• Lifestyle
    • Faith
    • Minimalism
    • Zero Waste
    • Home
    • Motherhood & Family
    • Health & Wellness
    • Travel
  • Food
    • Raw Food
    • Vegetarian
    • Smoothies
    • Desserts
    • Clean Eating
    • What I Eat In A Day
  • DIY
    • Facial Cleanser
    • Facial Moisturizer
    • Facial Mask
    • Eye Cream/Serum
    • Lip Balm
    • Hair Cleanser
    • Hair Rinse
    • Hair Leave-In/Styler
    • Beauty Oil/Butter
    • Beauty Mist/Toner
    • Natural Fragrance
    • Deodorant
    • Nail Care
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Curly Hair Regimen
    • Healthy Hair Tips
    • Chemical-Free Series/Hair
    • Skin
    • Acne
    • Principles
    • Chemical-Free Series/Skin
  • Style
    • Modesty
    • Wardrobe Simplified
    • My Capsule Wardrobe
  • SHOP
  • About
    • Beauty Regimen
    • My Personal Testimony
    • My Minimalist Home
    • Testimonials

Minimalist Beauty

living simply with grace, discretion and faith

Minimalist Beauty

No ‘Poo Hair Care & Hard Water

July 19, 2013 by Dawn Michelle

I haven’t used commercial shampoo in over three years.  So far this year I’ve been successfully living without commercial conditioners too as a curly girl.  Naturally I’ve experienced transition periods with my hair.  Throughout this process I’ve been using herbal hair cleansers with herbs, oils, butters, and other natural ingredients as conditioning moisturizers.

Although I’ve lived in the city this entire time, I had never understood the frustration of going no ‘poo with hard water because of having a strong water filter in the shower.  Somehow the filter had not been changed in the timely fashion recently, and I was experiencing hard city water for the first time.

The reason why many including myself stop using traditional store bought hair products is to avoid the unhealthy chemicals, and stop the cycle of completely stripping the hair of its natural oils and replacing them with synthetic conditioners.

Traditional store bought shampoos and conditioners contain chemical surfactants and detergents which remove the minerals which can build up on hair strands regardless of water quality.  If you live in a place with hard water, your hair will feel as if it is not coming clean if you do not use something with surfactants or detergents.  Natural herbal hair cleansers obviously do not contain synthetic surfactants or detergents.  When using herbal hair cleansers especially if you have hard water, you will never feel as if your hair is ever getting clean.  Instead your hair will have an unpleasant residue feel that will continue to build up and never fully rinse away.

I’m actually really happy that I’ve experienced what washing my hair with hard water truly feels like, or I wouldn’t be able to speak on it.  It’s pretty damn awful!  If you are someone who is extremely interested in 100% natural hair care without any hidden synthetic ingredients, then I have two suggestions for you.

1. Get a good shower filter

Not only will your hair absolutely adore you for it, but your skin will too!  One thing that stands out to me most of all is to keep the filter changed in a timely fashion.  Shower filters remove chlorine, chemicals, and minerals from the water which sanitize water for safe use.  Using a shower filter will further clean the water of the unwanted chemicals and minerals and make the water even better for your skin and hair.

2. Use an acidic rinse after cleansing your hair

Acidic hair rinses not only seal your hair cuticle after washing it, but will also help when dealing with hard water issues.  You could use an herbal hair rinse, apple cider vinegar hair rinse, or an herbal infused apple cider vinegar rinse which is one of my favorites.

If you use a 100% natural hair care regimen, and live in an area with hard water, what has worked for you?

(Image by D Sharon Pruitt)

Stay Connected with Minimalist Beauty & Subscribe with bloglovin’. Also Join the Community on Facebook & Twitter. For more about Dawn Michelle go here!

Share

Facebook Google+ Twitter Pinterest Email

You might also like...

Comments Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  1. Ruth says

    July 20, 2013 at 12:29 pm

    Are there any shower filters you recommend? I think you live in an apartment – I do too and I know I won’t be settled in one location for years to come. If I got a water filter it’d have to be something I could take with me. Is yours one that fits over the shower nozzle?

