Lately hair care companies are creating a plethora of new products designed to clean your
hair differently than normal shampoos. This article about a new hair powder by Buttercream Cosmetics illustrates the latest example. They’ve even coined a new term “shampowder.” Well, we thought it was time to look at these products and determine what, if anything, they’re doing different for your hair.
Weird Ways to Wash Hair
1. Shampowder
What is it? We’ve previously discussed powdered shampoos so read that for more info. But basically, you spray or sprinkle a powder (cornstarch) on your head and it is supposed to absorb the oil. To finish the cleaning process you comb the product out.
Does it work? Yes, it works for absorbing oil. It also is scented so it’ll leave a bit of that fragrance behind. But it doesn’t clean your hair nearly as well as a regular shampooing. It also may leave a white residue and can leave hair feeling gross. However, if you want to skip a shampooing day or two this product is good in a pinch. It’s also good for color treated hair because it will help reduce the amount of color lost.
2. Conditioner Cleaning
What is it? Believe it or not, some people just wash their hair with conditioner. As some have figured out, conditioners contain surfactants just like shampoos. The difference is that they are used at much lower levels in the formula, they don’t clean as well, and there is more oily materials in the conditioner.
Does it work? For everyday cleaning you’ll likely be disappointed by using conditioner as your hair cleanser. It can start to build up on hair and feel heavy. It will also attract a lot more dust, pollen, and dirt from the air. But again, it will work. Your best bet is to use a conditioner that does not contain silicones. In this case, cheaper products like Suave and VO5 would work better.
3. No-Rinse shampoos
What is it? Here’s a weird way to wash your hair without water. The formula is a real shampoo except you don’t rinse it out. The most popular brand is No-Rinse. The formula is much runnier than a regular shampoo so you don’t need water to make it foam. Just put it on dry hair, work through with your fingers and watch it foam. Then wipe out the foam with a towel for clean hair.
Does it work? This formula will work better than the powdered shampoos. It can clean your hair better than a conditioner. But it won’t be nearly as good as a regular shampoo. But if water is in short supply or you just don’t feel like hopping in a shower, this no-rinse shampoo might be for you.
4. Body wash all over
What is it? As we discussed in this post, body washes and shampoos are similar formulas. If you wanted to, you could use your body wash to wash your hair.
Does it work? A body wash will clean your hair almost as well as a moisturizing shampoo. It’ll even provide a little conditioning. Don’t use it if you’re looking for deep cleansing but for everyday shampooing, it can work just fine.
5. No ‘Poo
What is it? Just what it sounds like…just stop using shampoo. According to the folks at Nature Moms, if you stop using shampoo your hair will be fine. (Unfortunately, this website propagates myths about toxins found in shampoos so feel free to ignore that scaremongering.) Here are some other interesting stories by people who have tried to go some time without shampooing.
Does it work? You don’t actually have to shampoo your hair. Of course, it won’t be clean either. It will be healthier and probably look more shiny. However, it may also look and feel greasy, smell funny, and be difficult to style in any way except laying flat on your head.
The quest for clean hair is never ending. Now you know that you don’t have to always be stuck using that same old shampoo.
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Karen Says:
The forums at websites devoted to curly hair are filled with strong advocates of the “no poo” method of only using conditioner to wash hair. When you read what they have to say, it’s a sacrilige to use shampoo on curls. I personally find it just doesn’t clean well enough to get rid of that nasty dirty hair smell… and my hair and scalp aren’t even that oily.
I can’t see why anyone would rate great curls as more important than a clean smell. I know someone who also has curly hair and does the no-poo method. She hasn’t washed her hair with shampoo in over three years and wears that distinction like a badge of honor. I’ve come to the conclusion she’s not even aware that her hair smells.
I think a more reasonable approach is a condition-shampoo-condition cleansing routine on some days and then conditioner only on other days. Great body, great curls AND a nice clean smell!
abbagirl Says:
i’m quite intrigued by this. grossed out in a way, because it’s just disgusting to me that people would want to get away with not washing their hair. but also intrigued by how many different ways you can actually go without ‘pooing.
i’m asian and have thick, long hair. i wash it every day, without exception! in the past, i have found that missing even just one day of ‘pooing will leave my hair too gross for its own good. so it’s an absolute must for me to wash my hair every day.
but based on this article, there seems to be an implicit opinion that one shouldn’t shampoo every day? is that right?
mashi13 Says:
Well, I have used the Shampowder and the no-rinse shampoo before. The reason was not becuase i was too lazy to wash my hair, it was because i couldn’t. These products actually came in handy when i had surgery on my back for scoliosis and could not shower for several days. its not the best items to use but its a lot better than just sitting there without washing my hair for several days.
