/r/NoPoo

Photograph via snooOG

A place to discuss natural haircare and alternatives to shampoo.

A place to discuss natural hair care and alternatives to shampoo

Get Started Here: No-poo Quick Start Guide

Be sure to check out the rest of the wiki also. There is a ton of helpful information in it!

No-poo Wiki


Searching

There has been a huge amount of helpful advice given over the years. Use the text search function with the simplest phrases to try and find some of it.

Post flairs on this sub are relatively new, but are being used to help organize posts based on topic. Use the Search by flair widget to see what has been tagged as something you might find helpful.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions like getting a haircut, working out, swimming, etc

Reports are just that: people reporting on things they have tried and their results.

Tools is for discussions of tools like brushes, combs, filters, etc

Product is for discussions of product like co-washes, shampoo bars, manufactured nopoo products, etc


Everyone is welcome!

Feel free to describe your hair in your user flair. Example: Ringlets, Superfine, Sebum/Water Only Include as much info as you want about your hair: curl pattern, length, density, porosity, oily, dry, colored, permed, keratin treated, natural, etc.

Guide for determining hair type

Porosity Quiz


PLEASE READ BEFORE POSTING: Some basic tips on going No Poo:

  • No-Poo has a variety of meanings, but they all refer to eliminating the use of sulfates & harsh chemicals (commonly found in modern, commercial shampoos) that strip our hair & scalp of its natural oils, which causes dry, frizzy, damage-susceptible hair & makes our scalp's oil production go into overdrive.

  • There are many ways to go shampoo-free & still get clean-looking, nice-smelling hair! Every method can do something different for your hair. This is a learning process; don't get discouraged if one method doesn't give you the perfect results right away. There is a method that works for every hair type, it just takes a bit of tweaking to find it. That's what this sub is for!

  • Before you put anything new on your hair/skin, make sure you use the recommended ingredient amounts & ratios, and follow the directions (to avoid drying out hair, irritations, etc.). Try new ingredients or products in small amounts first, especially if you have any skin sensitivities or are trying something completely different from usual.

Common Terminology:

  • WO: Water Only
  • BBB: Boar Bristle Brush
  • ACV: Apple Cider Vinegar
  • BS: Baking Soda
  • Co Washing: Conditioner Only Washing
  • CGM: Curly Girl Method

Helpful Links:

Other reddits to check out:

/r/NoPoo

426,672 Subscribers

1

I get super bad dandruff

I need help. I've always had to switch up my shampoo as I would get like idk, an allergic reaction if I used it to long ? I've been brushing and brushing, water rinse but my hair still feels so heavy and greasy and the dandruff keeps coming back?

0 Comments
2024/12/02
13:58 UTC

5

How to fix really dry scalp with small white flakes everywhere? (its not dandruff)

It is not even that itchy and scalp is not red, its just so dry no matter what.

is there any specific remedies I can do? If I have to use a product, what product should I use?

I have straight thing hair and it is sensitive meaning hair goes flat when I use any shampoo.

5 Comments
2024/12/01
23:58 UTC

2

Head and Shoulders

Guys, I use head and shoulders and I think my scalp has gotten addicted. I don't want to use it because it fucks up my hair and makes it rlly frizzy and dry (I have loose curly hair). But when I stop using head and shoulders everyday then around 4 days later my scalp gets rlly itchy and like snowy white type of dandruff appears. I'm not sure if this is dry scalp or dandruff.

Is there any conditioner that I can use to stop my hair from being destroyed or anything natural I can use to help my scalp because it is very sensitive.

Also I use a micro finer towel to dry my hair and I sleep on a silk pillow case.

Thanks.

4 Comments
2024/12/01
17:57 UTC

3

Cleaning wooden comb?

Hellooooo! I’m about 1 month in to mostly water only + mechanical cleaning. My main tools are a BBB and a somewhat fine-toothed sandalwood comb. I’ve now switched to using the comb most of the time. I clean it a few times while going through my nightly routine (scalp massage, preening less frequently than when I first started, combing/BBB). To clean the comb, I use a very thin piece of stretchy fabric (it’s one of those “no-show” thongs lollllll I have a million of them that I never wear, but now I’ve found a use for them) and run it between the teeth of the comb and down the divots between each of the teeth/around the inner sides. Pretty much how I floss my actual teeth……. Aaaaanyway it works but it’s super time consuming. Does anyone have suggestions for how to clean a wooden comb more efficiently?

