If you have curly hair then No Poo is exactly what your hair has been waiting for!
How to No Poo curly hair is quite easy to explain since this natural haircare method has so many health benefits. Curly hair is also likely to be the best hair type to try No Poo with.
No Poo has its roots in the Curly Girl method of hair cleansing. Certainly, those with curls often find that their transition to No Poo is easier than others with a different hair type. No Poo is a way of cleaning hair without using traditional shampoos; natural ingredients are used instead to keep hair clean, healthy, and shiny.
When going No Poo there is so much choice and so many different options that it can be difficult to decide what method to choose, and which recipe to try first.
With curly hair, you are likely to have more options due to the way your hair grows.
Within the article, we’ll look at which No Poo method is best for individuals with curls.
How To No Poo Curly Hair
If you are fed up with your traditional shampoo and are looking for a natural way to keep your hair clean and healthy, No Poo could be the method for you.
No Poo rejects traditional shampoos that contain sulphates, silicons, and parabens. Instead, it embraces natural ingredients that are readily available to help the naturally occurring sebum from your scalp to keep hair nourished and shiny.
The good thing about No Poo is the wealth of recipes.
Many of the No Poo recipes will use ingredients that you have quickly to hand, be that in your kitchen or pantry, or indeed in your garden.
Keeping curly hair clean using No Poo can be achieved in the following ways:
1. Sebum Only
This No Poo method uses only natural oil (sebum) produced by the scalp to keep hair clean and healthy.
As curly hair is likely to be highly porous, the natural oils will be taken up by the hair and kept well-nourished.
2. Water Only
As its name suggests, the No Poo water only method only uses water to clean hair.
Scritching, preening, and brushing, help loosen dirt and debris from your hair and scalp which can be washed away with warm water.
3. Co-Washing
Co-Washing is washing your hair with conditioner only.
Conditioners tend to have cleansing properties and are full of moisturizing ingredients that help define and strengthen curls.
Whilst not strictly No Poo, conditioner only washing is very popular, especially with those who have curly hair.
If you are worried about not following the No Poo method rules correctly, make sure you use a No or Low Poo conditioner without man-made chemicals.
4. Other No Poo Recipes
Some other No Poo recipes are listed below:
- Baking Soda & ACV: This is probably the first recipe that people use when going No Poo. It is beneficial for scalp health when used in the correct frequency and amount.
- Egg Wash: Full of protein and cleansing powers.
Regardless of hair type, there will be a No Poo recipe for you.
Determining your hairs porosity first will make it easier to narrow down what cleaning agent to use.
How To Know If Curly Hair Is Healthy
For those of you with curls, make sure you check the health of your curls before choosing a No Poo method so that you get the best curls you can.
To quickly and easily check the health of your curls simply:
- Take hold of a curl with one hand, and stretch out the curl with your other hand.
- Let go of your curl.
- If your curl bounces back quickly, your hair is in good condition.
- If the curl stays straight, breaks, or doesn’t quickly return to its original shape, then it is time to start your No Poo journey immediately.
Is No Poo Good For Curly Hair?
No Poo; washing without traditional shampoos, is gaining traction within the health and beauty world.
This method of natural haircare rejects the use of traditional shampoos which contain sulphates and silicons that can be damaging to your hair and the environment.
Instead, followers of No Poo use natural ingredients to keep their hair healthy and well-nourished.
Curly hair is particularly well suited to No Poo methods as it is often prone to dryness. The reason for this is that curly hair tends to be porous. This means that whilst curly hair is brilliant at taking in moisture, it is also good at losing it.
The table below shows the key benefits of No Poo for curly hair:
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Curly hair takes in moisture from recipes readily |
| Oiliness | Curly hair can use much of the natural sebum produced by the scalp meaning it becomes well-nourished and healthy |
| Shiny | Another result of sebum uptake and healthy hair is that your curls will have a natural shine |
| Well-defined | As there is no product in your hair, your curls will remain well defined and not weighed down |
| Less Frizz | With the curl being well nourished this means that it has less capacity to take in moisture from the environment which means less frizz |
Does No Poo Make Your Hair Curly?