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      July 21, 2013 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Ruth, I will do some research as well as get the name of our shower filter for you. It is one that you can change and carry with you from apartment to apartment. Have a beautiful day!

      Reply
  2. Heather says

    July 20, 2013 at 7:24 pm

    I’m wondering if this is what is going on with my hair. I’m stopping use of conditioners altogether. I’d been using very little conditioner along with various herbal hair washes and detangler. While on vacation, I dropped down to just a teaspoon or less of conditioner as a leave in. But we were in a location with hard water and ever since, my hair has felt very oily and almost sticky some days. I cut out all conditioner after we got home. I was assuming it was some sort of detox, but it’s been a month and my hair is still off most of the time.

    Right now, I’ve been rinsing only most days and using a herbal wash with clay followed by a vinegar rinse about 2 days per week.

    I have also noticed my ends are more dry than usual. I’ve tried shea butter on the ends, and been wearing my hair in a braid.

    Is there anything I can do to speed my hair back to balance? I’d love some ideas!

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      July 21, 2013 at 2:05 pm

      Hi Heather,

      It is possible that rinsing your hair daily and not sealing in the moisture with something such as aloe vera, a light oil, or even a conditioning herbal spritz such as catnip (or any other herbs that you like) could contribute to dry hair. This summer I’ve been washing my hair more frequently with an herbal hair wash three times a week. I will usually use a DIY flax seed gel (for curl control and moisture), an herbal spritz and/or a light oil as a leave-in.

      I usually never recommend this, yet if you feel your hair is sticky or oily because of hard water and mineral build-up, you can try adding 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda to 8 oz of your herbal hair wash (without the clay added) to remove any strange build-up from your hair. I don’t recommend using baking soda in general for your hair because it is extremely alkaline (hair and skin is naturally acidic), and can cause damage to the hair cuticle with consistent use, and also dry out and irritate the scalp. Yet sometimes it is good to have some simple remedies for extreme cases. I’d also recommend a water filter. As soon as I changed mine I saw an immediate difference compared to just dealing with hard water.

      Hope this helps,
      Dawn Michelle

      Reply
  3. Heather says

    July 26, 2013 at 7:34 pm

    I have been using a little bit of jojoba every day. I tried baking soda yesterday morning and my hair seems a lot closer to normal! Thanks for that suggestion!

    This is all residual from vacation. Our water is very soft.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      July 27, 2013 at 4:36 pm

      Hi Heather, I’m so glad that worked for you! Best wishes!

      Reply
  4. Della says

    November 29, 2013 at 9:38 am

    I live in an area with hard water (Indiana) and went cold turkey no shampoo (no water filter nor softener) It took about 8 weeks to get through the transition period, but now all I do is this:
    Morning and night I systematically brush with a clean boar bristle brush. At night I braid my hair. 2x per week I scritch my scalp and preen, and then rinse my hair in warm to hot water, 30 seconds or less under the water.
    My hair is long (mid-back) and previously bleached on the ends. With this method it is soft, voluminous, and not tangly.
    I did have a gross, sticky feeling during transition, but once I got a boar bristle brush it went away and has not returned.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      November 29, 2013 at 2:33 pm

      Hi Della,
      Thank you so much for sharing what worked wonders for you! It seems like heaven to be 100% hair product free! This is also great info to encourage others. If I wasn’t a curly girl, a boar bristle brush would most likely be my best friend with a no ‘poo hair regimen too. It is great to know that one can get to the other side of it all even if they live in an area with hard water.
      Best wishes always!

      Reply
  5. Ashley says

    January 11, 2014 at 7:54 pm

    Is there anyway to have soft water on vacation to another country? Thinking about taking one if those water bottles with the filter in it. Will the bottle filter out the right chemicals? Any thoughts? Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      January 13, 2014 at 6:47 pm

      Hi Ashley,

      The water in every city varies. You can possibly research online the area in which you are visiting to see the water conditions. Depending upon where you are visiting you could see how your hair reacts to the water or use filtered water like using the water bottle and filter you mentioned.

      I think taking a water bottle with a filter would be good in general for your trip. You would have to research the company in which you are purchasing the water bottle and filter from to know what gets filtered out and what does not though. I wouldn’t have that info myself. It is filtered water that makes a big difference though if you are in an area with hard water.

