Remember when I wrote about my new “not quite no ‘poo” routine? It’s been almost a year, and I’m proud to say I haven’t touched a drop of traditional shampoo or conditioner since I started this experiment.
Not much has changed since last year. For a few weeks I switched to peppermint Castile soap because I’d run out of J.R. Liggett’s and wanted to see if the liquid soap was an acceptable substitute, but it left my hair dry. I’ve noticed a significant improvement since going back to the shampoo bar. I can go longer between washes without my scalp feeling “icky” and my hair doesn’t get that crunchy feeling at the ends. Lesson learned! It’s definitely worth using the shampoo bar.
I’ve also started using a teaspoon of melted coconut oil after each shampoo, mixed with a drop of essential oil (peppermint, lavender, or tangerine), because I missed having that freshly washed smell. Despite what people say about apple cider vinegar not leaving a smell, Tim (a hypersensitive olfactory type) insists he can smell the ACV. The coconut oil keeps the frizz away without looking greasy, and if I don’t brush it, the curl really comes out.
My hair hasn’t been this long since college, and I’m enjoying the ability to put it in a ponytail or wrap it in a bun when I want it out of my face. I’d always hated having long hair because it ended up frizzy and wild, but this routine seems to have tamed the locks. I’m due for a haircut to remove the damaged ends, but I’m waiting ’til it’s a smidge longer.
And yeah, it’s still ridiculously soft. And I can’t stop playing with it. I’m calling this experiment a rousing success!
