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November 16, 2006

How I learned to stop worrying and love my hair

A little while ago I decided to stop using shampoo, partly because I just read a random website swearing that it's unnecessary, but mostly because I'm too broke to keep buying these expensive products if I don't really need them. I thought I'd test it out and see whether my hair grossed itself up after a few days or if this no-wash business really works.

Here, therefore, is a small diary of my progress.

Day One
Sunday, November 12

Hair gets washed as normal. This will be the last day for some time that I use shampoo. I'm going to miss this chemical orange smell, especially after a few days when my hair starts to smell like old garbage.

Day Two
Monday, November 13

This is the first day of non-washing. I do use a little Herbal Essences conditioner, mostly on the ends, but fortuitously I use the last of it. After this I plan to get a lighter conditioner, ideally one not tested on animals this time. I can't really tell what condition my hair was in today, because I braided it right out of the shower and left it in braids until I went to bed.

Day Three
Tuesday, November 14
Morning
No product at all today because I haven't gotten around to buying my new conditioner. I do get it wet in the shower and then just finger-scrunch it. It feels drier than usual, probably because of the lack of conditioner. My scalp also feels dry, but normal-dry, and that's encouraging because I was worried it would be oily by now. My hair smells clean and is keeping its curl instead of hanging limply like it usually does. Observe:

Afternoon
My hair is both oily and dry now, if that's possible, and is doing the thing it always does when I leave it down, which is to gradually lose the nice shape of its curls and disintegrate into semi-frizz. Into a braid it goes. Who invented the braid? I need to send that lady a thank you pie.

Tomorrow I'm having lunch with my fashion friend, Tracy, who will surely notice if I show up looking slightly homeless. Should I give in and shampoo tomorrow or risk the conditioner treatment? I know you're just on the edge of your seat about this.

Day Four
Wednesday, November 15

I do a "conditioner rinse," which basically means washing with conditioner instead of shampoo, and leave the house with wet hair in order to meet Tracy in time. By the time I reach her office, it's clear that this plan was a disaster.

Me: I really have to apologize for my hair.
Her: You really did not just say that to me.

My hair at this point is oily, dry, limp and miserable, as am I.

Day Five
Thursday, November 16

I give in and wash my goddamn hair.

Clearly this no-shampoo idea is completely retarded. What's sadder is that this is not the first time that a random website has tricked me into making a bad life decision. Other internet punkings have included:

- Vegetarian lasagna recipes
- Clothes which look weird when you actually put them on
- My mail-order bride who ran off with my wallet and VCR a month after our marriage
- Urban legends in email forwards

Internet, never again do I trust you to provide me with untainted facts, goods or spouses!

Here endeth the lesson.

Posted by didofoot at November 16, 2006 09:50 AM

Comments

I don't use shampoo. I condition everytime I shower, but only shampoo every couple weeks or so. Or when I get extra dirty.
But our hair is different.

You look super hot in that picture, by the way.

Posted by: kati at November 16, 2006 11:37 AM

but i want us to have the same hair. dammit.

i'll try the every three days shampoo method that some of my other girlfriends use. maybe i can at least have their hair.

Posted by: didofoot at November 16, 2006 12:42 PM

That's cute, you look like the Herbal Essences lady, the 70's one with the flowers in her hair.
I shampoo at random--maybe twice a week--but you'd have to be bold to sport hair as giant as mine.

The nature-worshippers at farm camp hew to the principle that over-frequent washings (of hair, skin, corporate brand image) result in the over-production of oils which in turn make you smell bad, and feel greasy. So for a few weeks while you transition to seldomer soap use, it's going to be gross. And then...not.

That's pretty much the full extent of my knowledge on issues of beauty and hygiene. Keep your nose clean, kid!

Posted by: K to the T at November 20, 2006 11:03 AM

I shampoo maybe twice a week, and use baby powder to temper the greasiness in between. It works fabulously, and something beneficial (healthier hair) actually results from my laziness!

Posted by: robyn at November 20, 2006 02:20 PM

Oops. Kallie informs me we already discussed this over dinner last week. I think I need a new memory card. Do I do this often?

Posted by: KT at November 22, 2006 01:48 PM

I quite using shampoo 2 years ago. My hair is long and naturally curly. Here is a picture of my hair http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/kurlylox/backhair.jpg
see it doesn't look oily and dirty.
Your hair will feel oily for the first few weeks of no shampoo, but will get adjusted and be in great condition. I do wash my hair with conditioner.

Posted by: kurlylox at March 4, 2007 01:28 PM

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