Ugh I was also a dingus the other day and cleaned my comb with clarifying shampoo 😭 I clean my hair claws/other hair accessories in it because it smells nice and I have a big bottle of it from doing my initial clarifying treatment on my hair. Without really thinking about it, I just threw my comb in there too (a plastic container filled with warm water and a bit of clarifying shampoo) and when I took it out 10 minutes later… it looked all dry and weirdly bleached. I assume the phthalates stripped away the outer natural sandalwood oil. Ugh. Silly question maybe, but should I “treat” the comb again with some kind of oil (argan/olive///etc) or just leave it be? I’m a bit concerned that it’s now all dried out and may scratch/damage my newly luscious locks but I’m probably overthinking it

Anyway would love any tips y’all have for cleaning your tools! I already spend SO MUCH time actually cleaning/caring for my hair that I’m eager to cut down on my obsessive tool cleaning 😅

3 Comments
2024/12/01
17:14 UTC

1

Previa Natural Haircare, anyone knows more about it? Used/using it?

A family member uses this brand and their hairstylist says it’s very much NoPoo. No silicone, sulfates or para een. I never heard of it and wanted to see if people here have something to say about it. Seems also not to be a cheap product either.

0 Comments
2024/12/01
15:25 UTC

3

Guys I REALLY need help

Here’s just a quick few pieces of information on my hair, how I clean it and other stuff.

I clean everyday through pruning my hair with my fingers, I have a boar bristle brush as well which I use semi frequently although I find it dosent help.

Since taking this photo I’ve done my own research and started utilised colder water when I shower, mitigating the frizz which can be seen in the front of my hair.

Even though I use cold water my hair is still quite greasy which really damaged my self confidence and I’m tired of it. I expected it to clear up with time although it really hasn’t improved in the weeks I’ve waited.

Previously I jumped into no poo completely blind, just stopping using shampoo and conditioner completely. I kept waiting for the situation to get better and after 6-10 months i realised that this idea had failed miserably and my hair was in a worse but simmilar situation it is in now. After researching on my own I decided to do a clarifying wash which then improved my previous situation greatly.

Other information which is relevant to my situation

Water where is live is moderately soft My hair has low porosity I use products which contain sulphates on my face and body I have used hairbrushes which my siblings use and they use shampoo.

Should I do another clarifying wash? If not then how should I try to fix this situation?

Also if I haven’t included any important information please let me know and I’ll update the post.

Thanks for taking the time to read this, any help would be absolutely amazing, thanks.

5 Comments
2024/12/01
08:33 UTC

1

washed hair

my barber washed my hair without asking and i’ve been on no shampoo for 4 months, how long would it take for my texture to come back

1 Comment
2024/11/30
23:44 UTC

3

No poo and the ease acidity offers.

I’ve recently had kind of a breakthrough with my hair. Up until a few weeks ago I had been relying heavily on cornstarch as a dry shampoo. I live very rurally and haven’t used traditional shampoo since February of this year and have always been greasy the next day while washing regularly. But I lost access to the ability and kind of had to jump head first into this experiment. So I was surviving via spray dry shampoo but that was very expensive and irritating to my scalp. I changed to cornstarch out of desperation and it worked well enough for a few month. Not much better than the spray as far as irritation and there was not scent to cover my scalp’s odor. The smell settled down after a while of using and I never had much dandruff as I did scalp massages daily and tried to brush multiple times a day. But my hair texture had a turn where it became almost impossible to brush it. I would be as patient and methodical as I could bare but it would just immediately tangle again. And I had TONS OF AWFUL BREAKAGE!!! So I immediately gave up on the dry shampoo and tried doing an Acv rinse. First one was far to high in the acid and my hair clung to my head like it was slick with oil. I thought it just was in fact oily considering the situation but since it was so much easier to brush I stuck with it. I’ve tweaked the ratio significantly. There’s barely any Acv in the rinse but it’s looking and feeling better every use so I’m gonna keep with it till it stops serving me. Anyway this vid is just me showing how easy it is to brush now (in comparison to the total gridlock of the cornstarch). It’s very broken but that will all grow back in time. I’m just feeling my way in the dark here so I think I’m doing good. Also the smell is PLEASANT! Almost reminiscent of those spring rain candles but very light. And my scalp feels very happy 👍

3 Comments
2024/11/30
21:59 UTC

3

Will hibiscus cleanser dye my hair?

