So I started incorporating water only hair washing into my curly hair regimen January 2014. Now that it has been well over a year, I have definitely experienced some pros and cons to water only hair washing. Just like anything else there are dual sides to the story.
(curls above… chunky twist & curl set)
Pros
1. No More Product Build-Up
When you are not putting commercial hair products filled with lab created chemicals into your hair, or even heavy natural butters and creams, you do not experience product build-up on your hair strands. You also become used to what your hair naturally feels like and are able to see the true health of your hair.
2. Ridiculously Cost Effective
With water only hair washing you are using the natural oils from your scalp’s sebaceous glands as well as water to moisturize, seal, condition, and protect your hair. I am still in awe that my scalp produces exactly what my hair has always needed, and my hair is extremely soft without conditioners. These natural oils are the BEST conditioner for your hair.
3. Learn To Truly Understand Your Hair
When caring for natural curly/coily hair and determining what works best, there is a focus on how products affect our hair. With water only hair washing the focus now becomes the hair care methods in which you care for your hair. After trying so many different things with my hair, I can say that I now understand more about my hair than I have ever before especially since incorporating water only hair washing into my regimen.
4. Less Tangles
Once you have full coverage of your natural oils on your hair strands you experience less tangles. Whether you wear your hair in a wash and go, braid/twist out, or a fluffy fro, managing your hair is so much easier.
(wash & go curls with no products)
5. No More Dry Hair
If you have curly/coily hair, having dry hair seems to just go with the territory. The focus on caring for your hair is solely reliant on keeping your hair moisturized. After you have full coverage of your natural oils on your hair strands, you will no longer experience dry hair again. This is one main reason I don’t plan on going back to traditional hair care.
6. The Softest Hair Ever
When I first started water only hair washing I couldn’t keep my hands out of my hair. I had no idea my hair could ever feel this soft without products, and it was also amazing that I had soft hair without it being heavily coated in oils and butters.
7. Easy Travel
I’m not sure about you, but I have always tried to figure out how I was going to bring all of my hair care needs with me when traveling. Using herbal hair care was pretty easy, yet I still was preparing DIY hair care products away from home. Now I travel with 3 ounces of oil and my wide tooth comb and I’m good.
8. Simple Daily Hair Care/Scalp Massages
Unlike those with an oily scalp, most curly/coily hair never experiences the true effect of sebum coating the hair strands. It is not until you stop stripping them away with products that you can even move them down your hair strands with water rinses and with scritching (a light scratching of the scalp), massaging, and preening.
Scritching, massaging, and preening the oils down the hair helps to keep the hair and scalp clean as well as evenly distribute these natural oils throughout your hair. These three steps need to be done daily. Some use wooden combs/brushes, horn combs, or other natural hair tools, and some just use their fingers. Some do these steps in the shower while others prefer to do them on dry/damp hair. Regardless you are also getting a daily scalp massage which promotes hair growth and is extremely relaxing.
(wash & go curls with no products + how hennaed hair can appear in different lighting)
Cons
1. You Are Not 100% Product-Free During The Transition
Every major change in your hair regimen will create a transition process. Also when I am referring to “products” in this case, I mean simple ingredients and DIY hair care such as carrier oils, DIY hair masks/deep conditioners, hair rinses, etc. These products help make this new regimen change possible.
I used apple cider vinegar rinses to keep my scalp happy. I mixed up DIY deep conditioner mixes in fear my hair would get dry which it never did unless I clarified my hair. I still use a carrier oil after a water rinse as well as on the ends of my hair as needed, yet only in small amounts. I also continue to use my beloved henna treatments in which I’ve used for years.
2. Sebum/Mineral Deposit Build-Up
There is no longer product build-up with water only hair washing, yet if you have hard water you will experience mineral build-up on your hair over time. This mineral build-up will make your sebum feel waxy, therefore making it a vicious challenge to detangle your hair. The whole purpose of water only hair washing is to have soft manageable healthy hair, yet here is a HUGE snag in the situation.
Here are a two options…
—Get a shower filter. A shower filter will remove most if not all of the minerals and chlorine from your tap water.
—Use distilled water, carbonated water, or an acidic rinse for your final rinse.
3. Clarifying & Proper Sebum Balance
Initially before beginning water only hair washing, you MUST clarify your hair of previous hair products. If you come across the mineral build-up snag, or have excess sebum on your strands in general, finding the right natural hair cleanser that will remove only a small amount of sebum without stripping your hair dry can be tricky. When I’ve had too much sebum on my strands I’ve used a clay wash to start fresh again. Using a concentrated amount of clay to liquid will have you at square one which can be frustrating. I’m still tweaking the right amount of clay best for my hair and creating a new regimen to avoid this all together. Once I’ve clarified, I am beyond clear with how valuable these natural oils are, yet having manageable hair is important too.
(hair super stretched with African threading technique & protective style updo)
Final Thoughts
After experimenting with water only hair washing, this has now become a bit of a norm for me. I can never see myself going back to traditional hair care. I enjoy the freedom on only using DIY hair care on occasion versus weekly and not being dependent on hair care products in general.
