An important part of any No Poo regime is the No Poo rinse after washing.
No Poo is a popular hair cleansing method that uses natural products rather than traditional shampoos. Using a No Poo rinse after washing helps to keep hair nourished and balanced with a lovely shine. Rinses can include teas, vinegar, or oils, depending upon what you are trying to achieve.
Rinsing can use many ingredients from vinegar to tea.
Rinsing both helps to balance pH and moisturize our hair to keep it healthy and looking at its best. Coldwater rinses are popular to end with because they help to aid shine and lessen frizz.
No Poo rinses are almost as varied as No Poo washing methods. The trick is to do your research to find out what rinse is most suited to your hair and your hair goals.
Tea, vinegar, and oils can all be used as a rinse; removing the cleansing product from your hair and balancing the pH.
The No Poo Rinse
Washing your hair doesn’t always need to mean using traditional shampoos which contain sulfates and silicon.
Instead, there are plenty of natural products available. If you look in your pantry or kitchen cupboards you will probably find that you already have most of them!
Rinsing is an important part of your No Poo method.
Many people rinse their hair after washing it since this not only cleans out the product used to wash your hair, but also balances pH, adds moisture, and strengthens hair, whilst also aiding growth.
There are no limits to how using the correct rinse can improve your hair.
Rinsing is sensible to do after every wash, but can be used between washes too; indeed, any time you like.
The type of rinse you use, however, is very important since too much rinsing with a vinegar-based product will affect your hair, as will using too strong a tea mix, or rinsing too often.
Choosing which rinse is right for your hair at one particular moment in time can feel daunting, since there are so many types.
It is also important to remember that our hair needs tend to change with the seasons and the environment in which we live, so what was right a month ago may not suit your hair and its needs today!
There are several main types of rinse, so you need to decide upon your current hair goal, then take a look at the options below:
- Herbal Rinses
- Tea Rines
- Acid Rinses
Remember when using rinses that the porosity of your hair is an important factor.
For example, if you have high porosity hair then consider reducing the time that the rinse is on your hair, or decreasing the potency of the rinse.
You can definitely have too much of a good thing, and in the case of high porosity hair, less is certainly more.
Now that you know the main rinse options, let’s take a closer look at each of them.
Herbal Rinses
This is where water is infused with the natural essence of herbs and can be used after shampooing, or between washes.
These rinses not only aid your hair health and smell amazing, but can add shine and volume.
Tea Rinses
These are used very regularly as a No Poo hair rinse.
It is favored as a remedy for thinning hair and is said to aid hair growth. When you consider the chemicals that naturally occur in tea this is not a surprise.
If you use a herb or tea-based rinse then you can either rinse through your hair and leave for a minute or two, followed by rinsing with cool water or leave in then dry and style as usual.
The benefit of these rinses is that, made and used correctly, they will not leave behind any residue that may weigh down your hair or leave it feeling unpleasant.
Acid Rinses
These are used to condition hair and balance the hair’s pH.
They have a moisturizing effect. Acid should always be diluted before use, otherwise, you run the risk of damaging your hair and scalp.
Acid rinses, however, should be used sparingly and rinsed out after the time stated in the recipe.
As a general rule of thumb, an acid rinse should be rinsed out with cool or cold water after 10 minutes. This is because of the difference in pH between the acid rinse and your scalp and hair.
There are of course exceptions to this rule, for example, apple juice rinses can be left in your hair to dry and styled as usual.
Some people also use ACV without rinsing and find that it doesn’t smell once their hair has dried. Ultimately, it will depend upon the strength of the ACV and your hair type.
Benefits Of The No Poo Method Rinse
The No Poo rinse is an important element of your hair care regime.
The great thing about the ingredients is that you can often find them already in your garden or kitchen.
Rinses tend to be easy to prepare and can be made in advance, and stored for use at a later time.
For example, you can make a green tea rinse at the same time as your morning tea, store it in the fridge once the tea has been steeping for 10-20 minutes, remove the leaves or bag and cover the cup or pot.
There is a rinse for every type of hair and every scalp condition. Some are herbal, some are teas, and yet more are acids.
