I Don’t Care What The Blogs Say, I’m Not Giving Up Shampoo
“If you want to keep your hair moisturized, give up shampoo!” I can’t say how many times I have heard that line.
In the natural community it seems like more and more brown girls are adopting the Curly Girl Method that was founded by Lorraine Massey.
If you’re a newly natural and maybe have never heard of this method, it basically consists of completely eliminating shampoo from your hair care regimen and solely relying on co-washing or washing with conditioner.
My major issue with this method is how do you get your scalp clean?! As someone who is prone to a flaky scalp it seems like co-washing just won’t get it.
Don’t get me wrong I will co-wash occasionally to avoid over drying, for instance, if I feel like my hair needs a mid-week wash. But when doing this the only key for attempting to clarify my scalp is to do an apple cider vinegar* wash prior to co-washing.
Although cleansing co-washes are formulated to relieve product build up, I feel like it doesn’t reach my scalp as much as I desire.
As for testing moisture retention, I did try going shampoo-free for a month to see if there was a noticeable difference in the appearance of my hair. Guess what?! No change!
For those who are unsure whether to do the no-poo method or to continue using it, keep in mind positive hair maintenance.
Nothing is wrong with shampoo use but just be smart about your choices. Consider sulfate-free shampoos because sulfates, like sodium laureth sulfate for example, are responsible for the lather of a shampoo. This detergent is what ultimately dries out the hair shaft and the scalp leaving you with dry, brittle hair.
Also you want to be sure to always follow up with a deep conditioner* and rinse with cool water to close the cuticles of your hair shafts to retain moisture.
Just because you’re natural doesn’t mean you have to give up shampoo! And I for one will definitely keep it in my regimen.
Do you still use shampoo? And if so, would you ever give it up to rely solely on co-washing?
