Everyone wants their hair to be their crowning glory. So, is the No Poo method good for hair? Will I notice a difference?
Many people have started using the No Poo method to keep their hair healthy. Using organic natural products that have no sulfates, silicones or parabens is good for our hair, and the environment. Many people find that going No Poo has made their hair healthier, more voluminous, and just as clean as when using traditional shampoos.
I was fascinated by the No Poo Movement concept, so decided to investigate the subject more.
No Poo is popular, but I wondered whether it was actually good for hair at the same time.
Having looked at several of the most favored methods I have been able to find out the following.
Is The No Poo Method Good For Hair?
The No Poo movement started in the mid-20th century and has grown in popularity since then, with many famous followers such as Jessica Simpson and Gwyneth Paltrow amongst them.
No Poo methods involve using only natural products to clean your hair.
No traditional shampoos are allowed, nor are any products that contain:
- Sulfates
- Parabens
- Silicones
- Other Man-Made Ingredients
Moving away from traditional shampoos can revitalize your hair leaving it naturally healthy, nourished, and shiny.
Many people have found that going No Poo has changed the way they feel about their hair.
Ultimately, the No Poo movement is both healthier for your hair, as well as healthier for the environment.
Below are the key benefits of the No Poo method:
1. Naturally Clean
No Poo uses natural products rather than traditional shampoos to cleanse and nourish our hair.
Honey, tea tree, aloe vera, and cleansing clay can all be used to keep your hair in tip-top condition.
2. Chemical Free
Truly No Poo recipes do not contain sulfates, parabens, or silicons, all of which are considered to be damaging not only to your hair and scalp but also to the environment.
It is thought that these chemicals strip your hair of its natural oils and lead to an unhealthy scalp with dry, unmanageable hair.
This is a vicious circle as you then use more manufactured products to try to restore your hair to its natural state.
3. Environmentally Friendly
No Poo means reducing your environmental impact by limiting the chemicals that are used, and those that are washed away into the sewer system.
4. More Manageable / Shiny
Many followers of the No Poo methods say that their hair is more manageable and shiny when using No Poo methods, especially those with curly hair.
Those with non-porous hair will often find that No Poo is beneficial as their hair is being nourished regularly rather than stripped by traditional shampoos on a daily basis.
5. Money Saving
Traditional shampoos are expensive.
No Poo only uses natural ingredients, and most of these are ones that you already have in your kitchen.
6. Less Hair Damage
Not only is using natural products better for your hair but reducing the reliance on hair straighteners and dryers means your hair is not damaged by heat.
If you find yourself with dry or damaged hair then there are many natural products that can be used to restore your hair to its best natural state.
7. Hair Growth
There is no concrete evidence to say that No Poo directly affects hair growth.
However, many followers believe that removing all the negative ingredients from their hair care routine will ultimately help hair to grow as best it can.
8. Essential Oils
Essential oils, such as Rosemary, are used in some No Poo recipes and could help your hair to grow.
9. Control
When you follow a No Poo approach you are more in control of what ingredients are going onto your hair and scalp.
If your hair is feeling a little dry, then a honey wash may be the answer, whereas if your scalp is scratchier than usual then an aloe vera rinse can be used.
The alternatives are endless, and with No Poo, making a change doesn’t leave you with an empty wallet and lots of barely used extra bottles in your bathroom.
You simply use as little or as much as you like from your pantry!
10. Better Curls
No Poo can increase the moisture levels in your hair. This leads to bouncier, silkier, and more manageable curls.
Because the curls are already moisture-rich there is less chance that they will frizz in high humidity.
11. Reduction Of Waste
A No Poo lifestyle removes all traditional shampoo bottles from your life, thereby reducing waste to landfills, plastics into the sea, and reducing the carbon footprint from transportation.
12. New Products
The advantage of No Poo is that there are many different natural products that can be used to keep your hair clean and healthy-looking, and most of these are already in your kitchen.
This means that it’s easier to change to other options as required, without having to store a huge number of different products in the bathroom, taking up space and reducing your bank balance.
