CAN NOT SHAMPOOING ACTUALLY BE GOOD FOR YOUR HAIR?
The natural health movement has brought itself to the arena of hair care with the no poo movement. Proponents are dropping their shampoo bottles and opting for ways of cleaning hair that they believe will be healthier.
At its most basic, this means washing hair with water only, but can include:
Using a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and apple cider vinegar
Using exotic alternatives as eggs, certain types of clay, or rye flour
Advocates often recommend the daily use of a boar bristle brush
Followers of these methods claim that these are gentler alternatives to shampooing hair, and without harmful chemicals they claim are found in shampoos.
Let’s examine those claims.
How does shampoo work?
The major claim made by no pooers is based around the ingredients found in shampoo.
The theory is that these chemicals are actually toxic, and strip the scalp of its natural oils.
This scenario presumes the alternatives used are gentler, allowing your scalp to maintain its oils at a natural level.
However, this theory ignores how shampoo actually works.
In fact, modern shampoos are carefully formulated to be kind to your scalp.
Shampoos work by binding to the excess oils on your scalp, and dissolving them in water so they can be rinsed away.
It is actually important to remove excess oil - left unchecked, oil buildup will bind your hair in clumps, and attract dust, pollen, pollution and other dirt.
Another problem with oil build-up is that it changes and becomes oxidized, breaking down into substances that smell bad and may make your scalp itchy or flaky.
Simply using the right amount with the correct frequency will prevent your scalp from being completely stripped, while keeping your hair clean and fresh.
