This Lady Hasn’t Shampooed Her Hair For A Year And It’s Both Scary And Spectacular
“My real hair colour, after 4 years of growing out years of dye and damage, never going back.” Image: Kayleigh Conway
The idea of giving up shampoo is, for most, horrifying. The feeling of leaving hair too long between washes, to the point where you can smell your own scalp, is enough to send most people screaming into the shower. But that’s exactly what one woman, in search of a more eco-friendly lifestyle has done. In fact, she hasn’t shampooed for a year (and counting).
“Four months in and by then nobody could tell I wasn’t using commercial products!” Image: Keyleigh Conway
28-year-old Kayleigh Conway decided to go ‘no ‘poo’ after reading an article in Cosmo. Already pursuing a “greener and healthier lifestyle”, the idea of ditching commercial shampoos made sense to her. Kayleigh has been documenting her experiences on her ‘back to basics’ lifestyle blog Blue Jeans White Tee.
“For the first time in my life I can literally roll out of bed, run a brush through my hair and my hair looks and feels ready to go.” She says on her blog.
“Got my hair cut for the first time since I stopped using shampoo and conditioner and I’m thrilled and relieved with the result.” Image: Kayleigh Conway
The Digital Marketer experimented with clay, vinegar, eggs and coconut milk-based conditioning masks, among other things. Her new haircare regimen has allowed her to go longer between washes, and since her hair now tends to naturally look and feel ‘ready to go’ she rarely has to use heat styling tools .
But the ‘no ‘poo’ method isn’t for the fainthearted, “it requires a lot of hard work and willpower, along with a certain degree of letting go of the desire to have perfect, advert-worthy hair,” she says on her blog.
Kayleigh’s hair in between experimenting with ‘zen detox’. “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.” Image: Keyleigh Conway
There’s an initial detox period which Kayleigh refers to it as the “ugliest days/weeks/months of [her] life,” in which she had “more bad days than good.” Basically there’s a gross period in which the hair gets super greasy until the body realises it’s natural oils are no longer being stripped by shampoo and stops producing excess sebum. Yum.
Kayleigh says she had a waxy buildup in her hair that was difficult to shift. Some of the alternatives she tried left her despairing and seriously tempted to reach for traditional shampoo. Like this coconut and aloe vera jelly combination which left her hair soaking and refusing to dry out.
But after sticking with her commitment to go ‘no ‘poo’ and having made it through the detox period Kayleigh is reaping the benefits. “My hair is now so easy to manage that I just get up, brush my hair and go. And for someone who wants long, low maintenance hair, well that’s just a no-brainer.”
Have you tried the ‘no ‘poo’ method? Tweet us at @yahoostyleuk and let us know about your experience.
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