No poo

No poo (no shampoo) is a collective term for methods of washing hair with no commercial shampoo.^{[1] [2]}

Shampoo typically contains sulfates such as sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate, which some believe to be drying for the hair. Some shampoos also include silicone derivatives (such as dimethicone), which coats the hair. While silicone derivatives protect the hair and make it more manageable (dimethicone is a common ingredient in smoothing serums and detangling conditioners), the film that coats the hair also prevent moisture from entering the hair, eventually drying it out. Some shampoos include mineral oils which, while they provide softness and sheen, are bad for the hair^{[citation needed]} because they are not water-soluble and hence require a shampoo with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) which is drying for the hair.^{[citation needed]} Some shampoo include alcohol which, while it cleans the hair, is bad because it dries the hair.^{[citation needed]} Fatty alcohols are better than other alcohol because it does not dry the hair as much.

Shampoo contains anionic and amphoteric surfactants, substances which are good at dissolving fats but also dry the hair and the scalp, which results in dry and lifeless hair.^{[citation needed]} Shampoo is alkaline and opens the hair cuticle, which takes a toll on the hair.

Methods for washing hair without shampoo include washing with dissolved sodium bicarbonate, followed by an acidic rinse such as diluted apple cider vinegar. Also honey and various oils (such as coconut oil) can be used.^[3]

Theory

Shampoo has only been used widely since the 1970s. Before then, either regular soap was used a few times a month or, just after the early 20th century, shampoo was used only a few times a year. It was in the 1970s that shampoo use became prevalent. Ads featuring Farrah Fawcett and Christie Brinkley asserted that it was unhealthy not to shampoo several times a week. This mindset is reinforced by the greasy feeling of the scalp after a day or two of not shampooing. Using shampoo every day removes sebum, the oil produced by the scalp. This causes the sebaceous glands to produce oil at a higher rate to compensate for what is lost during shampooing. According to some dermatologists, a gradual reduction in shampoo use will cause the sebaceous glands to produce at a slower rate, resulting in less oil on the scalp.^[4]

Silicon

Silicon	Water soluble	Soluble with...
Cyclopentasiloxane	No	SLS, SLES, ALS, or ALES
Dimethicone	No	SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES
Dimethiconol	No	SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES
Phenyl Trimethicone	No	SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES
Amodimethicone	No	SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES
Cyclomethicone	No	SLS, SLES, cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine, ALS, or ALES
PEG-modified dimethicone	Yes	cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine
Dimethicone copolyol	Yes	cocamidopropyl betaine, cocobetaine

Vegetable oils

Oils such as coconut oil, apricot oil, avocado oil, corn oil, hemp oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, sesame oil, and sunflower oil can be good for the hair.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Hair care
• Shampoo

References

1. ^ http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102062969
2. ^ http://www.glamour.com/beauty/blogs/girls-in-the-beauty-department/2009/03/underground-hair-trend-the-no.html
3. ^ How to Wash Your Hair Without Shampoo
4. ^ When It Comes To Shampoo, Less Is More

External links

• http://beyondshampoo.com/
• http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Go-No-Poo/
• http://www.livescience.com/health/090609-no-poo-shampoo.html
• http://www.hildablue.com/2010/04/11/the-hair-washing-test-part-1-no-poo/
• http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30337386