It has been a while since I updated about my shampoo-free experiment. Three months have passed since I stopped using shampoo, and some of you might have wondered how it's going. (If you are new to the blog, you can read my previous posts about it HERE, or click the words "shampoo-free" in the label cloud on the right.)

I'm still washing with baking soda and rinsing with vinegar every five, sometimes six, days. I really like how it treats my hair, and feel good about what I'm putting on my skin. (Not sure what the big deal is about the chemicals you put on your skin? Read this article!)

So, here is how I rate being shampoo-free:

**How my hair feels; manageability: A+
(My hair is soft and shiny, and easily managed. Granted, I put my hair up every day, but I'm talking about when it is loose at home.)

**Greasiness/"ick" factor between washings: A
(This has improved over time. I went through a stage when my hair got oilier than I cared for, but it has balanced out now.)

**General hair health: A+
(My hair has never been healthier. Very few split ends, no dandruff, less hair loss after washings. Perhaps it will even get thicker over time.)

**Time spent caring for hair: B
(It does take longer to wash with baking soda instead of shampoo. But then again, since I don't do it daily, I'm probably saving time in the long run.)

**Cost: A+
(I haven't even calculated the difference in cost. Baking soda and vinegar cost pennies per use, plus I no longer have to use leave-in conditioners, detanglers, or split-end menders. I know, I'm such a cheapskate! ;o)

When my hubby saw that my hair did not rot and fall out, he decided to try it for himself. He has been shampoo-free for a couple weeks now, and just rinses his hair out every day. He reports that his hair is much easier to brush into place, which surprised us both because it can be rather unruly!

As for me, folks, I no longer consider this an experiment. I am officially shampoo-free! I know you were wanting to know that. ;o)

Here is a quick report of Day Ten of the Shampoo-Free Experiment:

I waited five days again before washing my hair. It was oilier than I like to let it get, but tolerable since I wear my hair up. I expect this to happen until my scalp adjusts to the new washing schedule. The baking soda massage felt soooo good this morning, and I had really been looking forward to it. After rinsing that out, I poured vinegar onto the ends, let it stay for a minute, then rinsed again.

I wasn't sure this wash was going to work so well because of how oily my hair was, but I was once again pleasantly surprised at how well the baking soda worked! My hair came out clean, soft, and tangle-free. This is truly better than any shampoo I've ever used, no matter how much I paid for it.

I did lose as much hair as I used to when shampooing, but I attribute that to an over-zealous massage with the baking soda. (Note to self: Be gentle! lol)

I smelled a little bit of the vinegar after rinsing, but not once my hair had dried. I am using "raw" vinegar, but I think the store-bought kind would work as well.

So that's where I'm at on Day Ten! Thanks, Amy, for letting me know how you liked your baking soda wash. I'd love to hear the stories and opinions of others who try this, too! Just leave a comment.

Today is the fifth day since I used shampoo, and I was going to wait longer before I posted about my experiment again. But today for the first time I used baking soda to massage my scalp, and I am so amazed at how good it felt when I rinsed it!

I followed these directions: In a small cup mix 1 Tbsp. baking soda with just enough water to make a paste. In another cup, put 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar. Wet hair, then massage baking soda paste onto scalp, starting at the crown, then working to the back and sides, using small circular motions with your fingertips. (This is the same way I used to shampoo.) Rinse thoroughly with warm water. Then pour the vinegar onto the ends (not the scalp) and allow it to stay for a minute or two, then rinse again.

That's it. My hair felt so nice and soft, and it doesn't even smell like vinegar. Usually after I shampoo, I have to apply some sort of conditioner or detangler, and I also lose a good amount of hair each time I wash. But today, I did not need a detangler, and lost half the amount of hair I usually collect in my comb.

I am pretty impressed! I plan to wash this way about every five days, or maybe eventually every seven days. I'll post again about it in a week or so.

(Don't worry, it has nothing to do with constipation.)

I keep seeing news bits about people who are giving up shampoo and turning to alternative hair-care methods. Have you heard of this yet? I can hear your reactions, "Ewwwwww! No shampoo? Gross!" And that was my first reaction, too!

There are several reasons for doing it. Some cite health reasons, some are looking for "greener" ways of living or ways to be more frugal, and others simply have sensitive skin and want to try going without the shampoos that irritate their scalps.

In light of the recent news of carcinogens (!!) detected in children's shampoo products, and the fact that most commercial shampoos do contain toxic ingredients that should not come in contact with our skin, I'm inclined to give it a try. After all, my grandma didn't wash her hair every day, and her hair looks great in all the pictures! Maybe the women of her day were on to something...

One article I read showed photos of a woman before and after her no 'poo experiment. Before, her hair was straight and lifeless. After, she had discovered that her hair has a nice, natural wave, and it has more body. She said it was much healthier, and she didn't have to fuss over her hair so much after she stopped using shampoo.

Anyway, here is one article that I found very helpful. And if you're interested, you can do a search online of "No 'Poo", and you will find plenty to read about it.

I'm going to give it a try for a few weeks, or until I can't stand it anymore, ha ha. The last time I washed my hair with shampoo was Sunday morning, March 15th. I will let you know how things go!