No shampoo

[Scootergal]

Four weeks ago I stopped using shampoo and conditioner and now I just wash my hair with warm water.
The theory is that your hair will find its own natural oil balance and you will never need to use products again. Thus far it is proving to be true and my hair is as nice and smooth and shiny as ever.

It would be a huge bonus and save weight if I didn't need to cart extra toiletries around Oz... however, all the anecdotal evidence online is very positive from normal people doing normal everyday things - NOT shoving a helmet on your head for 6-8 hours a day.

Has anyone else stopped using shampoo whilst on the road and has your hair been "normal" or has it just turned totally feral?

[John933]

Originally Posted by Scootergal

Four weeks ago I stopped using shampoo and conditioner and now I just wash my hair with warm water.
The theory is that your hair will find its own natural oil balance and you will never need to use products again. Thus far it is proving to be true and my hair is as nice and smooth and shiny as ever.

It would be a huge bonus and save weight if I didn't need to cart extra toiletries around Oz... however, all the anecdotal evidence online is very positive from normal people doing normal everyday things - NOT shoving a helmet on your head for 6-8 hours a day.

Has anyone else stopped using shampoo whilst on the road and has your hair been "normal" or has it just turned totally feral?

It's a case of how long you are out for, in the way of how much you carry. I can't for the love of me work out why people take big bottle's of any thing. Many small one. Will pack in easer space. If you have four or five of the same thing but smaller. The chance's are you are going to find one soon. Rather than search for just the one bottle or packet. Tip. I get them urine simple bottle's from the chemist. Free. Fill them with shampoo. Can carry four or five of them at a time. Once one is empty. Just bin them.
John933

[niello8]

Tiny bottles of Pantene seem to be universally available so we but as we go. I have very long hair but I only use a bit on the scalp it's more concentrated than most shampoos. I didnt wash for 3 weeks when we trekked EBC and my hair was foul & dreadlocked. Took a couple hours to sort that out! I do think diet has something to do with it too. If you are stuck with lots of processed food your hair (and skin) will detox unpleasantly.

[brclarke]

It's not such an issue for the folically challenged. My advice, cut your hair really short before a trip - or better yet, just shave your head bald! ;-)

[Belle]

I thought this was a joke until I realised you'd posted it Jacqui! But its true, it does sort itself out if you don't strip it of oil. We didn't wash our hair for about a month in Kaz and Mong last year because we were living rough. We had shampoo but no water, so that was that. It got pretty dirty - dust and bits of twigs mushed together with sweat from wearing a helmet all day - but we brushed it out after about a week and once you get over the 'this is nasty because I usually wash it everyday feeling' it seemed to settle down. My hair was short then and did get a bit sticky uppy, but Nads' was long, and looked OK.

[Scootergal]

My hair is also fairly short and curly - so it's very forgiving and easy to fake a "style" after removing one's helmet.

I did some further research and found this:
"Richard Glover, a radio host in Sydney, interviewed Matthew Parris, a columnist for The Times of London who hadn’t shampooed for more than a decade.

“So many people called saying that they wanted to try it, too,” Mr. Glover said, that he decided to challenge his audience to go without shampoo for six weeks.

Eighty-six percent of the over 500 participants who reported results said their hair was either better or the same. One participant, Emma Rowles, 22, blamed her former “itchy scalp” on shampoo and declared: “There’s no way I will ever let a drop of shampoo anywhere near my head again.”

Mr. Glover had another reason why some Australians just say no: “We’re tired of feeling like cogs in the machinery of consumption. There’s this feeling of liberation to be able to say no to an entire aisle of the supermarket.”

[othalan]

I plan on trying this soon, when I do I'll report what I find. I did a lot of reading of people's stories and two things seem to really stand out:

Rinsing the hair daily (water) is important. Hard water causes problems, at least with some people.

[Scootergal]

Originally Posted by othalan

Rinsing the hair daily (water) is important.

I'm finding the opposite.
I've been rinsing only once a week and the day after I rinse my hair it feels "thick" and a little oily but then day two and three are great ... really soft and shiny.

[marker]

Have no experience living shampoo-less but sounds good! When I travelled 'light' in the 80's and 90's I used 1 piece of soap for everything: laundry,shaving, hair,mounting a tire and even for washing my hands. I was told it would be bad for my hair (have used it for 17 years) but being 52 now I am still far from bold so it can't be all that bad either.

[Andysr6]

Hi, i do not carry soap or shampoo (not really need for almost baldies), i use shower gel for all body and often clothes cleaning. works for me. Andy

[Scootergal]

I am pleased to report that after two months without shampoo or conditioner, my hair is completely normal - shiny, manageable, clean and not at all oily.

I'm thrilled with the results on many levels - not least the money I will save!