So I’ve been having a bad hair week, not a bad hair day, a bad hair week. I have ridiculously baby fine hair. I kid you not, I use little kid plastic clips to keep my bangs back, like the little poodle ones you see on a toddler. I’ve never been called “adorable” so many times since I started wearing them, though.
This morning, in and out of a bad headache I saw those infomercials for the Wen Hair Care System. I buy Whole Foods brand shampoo and conditioner right now, but even I wouldn’t spend $30 a month on shampoo and conditioner. I’m lucky if I spend $30 a year!!!
One of the things that’s been on my mind is the no-poo method. No-poo essentially is using a baking soda and water mixture/paste instead of shampoo, and then some people use an apple cider vinegar/water rinse in place of conditioner. Unfortunately with my baby find hair, the baking soda mixture is an absolute no way. I use a baking soda mixture for a body scrub and the last time I accidentally got some on my hair, it was a dry, brittle sad state of affairs.
So what to do? I started searching “alternative shampoo” on google and came across this gem from lifehackery.com. Not all sounded appealing, but I thought the aloe vera gel sounded like a real possibility. We keep aloe gel in abundant supply because I get sunburned often, so I thought I would try it.
I stepped into the shower put a dollop of aloe gel in my hand and combed it through my hair. I was surprised how easily it combed through my hair and how nice it felt. I didn’t need any conditioner at all. After the shower, I blow dried and so far so good. My hair feels light, isn’t greasy, and I think this might be a winner. Best of all, aloe gel is pretty inexpensive compared to shampoo and conditioner, and it’s good for me, no harsh chemicals. I can’t no-poo, but I can certainly alterna-poo!
{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }
Good luck! I've been no-poo for about 2 years now. The financial savings has been AMAZING because I too have fine, breakable, easily-dread-lockable hair. I used to spend buckets on conditioner and trying ever gentler shampoos until I realized that shampoo-wise "there was no there there". So, I gave it all up. I only wash my hair once a week in the winter and about 1-2 times per week in the summer (sweat + dust = head crust). The only long term issue is breakage but I had that before. My hair seems to be breaking off at about where it would have been just growing out of the scalp when I changed to no-poo. I'm hoping this passes but since I wear it in a ponytail all the time anyway and haven't had a trim since 1989, it doesn't REALLY matter.
Good luck with the aloe vera. I may try that.
@Jill: I would definitely try the aloe gel. I actually tried it specifically because it is supposed to prevent breakage and hair falling out. I even colored my hair with a naturatint hair color and there's been no color loss, damage, or problems. I do have to shampoo/condition once a week at this point, but it's not bad. I'm using up my excess conditioner as shave lotion!
Jill-The hair breakage is more likely from wearing your hear in a ponytail and not any products you use.
Interesting! I haven't tried that, but I do use aloe as a light styling gel, sometimes mixed with salt for some added texture. This isn't my site, but you can read more here, including how to make a much stronger gel: http://bonzaiaphrodite.com/2009/11/natural-homemade-hair-gel/
I have very baby fine hair, too, and not nearly as much as I'd like. So, while I've been tempted by the no-poo method, I've found that I can't get past my hair being even slightly weighed down (which doesn't take much). For a while I was using a locally made, more "natural" shampoo without any conditioner and that worked pretty well. But now that I have short hair I've started just using some Dr. Bronner's tea tree oil soap. It is more drying, so I'd recommend a good conditioner if you have long hair (especially if you need help detangling), but I LOVE it. Plus, since you can buy it in bulk, it's pretty cheap ($33 for 128 ounces at my local health food store). And it's VERY versatile. I used it for many things around the house before I brought some into the shower.
@Anonymous: It depends on where the breakage occurs. If the breakage is occurring outside of the rubber band zone, it may be due to other factors.
@Meg: I love Dr. Bronner's soap! I actually use peppermint for my body, while my husband uses almond for, well, everything! Unfortunately, if I use the castile soap in my hair I have to condition at least daily, and if it's colored, Bronner's strips it right out, which is why I was looking for alternatives. As soon as I get tired of being a red head, I might go back to the castile, though.
hi there,
i can't use Baking Soda too. It burns my scalp and gives it a raw feel. So i'll try your aloe gel method, thanks for sharing!!
Also, how many times a week do you use the aloe on your hair?
btw, will any aloe gel work? cos over here i can only get fruit of the earth aloe gel. will that do?
thanks again.
@Anonymous: No worries! I started out using the fruit of the earth gel and it worked great. You kind of have to feel your way through it. I started out everyday, but even that was too much for my baby fine hair, so I was on an every other day routine for a while. And I have to adjust it for the season, more often in the winter when it's drier, and less in the summer time. Hope that helps!