If i make the hibiscus cleanser, recommended in the hard water section of the wiki. (Dried hibiscus flowers steeped in boiling water) Will it change my hair color?

4 Comments
2024/11/30
19:18 UTC

4

Washing with only water

Hi, I have heard from some barbers that washing your hair only with water is good. Right now I have done this for nearly 3 weeks, but have not seen very good results, because sometimes my scalp is itchy and often I get dandruff. Also if washing only with water how often should I wash it? Should I wash my hair every time after sweating? Also, I like to do colder showers is it good for my hair, or should not wash with colder water (17C)

7 Comments
2024/11/30
16:21 UTC

1

Thoughts on new wash pre treatment

What are your thoughts on new wash pre treat ment for scalp? I’ve been nopoo for a year and a half… I have hard water and I think I get waxy build up on scalp and roots quickly…acv helps but have to use it every other “wash”(just water), I feel like it dries out my hair though… egg also helps for a bit longer but think perhaps my hair doesn’t do so great with so much protein(starts to feel super straw Ike on the ends)… anyway I’m thinking about trying the pre wash just on my scalp but don’t want to undo the balance I’ve reached with my hairs oil production Any other tips are welcome I think I have relatively low porosity hair

0 Comments
2024/11/30
05:50 UTC

2

Minoxidil on NoPoo?

So I've once experimented with NoPoo for like a month and it was pretty bad. My hair was all oily and my dandruff worsened. Looking back now, I applied Minoxidil twice a day on my scalp, so I'm wondering if Minoxidil is counterproductive on NoPoo? I still use Minoxidil, because you can't just quit once you started, but I want to give NoPoo another chance.

1 Comment
2024/11/30
00:12 UTC

6

good alternative to boars brush?

just came across an ad for this scalp scrubber from manscaped. do y'all think this would work as well as a boars brush?

7 Comments
2024/11/29
19:59 UTC

2

What do you think about the frequency of using rye flour ?

Hello everyone 🖐️ I started my noPoo challenge about a week ago. For the first few days I used only water but now I use rye flour every 1 to 2 or 3 days. I have a question for you all. Can I use rye flour every 2 days and sometimes every day? Will it cause any harm to my hair ? I'm male and i have fast greasing hair.

5 Comments
2024/11/29
16:57 UTC

4

Curlyhair

Hey curlyheads, how often and when do you comb your hair in the transition phase? Iwashed my hair with water only yesterday for the first time and usually wash my hair about 1-2 times a week

4 Comments
2024/11/29
15:19 UTC

3

Natural styling hairstyling products for men?

Ive tried flaxseed gel, it had nice hold and gave good shine.
The downsides were that it didnt look good after 3 hours of application, where my hair becomes curly because of it. It also smelled, but that was no issue, as i asked multiple people if they could smell my hair gel from shoulder length, all said no.

Ive heard of beeswax and olive oil, but dont know much about that. Are there any styling products, with good shine and extremely good hold, for men?

0 Comments
2024/11/28
21:38 UTC

4

BBB are useless on my hair

I'm looking for a BBB that will work on my very thick and heavy long hair. My hair is so thick that every hairdresser I've ever had has felt the need to tell me how unbelievably thick my hair is. I've tried three different brushes, two from Sally's and one from the pharmacy, but they barely skim the surface. I can brush my hair till my arms are numb and my neck is stiff but it seems futile. Since I can't find any other BBB localy I think it's time to order a brush, but I really want to be sure it's the real deal. Also if there are any other tools you like please mention them, like scalp massagers or combs or whatever.

13 Comments
2024/11/28
12:40 UTC

1

Is it possible to remove excess oil using just flour?

Like no water. Just the flour rubbed into your hair, like a bird in a dustbath. Shouldnt this have the same effect?

8 Comments
2024/11/28
09:29 UTC

6

What would happen if you never washed your hair, even with water?