My hair feels incredibly soft and touchable, and just smells like hair. I do add essential oils to my hair oil for scent when I desire to though. I am again working out a new hair regimen, yet I have learned so much, and feel so incredibly liberated. For me the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
Check out my water only hair washing series…
From The Curly Girl Method, To Herbal Hair Care, Now Water Only
…and My Zero Waste Curly Hair Regimen which makes the best of water rinses!
What has been your experience for those of you trying this hair care method?
(Images by Dawn Michelle)
Tara says
I’ve also had great success with water only washing in the past, but never know what to do when I need a haircut at a salon. Do you ask the stylist to skip the shampoo and conditioner? Have you ever had them comment on your hair? I’m currently using minimal product on my hair, mostly because I got talked into it by a stylist a while ago…I would really love to go back to a more natural routine, though!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tara,
That’s awesome that you too have had success with water only hair washing. I honestly do my own hair including cuts and trims. When going to a salon I would ask ahead if getting a cut without further styling was even an option. I have heard of women doing that for Deva Cuts. I would also do an herbal hair rinse prior to going to the salon as well. <3
Andreia says
I rally need to invest in a water filter, I tried the water only method and was enjoying the process, but the my hair just started to look dull.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Andreia,
A water filter will definitely help yet dull hair is also a sign that a clarifying treatment is needed. Thanks for your comment!
keisha says
i hsve yet to try this method but i’m sure i will at some point it sounds like the simplest hair care regimen. i’m still using up commercial products. thanks to you i love the clay mixes to wash my hair. what is your hair porosity and has it changed since doing the WO method? have you found that hair has been unbalanced in terms of protein and moisture? do you do any protein treatments other than henna?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Keisha,
I’m so glad the clay washes are working for you! I have normal porosity hair. I’m also only using henna and coconut milk to strengthen my hair. My hair is very moisturized on this method too. Have a great weekend!
Khristi says
Your hair is gorgeous! I just started this method today on my toddler. I’m going to start it too once she goes to sleep. Lol! What I did with her was rinsed it while she was having her bath time and finger detangled it. Then I squeezed it with her towel until it was wet/damp, then I heated up some water and set her organic coconut bottle in it and applied it to her scalp and massaged her scalp for a couple of minutes. Basically the inversion method. So my plan for us is the water only washing and inversion method. What are your thoughts about the inversion method and do you think it blends well with the WOW method?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Khristi,
I personally don’t have too much experience with the inversion method. I still massage my scalp everyday, just not upside down. With water only hair washing you will also learn how much oil your hair needs. You will be surprised that you won’t need as much as you did prior to this method. Wishing you and your little one the very best! Thank you for the compliment too!
TJ says
Hello Dawn Michelle-
After three months I am finally getting promising results from WOHWing. I think the turning point was when I started considering the health of my scalp. About 6 months ago my hair and scalp suffered from chemical damage from harsh/hard water. I had been traveling internationally and my hair did not like the quality of water it was being exposed to. This past January I purchased a shower filter. That helped a lot! But my hair was still weak. After reading up on chlorine damage I realized that my hair AND scalp had been compromised by chemical damage. Eureka, I was realizing that a healthy scalp leads to healthy hair!! A healthy scalp also contributes to adequate sebum production. As a result I researched and experimented with different herbal rinses that benefited the scalp, such as rosemary and hibiscus. And a couple of weeks ago I tried rose water. My hair loves it! My hair’s and scalp’s health has radically change. It’s as soft as a baby’s. Thanks for all your support and knowledge!! I am finally starting to understand what you’ve been saying about the quality of sebum-conditioned hair!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi TJ,
Sebum conditioned hair is incredibly strong, resilient, and soft! I’m so glad that you are experiencing the benefits of water only hair washing. It’s great that you were able to get a water filter. It’s crazy that the quality of water can actually damage your hair. I so appreciate you sharing this and I wish you the best of everything!
Kimberly says
Hi Dawn Michelle,
Love hearing about your results and journey with the water only washing technique. Your hair definitely looks stronger and healthier — so soft and it looks like there’s more elasticity.
I saw the blog “un fancy” today and thought of you and your decision to live life more richly by living more simply. I have so much stuff, that it’s now owns ME! Taking steps now to simplify and you are an inspiration.
Keep up the excellent blog.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kimberly,
Super simple hair care has really made a huge difference in my hair. As for living with less, go for it! Let go everything that you don’t absolutley love. I always loved starting with my closet as I found the most enjoyable and easiest. Best wishes!
Naj says
Hello, Dawn. I love your blog for turning me onto rhassoul clay washes and your banana/coconut milk DC!
Do you know of any natural remedies for thinning edges or dandruff?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Naj,
I’m really happy that both of those DIY hair treatments are working for you. I also have fine edges and have tried castor oil yet didn’t notice extreme improvement. Castor oil has worked for others though. As for dandruff Apple cider vinegar rinses are amazing. Also look into your diet to relieve dandruff. Sugar and processed foods can contribute to the issue as well as other imbalances in the body. More on nutrition here. Update… Also just wrote this about dandruff and hair fall.
