Here’s the thing with shampoo: the more we use it, the more we rely on it.
Commercial shampoos are often formulated with overly harsh chemicals that strip our locks of their natural oils. By removing these oils, we then cause the scalp to work overtime to replenish the stores and replace what was lost, leaving us with greasy roots and reaching for the shampoo bottle – again.
While breaking the habit is easier said than done, going shampoo-free is definitely possible. Replacing chemical-rich formulas with natural alternatives may result in the soothing of irritated scalps, reduction of excess oil production or boosting the shine of lacklustre strands.
What are the benefits of going shampoo-free?
Going shampoo-free, also known “no shampoo method” or “no-poo,” requires eliminating the use of traditional shampoos and relying on alternative methods (many of which can be found in the kitchen) to clean and care for your hair.
While it mightn’t suit everyone, there are a few potential benefits that come with ditching your bottle of shampoo:
1/ Regulate your scalps natural oils
The frequent use of a traditional shampoo can strip the scalp and hair of its natural oils. As a result, our scalp can begin to respond by overproducing oil in a bid to compensate. By breaking this cycle, the scalp’s oil production can begin to balance itself out. The result? A less oily scalp.
2/ Decrease dandruff
Funnily enough, our first instinct for fighting a flaky scalp is to lather it in an anti-dandruff shampoo. And while this method can be effective, eliminating shampoo allows the scalp to restore its natural pH balance and alleviate these issues without using shampoo as a Band-Aid for soothing scalp irritation.
3/ Cost
We’ve all been hit by the rising costs of living. And let’s face it, food and shelter are probably higher on our list of needs than haircare. If you’re looking to save some coin where you can, cutting traditional shampoo off your shopping list might sound appealing.
4/ Reduce your environmental impact
Small tweaks make a big difference. The production of each traditional plastic shampoo bottle contributes to water pollution and waste.
The best natural shampoo alternatives for dry hair
1/ Water
Washing our hair until it is ‘squeaky clean,’ often strips our locks of the natural oils that play an important role in reducing frizz and increasing shine. Try swapping out your shampoo with nothing but lukewarm water and finishing with a deep conditioning mask to seal in any moisture.
![Dry Remedy Moisturizing Masque](https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/w_122+q_lossy+ret_img+to_webp/https://www.beautyheaven.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20879-aveda-dry-remedy-masque.jpg)
Aveda Dry Remedy Moisturizing Masque, $60 at MECCA
You say: “I love this! I have only used it once the other day.. I washed my hair as usual then put this treatment on my coarse brittle fuzzy hair before hot yoga & left it on for 90minutes. After class I rinsed it off & my hair feels beautiful!! The smell is fresh & earthy but not strong or overpowering.” – Belindarella
2/ Egg
Believe it or not, eggs are one of the best natural shampoo alternatives available. They essentially act as both a shampoo and conditioner; the egg white plays the part of a surfactant, pulling dirt and oil from the hair shaft, while the egg yolk is hydrating like a conditioner. However, If you have oily hair, it’s recommended not to include the egg yolk in your cleansing routine.
How to use: Crack an egg into a squeeze bottle and shake it around to create your shampoo. Make sure to use cool water and leave it on for about three minutes before rinsing out.
3/ Coconut Milk + Olive Oil Mix
We all know that coconut oil makes a great hair mask, but did you know that coconut milk makes a great shampoo? This shampoo alternative keeps dry scalps and hair hydrated, smooth and thoroughly cleansed.
How to use: Mix one can of coconut milk, ¾ cup of pure castile soap, one teaspoon of olive oil and one teaspoon of coconut oil. Use in place of your regular shampoo.
4/ Water and Lemon Juice
Perfect for those with strands on the drier side, lemon juice makes a great hair cleanser thanks to its strong antibacterial properties. It even works as a pseudo-purple shampoo for blondes, helping reduce brassy tones and keep blonde hues bright.
How to use: Squeeze an entire lemon into a cup of water and lather onto hair. Leave it to sit for a couple of minutes before rinsing out.
The best natural shampoo alternatives for irritated scalps
Oat Milk
While the benefits of using oats on your skin have long been proven, the same goes for using oats – specifically oat milk – in your hair.
Using oat milk as a shampoo is ideal if you suffer from scalp issues like irritation or dandruff because of its powerful anti-inflammatory properties. Oat milk is also rich in proteins and fats which can help to strengthen strands and leave hair silky and shiny.
How to use: Cover your roots in the oat milk. Massage the milk into your roots for two minutes and then apply to the rest of your hair. Let the oak milk sit for 20-30 minutes before rinsing out.
Herbal Tea
It sounds weird, but the next time you put the kettle on to make yourself a herbal tea, why not try washing your hair with it too?
Herbal teas are great for gently cleansing hair, with different teas being better suited for different hair types. For example, chamomile tea is best for blonde hair and rosemary tea is best for dark hair.
How to use: You can either make yourself a pot of herbal tea and quite literally pour it over your head, gently massaging your scalp, or you can mix it together with a few teaspoons of your favourite essential oil and some baking soda for a more thorough cleanse.
Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is arguably the most effective natural anti-dandruff alternative. If you’ve long suffered from psoriasis of the scalp, severe irritation or seborrheic dermatitis, try swapping out your shampoo for a tea tree oil rinse. Plus, if certain areas are in need of a little extra TLC, this tea tree mix works as a scalp-soothing spot treatment.
