"Poo" Free: Sayonara mainstream shampoo and conditioner!

Hair. It's all around us. It's pretty. It's shiny. It's soft. It's not called your "crowning glory" for nothing!
But wait-- have you ever considered the 20-syllable word ingredients list on shampoos and conditioners? The chemicals are there, always haunting, always lurking, waiting to strike.... You rub that stuff into your scalp, you know? They find a way into your body, those nasty, icky chemicals. They also find their way in our water supply; every time you or a stylist rinses shampoo, conditioner, perm solution, lightener, color, and treatments. Nasty chemicals. Lets try to cut some out, shall we?
One day I thought to myself, "how the hell was beautiful, silky hair possible before Paul Mitchell, CHI, and Redken? There must be some deeply hidden secret the world is hiding away from me." I set out to find it. I wanted a way out of the clutches of mainstream shampoo and conditioner. What I found out is that you can make your own shampoo and rinse with low-impact stuff you have laying around your house, and reap the benefits of an natural serum. Awesome, right?!
Awesome. So, not only will this save you TONS of money on shampoo and conditioner, but it's so much nicer to the planet, and healthier for you and your family.
All you need is some basic kitchen ingredients, a tablespoon and two bottles or dispensers. (Personally, I use a coffee mug and a small/medium bowl that I leave in my shower). I usually prepare my mixtures right before I get in the water, so everything stays warm and mixed up.

FIRST: The shampoo. Re-think this. Think, shampaste. This isn't nearly as messy or pasty as it sounds. You'll want to warm up one cup (8oz) of water. Keep it warm, not hot, as this is going on your precious, tender scalp. Then, saunter over to your baking cupboard and enlist the assistance of your beloved sodium bicarbonate (baking soda).

Meet your new hair cleansing agent

Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of the baking soda to your warm water and mix it well, dissolving the baking soda. I find that for my hair 1.5 to 2 tablespoons is enough. Depending on your unique texture, your hair might require less or more. It might take a little experimenting to find the right ratio. If you use too much baking soda, chances are you'll get a little itchy*, since baking soda is an alkali. Again, make sure the water is warm and not hot. Hot water will blow your pores and hair follicles wide open, and too much baking soda + over-heated water = a really, really itchy head. (Trust me, I did this when I was first going "poo" free. It was very unpleasant. It's better to start with too little baking soda and/or too cool water and work your way up. You can always try again tomorrow.) Once the baking soda is mixed in your warm water, simply pour it over your head and massage it all around, scalp to ends. It won't lather, but don't worry, your hair is getting clean! Rinse this out with cool (not lukewarm) water. The cool water seals down the outermost layer of your hair (the cuticle) and helps increase shine (woo-hoo!).

SECOND: The rinse. You'll have to re-program your brain from 'conditioner' to rinse. Traditionally, conditioners are heavy to make up for the stripped natural oils the shampoo lifts out. However if you're not stripping your natural oils (thanks, baking soda), there is no need to use a heavy, creamy product on your hair every day. This is where your small/medium sized bowl comes in. Take half a lemon and squeeze it all out. And I mean all of it, the juice and the pulp that comes with it!

Lemon fresh takes on a whole new meaning!

When the lemon is squeezed out, dilute the juice with water. I usually use about a cup and a half, but again your hair might need less or more. Then, pour it over your tresses. Let the lemon-water sit in your hair a minute or so, make sure it gets everywhere, and enjoy the zesty scent in your steamy shower, ahhhh... The acidity of the lemon neutralizes the alkali baking soda and brings your hair back down to its healthy pH, between 4.5 and 5.5. When you're ready to rinse it out make sure the water is cool. The cooler the water, the shinier the hair! This also helps cut back on frizz (a major issue in Florida).
EDIT [4 August 2011: Since I originally posted this, I've experimented with a couple of other rinse methods. I don't use lemon water anymore; I use a 50/50 water/vinegar solution now. Apple cider or white distilled is fine. Vinegar is also good for flakes; I recommend using white distilled diluted with water. Your scalp will love it.]

THIRD: Natural pick me up. I always like a serum to calm my unruly little fly-aways. I use olive oil. First of all, it's all natural (always my favorite). Second, the vitamin E and antioxidants found in olives encourage hair growth. Third, I always have it anyway. And fourth, it makes hair more manageable, giving it a little "grip" without greasy buildup. 

The olive: sacred amongst the Goddesses

All you need is a dime-sized drop rubbed between palms and smoothed over tresses. Oh! And you can use the excess on your hands to show your elbows and knees some love. Olive oil is wondrously moisturizing.

From here, you have two options: you can air dry and embrace your natural wave, or you can blow dry. If you're letting it air dry, you might want to use a tad more olive oil, depending on how wavy/curly your hair is. If blowdrying, start with a little bit, and add more when you're completely dry, smoothing out fly-aways.

See me shine!

PROOF! Opting for a "poo" free alternative won't make you look like a mountain woman! I've been using the baking soda/lemon water/olive oil regimen for about a month now, and my hair has never felt better. The first time I did this, I could literally feel the baking soda cut through the buildup on my hair. It was quite a sensation, difficult to put into words. But I promise you, if you try this you'll experience it too. Another thing I noticed since switching is that my hair dries twice as fast, and I can go longer between washing it. Expect your hair to take a week or two to get used to the new routine. It is worth it. The shine and softness of my hair can be witnessed in the photo-- I only used the ingredients and techniques in this entry the day I took the photo. It's wonderful.

I hope this is useful for those of you looking to save a few pennies or take a stand against harsh chemicals in everyday products.

peace&love

*For mild itching between shampoos, rub a couple of drops of tea tree oil on your itchy scalp. Tea tree is moisturizing; it's antiviral, antimicrobial and antiseptic. However, if your skin is cracked or very sensitive, reach for the olive oil. This is much less intense and still offers the moisture itchy scalps crave. Tea tree on cracked skin can cause a burning sensation and the only way to get rid of it is to wash again. If in doubt, use the olive oil. Hair loves olive oil.