Lauri Says:
This article is fascinating. When I was a kid, I begged my mom for the dry shampoo, but she handed me the box of cornstarch and told me it was cheaper and I relied on this method through much of college when I was too broke to buy shampoo until payday. Luckily, my hair is ash brown so a little powder didn’t change the color, just absorbed the oils for a day or 3.
When my dd was 5, she got lice at school and rather than use the chemicals, I sprayed vegetable oil in her hair every day, combing it, the lice and nits out (chairs and pillows were covered w/ towels and the oil washed out of them easily). After 4 - 5 days, no more oil was needed, but her hair was starting to look and feel amazing, soft and silky with more of it’s natural curl appearing. Now that she’s a teen and into daily follicular torture, I have restrained myself from reminding her of how gorgeous she looked B.P.E. (Before Product Era) Someday…someday.
Pam Says:
The personal anecdotes at the linked article about not shampooing don’t tell us much. For those whose hair improved, perhaps they also stopped doing other harmful things, such as using heat styling appliances, brushing it when wet, or allowing excessive silicone buildup.
thebeautybrains Says:
Excellent point Pam. That’s why we “don’t put much stock” in anecdotal evidence.
Susan Says:
I have found that conditioner-only works very well for me so far, I only took it up a couple weeks ago. I hated washing my hair before because no matter what kind of shampoo I used, my hair felt really… crunchy. Silicones helped some, but a friend said this had worked for her, so I’ve been trying it out. And it really is.
I just scrub as vigorously with conditioner as I did with shampoo, and use the massage setting on my shower head to rinse as thoroughly as possible. This is, in my case, all I’ve changed, and my hair is markedly softer and shinier now, and my scalp doesn’t feel like I haven’t washed.
Not everybody has the same hair, so trying to claim that one thing is good for everyone is obviously silly, but it’s done good for me. (And my hair, so far as I can tell, just smells like my conditioner. I’m not, however, in the practice of having complete strangers smell my hair, so as long as my SO doesn’t mind it I don’t care *what* it smells like.)
Nic Says:
I’m convinced blow drying and products are what ruin my hair, not shampoo.
Designergrl Says:
Adding my 2 cents to what others are saying about washing with conditioner only. I have curly hair which is also extremely dry. I’ve been doing the “curly girl” routine for a couple of weeks now. Like Susan, that’s the only thing I’ve changed in my routine. It’s working beautifully: my hair is softer, shinier, and much less frizzy.
I would add two notes: 1) stay away from conditioners containing waxes (someone already made a note about avoiding silicones), and 2) If you do get buildup from any styling products, you can rinse with a light solution of apple-cider vinegar.
See http://www.naturallycurly.com for more info on the “curly girl” method.
Tara Says:
I only shampoo once a week with a sulfate-free shampoo. The rest of the week I wash my hair with silicone-free conditioner. My hair and scalp do not smell, and my curly hair has never looked or felt better. No method is going to work for everybody, but I think it’s irresponsible to stigmatize a method that works for people just because it’s unorthodox.
Jayne Says:
Hi Girls – This is Jayne the creator of Shampowder. I formulated this product because I have dry, brittle, fussy hair that takes an hour to wash and dry. The more often I wash/style my hair the drier it becomes. Shampowder has given me freedom from being a slave to my hair and my hair is healthier because of it. We are extremely proud to say that we’ve gotten overwhelmingly positive feedback on our product. The vanilla-scented powder comes in two shades for dark and light hair and blends beautifully into an array of hair colors (it does not turn your hair white like the article above claims). The all-in-one applicator features a short firm brush to deliver the perfect amount of product exactly where needed. Shampowder pigmented hair powder allows you to have freedom between hair washings and will refresh, volumize and deodorize your hair. For more information, please visit our site: http://www.buttercreamcosmetics.com. Thanks!
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LeAnne@hairsmystory.com Says:
I absolutely love co-washing (washing hair with conditioner). As someone with relaxed tresses, I love the slip that co-washing gives and how the conditioner makes me my so easy to detangle. I usually use Bumble and Bumble Alojoba conditioner, but I’ve switched to Pantene Essential Nourishing Rinse. Does wonders for my hair. I put it on before I hop in the shower, place a shower cap over my head and rinse right before I get out.
