Shampoo Free

[limewave]

I have naturally curly hair. When researching the best way to care for curly hair, I read over and over again to stay away from shampoo. I've been breaking myself of the shampoo habit for the last few months.

I don't use anything other than water to clean my hair. I use a large, wide-tooth comb in the shower. Once my hair is gently combed out, I use my fingers, like a squeegee, under the shower to clean/rinse my hair. 2-3 times a week I apply conditioner and use the comb to apply it to my hair (I do not rinse out the conditioner).

I get the best curls this way and my hair looks healthy. If I have plans, I apply a dollop of honey to may hair while its still soaking wet (not at the roots, just to the hair from about the ears down).

[GLC1968]

I was also shampoo free until I started tri training. Now I shampoo only after swimming with a chlorine neutralizing shampoo. I then apply a rich conditioner and do not rinse it out until the next morning when I take my regular shower. It's not a good as being completely shampoo free, but it's do able.

For me, I went shampoo free to improve my curls. I stayed shampoo free to help the environment, actually. I had a pixie cut and could easily have handled shampooing (no curls when my hair is that short and getting cut every 3-4 weeks!) but opted out.

I 100% agree that water quality plays a BIG role. I started this when we lived in NC and had city water and it was ok. My hair saw big improvement when we moved to our house in Oregon (not so much in the apartment with city water) where we now belong to a local water co-op. When I would visit my parents in FL? ICK! Their water is softened and it could NOT rinse out the extra oils. After only 2 showers there, my hair was a flat, dull, greasy mess!

Another great resource (including lots of make at home recipes for rinses, conditioning treatments and the like) is the book Curly Girl.

[Owlie]

SLS-containing shampoo makes my scalp itch like crazy. I wash my hair once a week (much to my BF's amazement) with something like Burt's Bees. I ended up with a stock of Organix, which apparently contains dimethicone. I'll see how my hair behaves with that.

Cleveland's water does a number on my hair and skin.

[lph]

After about two weeks I caved and washed my hair and used a conditioner. It looks terrific. Hm.

I think I'll have to go at this gradually.