Yasu says
Hi Dawn,
I’m about a month into my trial of the WO method. Before this I had been using clay washes and natural oils only on my hair. My hair has a coily/kinky curl pattern.
I’ve been rinsing almost every day. For the first two weeks my hair was very dry. Then around the 3rd or fourth week my hair started to feel dry yet waxy at the same time. Not mildly waxy, but a waxy quality that would linger on my fingers after any time I would touch my hair. I decided to apply some oil and WOW! My hair was super easy to detangle and the waxy feeling had gone away. I don’t think my hair has ever had such a dramatic reaction to oil before. However, it seems to be a temporary solution at best. Depending on how much oil I apply the waxiness will return anywhere from the same day to no more than two days later.
Did you experience anything like this during your transition? I could use some advice.
Thanks!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Yasu,
The waxy feeling is because water rinses away the oily part of your natural oils and leaves the waxy part behind. Our natural hair oils/sebum are both oil and wax. My advice is that once you reach full coverage to lessen your rinses and also invest in a shower filter. When minerals from hard water build up on the hair strands all of the benefits of water only hair washing are compromised. Hope this helps!
Yasu says
I forgot to mention that sometime between my second and third week I decided to purchase a shower filter to see if it would make a difference in my hair or skin. I’m not sure that it has.
Again, thanks!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Yasu,
I’m just seeing this part of your comment now. I’m glad you did get a shower filter. It will make a huge difference!
Majara says
I was wondering does the henna strip your sebum? I love henna but im worried itll make my hair dry. Im sure the coconut milk and oils will help but i dont want to end up without my sebum, adjusting to water only washing was very hard for me and the ends of my hair are still dry and tangly. I dont want to end up back where i started.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Majara,
I haven’t found that henna stripped my natural oils when mixed with coconut milk. I’ve also only done henna treatments when I’ve had a heavy coating of sebum on my strands. Yet still we are all unique so it is important to discover what works best for you. Definitely apply henna to detangled hair. Have a great holiday weekend!
Selassie says
Hi Dawn,
I came across your blog when I was searching for this water washing method only and living a minimalist lifestyle.I just want to say you are an inspiration to me. I’m just a month into this WO method and my hair feels healthy and soft. I’m just in love but I don’t know how far I can go with this,having 3 kids and a household to take care of. I have a question though-
What do you do if your hair needs protein? I have a lot of split ends in the front side of my hair. I keep cutting 3 inches off every 3-6 months.Now I feel like cutting 4 inches off since the split goes beyond. Which will make the rest of my longer and the front shorter. I do lot of DIY stuff,use my oils but nothing seems to work and I don’t want to go back to using commercial stuff.Oh!! yes,summer is few months away.How do you protect your hair just by doing WO method with no product.Do you have any suggestion to give? Thanks!!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Selassie,
I’m wondering where the split ends are coming from. Do you sleep with a satin/silk scarf or pillow case? Do you use protective styling, comb/brush gently or finger detangle, and do you know your hair’s porosity? I’ve found that great hair care is more about the methods we use and how we understand and handle our hair. Also using seamless combs and safe snag proof hair tools help a lot.
Once you have reached full coverage of your natural oils, I’ve later learned that you don’t have to rinse daily anymore which will save time. A nightly scritch, massage, and preen is all that is needed. As for protein, I’ve only used strengthening treatments such as henna. Coconut oil can help with keeping the protein in your hair strands. Also I’ve always used oils in my hair so I have never been 100% product-free. You can use oil or even shea butter in small amounts daily for hair protection. In th summer wearing updos and hats protects your hair from the heat.
I hope this helps!
Selassie says
Hi Dawn,
Thanks for getting back to me. I do all the above stuff you mentioned except I’m not so sure about my hair porosity.I haven’t used combs in my hair for a month now, just sticking to finger detangling for now.I take care of my hair very well.Maybe I need to change my method,not sure.I used coconut often. Thanks for the henna tip!!! I used henna years back in my relaxed hair,it got dried and started breaking.I will try again in the future now that I’ve got much knowledge on how to use it. I wasn’t so sure if shea butter was allowed in the WO method. Thanks again.God bless you.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Selassie,
I don’t think there are any real rules with WO. It is more about finding what works best for you in the simplist way. What I love about WO is that you have no choice but to really become in tune with your hair’s needs.
It is possible that you may have product build up from the past still in your hair. It takes time for the hair to detox just as it takes time for our bodies to detox. I really don’t know your hair history so definitely use your intuition on your next step. I’m not sure if you’ve read this hair series but it will give you some more ideas.
Best wishes!
Ella says
Hello Dawn!
