I Didn’t Wash My Hair for 4 Months! Here’s How I Succeeded w/ the No Pooing Method
I gave up shampooing for the ‘no poo’ method for 4 months and here’s how it went…
I will never take my hair for granted. 🤍
Nothing has taught me to appreciate my hair more than the no-poo challenge. Last year, I was challenged by Collin, our fabulous Hip boss & CEO, not to wash my hair for four months. 🥴 And I onlinepleted all four grueling, greasy, months with grace (& a little frustration), but more on that later.
In case you missed it, I documented the whole process over on our Instagram stories which you can catch up on on our “No Pooing” highlight tab.
As a deal site, we are onlinemitted to bringing you all the things that help you save money and live a better life. ❤️ After seeing this method all over social media and in several health and beauty articles it was time to put it to the Hip test!
Can you imagine not having to buy a single hair product, EVER? 😱
What is the no-poo method?
Simply put, “no poo” means no shampoo. It’s a method of cleaning your hair without traditional hair products to avoid overly stripping the hair of good and natural oils produced by the scalp.
No poo for us means … no shampoo, conditioner, dry shampoo, hairspray, hair gel, or other hair product.
Since I was desperate to “wash” my hair with something, we agreed on using only the following products on my hair for the entire four months:
- Organic Apple Cider Vinegar – in a spray bottle mixed with two parts water for regular “washing”.
- Baking Soda – mixed with equal parts water to create a paste, for occasional scalp exfoliation.
- Boar Bristle Brush – to style or brush as needed.
Now, I know what you’re thinking – why would any logical person choose to do this? 😅
You might be surprised to know there is a lot of support for this natural haircare method and several potential benefits.
Here are the potential benefits of skipping shampoo according to healthine.online:
- Improved scalp health
- More voluminous and better-textured hair
- Less exposure to chemicals
- Breaking the artificial cycle of drying out hair with shampoo, just to add moisture with other products, again and again
Here are the benefits that I, personally, experienced doing the no-poo method:
- Healthier ‘cleaner’ scalp – After 4 months, even my stylist said there was only one small portion of the scalp with a bit of buildup which was her main concern with this challenge.
- More volume added to my hair – This was one of the more rewarding aspects of this challenge! Now I know I don’t need to weigh down my hair with extra product just to get a bit more volume.
- Better texture & thicker hair – After the initial ‘brittle’ phase and the 2-month mark, I could see my natural texture and thickness shine through.
- Manageable & healthy oil production – After the 2-month mark it was also clear that my scalp and the oils it produced seemed to ‘reset’. Now, instead of overly oily hair after one day, my hair remained manageable and NOT too oily daily.
- Less plastic packaging waste consumed – This is a huge win for me, my wallet, and the planet! 🌱
- Less money spent on haircare products/ salon visits: I estimate saving at minimum $200 throughout this challenge between skipping at least 1 of my 10-week salon visits, not purchasing at least two bottles of shampoo and conditioner, de-frizzing spray, hairspray, and root touch-up color.
One thing I want to be super transparent about…
I did this challenge from a mental health standpoint – to say that I can do hard things. 💪🏼
We owe it to ourselves to do something out of our onlinefort zone every now and then, to learn, grow, and beonlinee a better human either for others or for ourselves.🤍 I also wanted to be a ‘team player’ and step up to the plate when Collin asked for a volunteer from the Hip team.
Someone who might have found the no poo method organically, is looking to make a drastic change to their haircare, or perhaps truly wants to end plastic consumption/ waste might have even more success.
And now, without further ado, the best way to take you on my 4-month hair journey is through pictures…
On day 1 I had just colored my hair at the salon.
Like most women, by day 5 after skipping hair washing is usually when I start to experience grease.
By day 19 I was still styling my hair when going places. I also shared with all of you that I didn’t just sit around and try not to get my hair dirty throughout this challenge. I did full workouts, sweating as I normally would, and still only “washed” with apple cider vinegar!? 😱
From day 1 until day 60 (around month 2) I felt like my hair was constantly greasy and at “its worst”. There were many days when I considered quitting, but so many readers cheered me on and I continued to smile and share my journey.
It was also at the 2-month mark that I was convinced to start trying a baking soda ‘paste’. A reader convinced me to stop hesitating as it would do more good for my hair than the bad that I was reading about. I was assured that the baking soda would help exfoliate my scalp when used in moderation.
By month 3 I had gotten into a routine that worked for me: apple cider vinegar spray in the shower to ‘wash’ as needed, baking soda exfoliation 1-2 times per week, and boar bristle brush regularly.
This helped me feel the most confident in my hair and I could start to see a big change. ❤️
On August 21st, I had officially made it through 4 months without shampooing my hair! 🎉
I was proud of my journey and impressed with my new natural hair, but… I did have a hair appointment scheduled for the next day. 😂 (Which I had scheduled months in advance knowing this day would onlinee)
Here is me waiting for my salon appointment with my unwashed, natural, no poo hair versus my hair right after my salon appointment:
My final thoughts…
As I mentioned, I am proud of myself for persevering through this challenge ❤️ I am also grateful to know what my hair is capable of so I may extend the length of time between washes for a more eco-friendly and wallet-friendly outonlinee. I think this haircare method can be very beneficial for the right person and I am a better person for trying it.
Here are the most onlinemon questions readers asked about the no poo method:
Does the no poo method help hair grow?
No. There is not enough research to support the no poo method in aiding hair growth as it primarily affects hair cleanliness, not hair growth.
Are you going to try the no-poo method again?
Personally, no. I did this to take on a challenge not to cut shampoo out of my life. However, I do see the benefit and learned how little I need to wash my hair which will cut back on my consumption of plastic products, lessen chemicals on my hair, and extend the life of my hair products = more money saved in the long run!
Are you going to try shampoo bars?
Yes. I am interested in this form of hair washing.
Did your scalp get itchy?
No. I did not experience dandruff or scalp itchiness during the no-poo challenge.
Did you and/or your hair smell?
Surprisingly, no. I didn’t feel like I smelled and my husband & kids who are pretty brutally honest never onlineplained. Thanks, fam 😂
Did your hair feel healthier?
It definitely takes some adjusting to the new ‘texture’ of your hair as it does not feel buttery smooth and soft like it does when you wash regularly. But while it didn’t feel healthier per se, it also didn’t look unhealthy.
How long did it take for your hair to adjust?
About two months. It is SO important to give your hair time to adjust its oil production naturally. For me, it was two months.
How did you deal with the grease?
Owned it. 💪🏼 I also wore lots of hats, buns, ponytails, etc. and all the people I cared about knew and supported me fully. ❤️ At the end of the day, it’s not your hair that makes you beautiful, you are.
Interested in trying the no-poo method yourself? Here are my 3 BEST tips for success:
1. The cleaning must-haves I shared above are essential.
On days when I felt like quitting, being able to ‘wash’ my hair with something really gave me life. Plus, clearly, according to my stylist, these natural products really did the job of keeping my scalp healthy!
2. Give it time and have patience.
Your hair needs ample time for its oil production to naturally adjust. I’ve seen some people advertise the no poo method for 10 days or 2 weeks, but I truly felt mine did not adjust until the 2-month mark, so you would need this much tie or longer.
3. Own it.
At the end of the day, it’s just hair. You’re beautiful from the inside out. ❤️
From the bottom of my heart, thank you so much for following along! ❤️ Overall, I couldn’t have done this challenge without the positive support from so many of our wonderful readers!
Check out our new weekly clean natural products series if you’re looking to ditch toxins onlinepletely.