Below are three common hair issues, and the appropriate No Poo Method rinse to use:
| Hair Issue | Rinse Needed |
|---|---|
| Dry Hair | Nettle and camomile rinses work well |
| Tangled Hair | If you find that your hair gets tangled easily than adding a little burdock root will help your hairbrush through easily |
| Itchy Scalp | As dry hair often happens at the same time as a dry and itchy scalp then nettle and camomile rinses will also help to soothe your scalp and reduce dandruff. Rosemary too can be used as a rinse to rid yourself of dandruff flakes. |
No Poo Method Rinse Recipes
It’s no surprise that with their antioxidant properties and other health benefits, herbs are often used in teas. These teas can be healthy to drink, but also often work amazingly on your hair.
Green tea is a natural detox both for the body and hair, whilst black tea is often used to prevent hair loss.
Acid rinses are popular to revitalize hair and ACV is regularly used after a baking soda wash to balance the pH and keep hair healthy.
Acid rinses can add shine and moisture and leave your hair feeling softer.
Acid rinses are also helpful at removing any residues that may be left in your hair after using a No Poo wash.
Herbal rinses can also be used instead of shampoo.
Many herbs and teas have cleansing properties, so with a bit of experimentation to see what suits you, you can ditch the shampoo altogether.
A popular herbal hair rinse recipe to use instead of shampoo is Reetha (soap nuts) and shikakai.
Add a little argan oil and you may even find that you can use this rinse as both a cleansing and moisturizing product, never having to use shampoo or conditioner again
Right, so you’ve worked out the rinse you need to apply but aren’t too sure how to make it?
If this sounds like you, take a look at these common No Poo Method rinsing recipes below (source 1,2,3,4,5,6).
1. Dry Hair Rinse
- Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons ACV
- 2 tablespoons Aloe Vera
- 2 tablespoons Honey
- Method
- Mix all together with water
- Pour over hair and scalp after washing
- Massage thoroughly
- Leave in for 20 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly with cool water
2. Oily Hair Rinse
- Ingredients
- 2 green tea bags
- 1 lemon
- Method
- Boil water and add tea bags
- Let sit for 5 minutes and add juice from a whole lemon
- Pour over hair and scalp after washing
- Massage thoroughly
- Leave in for 5 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly with cool water
3. Dandruff Rinse
- Ingredients
- 1 cup of green tea
- 2 drops of peppermint oil
- 1 teaspoon of distilled vinegar
- Method
- Mix all together
- Wet hair and pour over hair and scalp
- Massage thoroughly
- Leave in for 5 minutes
- Wash as usual
4. Cleansing Rinse
- Ingredients
- 1 cup diluted ACV (1:2 ratio)
- Method
- Wash hair as normal
- Wet hair and pour over hair and scalp
- Massage thoroughly
- Leave in for 5 minutes
- Rinse thoroughly with cool water
Common No Poo Hair Rinses
There are so many rinses and so many possible combinations that it can become a little overwhelming.
Like everything No Poo, the success of each product will depend upon your hair type and environment.
To help you decide which is the best type of No Poo rinse for you, below is a list of the most common No Poo hair rinses:
Herbal / Plant
Here is a list of common herbal / plant rinses (source 1,2,3,4) :
- Rosemary & Thyme: Antiseptic properties to help with healing a scalp with dandruff. Also known to darken hair over time and add shine.
- Blackberry Leaf: Leaving your hair soft, shiny, and dandruff-free, this herbal rinse will improve the tone and depth of your natural color.
- Lavender & Mint: In this rinse, ACV is also added to rid your scalp of residue. The lavender will soothe your scalp and the rinse will leave your scalp feeling clean and fresh. You will add shine, and the mint will help to reduce dandruff.
- Sage: This herbal rinse has been reported to cover greys and darken hair. Sage has antiseptic and antibacterial properties so is good for an irritated scalp. It has been used to reduce hair loss.
- Camomile: If you have blonde hair that you would like to be a little lighter, then a camomile rinse could be your answer. Easy to use, soothing, and with lightening properties, a little can go a long way.
- Rhubarb: If you need a little astringency in your rinse to balance your pH then adding rhubarb to camomile could be the answer.
- Hibiscus: It has been recorded that using a hibiscus rinse will brighten natural red highlights.
- Nettle: Nettles are used in hair rinses which claim to be the answer to dry and brittle hair and have been seen to add volume.
- Parsley: Dry and brittle hair may be helped by using a hair rinse including parsley. Parsley is also used to increase shine. Can be made into a paste and used as a mask. Parsley leaf and parsley root can both be used.
- Rose Petal: Rose Petals are included in rinses aiming to moisturize dry hair.