13. Time
When transitioning from traditional shampoos to a No Poo method the likelihood is that you will go from washing your hair every day to washing only once a week. Sometimes even less frequently, depending on your hair type.
Washing your hair less saves time every day that can be put to better use, and adds up over the course of a year.
With curly hair, any oiliness is less obvious and as a result, the transition phase should be less difficult than for those with fine or straight hair.
Is The No Poo Method Bad For Your Hair?
Some people have moved away from No Poo saying that they found it damaging to their hair.
Everyone is an individual and our hair and scalp are different in length, porosity, curliness, etc. That means that it may take time to find the best No Poo method for you and your lifestyle.
Trust me, I have been in this situation too. From my own personal experience, I can tell you that there definitely is light at the end of the tunnel.
It is simply all about finding the No Poo Method that is right for your own hair.
No Poo is not bad for your hair because:
- It uses natural ingredients
- Reduces harmful chemicals to you and the environment
- Has many recipes to combat all hair ills
- Allows your scalps sebum to naturally moisturise both your hair and your scalp
Making No Poo work for your hair can be trial and error to a certain extent. Sometimes you will find that an ingredient that works well for others plays havoc when you try it yourself.
The main thing to remember is that if you do have a problem whilst trying to No Poo, there is always a solution!
Below are some key issues that some No Poo’ers experience:
Baking Soda
This is a very popular product used in No Poo.
Whilst it is a brilliant cleaning agent it should be used sparingly because it is abrasive if used too often or in too high an amount, causing hair to dry out and become brittle.
Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)
Often used with baking soda, ACV is used to balance the pH as a rinse after washing.
ACV must be diluted or your hair may suffer in the long term.
Not Rinsing Thoroughly
Although not a problem caused by ingredients, not rinsing enough after washing can leave residue on your hair that may appear to be like dandruff.
Contact Dermatitis
Before using any new product a patch test should always be used to make sure that you are not allergic/sensitive to an ingredient.
For example, soap nuts can be problematic to some people.
Clay
Clay can be wonderfully nourishing but heavy and difficult to remove, especially on thin or fine hair.
Different No Poo Methods
One of the best things about No Poo is that there is a recipe for every eventuality, and most products will already be sat in your pantry!
If you make sure to avoid washing your hair with traditional shampoos, or those with man-made chemicals, then you will have successfully started your No Poo journey.
The most common No Poo methods are as follows:
1. Water Only
Using only water to clean your hair.
2. Sebum Only
Cleaning your hair with natural sebum and no additives.
3. Conditioner Only
No shampoo is used but conditioner is used to clean hair instead.
The conditioner used is silicon, sulfate, and paraben free.
4. No Poo Traditional
Natural ingredients without silicones, sulfates, and parabens.
5. Curly Girl Method
Very similar to No Poo but heated styling items are not permitted.
This method also prefers co-washing over shampoo of any kind.
How To Go No Poo
It’s easier to go No Poo than you might expect.
The method you chose is up to you and can range from simply using store-bought No Poo agreeable shampoo, to making your own shampoo concoction fresh before every wash.
Here is an easy No Poo Method step by step guide to help you achieve healthier, happier No Poo hair:
- Stop: Stop using traditional shampoos.
- Investigate: Take a look at your hair and answer:
- Is my hair high, medium, or low porosity?
- Does my hair get greasy easily?
- Is my hair often dry?
- Is my hair curly?
- How long do I have to tend to my hair each week?
- Answers: The answers you give will decide which No Poo method is for you.
- Start: Now that you have chosen to follow the No Poo method wash your hair as appropriate and understand that the transition phase may last up to 6 months.
- Watch: After the transition phase, see how healthy and naturally well-nourished your hair now is without chemicals.
Is The No Poo Method Good For Curly Hair?
The No Poo method can be used by people with all hair types, however, it is particularly helpful for those with curly hair.
Curly hair is generally more porous than other types of hair and therefore absorbs everything in the air around it, which includes moisture, which makes it frizzy.
It is useful to know what type of curl you have so that the most appropriate natural products can be chosen.