I'm hust curious and I figure some of you here might have heard/read about this kind of thing and could have some insight to share.

12 Comments
2024/11/28
05:08 UTC

4

Hair dreading and coming out

Started nopoo over 8 years ago. For the first several years, I’d use a natural lightweight shampoo, and I’d use it less and less frequent until I hardly had to anymore.

Amazing results. Hair grows fast, it’s full, curly, dense. For the last 2 years, I’ve essentially stopped using shampoo altogether. Now, I probably shampoo once or twice a year.

These past few days, I’ve noticed my hair has started to dread up at my callus and fall out. My hair is wavy in some areas and curly in others. These dreads are usually 10-20 hairs and they’ve fallen out like once a day for the last several days, which is unusual to me. Aside from this, I probably don’t lose more than 20 hairs a day.

2 Comments
2024/11/28
04:22 UTC

2

Dandruff problem

Hello,

I have been using Katherine Sewing's recipe/instructions for the hair oil treatment and rhassoul clay wash. I have naturally fine, straight hair that reaches my mid back. I used to digitally perm my hair, so the hair below my ears is all permed & damaged. I have since then stopped perming my hair and am trying to embrace my natural hair texture.

I have been washing my hair about once/week to once/1.5 weeks with the overnight oil treatment and rhassoul clay wash. I use dry shampoo in between washes and also a bamboo/sisal fiber brush to redistribute the oils. I haven't really had a problem with oiliness using this method, but I have had a lot of dandruff. I try to brush/shake it out but there is a lot of it.

Are there natural remedies you recommend for dandruff? I am trying to grow my hair as long as possible but it has been a struggle due to previous chemical damage from my perms/split ends.. I want to continue to not have to wash my hair often but the dandruff is so annoying.

4 Comments
2024/11/27
17:11 UTC

5

No poo

is it fine to go no shampoo and only wash with water?

11 Comments
2024/11/27
15:46 UTC

2

No Poo + Hair products cause issues?

Hello, I had been doing nopoo for about a year but starting this July I found some cheap texturing powder online and was using that almost daily. Around August I cut my hair very short and noticed a slightly thinner spot mainly where I would put the most powder.

Is it possible for no poo to cause some hair loss if I am using hair products and not washing them out? I didn't have any issues prior to a couple months ago but at that time I wasn't really using any product at all.

5 Comments
2024/11/27
15:16 UTC

2

Need help starting nopoo

So I’ve been shampooing my hair everyday for about 8 years and didn’t know that you aren’t supposed to be doing that. My hair gets greasy rapidly and I’ve recently tried just using hot water to wash it but in a couple hours it looks greasy again. I need help I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.

7 Comments
2024/11/27
14:10 UTC

3

anyone know any good shower filters for hard water

2 Comments
2024/11/27
03:26 UTC

2

Hard water , flat frizzy hair

Hi,I stopped using shampoo years ago and it has been awesome as it always made my hair flat. I finally liked my hair but now I am at college and I have hard water and it is so much worse. I have tried aloe, baking soda and a couple types of shampoo but they don’t help. Does anyone have any suggestions? I don’t want a shampoo really if I don’t have too bc I love my hair when I don’t and none seem to get it how I want it. Should I just barley put my head under ?

3 Comments
2024/11/27
01:52 UTC

3

Curly Hair Getting Shorter?

Hello Friends.

I have been on my NoPoo journey for almost 2.5 years and the results have been great.

Over the past 6 months I have noticed that my curly hair has not gotten any longer, and may even look shorter than it was a year ago.

I'm not sure if I am doing something wrong or if this is typical of curly hair growth. I have searched other subreddits and people seem to think it's due to dry damaged hair, however my hair seems very healthy. I get many compliments on my curls and don't notice anything wrong (minus the occasional frizz).

I am quite minimal in my no-poo process. mostly just mechanical cleaning and a coconut water rinse every 1-2 weeks. I do live in a city so I imagine my water is quite hard.

Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated :)

1 Comment
2024/11/26
18:49 UTC

2

if i start using hawthorne frizz fighter and ultra nourishing shampoo could i still keep the texture i gained from no shampoo?

1 Comment
2024/11/26
18:28 UTC

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