We all want our hair to be healthy, easy to maintain, shiny, and look fabulous. With so many options though it can be difficult to decide the best way to keep our hair looking and feeling great.
Many people are now seeking a more natural method of caring for their hair, that doesn’t damage the environment, and makes hair look great. This has resulted in a wave of individuals moving across to a No Poo lifestyle. Maybe this is the right time for you to take the plunge too?
The No Poo movement is growing. Keeping your hair clean and well-nourished using natural ingredients is possibly easier to do than using traditional shampoos that contain sulphates, silicons, and parabens. Baking soda and ACV are popular No Poo choices. Removing chemicals from our hair and body can only be beneficial for our health.
Moving across from using traditional shampoos to a No Poo shampoo method can be beneficial for many reasons. It’s not as difficult as you may think and can lead to healthier, thicker, and more manageable locks.
Let’s take a closer look at shampoo vs No Poo, to see what all the fuss is about!
Shampoo Vs No Poo
No Poo is a method of hair care that rejects traditional shampoos in favour of natural products. These natural ingredients are better for both our hair and the environment.
Before making any important decision it is a good idea to put down everything on paper to make a comparison.
The table below shows a few of the key differences between traditional shampoos and No Poo method results:
| Factor | Traditional Shampoo | No Poo |
|---|---|---|
| Environment | 1. Increases containers to landfill 2. Chemicals run-off to watercourses 3. Manufacturing air pollution | 1. All-natural 2. No harmful by-products 3. No transportation pollution |
| Time | Wash hair every or every other day | Wash hair weekly |
| Cost | Expensive Continuous costs | Readily available ingredients Inexpensive |
| Chemicals | Man-made chemicals | Natural chemicals |
| Hair health | Sulfates dry out hair | Naturally nourished hair |
| Itchy scalp | Can be aggravating to the scalp | This method can soothe irritated scalps |
| Oily scalp | Harshly strips away oil | Allows the scalp to regulate its own sebum production |
| Availability | Available everywhere | Many recipes able to be made from ingredients already in the garden or pantry |
| Effort | Can be used straight from the bottle | 1. Can be as involved as you like when choosing and making DIY shampoos 2. Can purchase off the shop shelf |
Is No Poo Good For Your Hair?
No Poo can leave your hair looking and feeling better than when using traditional shampoos.
Below are some of the key benefits of No Poo, for your hair:
1. No Man-Made Chemicals
Only natural ingredients to keep hair healthy.
2. Nourished
Sebum from your scalp provides all the nourishment your hair needs.
3. Frizz
Nourished hair means less frizz.
4. Curls
No Poo can help define and help make your curls easier to manage.
5. Dandruff
Many people say that their dandruff disappears when using No Poo.
6. Volume
No Poo can improve hair health, leaving it looking thicker and with more volume.
7. Hair Loss / Growth
Many No Poo’ers have voiced their opinion that their hair loss has lessened.
They have also noticed more growth than usual when following a No Poo haircare regime.
Is No Poo Bad For Your Hair?
As with anything, there will always be potential downsides when going No Poo.
Here are the key arguments against following a No Poo hair care regime:
1. Greasy
Greasy hair is common during the transition period of No Poo i.e. the time when you stop using traditional shampoos and start washing your hair with No Poo friendly methods.
This is a phase that almost everyone must go through. Don’t fret about it, as the greasy stage WILL pass. Usually within 6 weeks.
2. Smell
Some people experience a slight odor to their hair when first moving to No Poo.
From my own personal experience, this definitely wasn’t my favorite stage of the process. However, I persisted with the transition process and found that the smell gradually faded away.
3. Dryness
Washing too frequently with baking soda and ACV may lead to dry hair. To avoid this happening, make sure you reduce the frequency or quantity of baking soda that you use when washing your hair.
4. Allergic Reaction
Allergic reactions are always possible when trying a new product, whether hair-related or not.
In particular, soapnuts used in No Poo recipes can sometimes lead to an allergic reaction, especially in those who already have an allergy to latex.
Essential oils used in too high a dosage can also cause a bad reaction.
To avoid suffering an allergic reaction, make sure you patch test every new ingredient that you plan to put in your hair.
5. One Method Doesn’t Suit All
It may take you a couple of tries to find the right No Poo combination of ingredients to suit your hair and lifestyle.
Just remember that when you find your hair’s holy grail, the benefits to your hair will shine through.
What Is No Poo Shampoo?
No Poo shampoo is a hair cleansing product that does not contain:
- Sulfates
- Silicon
- Parabens
Whilst No Poo shampoos can be made at home with readily available ingredients, they are also now commercially available in health stores and online if you are short on time, or don’t fancy the mess.
What does No Poo shampoo mean to those who try the method?
- It means the freedom to alter their hair care routine whenever necessary i.e. change of seasons, humidity, etc.
- The ability to make shampoo from scratch, and be fully aware of every ingredient.