      Have a wonderful trip and safe travels!

      Reply
  6. Jenny says

    January 20, 2014 at 5:11 am

    I am day 3 of no shampoo and wondered if you could share the name of the shower filter? Also, how often would you recommend doing the BS and ACV?
    Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      January 20, 2014 at 8:44 pm

      Hi Jenny,

      My husband purchased our shower filter years ago so I honestly don’t know the brand. I can tell you that the replacement filters are by Sprite Showers though since we do have the shower filters in our bathroom. The filter may also be from Sprite Showers but I’m not 100% sure.

      As for how often you cleanse your hair depends on your hair texture and hair needs. If your scalp is over producing its natural oils as a result to commercial shampoos and conditioners sometimes stretching out your wash days as long as you can is helpful. There is definitely some trial and error with no ‘poo hair care. I wrote a bit about my transition to chemical free hair care here.

      I’m not a fan of using baking soda as a hair cleanser because it is way too alkaline for hair. I wrote why in this article.

      There are other natural ways to cleanse your hair that are 100% chemical free though. There are four articles about chemical free hair care beginning with this article which give the details and a ton of information.

      I hope this helps and please keep me posted!

      Reply
  7. Kim says

    February 7, 2014 at 12:44 am

    [Oops, I realized you already made a post about pH balance right before I posted this, but I will enter it anyway!]

    I washed my hair with baking soda and vinegar for 5~ years but I am about to stop, because I am too worried about damage from the high pH differences and quickly switching between them. I am going to try washing with rye flour which I read about here – http://blog.kanelstrand.com/2014/02/testing-diy-shampoos-rye-flour.html
    First test will be tonight, so I don’t know yet how well it works or if it’s a long term solution.

    However, to get BSV wash working despite hard water, I did learn an amazing tip which may be helpful with any water condition for those who still wish to use it:

    Boil the water!

    Bring the water to boiling before mixing in the baking soda, make sure it fully incorporates, and if the water looks cloudy, keep mixing it and adding in more water to the mix until it’s pretty clear. This will go through your hair easily and clean it like THAT. It’s so easy.

    After a quick baking soda wash and rinse I used vinegar in WARM water to give it a quick second wash, and let the vinegar set in my hair for a few minutes. Rinse out, then add the rest of the vinegar water, and final rinse. The final rinses could be cold water to help close the hair but I didn’t see too much difference from repeated experimentation.

    That is the best washing method I had, the baking soda was only in contact with the hair for a short time and the vinegar presumably had some time to help rinse out heavy metals or whatever. But my hair is just not as strong & healthy as I want, and I am incapable of water only washing (it doesn’t feel healthy to even attempt, I tried twice for over a month each time and it was unpleasant, also too many fuzzies/lint get attached by only day 3 and I can’t get them out)

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      February 8, 2014 at 6:17 pm

      Hi Kim,
      I’m very interested to know how the rye flour works as a hair cleanser. There are many different natural ingredients that have saponins. It also sounds like you found a solution for washing hair with baking soda if you have hard water yet using baking soda for shampoo will rough up the hair cuticle and possibly cause a lot of damage over time because it is extremely alkaline. Thanks so much for your comment plus tip and keep us posted on how rye flour works for you.
      Best wishes!

      Reply
  8. Kim says

    September 1, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    Rye flour worked BEAUTIFULLY for the first few weeks, then suddenly it seemed like it wasn’t cleaning my hair at all. I was finally able to comb through my hair easily at first (I don’t know anyone else whose hair instant tangles as bad as mine), but that all went away. Eventually I even decided to try shampoo/condish again (first time in 5+ years? I used Trader Joe’s brand) just twice to see if my hair could look decent; besides feeling empty/limp, it did look better :F It could maaaybe be because I didn’t keep the flour sealed well (kept not realizing it WASN’T sealed, in fact), but I don’t know!

