To 'poo or not to 'poo?

[Ether_Drive]

In ones experience, is it better to shampoo using an all natural / organic shampoo and conditioner, or to wash using soapnuts, baking soda, and other natural cleansers?

[plainjanegirl]

Hi! Welcome to the group. I have not done the all natural stuff but what you will find is that everybody's hair is different. You will find people here with beautiful hair but a WIDE variety of what everybody uses. All you can do is try them and see how it goes.

[AJoifulNoise]

Hi! Welcome to the group. I have not done the all natural stuff but what you will find is that everybody's hair is different. You will find people here with beautiful hair but a WIDE variety of what everybody uses. All you can do is try them and see how it goes.

Took the words right out of my mouth! You won't know until you try each one. :)

[Delilah]

As a 4b iii you will likely have luck with poo-free alternatives, since that hair type is very prone to dryness and frizzies. Conditioner only washes and water-only would be great things for you to try, there are extensive threads on both of those here.

[GlassEyes]

As I've said before, 'natural' is not always the ebst way to go. There's a reason that we've developed so many unnatural products.

However, many natural products are wonderful, and washing with other things might help, especially with 4b hair. I agree with Delilah. CO would probably be the ebst way to go, but unless you use a natural conditioner, it's not a 'natural' washing method. DAiry whip may help as well, if you still want to shampoo, as it apparently gets the hair clean while imparting moisture. I myself use CO, and switch between SLS shampoo's and Queen Helene Mint Julep washes (non-SLS shampoo).

[mellie]

In my experience, soapnuts have been the best cleanser for my hair. When I use commercial shampoos, I get little bits of skin in my hair (scalp crud, is it called?) and a LOT of shedding, and left my hair kind of shiny, but without much body.

When I used Dairy Whip, it stalled my growth, although there was less shedding, but it left my hair kind of shiny without much body too.

When I use soapnuts, my hair grows fast, my scalp is nice and clean, no shedding, and my hair is very shiny and lustrous with lots of body.

But as said above, everyone's hair is very different! I for one can't use conditioner or oils at all, since my hair is already so thick and oily, they just weigh my hair down and make it look lank and greasy. But for other folks, those things really help their hair and scalp.

So as they said, the only way to know is to experiment! :-)

ETA: Shampoo bars didn't work for me at all, they left my hair very greasy and funky (even with acid rinses). Egg shampoos kind of cleaned my hair, but left it extremely dull-looking and funny feeling. And baking soda was very very terrible, extremely greasy and gross looking.

[Roseate]

Like everyone says, you've just gotta try it to see if it works for you!

Another great natural option: shampoo bars. There's a big thread on them here, they are soap-based rather than detergent-based, very moisturizing, and work well for some people.

[spidermom]

I've got to warn against baking soda; it is very drying and almost turned my hair into felt.

[CopperHead]

I switch off depending on my mood mostly. I have some very nice natural products that work very well, but I have no problem using a not so natural one either. I love my Giovanni 50/50 and Nature's Gate products too. I use natural soap sometimes for my shower, but Philosophy bath products are the only ones that will clear up the rash on my arms. Go figure. ;) You have to go with what works for you.