I’ve been wondering how can wo been applied to someone who swims alot? I’ve been thinking of adding swimming to my fitness regimen and I’m not sure that water can remove chlorine or salt water on it’s own. Is there something I can use to protect my hair or remove the chlorine that is natural?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Ella,
I’m not a regular swimmer, yet if I was going to swim in a pool for fitness I would wear two swimming caps. As for salt water I can share with you what I’ve done in the past which I shared here. I would at least do an apple cider vinegar rinse after swimming in the ocean and also use an oil prior and as a leave-in. Hope this helps!
Majara says
Thank you very much! Im glad i found your stuff, i would have never thougt to put coconut milk in henna XD. Also im suprised that it would help with detangling. Ive only used henna once before, with lemon juice and after my hair felt kind of rough. I never really got a chance to see if i liked it or not, i was trying to dye my hair red, and it ended up brown. After that i was too afraid to try again because of all the work i did to get my hair a nice red color.
Now that im no longer coloring my hair, the color it ends up doesnt matter much to me. Though i would love a red tint. Hopefully it turns out great!
CSI says
Well I’ve been doing this method for about two months now and I love it. This blog has been invaluable in answering all my questions so as to start and remain on it. I’ve helped others get started as well by referring to your blog. Thanks so much. I live in a highly humid Country. I have never been able to control my hair with the humidity but now I can. The humidity is no match for the sebum. It’s pretty amazing
Dawn Michelle says
Hi CSI,
I’m so glad that sharing my experience with this method has been helpful. There really is nothing like sebum conditioned hair especially if your hair was considered dry and frizzy prior. Thanks so much for your comment!
CSI says
I tried to use Giovanni leave in after three weeks and my hair puffed up like crazy and was a mess. That was proof that I need to stick to what Im doing. Thanks so much for answering all comments and being so thorough yet simple in your explanations. Can’t wait to learn more from your new regimen
Yasu says
Hi Dawn,
Thank you for the advice! I just thought I would share the experiences I’ve had since my last post here.
I think what I was experiencing could have been an excessive amount on sebum in my hair strands. After reading about using a brush to better distribute the sebum, I purchased a wooden-bristle brush and tried it on my hair. I discovered that something was flaking out of my hair during that process. That’s when I decided to just “reset” my hair. First I tried an ACV rinse, but it had no effect. So after that I went ahead with a more diluted mixture of my version of the diy cleanser (bentonite+rhassaoul clay, marshmallow root powder, amla powder, aloe vera gel, vegetable glycerine) and my hair was great again.
It’s been almost two weeks since I “reset.” I have continued with daily scalp massages, preening, and rinsing. I can feel the waxiness returning. That being said, I am appreciating some benefits from this. My hair feels stronger, more elastic, and it almost seems weather-proof when it rains.
I think I still have a lot to perfect with the WO method, but I plan continue. I didn’t even know my scalp could produce anything like this, so it makes me wonder what else I have to learn about my hair.
Again, thank you for the encouragement and the advice!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Yasu,
Thanks so much for your update! I think the waxy feel of excess sebum on your strands can be discouraging with this method. Yet once you find the right DIY hair cleanser to reset and cleanse your hair, and you know how long you can go inbetween this resetting cleanse, you really are good to go! It is easy to want to go back to using products, but they just don’t cut it in terms of cost or softness and strength that this method provides. Best wishes!
Lise says
Hi Dawn,
I have been using the water only method since December 2014. I love it. Lately detangling has been a hassle for me and also the hair is dull. I use the fermented rice water as a wash but I could use some help for detangling Feeling frustrated so far but so not going back to regular hair care though. Please help!
PS: I do have a water filter in my shower.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Lise,
What you are experiencing is a buildup of sebum. What has helped me when I have experienced this is to clarify my hair. In essence clarifying the hair strips off excess sebum so I always coat my hair with oil after I wash, then return back to water only hair washing. Clay washes are amazing for clarifying the hair. It is easy to build a new layer of natural oils on your strands will daily rinses if needed. How often you clarify depends on your natural oil production. For some it may be every 4-6 weeks possibly longer. Let me know how this works out for you. <3
Andrea says
Your hair looks wonderful! My sister has been doing water only & still using flaxseed gel & her hair looks great.
I wish I could do it but I have highly porous strands that absorb too much water & lose the moisture just as fast. I’ve never been able to find a high porosity gal doing water only washing. I guess it’s not for type 4 curlies!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Andrea,
I think what you experienced with water only hair washing has much more to do with porosity than hair type/texture. If I tried to type my curls I would be a 3c/4a. I just think there are so many more components to what makes curly hair so unique than just the size of the curl.
If you are still interested in this method you may want to try oil rinsing. You don’t have to oil rinse daily. But find a rhythm that feels right. That way you can avoid hygral fatigue on your strands. It is all about what works for you and what is best for your hair. Let me know if you try this and how it works out. <3
Carmala says
I am new to the water only method and have been in 11 days now. The hard part for me are my ends so as of the night before I incorporated putting coconut oil on the ends and then going through the 3 step process; scritching, massage, and preening. So I’ll have to let you know how that has been working once I’ve been doing that awhile. To me it feel like its taking forever for my sebum to get going, but I’ll stick with it and hopefully I’ll finally get to the soft manageable hair I’m looking for and hear about through other W.O.W curly/coily hair ladies.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Carmala,
Daily rinses are what has always helped me with sebum production when I need more coverage quicker. Once your scalp becomes accustomed to producing more natural oils it will then be about finding the best balance with your regimen. Don’t give up because the benefits are amazing! Best wishes!
