Shampoo yes or no? It’s perhaps one of the most divisive topics in beauty. In fact, alternatives to washing your hair exist and are called no-poo or low-poo methods. As has just been demonstrated by a Canadian influencer who, having put aside shampoo for seven months, took care of her hair in an alternative way. And it seems with benefits.
No-poo: can you wash your hair without shampoo?
Those who contest the use of shampoo do so because of some ingredients that compose it: parabens, surfactants, sulphates and silicones are among the ingredients “indicted” for damaging the hair, preferring no-poo and low-poo methods.
Orim Bright, Canadian influencer, started a rather interesting experiment: in fact, for seven months he has locked away shampoo and conditioner to wash his hair and experimented with a series of alternatives.
His logbook is on TikTok, where he recently posted his mix of aromatic herbs that purify, detoxify and keep the hair clean. Used two-three times a month, the mixture is made up of thymewhich helps control excess sebum, marigold to keep the hair fiber and scalp hydrated, mint for its anti-grease action and rosemary because it helps the roots heal from any inflammation. In the end, ginger which promotes local circulation.
The whole thing was left to macerate for about six weeks in apple cider vinegar which, in addition to preserving the ingredients, acts on the hair by cleaning it.
What are the no-poo and low-poo trends
But do these no-poo methods really work? Experts agree that some natural ingredientssuch as apple cider vinegar and baking soda, they help the hair by cleaning it and keeping it in shape.
The basic idea is avoid using industrial shampoos to wash your hair in favor of more traditional and natural methods. A choice that requires not only a profound knowledge of one’s hair but also of the properties of natural ingredients. Clays, for example, are suitable for very oily hair, lemon instead for dry and brittle hair because it gives it thickness while sodium bicarbonate and coconut oil are ideal for a compress for normal hair.
How to try
For this reason, instead of opting for no-poo, i.e. the complete elimination of shampoo, you can convert to low-poo: in this case, in fact, its use is not completely eliminated but it is alternated with more natural solutions. A very valid conversion especially for hair that may present problems, for example oily hair, for which a profound change in hair routine such as no-poo can accentuate the problem.
Do no-poo methods work?
The question that arises spontaneously is whether alternatives to shampoo actually wash your hair. Certainly, infusions of natural ingredients tend to attack the hair fiber less so as to facilitate one more natural and self-regulated sebum production.
However, there are some “cons”: first of all they are not suitable for all hair types, such as for those who are already naturally fragile. Secondly, adopting a hair routine without shampoo imposes new habits on the hair, which could give rise to imbalances, feelings of heaviness or problems like dandruff.
Finally, the ingredients must be calibrated very well because they can still be aggressive: bicarbonate, for example, on some hair tends to alter the pH of the skin by irritating it.
Wash less but better
GExperts tend to generally recommend a low-poo routine, which doesn’t abuse shampoo. Also wash your hair slightly less frequently (not every day) but better helps keep them in shape. Solid shampoos are also valid: esustainable, they often contain only natural and short INCI ingredients, which do not stress the hair or scalp with too many surfactants or foaming agents.
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