Just one more question (well, I *think* just one more question!) What about color treated hair? Any concern about the baking soda/vinegar?

Marley- I think I saw that question addressed on another blog.. either the one linked to in this thread or one linked to from the linked to blog (clear as mud?) you could probably google "baking soda on color treated hair"
Fruitful- Yes, you're right. It's not easy to find cone free stuff though, and any step is a start and helps provide more good hair days...and that is my only motivation... good hair days.

here Marley.. re: color treated hair:
http://www.mothering.com/commu.....ash-hair-m

http://www.how-to-boost-your-i.....-hair.html

http://stopnsmellthechocolates.....iment.html

Thanks for the link Kim, and Marley I asked the same question. I spend a lot of money on having my hair colored so I am particular about looking after it keeping the color looking good. I'm off to read the links now.

I caved and washed my hair with shampoo this morning, but I am going to only use conditioner tomorrow.... One day at a time....this is a big change for me

As a child i used to wash my hair once a week, on Saturday. I would shower daily but didn't wash my hair, if it got wet accidentally i would just let it dry. As a teenager that was impossible. Oily teen hair could not stay a week unwashed. My mom has extremely dry hair and encouraged me to wash less condition more, but I couldn't take it. While at uni I was washing every other day. But now , i feel I adjusted for 3-4 days . I keep trying to adjust it for longer delay between washes but i keep wimping out and wash it.
This idea that the hair gets really dirty really easy it's really a marketing ploy.
About the vinegar, i used to do vinegar rinses as a teen, it was very popular anti-dandruff measure. And the smell goes away as it dries, no problem.
I also do chamomile tea rinses, i feel it ads a nice luster to my light brown hair, almost as a subtle high-light

Thanks Kim for the links - off to read them now! Today I was due for a hair-washing (it had been 3 days since I'd washed my hair), but I just rinsed it instead and then put conditioner in it for a few minutes before rinsing that out. My hair did not feel clean to me - but then maybe what I perceive as "clean" is actually stripped? Just not for sure. I also did not put any styling products on it - that was hard, but because my hair felt more weighted down I didn't think it would be a good idea to add more weight to it with styling products. After styling my hair, I must say that it didn't look all that bad - but not as good as when I have washed it and then used styling products. Oh well, I'm going to keep trying and experimenting with this until I can find the right "formula" for no-pooing for me!

Ok so I am going to see how I feel in the morning and hopefully go day 2 only using conditioner. Marley like you I am feeling my hair isn't clean but I have to say it is styling well and has a lot of volume. To touch it does feel clean and soft. I am going to try a different conditioner tomorrow tho to see if it makes any difference.

Marley and Deborah, use the conditioner like shampoo: it isn't going to lather like shampoo, but get it into your hair roots and really work it in to clean your hair and then rinse it out really well. Don't just rinse your hair with water, apply conditioner like you normally would and rinse out. You should work with the conditioner like it was shampoo to really get in and clean your hair and scalp with it.

Hope you give it some time and end up happy with the results. Your hair should feel really clean, fuller, and manageable. Not weighed down and dirty.

I have (or had) very fine, somewhat oily straight hair. I used to shampoo my hair daily and my mother would always tell me to do as she does - wash once a week. I rolled my eyes at her because her hair type is soooo different from mine, she has thick wavy abundant hair while so I thought the process only worked for her.

I was wrong. About 2 yrs ago I stopped shampooing my hair every day and only did it once a week. I would shower every day and rinse my hair but no shampoo. Once a week I use an organic shampoo and I can say WOW my hair is so much more manageable. It's thicker, fuller, yet softer and shinier. I don't condition because I don't feel like it's necessary.

Yes, the first few weeks were hell. The very next day once you start this it's awful, I never looked worse. But I promise, my scalp adjusted to the change and produced less oil over time. I don't know enough about the no-poo movement to discredit it but I don't think I can give up shampoo entirely.

Marley and Deborah, yes, exactly what Claudia said... and if you feel like it needs it, you might need to do 2 conditioner shampoos at once. apply, scrub, rinse, repeat.

I'm on day 11 of no-poo and I'm shocked at how great my hair feels. I also haven't used any product since Sunday, which I think is helping. I can't say I'm planning to go completely product free. It's just been a down week and I haven't had the need to get all gussied up, so it's been nice to give my hair a break from the daily pre-blow dry products.

BA- I've been doing exactly what you're doing for the past several months.... shampooing once a week. I definitely felt better about my hair, but decided to see if I could extend even longer between shampooing and see how my hair reacted. So far I'm pleased.

I have to confess I have gone back to shampooing each day!!

Marley, how are you going with this?

Well, I am going to give this a try. I wash my hair about every 4 days...sometime 5-6. I only wash the scalp. I use either silicone free or baby shampoo. Every once in a while I will use the vinegar rinse. It seems to make my hair shiny. I also use dry shampoo as needed. My hair has allot more volume.

My biggest problem is that I have a vicious cowlick that is really hard to manage. Maybe using the conditioner will help.