I first ditched shampoo and conditioner in March 2015.
In that time I’ve put bicarbonate of soda, sea water, mud-like shampoos, actual mud and even egg in my hair in a bid to replicate the light fluffiness that commercial products give us.
I’ve been out all day with wet hair that never fully dried, worn my hair up in countless greasy ponytails, and come through it all to win Best Dressed at last month’s work ‘do, natural hair and all.
I’m by no means a no ‘poo expert, but I’m pretty happy with where my hair’s at now.
Most photo diaries I’ve seen online have only really been from people doing a one-month no shampoo ‘challenge’, which in my opinion isn’t long enough to see the real benefits of going eu naturelle.
It took me a good eight weeks to get through the dreaded detox, and I’m still learning and adapting as my hair’s needs continue to change.
So I’m here to share with you the first eight weeks of my no ‘poo journey. I hope it inspires some of you to give it a go!
^ These are some of the first photos I went public with. I’d had an unsuccessful aloe vera and coconut milk shampooing a few weeks before - it had felt and looked great wet, but it was still kind of this wet when I woke up the next morning and just looked slick and greasy. Urgh.
I’d already been grinning and bearing it after an unsuccessful bicarb wash, so I caved and did my last-ever shampoo before buying some shampoos and Zen Detox from Morrocco Method to try out.
Zen Detox is a clay which I used every other wash in the first 7 or so weeks of my no ‘poo transition, and it’s basically the only thing that kept my spirits up in those first few weeks.
^The washes in between the Zen Detox I was also alternating with Morrocco Method’s shampoos.
These got my hair feeling and smelling clean, but they were just too heavy for my hair and would leave it damp, lank and clumpy the next day.
I figured it was just because my hair was detoxing, and I really wanted to love the MM shampoos - not least because of the price!
I gradually got a huge waxy build up, and by week 5/6 it was clogging up my hairbrush and causing all sorts of chaos with my ponytails.
^ Eventually I tried egg, and despite the slightly odd smell I had a little tear in my eye from how squeaky clean it made my hair. Check out that natural kink coming out in force!
Granted, the first time I used egg by itself it dried a little flatter than I would like, but I’d still definitely recommend an egg treatment for anyone else with wax and grease issues early on.
^ This one was taken after an egg wash which left my hair a little lank again, so I followed up with a Zen Detox and was really pleased with the result.
^Some more eggy + Zen Detox washes.
However, high-protein treatments like egg don’t work well for me on a regular basis.
Anytime I use egg too often my hair starts to look wiry on top and I freak out that I’m OD’ing on protein, so I generally avoid them now (Graeme and our bathroom are thrilled).
^Eight weeks in and this was my first real breakthrough - just in time for my first proper public ‘do.
I had finally found rhassoul clay - as sebum removing as egg and much cheaper and easier to whip up than Zen Detox.
In fact, I’m so pleased with how my hair looked that day you can have a few more selfies:
Dat kink!! It’s not actually that pronounced these days, which I’m a tiny bit sad about. Still got my cowlick though!
So that was my first two months of going No ‘Poo! Not so horrible, was it (she says now)?
I’ll leave you with my top no ‘poo tip: don’t try to use heat to dry your hair in the first few weeks - personally it leaves me with tacky roots.
I wash my hair at night, let it dry in my sleep and just give it a quick brush in the morning - I’ve purposefully grown my layers out so that I can literally wash and go.
Intrigued? You can always check out what I’m using these days in my FAQs, delve into my many, many photo diaries, take a look at my natural haircare recipes - or even read my quickfire guide to what Ayurvedic herbs might work well for your hair woes 🙂