Cassie says
Hi Dawn Michelle,
I have been WOW since November with great success but I’ve hit a snag. I too am experiencing what I think to be an excess amount of sebum on my hair/scalp. When my hair was longer, I did notice that it looked dull even after clarifying with ACV. About a month ago, I buzzed cut my hair (and am letting it grow out again) and continued with WOW hair care, only now when I scritch, I notice flakes and I am having difficulties with clarifying my hair. I do not have hard water and our home has a whole house filtration system. I’ve tried ACV rinses with 1:4, 1:3 and 1:2 vinegar to water ratios but the flakes have not gone away. I’ve read that oil rinsing could possibly help with excess sebum so I think I will try that soon. Right now. I have never used clay before but from what you say here on the comments, it will strip my hair…I don’t want to do that. I know my hair is short so I will have sebum coverage again soon but I really want to avoid having to remove my natural oils as the only way to reset. Is there a weaker clay solution that you think will take layers off the sebum without completely stripping my hair?
Thanks in advance for your help!
Chao
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Cassie,
I have began using a clay wash when I need to strip off the excess oils. I then use shea butter following the wash and go back into my usual regimen. It is sometimes necessary to have a fresh start. I will be sharing my updated regimen with details soon. Experiment to find what works best for you. <3
rachael says
I tried this method for a while and for the first time my curls were moisturized. It was amazing! However, the problem I’ve run into is that my hair gets stinky. It soaks up whatever smells I’m around–smog, smoke, bacon, etc and totally grosses me out. I’ve started using Shea Moisture products and they help my hair smell good but it’s dried out again. Any suggestions?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Rachael,
I’ve always found a connection to how my body naturally smells to what I am eating and how well it is processing the foods I eat. Often what we eat and the health of our body shows through our skin and body. I have heard that incorporating fenugreek into your diet acts like a natural body deodorizer but please do your own research as well. I am sure that there are probably other natural deodorizes as well. This will improve the smell of the natural oils that come from your scalp. Eating clean will definitely help.
Also in terms of the smells around you getting into your hair, have you tried apple cider vinegar rinses? I have come to the conclusion that using only water for hair care isn’t going to work for me. I have to still incorporate other natural ingredients.
Lastly it is crazy how after doing water only commercial hair care doesn’t even come close. Synthetics ingredients to condition hair are not as good as the natural oils that come from our scalp. I hope this helps some and please keep us posted on what works for you.
Best wishes!
Aria says
Hey lovely lady! I’ve been water only washing for nearly 5 months and my roots feel amazing, but my ends are dry. I really wanted to only use sebum throughout this journey, but I’m wondering if you experienced such a problem. I feel like if I put shea butter or an oil on my ends that it’ll interfere with my sebum. Do you think that I haven’t reached full coverage yet even though it’s been nearly 5 months?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Aria,
If you are noticing your natural oils on the first few inches of your hair and not your ends, the next step is to modify and increase how you preen your hair. Preening is literally moving these natural oils down the length of your hair. You can do this both on dry and wet hair. I prefer to do it on damp/wet hair with my fingers as I find this easier for me. Doing this daily will move the sebum down the length and eliminate the dryness. Daily rinsing initially will also help to distribute the sebum. Over time you can begin rinse less often based on your needs. I hope this helps!
LA.Forest says
I would like to thank you for starting me on this hair journey of water only. I started on 19 Jan 2015 getting myself prepared for Lent (giving up commercial hair items) cause I found myself relying so much on them when my hair didn’t cooperate on a particular day. So, I always found myself searching the blogs for my problem and purchasing whatever they said to get for that ”magic” to happen.
What I came to realize while doing the WO challenge, is that my hair did not like all of the commercial stuff. It loved the ACV rinses, clay masks and the honey/ banana/ aloe Vera /lemon /coconut milk rinses, which I still do every other week to make sure my hair doesn’t go dull. What I have found that my 3c/4a low porosity hair is extremely coily! I already knew it had coils but not like this! It’s to where people stop and ask me what I do to my hair and I tell them I just wash with water! And, they of course looked like “Yeah, OK” with the Bugs Bunny side eye added. LOL
I do have color in my hair which I have but most of it out and can tell a HUGE difference in texture even though my hair is still greatly benefiting from the WO (the color is the reason for still using my conditioner concoction). But, I have a question is using the Boars Hair Brush. My hair is VERY thick with a whole bunch of coils. Tried finger detangling, which is a breeze with very little lost, but using a brush is a no go with the coils and thickness. Any suggestions? And, can you show or walk everyone through using a Boars hair brush for the preening part?