After rejecting traditional shampoos that strip our hair of natural moisture, No Poo allows optimum sebum to be produced and pulled down the hair shaft, to create perfect, frizz-free curls.
Does No Poo Make Hair Thicker?
No Poo won’t make your hair thicker.
However, it can aid hair growth, and limit hair loss. These together can make it appear that your hair has got thicker.
Whilst the thickness of your hair cannot be changed it may alter depending upon your hormones, age, diet etc.
No Poo can make your hair look more voluminous and therefore thicker.
Does No Poo Method Help Hair Grow?
The No Poo method can make the hair appear to grow more quickly.
In reality, it is simply restoring the scalp and hair’s natural balance that has been ruined by the chemicals in traditional shampoos.
Now that you are not coating your hair with silicon, and stripping the natural oils on a daily basis, the scalp can concentrate on growing your hair, rather than trying to save hair that has been constantly damaged.
Does The No Poo Method Work For Thin Hair?
No Poo works for all hair types.
Thin hair may need slightly different methods from thick or curly hair, but if you go No Poo you’ll notice how much more volume and health your thin hair has.
You may find that using baking soda and apple cider vinegar doesn’t work well with thin hair as it’s too harsh.
I would recommend that you try egg or clay washes and masks, as these may make all the difference to how you feel about your hair.
No Poo Method For Fine Hair
Fine hair can be difficult to manage as it is so easily weighed down by product or natural grease.
No one method is solely for fine hair, it is best to try out convenient No Poo recipes for yourself to find out what your hair likes best.
No Poo has many recipes to choose from that will stop you from having to worry about your fine hair, leaving it manageable and silky smooth.
No Poo Hair Loss
No Poo may help reduce hair loss, but only if you take into account your own hair type and porosity, then use a No Poo wash that effectively balances the hair’s natural pH.
Hair sheds naturally on a random cycle.
These are the three stages of hair growth:
1. Anagen
The anagen stage lasts for years and the hair will continue growing until the resting, or Catagen stage is reached.
2. Catagen
At this point, the hair follicle slows production and gradually shrinks.
3. Telogen
In the final, Telogen stage, hair is no longer produced and eventually falls out.
When this is not caused by a new hair pushing through and affects a significant proportion of the overall number of follicles, hair loss can be seen.
Simplistically, hair loss occurs when fewer new hairs are being produced than those falling out.
Average hair loss is 50-100 strands per day, but if you’re washing less frequently then it might look like you are losing far more each time even though the overall loss is much less.
Causes Of Hair Loss:
Below are some common causes of hair loss:
- Up-Do’s: Pulling your hair too tightly into a style can disrupt hair follicles and lead excess hair to fall out.
- Excessive Brushing: Excessive brushing can pull hair out.
- Heated Styling Aids: Too much use of heated styling aids might lead to breakage which could look like hair loss.
- Genetics: Our genetic make up also plays a part in who suffers most, so look at your older female relatives, if they have thinning hair then it may be that your chromosomes are simply working to the family blueprint!
- Wrong Recipe / Overuse: Choose the right recipe for your hair type, and don’t be tempted to wash your hair too frequently. If it is greasy try using dry shampoo or rye flour to get rid of the oil.
No Poo Shampoo
There are many No Poo shampoos now easily available both in the UK and the USA.
The one’s that have caught my eye have brilliant reviews:
USA
- WOW Apple cider vinegar shampoo and conditioner
- Pura D’or Original Gold Label
UK
- Cantu Shea butter for natural hair
- Faith in Nature Avocado shampoo
As with all shampoos, traditional or No Poo, you may need to try a few to find the one that you and your hair are most happy with.
Conclusion
Is the No Poo method good for hair is a great question that is really quite simple to answer.
Yes, No Poo is good for your hair providing that you find the right recipe and method for your hair and lifestyle.
There is so much to gain from going No Poo that you’ll wonder why you didn’t start earlier.
Related Questions
No Poo Method Before And After
Your No Poo hair may seem oily whilst you are in the transition phase. Don’t worry, once this phase is over you’ll start to see how your hair is improving with every day you stick with No Poo.