r/NoPoo • u/benthe_goat • 7d ago
Please help
So after a 3 month long awkward phase of no shampoo for me with straight-slightly wavy hair, (oily hair, dandruff, bad smell, hair breakage) I eventually got past, (hair felt silky smooth in every shower despite only using water, no bad smell, healthy, shiny, soft hair after drying, etc), as of 5 days ago, my hair felt incredibly matted and thick in the shower, with no silky feel, and my hair had a lot of knots, feeling dry, and as if I used to much texture powder(thats the best way I can describe it). This has continued into today, and every shower since, was a similar experience if not worse, and after drying, my hair has had a progressively worse smell and feel, and people are pointing out "dandruff". There are areas of dandruff by my hairline that when scratched, go into little dandruff flakes. No reddness or itchiness. I have no idea what to do as using a harsh shampoo would reset all my progress no? Has anyone else experienced this?
UPDATE: My water softener ran out of salt crystals and my water hardness was 220 ppm!! Literal calcification on my skin, nails, and shower appliances. Issue has resolved since and I am back to silky smooth! For those wondering I use no product, remedy, oil, or anything just water in my shower every day. Thank you everyone for your help!
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u/shonaich Curls/started 2019/sebum only 6d ago
Sounds like there might have been a big change with your water supply. It is going into summer in the southern hemisphere and often water suppliers will change the additives they put in the water. More chlorine and things like it to combat the warmer temperatures.
The symptoms seem like !hardwater, which needs a lot more managing than soft water. See the bot reply for more info.
Did you move? Change your diet? Did something else happen?
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u/AutoModerator 6d ago
Water quality has a huuuuge effect on skin and hair care, and is often not even considered when people are experiencing issues. It is not just hard water, other things in the water like chlorine, chloramine and plenty of stuff can dramatically change what people experience. Here is an article discussing more about hard water and techniques to manage and mitigate it!
Hard Water, Wax and Natural Haircare
Footnote: this info was written by shonaich, not a random 'AI' bot. It's just a convenient way to have access to my extensive list of answers to common questions, needs and issues. Find the complete list of bot commands that post comments like this here
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u/CatieisinWonderland 1 year, fine, 1b/2a 7d ago
May I ask what your routine is? "No-Poo" means a lot of different things to different people. It does not mean that your only option is to use Water Only. Truth be told, a lot of people cannot use Water Only for multiple reasons. One of those reasons is because the chemicals in hard water combine with the sebum and turn it into a hard, waxy substance that is really hard to soften and get out of the hair.
Use the !quickstart guide in the "about sub" (if it doesn't like below) to help see what other options to clean your hair and scalp, as it doesn't sound as if you are cleaning properly (not your fault, this lifestyle takes a while to get used to).
For example: my routine uses mechanical scalp cleaning, mechanical hair cleaning, using a homemade dry shampoo, and doing an ACV rinse. Mechanical cleanings are daily, dry shampoo is used when my hair is looking a little oily, ACV rinse is once every 2 weeks unless a stronger washing is necessary.
If you find your scalp is red and really itchy, go see a doctor as there may be something more going on (such as a bacterial infection) which can cause lasting damage to your scalp and hair. This typically requires a stronger solution to help handle the situation.
As a reminder: No-Poo isn't for everyone. Our genetics can play a huge roll in how our hair and scalp will react to different stimuli.
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u/Emotional-Vegetable1 6d ago
Would you share more about the homemade dry shampoo you use? And is this something you massage in or brush through your hair before you rinse it out?
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u/CatieisinWonderland 1 year, fine, 1b/2a 6d ago
I have 2 versions of my dry shampoo. One is a powder. One is a spray. The primary ingredients are corn starch and cocoa powder (since I have dark hair).
When it is a dry wash day (whether using powder or spray), I start by doing a scalp massage with my fingertips.
You want to use enough force to break up any oils and dirt. You want to avoid using your fingernails in case you scratch yourself and cause an infection.
After this, I do a sequence of brushing with a wooden brush, followed by using the shampoo and making sure it is spread through my hair, followed by brushing with a boar bristle brush to help bring everything away from my scalp.
There are a lot of recipes online for dry shampoos to suit your specific needs!
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u/Emotional-Vegetable1 6d ago
Thank you! I appreciate your sharing. I am so interested in people’s routines as there are a lot of similarly used products but how people approach using them varies.
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u/AutoModerator 7d ago
There are many forms of Natural Haircare! It can be really confusing. So when people are just starting out, I (shonaich) like to help make it as simple as possible and recommend everyone start here!
Natural Haircare Quick Start Guide
Be sure to read the companion article on Transition too! It has a lot of information on what to expect and strategies for dealing with the healing phase many people experience.
Transition: a Small Step to a New Lifestyle
Footnote: this info was written by shonaich, not a random 'AI' bot. It's just a convenient way to have access to my extensive list of answers to common questions, needs and issues. Find the complete list of bot commands that post comments like this here
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
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u/Expensive-Ad1609 7d ago
I've not applied water to my hair in 2.5 months' time. I powder my hair when I remember or when I feel that my hair needs a clean.
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u/Visible-Scientist-46 Curly cowasher, distilled water. 7d ago
As I Am itchy flaky scalp cowash is medicated and not as drying as shampoo.
A few bar shampoo & conditioner brands have medicated options for dandruff such as Hibar.
I do not have an issue with my scalp, so I use As I Am classic cowash and also Hibar fragrance-free.
The quick start guide works great for some but it's not for everyone. I fell into this sub because I cannot use shampoo. The surfactants (cleansing agents) make me itch.
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u/FarmSkool 7d ago
I encourage you to use some conditioner. Conditioner is an option for us, it is not like shampoo at all. I went thru this recently, and for me it happens when I need a little trim to make sure it’s easy to brush. I have to brush my hair but the brushing has to be easy. Sometimes I have to wash with warm or hot water and conditioner to get it soft and easy.
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u/AutoModerator 7d ago
Hi there! It looks like your post is about dandruff or flakes.
First, please realize none of us are doctors. If you are looking for help with flakes and/or scalp conditions, it is important to first try and determine what is causing the flakes before treating them. This is because the treatments for the two most common types of flakes we see here makes the other type worse!
There is an article in the wiki which discusses possible ways to figure out what kind of flakes you might have and Natural Haircare treatment options.
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u/C0gn 6d ago
Brush brush brush!