- Orange Garden Nasturtium: Used to add shine and volume, especially to fine hair.
- Fenugreek & Mint: One of the best all-round rinses that soothe the scalp whilst nourishing and moisturizing the hair. If you add honey and lemon it can even be used as a mild shampoo in its own right.
Tea
Here is a list of common tea rinses (source 1,2)
- Green Tea: We often drink this as a detox tea, but it works wonders on hair, leaving it nourished, and stimulating the follicles to encourage hair growth.
- Black Tea: This contains caffeine which stimulates follicles and as such could help reduce hair loss.
- Peppermint Tea: Mint is wonderful for hair. If you don’t have any fresh in your garden, then using peppermint tea from your kitchen will do much the same. Your scalp will regulate its sebum production more effectively and the menthol will leave your scalp tinglingly fresh and stimulated to grow more hair.
- Hibiscus Tea: This rinse can be used to eradicate dandruff and soothe an itchy scalp.
- Rosemary Tea: Anti-inflammatory chemicals within rosemary can help scalp health and lessen hair loss.
- Alma Tea Rinse: Alma is a fruit from the Indian subcontinent. It is packed full of vitamins and can help reduce thinning hair and some people even say it helps reduce greying hair. On top of all this it can be used as a wonderful hair rinse to moisturize your hair. Be careful with Alma though as it does not combine well with some other products such as henna. Always do your research before using.
- Witch Hazel: Good for cleansing hair of excess oil. Reduces dandruff, and can make hair softer and less frizzy.
- Rooibos: This is used to combat hair shedding and dandruff.
Acid Rinses
Below is a list of common No Poo acid rinses:
- ACV: Apple cider vinegar is a very popular and well-known rinse that is often used after washing with baking soda.
- Distilled Vinegar: This is generally used when trying to overcome very oily hair.
- Lemon Rinse: Apart from smelling amazing, a lemon rinse can add shine to your hair. Since it is slightly acidic, remember to dilute it well.
- Apple Juice: Apple juice can be used both as a conditioner and as a rinse to rid yourself of dandruff. When using as a rinse it makes hair shiny and can soften its texture (source 1).
Other No Poo Rinses
If you are concerned that none of the No Poo rinses above are right for you, don’t worry since rinses do not only come in herbal, tea, and acidic varieties.
Here are a few other rinses to consider using (source 1,2,3,4):
1. No Poo Rinse Water Only
When going WO strictly speaking no additional products should be used.
However, when rinsing your hair after washing it in warm water, turn down the temperature and rinse through with cool or cold water.
This will stimulate your scalp whilst closing your hair cuticles to give your hair a better shine.
Closing the cuticles will also mean that your hair is less prone to frizz and absorb any environmental dirt.
2. Honey Rinse
Honey is well known for its moisturizing properties.
Mixing a small amount of honey in water and using it after hair washing will nourish your hair and leave it feeling softer and shinier.
It is important to use water to remove the honey rinse after use, and not use too much honey otherwise your hair may feel sticky afterward.
Honey may also lighten your hair slightly with regular use.
3. Coffee Rinse
Coffee is used in many traditional shampoos owing to its reputation for hair thickening and reducing hair loss.
Coffee is not recommended for those with bleached or light-colored hair as it may stain.
For this reason, it is always best to use a coffee rinse wearing old clothes or a towel that you don’t mind being colored too.
Clay Rinse
Using a clay rinse can strengthen your hair and stop you from needing to either shampoo or conditioner.
Bentonite and rhassoul clay are the most commonly used.
Remember not to use metal bowls or utensils when using clay.
Most of the herbal rinse ingredients can be combined to make a rinse that helps every hair, keeping it nourished and healthy-looking.
The majority can also be used as and when, or a couple of times a week as desired.
The cleansing herbal rinses are very useful to keep your hair feeling at its best even between washes.
As with any new product, a patch test is advisable before incorporating these into your hair care regime as we all react differently to new products.
For example, Reetha, or soap nuts can cause a skin reaction in some people; most often those who already have an allergy to latex.
It is definitely better to check first than have an adverse reaction.
Conclusion
There is an extraordinary number of No Poo rinses that you can use for every type of hair, and every conceivable hair problem.
Some rinses will allow you to forgo shampoo and conditioner entirely.
The main benefits of No Poo rinses are their ease of use. They are also versatile and readily available.