- No Poo shampoo means the knowledge that you’re not contributing to landfill sites.
- Extra time to relax or catch up with friends, since your hair needs to be washed less often.
Why Use No Poo Shampoo?
There are many reasons to use No Poo shampoo, from the environment to the beneficial effects on your hair.
If you look at some No Poo shampoo reviews, you will likely see that reviewers often state how much better the individual hair is once they have transitioned to No Poo.
Here are some other benefits of using No Poo shampoo:
- Thicker Hair
- Reduced Dandruff
- Less Frizz
- Better Growth
- More Manageable
- Shinier
The above list is not exhaustive as there really are so many benefits to you and your hair of going No Poo.
Sulphate Shampoo Vs No Poo
One of the main concepts of No Poo is that there should be no sulfates in the shampoo used.
Therefore, if you are new to No Poo, or considering changing from traditional shampoos then you may well ask, do I really need sulfate-free shampoo? And, are sulfate shampoos really better?
In answer to these queries, I always advise people that to go No Poo effectively you will need to use a shampoo that is free from sulfates, amongst other ingredients.
Below are the key reasons why No Poo shampoo does not contain sulfates:
Sulphate Shampoo
Sulfates are not included within No Poo shampoos, because they (source 1):
- Can dry out hair
- Can irritate scalp
- Can cause hair loss
- Can make hair frizzy
- Hair might become brittle with regular use
Sulfates clean hair very effectively, but can be too thorough and leave hair dry and prone to further breakage.
Silicons within the shampoo then cover up this damage and reduce moisture entering the hair. This is part of the reason why silicons are not permitted in No Poo.
Sulphate Free Shampoo
By comparison, the sulfate-free shampoo will likely:
- Keep hair moisturized for longer
- Be less irritating to your scalp
- Reduces frizz
- Better for the environment
- Reduces colour fade in coloured hair
Natural Shampoo Vs No Poo
There are so many terms when discussing hair care that it is sometimes difficult to navigate around them all.
So, let me explain …
Natural shampoo is a shampoo that is made from only natural ingredients. Therefore, it falls under the No Poo concept as no man-made chemicals are used in its production.
Low Poo Shampoo Vs No Poo
Low Poo often falls under the umbrella term of No Poo.
Low Poo uses homemade shampoo bars and like No-Poo steers clear of sulphates and silicons in the main.
Although slightly controversial, some people consider low poo to be an acceptable term for reducing the amount and frequency of traditional shampoos. As the ultimate aim of reducing chemicals on our bodies, and improving the environment is the same, it is often allowed.
Low Poo shampoos are now widely available and can be an easier transition to No Poo over time.
Shampoo Bar Vs No Poo
Traditional shampoos are generally liquid and easy to pour.
The issue with this is that it is easy to over-pour and use more than needed. Not only is this wasteful, but it also leads to chemicals literally going down the drain.
Shampoo bars stop this issue.
1. Shampoo Bars
The shampoo bar is like a regular soap bar but made of shampoo ingredients.
These bars can be made at home or purchased in health shops and online.
Simply rub the shampoo bar through wet hair and lather and rinse like you would with traditional shampoo.
Shampoo bars can be No Poo, i.e. not contain sulfates and silicons, and if you make them at home then you will know exactly what they contain.
2. No Poo Shampoo Bars
For many people purchasing No Poo shampoo bars, these bars can make their No Poo life much easier. This is because the No Poo shampoo is ready when needed.
Some No Poo’ers would argue that the ingredients needed to make the shampoo into ‘bars’ are not wholly No Poo. The choice though is up to the individual, and moving away from man-made chemicals and plastic containers can only be good for our own health and that of the environment.
What Is The Best No Poo Shampoo For Fine Hair
If you have fine hair then you have probably tried most traditional shampoos on the market.
Fine hair is difficult to keep looking healthy as most products weigh it down so it ends up looking dull and limp.
Going No Poo should help as you will remove silicons which are notorious for weighing down your hair.
Oil can also be a problem for people with fine hair as it too can weigh the hair down, stopping it from looking and feeling pleasant.
Here are my two No Poo shampoo recommendations:
- One of the most popular No Poo shampoos is made by Wow. It is an apple cider vinegar shampoo that is suitable for all hair types.
- Whilst the above would be acceptable to use on fine hair, OGX’s biotin and collagen has been specifically designed for fine hair, and states that it is sulphate-free.
Conclusion
Traditional shampoos are packed full of man-made chemicals.
These man-made chemicals simply mimic the abilities of the natural ingredients that No Poo already harnesses the benefits of.
No Poo shampoos are therefore more beneficial since they use natural ingredients but without increasing environmental damage, and are better for our hair in the long-term.
Related Questions
No Poo Science
There have been few scientific papers written on No Poo. As the main products used are kitchen staples, there is no financial benefit for major firms to invest in the research.