Once I tried shampoo bars again, they contained naturally-derived cleansing agents and I never had to transition. Maybe a transition to soap and water can be done with the softest water and a specific hair type, I can’t say for sure, but seeing my hair fall out was enough to send me back to low-poo liquid shampoo (still free from SLS, parabens and silicones). I realised that the success stories of transition phases and baking soda were all word of mouth and not evidence-based. I was convinced that shampoo was manmade, synthetic and there must be a way to survive without it.Įventually, I just wanted nice hair again. I tried to use other natural ways of transitioning and conditioning (various foods, flours, powders) recommended by the “no poo method,” inspired by their successes. As I said earlier, I’ve always washed my hair once a week (maybe twice if I’m going somewhere nice on a random day).ĭespite using an apple cider vinegar rinse afterwards, my hair started to fall out in tiny clumps, I had a flaky scalp, and my hair would snap in my fingers (I have long, thick hair and this has never happened to me before). I used it no more than once or twice a fortnight.

When transitioning to soap-based shampoo bars, the only time I didn’t look like a greasy slob was when I used baking soda. My experience of transitioning and the no poo method Note: Obviously everyone’s hair and skin are different, so if you’re happy with your soap-based bar then that is fine. If you have dyed or bleached your hair, it’s best to avoid using an alkaline shampoo as it will cause the colour to fade. It is physically impossible to make a soap-based bar that is not an alkaline (source = soap-maker), so if the ingredients look like the ones in this list I’m about to share, you will need an apple cider vinegar wash, or some other pH balancing treatment:Ĭommon main ingredients in a soap-based shampoo bar:īars that use surfactants will be able to control their pH level (which is usually between 4.5 and 6), but that doesn’t mean they are created equally, so it is best to use a trustworthy brand or ask if you’re unsure. How do you know the pH of your shampoo bar?

Zero play guide bars