My hair is so moisturized and its easier to handle.
LeAnne@hairsmystory.com Says:
I absolutely love co-washing (washing hair with conditioner). As someone with relaxed tresses, I love the slip that co-washing gives and how the conditioner makes me my so easy to detangle. I usually use Bumble and Bumble Alojoba conditioner, but I’ve switched to Pantene Essential Nourishing Rinse. Does wonders for my hair. I put it on before I hop in the shower, place a shower cap over my head and rinse right before I get out.
My hair is so moisturized and its easier to handle.
Hairs My Story.com
This Week in Beauty Blogging » Smarter Beauty Blog Says:
[...] The Beauty Brains count off 5 Weird Ways To Wash Your Hair . [...]
MightyLambchop Says:
I like to use Thermafuse Eight Elixir for those days when I don’t want to wash my hair or I woke up too late.
It has yeast in it and they claim it gobbles up the skin flakes, dirt, etc.
I don’t know how true that is. However, my scalp feels refreshed and my hair smells nice afterward. It doesn’t look super fantastic but those are the days I wear my hair in a ponytail anyway!
Sarah Says:
Conditioner wash isn’t really that weird, now is it? I have waist length hair, and I only use very cheap White Rain conditioner to wash the length, but I can’t get away without shampooing my scalp though, since it’s quite oily.
I never looked back after I started conditioner washing my hair length.
Kelly Says:
My father always washes his hair everyday, but when he was hospitalized for over a month, I washed his hair with the dry shampoo. It works very well. You can usually find it in the gift shops of hospitals for that reason.
Jill Says:
If you have curly hair — which I do — you will jump for joy to discover the conditioner-only method of washing. Contrary to some comments here, your hair will not smell bad if you’re using conditioner that’s free of silicone. I haven’t touched shampoo in 5 months and my hair has never looked, felt, or smelled better! Straight-haired people will not find this method suitable because their hair doesn’t need the moisture and conditioning that curly hair needs. Truly, I could not be happier with conditioner-only washing.
abbycat Says:
another option is a solid shampoo … check out http://www.lush.com for more details. i’ve used this for about 6 months now, and it works great! it is awesome for people who travel a lot as well … no worries about how many ounces of liquid you have when boarding an airplane.
McAuliflower Says:
I’m also a no-poo’er. I have wavy hair that tends to be oily. I use to *have to* wash my hair every day, otherwise it would just get, well greasy looking at the roots. yuck
Now instead of using shampoo I use baking soda that I mix up into a paste. I use it in my shower and massage into my scalp. For the first time in my life I don’t have an oily scalp anymore- nor do I have to wash my hair every day!
Now I go 2-3 days in between washings (which is unbelievably different for me).
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[...] their most basic level, all shampoos (except for these weird shampoo varieties) are solutions of surfactants, fragrance and water. There are many other shampoo ingredients but [...]
buggaboo Says:
The article was good until this:
“Of course, it won’t be clean either… However, it may also look and feel greasy, smell funny…”
Just because you don’t use shampoo, does not mean that it’s not being cleaned. Most use a mixture of baking soda & water followed by apple-cider vinegar & water to cleanse. It is *very* clean, no grease, and the only smell is a slight vinegar smell until the hair is dry. (Even this short time of a vinegar smell can be removed by adding a few drops of various essential oil drops.)
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lovinlife Says:
Frequent shampooing will most certainly rob hair of precious moisture. Conditioner washing is a great substitute. If you are worried about buildup and such you can wash normally a couple times a week and condition wash on other days.
Barb Says:
I had surgery on the back of my head, and can’t get the back of my head wet for a week. My greasy hair was driving me INSANE, so I tried the cornstarch method. I ended up with cornstarchy hair. I couldn’t get it all out no matter how much I brushed. I finally had enough and just washed the top/front of my hair VERY, VERY carefully using my hand-held shower massager.
I can’t imagine a “lazy Saturday” ever being enough justification for using dry shampoo instead of taking a shower. To me a shower is MUCH less trouble and more effective in the long run!
gina Says:
i hvae very dry hair too. I just pantee pro v for woman of color. sure i am not a woman of color but the forumla is great!
Bogna Says:
Thanks so much for all this great tips!!!
I’ve got lots of strait, long, fine hair.
I hate washing it often.
So far i’ve only used traditional method of shampoo and conditioner but i hate washing with soaps and poos alltogether.
I wiil try corn starch
I let you know soon how it went