Dry Shampoo

The oils your body produces is dependent on how much your body feels like it needs to make to balance the skin.

If you are one of those people that say, "My hair is just too oily to go a day without washing" - YOU my friend should actually skip a couple of a days so your scalp can recover! When you wash your body, face or hair too much it makes it over dry which then signals to the body, hey we need more moisture over here, stat! So the little oil glands go to work trying to balance their home. This is why if you wash your hair everyday, by the end of the day you feel like you are dripping in oil, it is because you are!

My recommendation the next weekend you get, go as long as possible without washing your hair. If you need to, pull up you hair in a pony tail or put on a sweat band, but let that scalp breathe and balance itself. If it becomes to much, rinse your hair with cool water. Not hot, you do not want to undo the work that you have done. Cool water will get rid of the excess oil but will not hinder your scalps current mission. You can also use baby powder to absorb the excess oil, do not over use the baby powder as this will dry out your hair. And keep this process going, do not go back to washing your hair everyday. Every other day is just fine, you can rinse with water on those in between days.

I do not like to wash my hair everyday, in fact, I try and aim at every other day or even every two days. Depending on if I have worked out or not and the sweat factor; for example, I did yoga, I may have gotten hot and broke a small sweat, but a water rinse will do the trick instead of harsh shampoo. I am a fan of dry shampoo! My favorite is Rene Furterer Naturia, it has a fresh sent and is not too overwhelming.

Here is a recipe for a dry shampoo mix - feel free to change up the essential oil for a fragrance you prefer.

Dry Shampoo
Adapted from Natural Beauty by Aldo Facetti

5 ounces (150 grams) coarse-ground cornmeal, semolina or couscous
30 drops essential oil of lemon
20 drops castor oil

Mix the ingredients in a blender for a few seconds. Working over the sink, a large towel, or spread-out newspapers, bend your head forward and distribute pinches of the mixture over the hair and scalp. Gently massage the entire head, slowly and methodically, working in sections.

Keeping the head bent forward, comb and then brush out the meal. Continue combing and brushing until the hair is shiny and free of all traces of the shampoo.

Here is another idea - I am going to give this a go in the future!

How to No 'Poo

Dissolve about 1 tablespoon of baking soda in just enough water to make a paste. Apply this to your roots only; work it in and let it sit for a minute.

In order to stimulate blood flow, clean your pores and get off built up grime, use your finger tips to scrub your scalp. Start by making a circle on the top of your head in the area you’d wear a crown. Focus on the back of this circle to begin with. Next, fill in the circle. This is where your part will be; grease here affects the way your hair looks. Trace while still scrubbing with your fingertips around the bottom edge of the circle. Keep making scrubbing circles underneath each one, drawing lines in circles around your head.

Lastly, scrub the back of your skull and your temples/sideburns. This will result in less grease and more growth. After doing this, your scalp will feel alive. Many women swear their hair grows faster after a visit to the salon — it does, and this massage method is why.

When scrubbing, you’re actually rubbing your fingers back and forth in short movements. Be gentle; you don’t want to break your hair. Next, pour about 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a cup and add water. (I keep two plastic 12-ounce cups in my shower and just mix when I get in.) After you rinse the baking soda out, pour the apple cider vinegar over the ends of your hair, let it sit for a minute and then rinse it out. That’s all there is to it!

No 'Poo Troubleshooting

Remember, there is a transition period from two weeks to two months depending on the person. Here are a few tips:

• If your hair becomes frizzy, try using less baking soda or leaving it on for a shorter period of time. Adding honey may also help.
• If your hair becomes greasy, try using less apple cider vinegar, switching to lemon or lime juice, leaving out the honey, and/or using a comb instead of a brush. Also, make sure you’re applying the apple cider vinegar just to the ends of your hair.
• If your scalp itches, try the following essential oils; tea tree, lavender, rosemary. If your hair becomes dry, try a tiny bit of oil (any oil, I use olive) smoothed on bottom of hair.

Ready to make the change? Sure! Don’t be afraid to go no 'poo. You know how to do it! Enjoy the journey – you’re on your way to a healthier you!