Again, thank you for enlightening us because even though there is information about WO out there yours seem to be the one that I am drawn to for information.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi LA Forest,
I only used a boar bristle brush when starting this method, and it literally just pulled out my hair. I tried using a natural bristle baby brush and that was fine but took three hours to get through all of my hair. The first boar bristle brush was too firm and rather inexpensive. I also prefer wearing my hair curly versus a blow dried look most of the time. In my opinion if you want to use a natural bristle brush find an extremely soft one.
In the end it just wasn’t worth it for me to use this type of brush regularly. Honestly if my hair care is too high maintenance I am literally annoyed and over it, so I just keep it simple. Water rinses and using oils/shea butter helps to move the natural oils down the length of my hair. I prefer to preen my hair strands with my fingers. I will use a detangling brush like the Tangle Teezer once a month for further detangling but I mainly detangle and preen my hair with my fingers. I think I wrote about using boar bristle brushes here as well. Hope this helps!
LA.Forest says
Thank you! Reading the other blogs/sites they made it seem as if the brush was a must. Using a brush is just frustrating with my hair. Thank you again Dawn Michelle for your help.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi LA Forest,
If you aren’t incorporating any other methods with water only hair washing then I could definitely see how using a boar bristle brush would be necessary. I decided to do a modified water only hair regimen which includes a monthly clay wash, apple cider vinegar rinses as needed, and natural oils + shea butter in small amounts. I think my modified regimen allows me to get away with not using a boar bristle brush. I am also past the initial transitioning phase which can be tough.
Maria says
Hi!
It’s great to hear from someone else who’s doing the water only method! 😀
I’ve been doing it for the past two months, unlike you though, I have a huge problem with dry hair. Or rather my ends. They are terribly dry and brittle. I try to distribute sebum through my hair, but some days I forget to do it. I don’t see why missing a day here and there should be too much of a problem though. But my ends are really dry.
What can I do? Do you have any ideas? 🙂
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Maria,
How often are you rinsing your hair? Also do you use any type of oil at all especially for the ends of your hair? I don’t go more than 3 days without rinsing and I always use an oil or butter to maintain moisture. Sometimes I not need to use as much oil, and other days none at all, but it is always about balance and listening to your hair. Also did you clarify your hair with clay prior to beginning this method? It’s important to clarify so that water can more easily penetrate the hair and is not blocked by synthetic products etc.
Stacey Williams says
Love your hair morehair started the water only washing a week ago and I do still have the dryness on the ends. The transitions is real and I going to try the banana gerber food with olive oil.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Stacey Williams,
With water only hair washing you truly become in sync with your hair’s needs. Make sure you take the time to preen the oils to the ends of your hair every day. Best wishes and keep us posted!
Selassie says
Hi Dawn,
So I’ve decided to give henna a try. I got mine in the post today. I hope you are still on the water wash only method. Please I just want to know if you deep condition your hair after henna use or you just rinse the henna off and go about your day. I’m still on the water wash only method and I want to try henna but I’m afraid of dryness afterwards. Since I don’t want to put any conditioner in my hair. I’m asking if you have any DIY ideas of what to use after henna use to prevent dryness. Thanks you!! God bless you. Selassie,
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Selassie,
I still use water only washing and henna/coconut milk helps to remove excess sebum from my strands as well as condition and color, so no dryness at all. If you feel like you need to condition after try coconut milk with puréed and strained banana. If you have a good coating of your own natural oils you will be fine. Pay attention to your hair needs. Happy hennaing!
Sharonda says
Hello Dawn Michelle!!!
I recently saw a video from Naptural85 on water-only-washing (WOW) and I am intrigued. The method makes sense and I’m thinking of trying it. I do have a question though, are you using any stylers to hold your curls? Specifically a gel of some sort? How does it interact with this method as far as cleaning and maintaining you hair? Thanks for the post!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sharonda,
Currently I have just been using wheat germ oil in my hair. The natural oils that your scalp produces actually acts as a conditioner and styler. What I like so much about this hair care method is that I am able to wear wash and go styles without three leave-in products and still have the same results once I completely transitioned from traditional hair care products.
All I use now in my hair is wheat germ oil mainly for oil rinses, my monthly clarifying treatment with clay, and henna 3-4 times a year. Earlier this spring I used flaxseed gel/hair spritz and a shea butter mix which I shared in my spring/summer hair care regimen. I also shared a styling regimen here. I hope this helps!
Aya says
Hi Dawn,
I really love your blog and I learned a lot from you. I tried water only method for some months and it’s working great, but my problem is detangling, you mentioned in one of your articles that you use oil rinse for detangling, I want to know how you manage to get the oil out of your hair without shampoo.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Aya,
One thing that I learned through having the same detangling issue is that even with water only you kind of have to clarify your hair every once and awhile. Your hair can experience a buildup of your natural oils which causes tangles. It’s too much of good thing after a while and it needs to be removed then built back up again.
Some like apple cider vinegar rinses, clay washes, and even shampoo bars/castile soap with a ACV rinse to clarify with. I’ve realized recently that it is better to use small amounts of oil over time versus major oil rinses. I find that carrier oils can build up on the hair too. At least that has been my experience with wheat germ oil when using it as an oil rinse. My hair didn’t need that much oil at one time which I found out later. When I say using small amounts of oil I mean a few drops per section when styling.
