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The hair care industry makes millions every year through the sale of shampoo and conditioner. Is it possible for human hair to maintain its cleanliness and quality without the need for shampoo? In 2006 the BBC conducted a study in which five women didn’t use shampoo for one month. While the one woman was amazed at how much volume and natural wave her hair had, another woman’s hair had become so accustomed to its regular washing that her scalp was so itchy she ended up wearing a headscarf because it looked so terrible.

The argument

Some people argue that while shampoo strips your hair of dirt it also gets rid of the natural oils that help to keep it shiny and healthy. This is where a conditioner is supposed to come in and combat the drying-out of the scalp. Apparently by removing these natural oils the hair follicles immediately produce more, which results in the greasy appearance you see after a couple days of unwashed hair.

Getting rid of your shampoo

If shampoo is not for you and you want to save a lot of money, then try these alternative solutions. Instead of using shampoo wash your scalp, not your hair, with a baking soda and water solution combined with some honey. The pH balance of this mixture is supposed to help wash away dirt. This should be done once every five days, combining two tablespoons of baking soda with one cup of hot water.

Knowing yourself

The trick to keeping your hair clean is in knowing your hair. Every person’s hair is different and so cannot be treated the same. If you just can’t stomach the thought of giving up shampoo then try using natural oils or herbal hair care products to eliminate the itchiness and frizz that can be caused by the harmful chemicals in ordinary shampoos.

Tags: conditioner, hair care, shampoo