It's November 20th and I'm starting week 7 of no shampoo. I woke up with a wild mane that I tried to tame with some strategic finger-combing before heading out. Luckily I like big hair. Just not the kind of big I woke up with. What I ended up with though looks a lot like my previously shampooed hair so I'm happy about that.
Unfortunately I don't have a picture from week 6, which is why I deliberately took this one. The filter I chose does a poor job showing off the wavy hair sections, but it made my eyebrows and eye makeup look awesome and really dark so I stuck with it.
Week 6 felt frustrating hair-wise. I really just want my normal hair now, please. I'm tired of all the brushing (first world problems) and having to think of my hair at all (which is why I was drawn to the no maintenance aspect of being shampoo-free in the first place) and the stiffness in some sections as if there's products or product residue in it.
I do feel like I'm getting really close to the end of the transition but who knows. It's been the same thing every day this past week. No real shift. I water-rinsed my hair last night which is why I woke up with big hair since I went to bed with it still damp.
My hair is less oily overall, which I think is a good sign, and I'm happy that my waves are still in check. The smell I complained about last update is no longer an issue. It seems to be gone now so thank goodness for that!
Until my next update, my friend.
With love,
Mandy xo
WEEK 7 UPDATE
Strange picture I know, but last night (November 22nd) my hair completed its shampoo-free transition while in the 7th week (YAY!) and I wanted to somehow show how soft and shiny it is. I wish you could touch it! It feels just like a child's hair and I haven't even brushed it this morning yet!!!!!
It was a double-egging last night that finished off the process. Up until this point I have only washed my hair with a water rinse once or sometimes twice a week. I knew I was over the worst of it and I was craving something that would clean up the remaining guck once and for all.
I referred back to Happy Hair: The Definitive Guide To Giving Up Shampoo to see my various options (there are plenty) and I chose an egg wash because it also serves as a conditioner, requires zero effort, and was readily available. I simply whipped the egg with a fork and poured it on my hair while giving it a good scrubbing. I used warmed water for this since hot water would end up cooking the egg (or so I've read), although people often use cold water for this. Up to you.
The difference was extraordinary and I felt it right away. My hair became baby smooth within seconds of washing it, and I knew my hair was finally free of every bit of ick. I did a second egg wash right after for good measure.
It honestly didn't even feel like hair under the water. It was that silky smooth. And then when I brushed it (while wet), I discovered there was absolutely no need to. Zero tangles. In all of my life I don't recall my hair ever being so smooth, although I'm certain it would have been like this as a youngin'.
I was beaming for the rest of the night because I was finally past the waxy, sludgy, and oily stages of the transition and now had a brand new head of hair worth celebrating.
I woke up with the softest bed head EVER, and I'm just so happy to finally be on the other side where my hair is light and fluffy. All the heaviness and grime is gone! Woohoo!
With love,
Mandy xo
P.S. Turns out this journey isn't over. Sigh. Read why here.
P.P.S. Explore my other Shampoo-Free posts here.
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