Apple cider rinses are the most gentle clarifiers and shampoo bars/castile soap being the strongest. If I wait too long I definitely need something stronger to remove the excess sebum. My natural oils always build back up though. I mix clay with apple cider vinegar as a monthly clarifier. It’s about finding the best time frame for your hair depending upon how much natural oil your scalp produces and how your hair is responding. There was a while last year that I was using ACV rinses and a DIY banana conditioner on my hair every week and it provided a good balance with my natural oils. A bit of trial and error and you will figure out what works best for you. I hope this helps!
Kim says
Hey Dawn,
Thanks so much for always posting such well-researched and well informed info on, well lots of things, but particularly natural hair adventures! My WO method question: umm…i have no sebum, like ever. I’ve been WO for about 5 weeks. I know it is suggested to rinse daily to increase sebum production at first, but i’m afraid of hygral fatigue, does this concern you? Nightly I massage, I rinse every 3 days and use coconut-jojoba oil on mid-length to ends. Perhaps the oil is diluting my sebum and washing it away without my noticing? But you’d think I would feel it there in massaging a dry scalp. I’ve read about increasing water intake,exercise, eating clean, increasing fat intake which I do all religiously (i’m a yoga therapist and ayurvedic consultant). Any tips on increasing sebum apart from massage, rinsing, drinking lots of water and getting omegas/fats? I won’t go back to products I’m so happy but I would love to feel my own sebum show up! Thank you in advance!!!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Kim,
When I first started this method I didn’t start rinsing daily until the 3rd or 4th week in, and that was when I really noticed my natural oils. Rinsing daily is actually more important than I initially thought especially in the beginning as your hair becomes adjusted especially if you aren’t noticing your natural oils. It has now been over a year and a half on this method and I’ve noticed continual changes along the way. After you reach full coverage you can modify your regimen to suit your styling preferences and hair needs.
T says
Your hair looks amazing! I too have been doing the water only wash for myself for 1 month now. I’m past the stage of having difficulties transitioning and I’m learning more about my hair. Have you added swimming to your water only wash regimen? I have very dense fine hair. Do you have any suggestions or know anyone who can help with styling, wash and go, or to minimize shrinking?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi T,
Thanks for the compliment! I’m not an avid swimmer, yet I have shared some hair tips for beach holidays. I’d definitely suggest a good swim cap for pools though. Also I did share some wash and go styling tips here. My hair had just been cut again, and was diffused by cupping the hair from the bottom up which creates more shrinkage. I’ve learned to diffuse my hair more effectively since then. Air drying and/or banding dry curls is also very helpful for reducing shrinkage. I hope this helps!
Stephanie says
Hi. With water washing and doing henna, what shampoo and conditioning treatment do you use after doing the henna so that you don’t lose all your sebum?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Stephanie,
Now that I’ve been doing water only rinses for so long I just rinse out my henna treatments with water and style as usual. Henna will remove a light layer of sebum from your strands, and when they are heavily coated this is a blessing. I have used the coconut milk/puréed banana conditioning treatment after a henna treatment as well though. I eyeball the mixture and always strain it before applying.
Happy Hennaing!
Stephanie says
Hello. Perhaps you can give me some advice on how to best detox/clarify my hair before started WO. I have very oily scalp and get itchy dandruff with redness. Btw I have low porosity, 4c hair. When I’ve tried clay masks before my hair feels good, but my scalp still is never clean and has the oily build up. Should I continue to try clarify with the clay or should I try a more “natural” clarifying shampoo? Or is there possibly another method?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Stephanie,
Using a diluted apple cider vinegar rinse on your scalp will help. I a,so mix bentonite clay with pure apple cider vinegar and a few drops of essential oil to truly clarify my hair. You can also read some tips on avoiding product build-up here. It would be helpful to use chemical-free hair care for 2-3 months before trying water only hair washing especially since you have been using silicone products. I didn’t start this method right away. It was a slow transition. Best wishes!
Stephanie says
I forgot to mention that I also use products that contain lots of cones and parabens, they just seem to work better. Not sure if the clay alone can remove it all.
Leslie says
I tried water-only-washing for about two weeks and though I loved the benefits (Sleek, soft, shiny hair) the smell of my scalp became unbearable… Of course when I sniffed the length of my hair it did not have a smell to it but I had my mom take a whiff of my scalp and I was too embarrassed not to shampoo my hair clean.. I want to try this again but I am afraid that this will happen again. I live in New Jersey so I’m guessing the water is really hard, and I believe our landlord doesnt allow shower heads for w.e reason… do you have any tips for dealing with the smell?
I am inspired by your efforts and since I walk along the same path of being environmentally conscious, I am so grateful to have more people to look to for tips.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Leslie,
Diluted apple cider vinegar rinses have been my saving grace for keeping my scalp healthy, fresh, and clean while also keeping my hair conditioned and manageable. I use 1 part vinegar to 4 parts water. If you infuse apple cider vinegar with herbs such as rosemary it is even more amazing! Hope this helps!