    I have a Sprite water filter and either it’s not great, or my water is just so terrible it destroys the filters too fast 😛 The water seems fine for probably only a week after I change the filter. Nevertheless, trying water only washing again – as I posted elsewhere here 😉

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      September 1, 2014 at 9:36 pm

      Hi Kim,
      Thanks for sharing this. I’ve never tried rye flour as a hair cleanser yet have heard of others using flour because they contain saponins as well. Have a beautiful day!

      Reply
  9. Crystal says

    April 11, 2015 at 3:25 am

    I used shikakai for a year and then started washing only and using glycerine on my scalp to make sure it was moisturizer and the transition period was so natural and easy so I thought I’d share what worked for me.

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      April 11, 2015 at 4:02 pm

      Hi Chrystal,
      I love the simplicity of your hair regimen. I haven’t used glycerin in a long time but a little goes a long way. Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
  10. Angela says

    July 28, 2015 at 1:21 am

    Hi there! I have been doing variations of no-poo and water only for the past 9 months. During that time I have done a lot of travel which made me realise I have very hard water at home and has enabled me to see the huge difference it has on my hair! It is awful and though I am willing to see it out, water only has become too unmanageable with hard water. I’m in the third world for work and don’t have an option of a shower filter so in my research, I have tried many things. Just thought I’d chime in that washing with a raw egg and rinsing with a very diluted ACV mix has been amazing and has left my hair like new! Sometimes I mix a Tbsp of gelatine powder with the egg yolk for extra protein. I’m currently watching how fast my hair gets oily again as I want to do this ideal once every 7-10 days, which was a breeze in soft water areas. I do use the BBB brush and do plenty of scritching and preening too. I’ve also recently tried a castor oil hair mask that came out with the egg wash. The hard water has just been so bad for my hair here. Anyhow, I loved reading your info and just thought this could possibly help somebody else out there too! 🙂

    Reply
    • Dawn Michelle says

      August 2, 2015 at 7:46 pm

      Hi Angela,
      I’m so happy that you shared this and I hope that it will be helpful to others too. It is crazy how hard water can really create damage to your hair. Thanks so much for your comment and I’m so glad you are enjoying the site!

      Reply
Previous
Next
  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter

living simply with grace, discretion and faith

I met a woman the other day who openly shared some I met a woman the other day who openly shared some of her challenges with motherhood.  Motherhood is intensely challenging, beyond humbling, and at times you just want the day to be over then realizing that you’ll be back at it the next day.  It never ends and there isn’t much reprive.  It’s been on my heart to share some encouragement to any mother who will read this.  I pray this will bless you in some way.  The link is in my profile!
🌻 #motherhood #encouragement #humility #minimalistbeauty
Fenugreek seeds, also called methi seeds, have a m Fenugreek seeds, also called methi seeds, have a multitude of medicinal properties along with being a prominent spice in many cultural dishes.  For starters, fenugreek seeds are packed with protein for strengthening strands, mucilage for moisturizing and soothing the scalp while detangling the hair, and most importantly nicotinic acid which may minimize hair shedding while soothing scalp issues.  Fenugreek seeds are also anti-inflammatory and anti-fungal which is beneficial for soothing a dry irritated scalp as well as high in iron. 🍂

These little seeds are a win win for natural hair care and can be used in various ways.  I’ve used fenugreek seeds in my beauty regimen on and off for years.  Today I wanted to share four easy ways you can incorporate fenugreek in your hair regimen to promote healthy hair growth.  The link is in the profile. 🍂

#diyhaircare #naturalhair #minimalistbeauty #sponsored @mountainroseherbs
God is so good! We move on FRIDAY. This picture God is so good!  We move on FRIDAY.  This picture was taken before they removed the bricking which was VERY NOISY to say the least.  We haven’t been completely able to avoid the beginning of the construction process, but I honestly think it’s a good thing.  This way we can remain GRATEFUL throughout the entire process.  GRATITUDE during LIFE’S IMPERFECTION develops CONTENTMENT.  That is one thing I work on daily.  If you missed our “We’re Moving Again” testimony it’s on the blog. 🌿🍁🍃