Using the No Poo method will not change the structure of your hair, i.e. whether it is curly or not.
However, although No Poo will not make your hair curly, it may allow your natural waves to show through. This is because your hair is finally free of products that weigh it down, pulling down and straightening any natural waves and curls that you have.
No Poo will make your hair:
- Healthy
- Manageable
- Shiny
Many No Poo’ers dry their hair with a cotton shirt to lessen any damage from heated dryers.
This is beneficial as it also keeps the cuticles flat leaving your hair shinier. In addition, because you are not brushing wet hair, or pulling on the strands, your natural curls or waves will be more obvious.
Best No Poo For Curly Hair
Any of the No Poo methods will work with most curly hair.
Ultimately, whichever method you use is an individual choice since everyone’s lifestyles are different, and curly hair is not all the same.
Trial and error to find the best method for both you, and your hair really is the best way.
Saying that many individuals with curly hair tend to find the following two No Poo Methods work best for their hair:
- Sebum Only
- Water Only
If using either of these methods it is important to look after your scalp properly. Scritching should therefore be carried out regularly to remove dirt and debris, and allow your hair to grow and fulfil its full potential.
Many individuals with curly hair find that pre-poo is useful, especially if their hair is particularly dry.
Pre-poo can be a full conditioning treatment, or simply warming up some coconut oil by hand and running it through your hair before using a No Poo shampoo. The benefit of this process is to add extra moisture to your curls and provides nourishment to your hair.
DIY No Poo Shampoo For Curly Hair
We all want the best for our hair, and to keep it looking shiny, healthy, and manageable. The choice of recipes available can sometimes feel completely overwhelming though.
‘How can I wash my hair naturally’ is a regular question people ask me. This is what I tell them:
Here are two DIY recipes that curly hair really loves (source 1,2).
1. Coconut milk shampoo
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut milk
- ¼ cup of liquid castille soap
- 5 drops of essential oil
- ½ tsp almond or olive oil for those with very dry hair
Method
- Mix all ingredients together and place in a suitable container.
- Wet hair using warm water
- Use the mixture as you would a traditional shampoo
2. Camomile & Peppermint
Ingredients
- 6 Peppermint tea bags
- 6 Camomile tea bags
- 4 tables spoons of liquid castile soap
- 2 teaspoons of jojoba oil
- 2 cups of hot water
Method
- Boil the tea bags in the hot water for 1 minute.
- Let the liquid cool to room temperature for at least 20 minutes.
- Remove tea bags.
- Add remaining ingredients.
- Store in a suitable container.
- Use as you would a traditional shampoo.
If you have time and don’t mind a small amount of mess, then a monthly egg wash will add protein to your curls and leave them soft and shiny.
No Poo Curly Hair Before And After
Going No Poo can be a challenge at first.
The transition phase when your scalp is working out the optimum amount of sebum to produce can be a challenge.
To help your motivation take photos of your hair throughout your No Poo journey so that you can look back and see how your hair is improving.
Seeing any difference can be difficult from day to day, so weekly photos would be ideal.
This may just give you the motivation to keep going!
Curly Hair – No Shampoo Just Conditioner
Conditioner only hair washing is washing your hair with only conditioner.
Co-washing is popular amongst those with curly hair.
Conditioner only washing works so well for curly hair as it replenishes any lost moisture and has a very gentle cleansing action.
Make sure that your conditioner is either a No Poo DIY recipe, or if purchased commercially, that it is free from sulphates, silicons, parabens, and other man-made chemicals.
Conclusion
How to No Poo curly hair is both easy to answer and easy to do.
No Poo is a brilliant way to keep your curly hair healthy and manageable.
Curly hair reacts wonderfully to a natural hair care regime, becoming well nourished and shiny.
With so much choice under the No Poo umbrella, there will be a method that suits both your hair and your lifestyle.