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Andrea Lynch can?t exactly remember the last time she shampooed her hair. Maybe it was last summer? No, more like September. She thinks.
For most Americans, the idea of skipping shampoo for even a day is enough to make us feel a little itchy. But some hair stylists and dermatologists say going a few extra days between shampoos ? or ditching the stuff entirely ? could actually benefit your tresses.
It's a bit counterintuitive, but those who've tried it are quick to brag about the improved condition of their hair. "I'm thrilled with it; my hair's very shiny and it's just thick," says 34-year-old Lynch, who lives in South Vienna, Ohio.
In recent years, "no poo" has become something of an underground beauty trend (despite being saddled with an unfortunate moniker) that's split into two camps: beauty mavens who believe they've found hair care's dirty little secret, and environmentally minded folks who want to use fewer plastic products and products with fewer chemicals.
?I think we?ve been so conditioned that you have to wash your hair every day ... that it?s just bizarre for somebody to think something otherwise,? says Lynch, who fits comfortably within the eco-friendly category of no-pooers.
Europeans and Australians have a more lax attitude toward shampooing, but in the U.S., the thought of going more than 48 hours without shampoo makes many squirm. Still, the idea seems to be finding its footing here ? beauty blogs and message boards are abuzz with 'poo eschewers, and some stylists say more of their clients are asking about it.
The trend toward everyday cleansing might have triggered a vicious cycle, some experts say ? shampoo cleanses by stripping the hair of its natural, necessary oils, causing the scalp to produce more oil in response, making it impossible for some to skip shampoo for even one day without sprouting a gigantic greaseball.
?When you over-shampoo your hair, your hair is over-secreting oil in order to survive,? says Lorraine Massey, co-owner of Devachan Salon in New York and creator of the No Poo conditioning cleanser. (It's been more than 20 years since Massey's last shampoo.)
Some who've junked shampoo use only hot water to rinse the hair. Others use only conditioner, which can be especially helpful for the curly hair that tends to dehydrate quickly and explode into frizzies. But for Lynch and her like-minded no-pooers, the cleanser of choice is simply a 59-cent box of baking soda: She mixes one teaspoon with one cup of water.
?You shake it up real good, and when you get in the shower you pour it on, massage it in and let it sit for a bit, and rinse it out,? Lynch says. The mixture absorbs excess oil without the chemical frills or fruity scents. (On the downside, no bubbles and no lather make for a rather unsatisfying shower for some.)
Both Lynch and Spencer, the reluctant California no-pooer, pushed through an awkward phase of grease and grime ? and each were rewarded with shinier, healthier-looking hair that had less frizz and more body than they'd had before. And no, it doesn't smell or itch, they both say.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30337386/
For most Americans, the idea of skipping shampoo for even a day is enough to make us feel a little itchy. But some hair stylists and dermatologists say going a few extra days between shampoos ? or ditching the stuff entirely ? could actually benefit your tresses.
It's a bit counterintuitive, but those who've tried it are quick to brag about the improved condition of their hair. "I'm thrilled with it; my hair's very shiny and it's just thick," says 34-year-old Lynch, who lives in South Vienna, Ohio.
In recent years, "no poo" has become something of an underground beauty trend (despite being saddled with an unfortunate moniker) that's split into two camps: beauty mavens who believe they've found hair care's dirty little secret, and environmentally minded folks who want to use fewer plastic products and products with fewer chemicals.
?I think we?ve been so conditioned that you have to wash your hair every day ... that it?s just bizarre for somebody to think something otherwise,? says Lynch, who fits comfortably within the eco-friendly category of no-pooers.
Europeans and Australians have a more lax attitude toward shampooing, but in the U.S., the thought of going more than 48 hours without shampoo makes many squirm. Still, the idea seems to be finding its footing here ? beauty blogs and message boards are abuzz with 'poo eschewers, and some stylists say more of their clients are asking about it.
The trend toward everyday cleansing might have triggered a vicious cycle, some experts say ? shampoo cleanses by stripping the hair of its natural, necessary oils, causing the scalp to produce more oil in response, making it impossible for some to skip shampoo for even one day without sprouting a gigantic greaseball.
?When you over-shampoo your hair, your hair is over-secreting oil in order to survive,? says Lorraine Massey, co-owner of Devachan Salon in New York and creator of the No Poo conditioning cleanser. (It's been more than 20 years since Massey's last shampoo.)
Some who've junked shampoo use only hot water to rinse the hair. Others use only conditioner, which can be especially helpful for the curly hair that tends to dehydrate quickly and explode into frizzies. But for Lynch and her like-minded no-pooers, the cleanser of choice is simply a 59-cent box of baking soda: She mixes one teaspoon with one cup of water.
?You shake it up real good, and when you get in the shower you pour it on, massage it in and let it sit for a bit, and rinse it out,? Lynch says. The mixture absorbs excess oil without the chemical frills or fruity scents. (On the downside, no bubbles and no lather make for a rather unsatisfying shower for some.)
Both Lynch and Spencer, the reluctant California no-pooer, pushed through an awkward phase of grease and grime ? and each were rewarded with shinier, healthier-looking hair that had less frizz and more body than they'd had before. And no, it doesn't smell or itch, they both say.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30337386/
