Tip o’ the Day: Shampoo Skipping
Sometimes the best way to cut down on your consumption is just to use less stuff. Green Options writer Maria Surma Manka gave me a tip suggestion recently that will help you do just that: "Wash your hair every other day. I started doing this about 1 1/2 years ago and besides spending less time in the shower using up water, I buy shampoo and conditioner much less (half as much, actually). Plus, I get compliments nearly every time I get my hair cut about how soft it is, so it's really gotten healthier from not running it through products every day."
This is one of those win-win-win tips. Many people have the kind of hair that just looks and feels better when it's not washed everyday. (Win #1) By skipping a day, you are saving water, product packaging, and energy. (Win #2) And, as usual, it will also save you money. (Win #3)
Now, if you're looking for an eco-friendly product to put in that hair when you DO wash it, check out the Cosmetics Database for ideas. We like the looks of Terressentials Pure Earth Hair Wash - this company only uses ingredients in their products that the USDA allows in certified organic food. Additionally, Korres Aloe & Soapwort Shampoo scores well in the database, using naturally occurring detergents and conditioning agents found in wheat, potato starch, and sunflower.
Rebecca says: I have friends that have the best hair - but if they were to wash it everyday it would getsstripped of all of its glory. Heck, one of my best friends only washes her hair once a week (which is a good thing considering the amount of it and how long it takes to dry it.) I'm not that way, however and do require a daily washaroo. If you've never tried it, it's definitely worth a shot. Do you think it will work for you?
Tags: conditioner, shampoo, shower, wash, water+conservation
June 1st, 2007 at 3:40 pm
I should add that when I first started skipping a day, my hair would feel greasy on day 2. But I kept at it and after about a week my oils or something evened out and now it’s not a problem.
June 1st, 2007 at 9:11 pm
Oh, I definitely agree. I went to washing it every other day, it that dramatically improved its texture. I’ve now gone even further and only use baking soda and then a vinegar rinse on it (which of course costs so much less than fancy organic natural stuff). My hair is soft, shiny, not too oily, and can go for three days without getting icky. It also doesn’t flake anymore. It took about two weeks for it to adapt, and now I’m never going back to shampoos every day!
June 2nd, 2007 at 5:03 am
I didn’t realize I was being green, I just thought I was trying to be comfortable and save time.
June 2nd, 2007 at 3:19 pm
When I had very short hair, I had to wash it every day–bedhead could not be solved any other way. Now that it’s longer, (a) I like it better, and (b) I only wash it every two or three days. It’s thick enough to have really heavy texturizing done, which means that any method of drying takes a long time–washing less frequently means that I’m using the blow dryer less frequently, and even that I try to minimize as much as possible.
June 2nd, 2007 at 6:15 pm
Any tips for people with fine, oily hair? I try to shower every other day but my hair gets greasy very easily and my skin is also very oily.
I currently use shampoo made for oily hair, but would love some natural tips for keeping my hair grease-free between shampoos. I will be traveling and showering even less frequently this summer… so any tips for not looking like a total greased-out hippie would be great!
~Megan Prusynski
my site | volksvegan adventures | unplug
June 4th, 2007 at 8:55 pm
I actually haven’t used shampoo in about a year! (gasp) Most conditioners have silicone based chemicals in them, which can only be rinsed out with harsh sulfates. This can cause chaos on your hair and the reaction is frequently extra oily hair. All you need is a conditioner free of silicones and a nice scrub and you’re hair will be clean and soft. It does take about a week or two for your hair to balance out, so expect a bit of the greasies early on, but trust me the end result is worth it and saves a lot of cash and waste by cutting out the shampoo, www.naturallycurly.com has more details.
June 5th, 2007 at 1:55 am
Recently Emme at Simple Living talked about some alternatives to shampoo, even for hard-to-manage hair. I gave it a try and blogged about it at my site (here and here) — after 5 weeks, my hair has no problems whatsoever. Just scrub your hair with baking soda, rinse, then scrub with vinegar.
June 15th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
I’d love to try this, but after 2 days, my head itches so bad I almost make sores out of it scratching. I’ve tried the vinegar rinse and my hair turned to straw… I couldn’t get a comb through it. So I’m currently using Aubrey products.
Am I doing something wrong? Also, won’t vinegar lighten your hair over time?