The No-Poo Method is an old movement that continues to evolve and gain popularity; celebrities, vloggers, and even hair stylists alike are jumping on the shampoo-shunning bandwagon. The most unlikely people are ditching their suds–folks with oily hair. So why would anyone choose to stop shampooing their strands? It comes down to training your hair. There have been claims that if you wash your hair less often you can actually train your hair to be less greasy.
There have been claims that if you wash your hair less often you can actually train your hair to be less greasy.
The theory is based on the idea that shampoo creates a supply-and-demand relationship: It strips the hair of sebum (that oily substance that helps hydrate hair, as well as ward off bacteria and wetness”>. In order to compensate, our scalps produce too much of it, which in turn creates that grimy, dull, and greasy coating on our hair. Also, overusing styling products will weigh wave and curls down, in addition to unnecessary hair handling, which transfers oils from your fingertips to your hair.
No-pooing claims that, in order to get hair back to its most natural and purest state, you have to wean your locks off the sudsy, sulfate packed product. This often proves to be a painful process, particularly for the fine-haired wavy and curly flock. Complete with itchy scalps, vinegar rinses, obsessive hair brushing and slick-looking strands. “Your scalp produces oils at a constant rate, regardless of how often you wash your hair,” says Pantene Senior Scientist Jeni Thomas.
Fine hair generally gets oilier quicker since there’s simply more of it. Its small diameter means you have more strands hanging out on your head. And since each hair follicle produces oil, the more hair you have, the more oil you crank out.
Fine hair generally gets oilier quicker since there’s simply more of it.
Liz Cunnane, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Clinic in New York City, has done extensive research on the topic at their New York and London clinics. She found that healthy hair is a result of a healthy, which includes a clean scalp. “Fine hair will always look better when it is freshly washed,” she says. “It will always have more body and movement when clean.”
But what if you have a thick or more textured hair type? “You will not need to shampoo daily, but you must remember that the process of shampooing and conditioning is important because it reintroduces moisture to the hair,” says Cunnane.
If your hair is fine, oily, and wavy or curly, try one of these co-washes in place of your shampoo:
- Pantene Pro-V Truly Natural Co-Wash Cleansing Conditioner, $4.99
- Mop Top Clarifying Rescue Treatment, $9.99
- Follicleanse OS Conditioner, $20
- SheaMoisture African Black Soap Balancing Conditioner, $9.99
To sum it up
Even though you cannot fool Mother Nature when it comes to taming your fine hair’s oil production, there are some tricks of the trade to keep limp, greasy locks at bay. Cunnane suggests using a shampoo that gently cleanses and adds body and contains certain ingredients, such as copolymer (for surface volume and aid in controlling flyaways”>, natural cellulose (to thicken texture”> and keratin protein (to strengthen and improve fullness”>.
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