Kiss My Knits!

So someone in posted about how they wanted to knit a beanie because they’d just started to go “no-poo” and didn’t want greasy-looking hair when they started their new job. No-poo is apparently the idea that you should stop using shampoo and start using baking soda and water, and sometimes rinsing with apple cider vinegar.

Honestly, it sounded like a bunch of hooey to me, but what the heck. I decided to give it a shot.

Following the instructions in that post and in the community, I mixed up my solution of baking soda as well as my apple cider rinse and stepped into the shower.

Pouring the baking soda on my hair, I worked it in as much as possible – it was rather runny – and let it sit. I kept my eyes closed because I didn’t want baking soda to run into my eyes. A little did run down my face to my mouth, but no big deal. It smelled like pretzels, and I like pretzels. However, my hair felt only minimally cleaner.

With great trepidation, I picked up the container of apple cider vinegar. I had diluted it, as I recalled science fair volcanos from my past. I had no desire for my skull to erupt. I poured the solution over my head slowly.

OH MY GOD THE STENCH.

I had forgotten how strong apple cider vinegar could smell. I rinsed with water afterward, several times. Finally, when I was down to an acceptable stink level, I felt my hair to determine whether it was clean. Answer: not really. I decided I did need to use a small amount of shampoo, since I was actually seeing people I knew that day. Even after the Garnier Fructis, my hair still smelled faintly of the vinegar. It might have been slightly softer, but then again, I could have been imagining it. I’m not sure.

So, summing up:

Pros: Better for the environment. Possibly slightly softer hair.

Cons: Ineffective. Makes head smell like Easter egg.

It’s possible that this works better with thick, curly, or kinky hair, none of which I have. That seems to be the prevailing wisdom in the community. As for me, I think I’m better off getting a tub of my favorite shampoo, Big from Lush, and not trying to balance bases and acids like a bathroom chemist. Lesson learned.