 #testimony #sharewhatisgood #godisgood #godisfaithful #godmakesaway #minimalistbeauty #simpleliving
Friday mornings are my busiest mornings of the wee Friday mornings are my busiest mornings of the week.  I make muffins for Saturday’s breakfast (either corn bread, pumpkin, or banana bread muffins) to have with fruit, a big crockpot dinner for the weekend (beans & rice bowls, lentils and sweet potato stews, or a big veggie and red potato stew) to serve with bread, tortillas, grains, and/or salad depending on the dish, and I’m usually putting orders together to go out for @iamazuha today too.  All the while I’m also making other food for the day. 🍂🥧🍁

Friday’s are crazy because of the usual responsibilities, but mainly because I really want to relax a bit over the weekend.  Over this past year I’ve worked really hard to create systems to make working from home and being a homemaker easier.  Homemaking really is like running a small boutique bed and breakfast hotel.  It takes planning ahead, having a solid system, financial planning, commitment, and a lot of love.  I’ve been learning to really enjoy this process.  Just like everybody else I’ve been baking more this year than ever.  Very rewarding. 🍂🥧🍁

Wishing all of you a beautiful and blessed weekend! 
💞Dawn Michelle
We’re MOVING again! With everything going on wi We’re MOVING again!  With everything going on with the world wide pandemic, I’m seeing the importance of sharing anything good that the Lord is doing in your life with others.  We need HOPE.  We need to share the JOY of walking with God.  The testimonies of glorifying God would just add encouragement that I know I need.  I LOVE hearing of God making ways out of no way, giving us more hope and FAITH. 🌿🍂🍃

I was initially praying to God for ways to endure what we were about to go through while somehow someway making it nice for my family during the process.  But God was already orchestrating a new way for us to not even have to endure it at all.  Read my testimony on Minimalist Beauty... (link in profile) 🌿🍂🍃

If God has done ANYTHING in your life no matter how small PLEASE share it in the comments below.  We all need to hear what’s good!  The news shares otherwise, but we can create a space here of good testimonies.  Please share below and I pray you are having a blessed day. 🌿🍂🍃

Much love!
#testimony #sharewhatsgood #godisgood #godisfaithful #godmakesaway #minimalistbeauty #simpleliving
We could all use an IMMUNE BOOST right now.  Here’s a simple juice recipe that I make for just that.  I call it SPICY APPLE JUICE and my three (almost four) year old drinks it up no problem! 🍎 

I simply juice 2 WHOLE medium/large APPLES (3 small apples pictured) + 3 CLOVES of GARLIC in a slow masticating juicer for one immune boosting serving.  Yes I do include the core as it has many health benefits. 🍎 

After having my 1st official winter back on the east coast last year, RAW GARLIC was how I made it through without getting sick at all while caring for sick family members. 🍎 

Since then I juice garlic in many of my juice recipes or mince up multiple cloves as dinner toppings for chickpea pasta, beans and rice bowls, and stews.  What I LOVE most of all is hearing my son say, “More Juice?” Proud Mama!!!! 🍎

#immuneboost #juicing #juicerecipe #simplenutrition #healthyliving #minimalistbeauty #minimalistbeautyeats
I started wearing linen clothing because it’s ex I started wearing linen clothing because it’s extremely practical.  Linen is one of the most environmentally friendly fabrics on the market.  Linen is also considered the world’s strongest natural fabric.  After tiring of purchasing new clothing every season for my heavily worn small capsule wardrobe, it just made sense to look for mid and heavy weight linen garments that could be worn year round and layered that actually lasted. 
🍃

Linen clothing can last up to 2-3 decades if properly cared for.  I’ve made some mistakes along the way, but have finally found a simple method for caring for my linen garments. (Link in profile.)
🍃
#linenlover #minimalistbeauty #sponsored @mountainroseherbs
I stopped using henna, I tossed my comb and brush, I stopped using henna, I tossed my comb and brush, I wear hair buns 95% of the time, and my hair care routine only got simpler with only two “products”. All the details plus why I really cut my hair last spring on the blog.  Much love!  #minimalistbeauty #curlyhairroutine #naturalhaircare
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
Error: Access Token is not valid or has expired. Feed will not update.

Copyright 2021 Minimalist Beauty | Site design handcrafted by Station Seven