Dee Dee says
Hi,
Do you think that adding a teaspoon of oil to my clay wash will strip the sebum from my hair and scalp?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Dee Dee,
If you have a lot of sebum on your strands neither the clay nor the oil will strip your sebum. I had a very challenging time balancing DIY product use with sebum production (I’m no longer water only), because sebum production can vary greatly based on what you eat. Also if you do strip more sebum than you would like, you can build another coat as your scalp will continue to produce these oils. Be patient with this process. Best wishes!
Tierra Whitaker says
How do you get your hair so stretched out with the African threading?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Tierra Whitaker,
You can find a bunch of tutorials for African threading on YouTube. I think it’s better to use softer thicker string like yarn over weaving thread though. It helps to detangle your hair and initially do African threading on damp hair. Once dry, detangle gently rethread again for a better stretch. Some like to do the banding method this way to stretch their hair. It helps to use an oil or butter as well. Hope this helps!
Patricia says
I think I did it wrong my first day.. I cleansed my hair then I did a honey and EVOO DIY deep conditioner. My hair is a bit greasy from that… Do I have to restart?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Patricia,
Before you begin water rinses you first need to detox your hair with a clay and apple cider vinegar mix. Afterwards I would apply your favorite oil/butter to your hair and begin daily rinses while you hair is in medium or chunky twists. If you look through the articles I’ve written on water only you will have more information that will be helpful.
You don’t want to do a lot of DIY treatments in the beginning since learning how to work with your natural oils is more important in the beginning. Afterwards you will find your best mix of rinses and simple hair care. Depending upon how your hair feels after another rinse will help you decide if you want to start over. Best wishes!
Edna says
Hello Dawn,
Thanks a lot for the 3 post on the WOHW method. I have also learned a lot from the previous comments as I myself started this method 11 days ago.
In one of your reply, you mention that you are no longer on the water rinsing. Could I ask you why?
Thanks
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Edna,
I had a frustrating moment with water only so for awhile went back to mainly using herbal hair care. Most recently I figured out a way to maximize the benefits of water rinses while also using a few simple “products”. I shared all of the details on this new regimen here. That article explains everything. Have a great day!
Yana says
Hey,
Do you still deep condition when you WOW? Or do you skip it, because the hair doesn’t need it? And if you do, how often do you? I deep condition weekly, but if I start this, do I still have to???? Please answer very soon!!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Yana,
You can see in detail my current hair regimen here. I’ve included a few other things into my regimen although I still rinse daily. I hope it helps!
Sheela Jha says
Hey
Will washing hairs with just water and then finally rinsing with ACV work if I have hard water in my area ?
Also what will be the condition of hairs while transition period ?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Sheela Jha,
If you have hard water having a shower filter makes a HUGE difference. It is kind of necessary otherwise you will have mineral build up on your strands. During the transition your hair will feel dry. It helps to lightly oil or butter your ends during the transition. Keeping your hair in twists or an updo makes a difference too. I shared my journey with water only here. I hope this helps.
Sheela Jha says
Thanks for your help 😃
Sheela Jha says
One more thing is it necessary to use bristle brush to spread oil. I tried using it a few times and it pulled a lot of hairs out. So if you could tell some alternatives which wouldn’t be harsh on hairs like bristle brush and will do the work ?
Jess A says
I wanted to let you know that your story inspired me to give water only washing a shot. Thank you for sharing so much information! It really helped me as I was trying to figure out this method. Overall I had some great success, but I also ran into a problem with dandruff. Now I use some sulfate-free shampoo about every other week, and that seems to take care of it. Maybe one day I’ll figure out how to avoid the dandruff and go strictly water only.
Your hair is so beautiful and I’m happy to see someone having a really good experience with this method. It has been really liberating for me so far, even though I still have to use some shampoo. Thanks for the story and for the inspiration to give it a shot!
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Jess A,
Thanks for the compliment! I still water rinse my hair very often, yet I didn’t fully stick with water only completely. I think it is fine to use shampoo etc when you need to. This experiment did help me learn so much more about my hair so that I’m am no longer dependent upon products. I’m glad you have found some success with it too!
Shoma Smith says
Do you ever use any gel for your holds in ponytails?
Dawn Michelle says
Hi Shoma,
I don’t currently use gel but when I did it was flaxseed gel which I made and love.
August says
Hi, I just gotta say your skin looks so good and radiant and your hair looks so bouncy. Haha, do you think this would work for a guy with straight very slightly wavy hair? I’m Hispanic. And lastly, how do you do the apple cider vinegar rinse? Thanks.
Dawn Michelle says
Hi August,
Thank you so much! All hair types can use this method. I use one part apple cider vinegar to 4 or more parts water depending upon how strong I desire the solution to be. You can use this rinse after a water rinse or after washing as a conditioner replacement. I rinse with water after and do not leave it in my hair. I hope this helps.