Say No To Shampoo: 8 Best Natural Alternatives To Follow The No Poo Movement

The 'no poo' movement simply means the 'no shampoo' movement. It advocates ditching market bought shampoo bottles and replacing them with natural ingredients. Why you ask? Well, because shampoo has a high concentration of SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate) that can lead to organ toxicity, cancer, and irritation. Thus, replacing shampoo with natural cleansing agents is a smarter choice.

Lucy Aitken Read, a British beauty blogger, instigated the ‘no poo’ movement. Her book, “Happy Hair: The Definitive Guide To Giving Up Shampoo” chronicles her two shampoo-less years. She wants people to realise the importance of water and other natural ingredients for hair care.

So, keeping in mind the 'no poo' trend, we have a few natural ingredients that you can use to wash your hair.

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#1. Water

In earlier times, women would have long and strong locks and they did not even use any kind of shampoo. All they applied in their hair was simply water. Yes, if you start using water on a regular basis to cleanse your hair, then this is all that you will need. Massage your scalp with your fingers for about five minutes to warm up the scalp; this process is called ‘scritching’. Then redistribute the natural oils of your scalp all over your hair, brush and ultimately rinse with warm water. With time, you will see that water is all that your hair needs.

#2. Soapnut or Reetha

As the name suggests, soapnut or reetha has cleansing properties. When you boil it in water, it creates foam that gently washes away the oil and dirt from your scalp. It has many natural qualities that promote hair growth and tackle itchy scalp and dandruff.

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#3. Henna

Mix some henna in warm water, let it cool and apply the paste on your roots till the end of the tip. Henna is known for making the hair silky and soft while giving them rich and deep colour. It is a great way to provide your hair with deep conditioning. The best part is that you can customise this paste according to the needs of your hair by adding other ingredients.

#4. Aloe Vera

This plant works like magic! Hair care, skin care, weight loss- everything can be achieved by using this wonder plant. Simply pluck a few aloe vera leaves and take out the gel by pressing them. Now, apply it onto your roots and let it rest for about 15-20 minutes. Wash it off with plain water. It will remove dust and other impurities and replace the dirty oil in the scalp with natural smoothness. You can apply it on hair strands, and it will act as your conditioner too.

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#5. Beer

In a mug, mix beer with water. Pour it on your head and massage your scalp for a good 10 minutes. Now, rinse it off with the same mixture. At the end, use very little water and do not use towel instantly to dry your hair. Beer provides a natural lustre to your hair while keeping it clean. Also, it keeps the oil away for a very long time.

#6. Lemon

Use lemon as a shampoo if you have a really oily scalp. You can apply lemon juice directly on your scalp, let it rest for a few minutes and rinse it off with water. It has anti-bacterial and antiseptic qualities. It is great at fighting with dandruff. It is a good alternative for shampoo, but should not be used excessively, especially if you have dry hair. It has lightening agents, so just use it thrice a month.

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#7. Tea

Brew some tea and pour it onto your scalp. Just like what you would do with water, massage tea with your fingertips on your scalp. Rinse it off with normal water. It is a good cleanser that leaves the hair soft with an earthy aroma. You can use different types of teas for different results.

#8. Neem

Neem has been an integral part of health care for centuries now. It can be the best alternative for shampoo. Just boil some neem leaves in water and strain the green liquid. Let it cool and wash your hair with it. Do not forget to massage the neem water on to your scalp. Once you are done, rinse it off with neem water and not with regular water. Not only will it clean your hair and scalp, it is a great anti-dandruff and anti-hair fall solution.

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Nature has always helped mankind to tackle with beauty problems. The use of chemicals is harmful in the long run for even the environment. So, try the 'no poo' movement and see the magic. We bet it will make your hair look gorgeous!