add a few drops of essential oil to help your hair rid yourself of the problem. See here for more details.
It is worth mentioning here though, that extreme No Poo’ers do not consider essential oils to be No Poo and would argue against their use.
3. Conditioner Only Washing
Even if you don’t seem to be able to find the right No Poo recipe for you, or you find that it does not fit with your lifestyle, there are options.
Co-washing often falls under the No Poo umbrella.
Co-washing is using a conditioner to cleanse and moisturize your hair. This method is very much favored by many people, possibly because it is so convenient.
The actual conditioner used must be free of the following, to be considered No Poo:
- Silicons
- Sulfates
- Parabens
If you have tried all of the above and tried Co-washing too, but you still aren’t convinced, then hopefully you will try to use Low Poo products to keep the chemicals to a minimum.
To find out what the difference between No Poo and Low Poo is, make sure you read my article. ‘No Poo V’s Low Poo‘:
Does No Poo Actually Work?
The growing number of people who have turned to, and remained, with the No Poo method, suggests that hair can be kept clean without using traditional shampoos.
Many No Poo’ers claim that their hair has never been healthier, and that frizz and dandruff have been significantly reduced, if not completely removed.
However, you may ask if you don’t use shampoo, does your hair wash itself? The short answer is No! … Your hair will need help to keep clean, as will your scalp.
The reason for this is that over time, if you do not help your scalp shed the loose cells, then they will build up causing dandruff and possibly infections.
Going sebum only will remove the need to use shampoo, but you will still need to remove dirt from your hair and stimulate the scalp to encourage the blood supply for healthy hair. The best way to do this is by using a boar bristle brush, to dislodge the sebum and dead skin cells.
These are my favorite boar bristle brushes.
When asking does No Poo really work though, it is important to consider all the pros and cons of not using shampoo.
Keep reading to see how the benefits of not using shampoo are multiple, and far outweigh the downsides of adopting a No Poo lifestyle.
Pros
There are many pros of not using shampoos, here are a few for you to consider:
1. Chemicals
No Poo products do not contain harmful man-made chemicals. Reducing our exposure to these chemicals can be healthier for our hair and skin.
2. Ease
No Poo recipes are often easy to make at home, and many household staple ingredients can be used to keep our hair clean.
3. Time
When going No Poo it is usually possible to reduce washing frequency.
It is often possible to go an entire week or more without washing, therefore saving you time and effort!
4. Cost
Using products that are already in your pantry will cost significantly less than purchasing new traditional shampoos.
5. Health
Much anecdotal evidence suggests that moving away from traditional shampoos will improve the strength and health of our hair.
6. Choice
There are very many different No Poo methods and ingredients to choose from.
As there are such a wealth of ingredients and methods to choose from, the only real way to discover whether No Poo will work for you is to try.
It may take several attempts, using different ingredients to find the ones that work for you, but for shiny, healthy hair, it is surely worth it.
Cons
There are of course some downsides to not using traditional shampoo. These include:
1. Transition
The transition period from traditional shampoo to No Poo can be challenging for some people.
Perseverance is sometimes necessary to achieve the desired result.
2. Hard Water Areas
Going No Poo can be more difficult (but not impossible) in hard water areas.
Water softeners and using distilled water as a final rinse can help.
3. Travel
Depending on the No Poo route you choose, trying to No Poo without easy access to your usual stores and equipment can be hard.
How Long For No Poo To Work?
How long does it take for No Poo to work is an often asked question, with no straight answer. The simple answer is that the length of time for No Poo to work will be different for every individual.
The type of hair you have and which No Poo method you start with will make a difference to the transition time you experience.
For example, if you have porous, curly hair, and have been reducing the frequency and amount of traditional shampoo you use, then the time taken for No Poo to work could be as short as a few weeks.
By comparison, if you adopt a water-only No Poo washing regime, straight from your normal traditional shampooing regime, and have fine non-porous hair, you may find that it takes many months to really feel that No Poo is working for you.
During the transition phase, when you feel that your hair is not looking at its best, you can try plaiting and braiding your hair to hide the greasiness. Alternatively, scarves and hats are always worth having available if you are ever experiencing a bad hair day.
Please keep in mind your ultimate hair goals when transitioning to a No Poo lifestyle, since after a successful transition to No Poo the challenging greasy days should be few and far between.
If you are interested to learn more about the transition stage, why not take a closer look at my article ‘How long Is The No Poo transition Phase‘, which you may find useful.
Is No Poo Worth It?
If you want to get rid of chemicals in your life, allow your hair to regulate its own sebum production, and have stronger, healthier, shinier, and more manageable hair, then No Poo will be worth it for you.
Whether you find being a more extreme No Poo’er and going water only or sebum only, is worthwhile, is a choice only each individual can make.
Conclusion
No Poo can be a change that everyone can make.
Does No Poo work for everyone is difficult to answer, as there are many reasons why an individual would think that going No Poo was not the right choice for them.
It may be, however, that they simply hadn’t found the right No Poo method for them, or that their hair needs more recipe tweaking to feel like it is working.
With so many recipes and methods available, there is really no reason no to give No Poo a chance, and see how healthy your hair can be.