How to use: Mix a few drops of tea tree oil with water (there’s no exact measurement that’s right or wrong here!) and massage for 3-5 minutes into the scalp before rinsing.
The best natural shampoo alternatives for oily hair
Baking Soda
A natural clarifier, baking soda works to neutralise odours, remove build-up and offer an overall detox in a similar way that a scalp scrub would. However, baking soda can be abrasive if used too often and is therefore not recommended for sensitive skin or dry hair types. You might want to try the Sukin Naturals Natural Balance Scalp Scrub ($16.99 at Chemist Warehouse) as an alternative.
![Sukin Natural Balance Scalp Scrub 200ml](https://static.chemistwarehouse.com.au/ams/media/pi/105878/F2D_200.jpg)
On the other hand, much like volume-boosting products, fine and limp hair types may greatly benefit from the body and texture that baking soda can offer.
How to use: Mix one part baking soda with three parts water. Wet your hair, then apply the mixture from the roots to the tips and let soak for one minute before rinsing.
Apple Cider Vinegar
Although frequently praised for its immune-boosting benefits, it turns out apple cider vinegar also offers relief from common hair issues like dandruff or excess oil.
How to use: Mix between two to four tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (depending on how oily your hair is) to one and a half cups of water. Massage in from root to tip. We recommend applying with a spray bottle to avoid oversaturation. Allow the mixture to soak for five minutes before rinsing.
Rhassoul Clay
Rhassoul clay is rich in minerals like magnesium, potassium and calcium, which help to restore damaged hair by absorbing excess sebum and dirt from deep within the scalp and strands.
How to use: Mix two spoonfuls of rhassoul clay with just enough boiling water to create a paste. Let the paste cool, and lather on hair. Leave it on for 2-3 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
Main image credit: @gentlehairdos
Have you tried any of these natural shampoos? What’s your best DIY hair treatment tip?
I only wash my hair twice a week so I’ll stick with my trusted shampoos.
Yeah me too, I used to use lemon juice in my hair when I was trying to make it more blonde – ha!!
I think I agree with you, stick to regular shampoo and conditioner.
Maybe I should try oat milk for my dandruff-free but always itchy scalp
I tried the lemon juice + sunshine to try to highlight my hair years ago. I fried my hair, it dried it out so much it was breaking off at the roots. I would not recommend this for anyone with dry hair! (And it didn’t work re highlighting either).
Oh no, this sounds terrible. Thanks for the info. I will try to remember not to try this.
I agree Sally10 I would not use lemon unless I was trying to lift my blonde hair tone.
Egg makes sense, but… EWWWW….
Shampoo would be cheaper these days too.
i love washing my hair normally lol
I like my good shampoo, i read somewhere that Monday brand is absolutely terrible
I often rinse my hair with home made rosemary at end of shampoo and I don’t need conditioner when I do this.
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I do massage my hair with organic coconut oil once a week.
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I have used apple cider vinegar with water on my hair after washing it. Would love to try oat milk as I often get an irritated scalp in winter
Not sure I could go completely shampoo-free as I suffer from oily hair, but I have made the change to all natural bar shampoos without any of the nasty chemicals & my hair has never felt so good.
I have tried the no-poo option a couple of times. The last time I gave it a really good go and my fine hair, and not-much-of-it, never felt so good nor looked so full ever in its life! I rinsed it in the shower with warm water when I felt the need to, massaging my scalp thoroughly to stimulate. You have to stick with it a bit and be determined to try this. Shorter hair is easier of course in the beginning. You can rinse every day if you need to in the first few weeks.
I’m trialling it again now, lockdown is perfect for experimenting, and hope to get a good result. I have had blonde foils for years and that’s how I ended up back on the shampoo. Can’t avoid it at the hairdresser’s. Can’t go there now so an opportunity to do things differently. We’ve got to find some positives in all of this. Cheers
Oh my gosh at first I thought what have you been putting on your hair!! then I realised you meant the no sham-poo.
These are excellent tips. I will share the oat milk one with someone I know with scalp issues.
I don’t think I could go shampoo free
I do use a rosemary rinse after my shamoo and that is lovely
neither could I
I don’t think I will try egg as an alternative.
My showers would be too hot for this -I would end up with a cooked egg in my hair
omg yeah that is so true! I think I’d need to use shampoo straight away after using an egg in my naturally grease-prone roots. I just enjoy feeling fresh and clean after shampooing too.
I’m not giving up my shampoo anytime soon but good for those exploring other options. Just not for me.
Not sure of not using shampoo -I would probably cook the egg on my head as I hate luke warm showers I have added tea tree to my shampoo and I do like that
Oh great! Need to do tea tree oil rinse! Love articles like this one. So helpful.
I use a gentle shampoo now and I find it hard to give up .
Happy to wash my hair. I am very anti-DIY. Some of these I would never ever put on my scalp.
Agreed. I DIY a lot of things, I DIY my waxing, my hair colours but I dont actually make the product. I’d rather buy the product when its on sale than be bothered making it myself.
I have tried ACV before but next time I’ll try tea tree oil
Eggs! OMG now I’ve heard everything.
Yeah, I’ve never heard of that one before
I have heard of eggs as a mask, like a protein treatment, but they can also start cooking with the warm water
I read that Apple Cider Vinegar wasn’t good to use as a shampoo. I can’t keep up!
I would have thought Apple Cider Vinegar would be drying .
Eggs?? I must admit that I would never have thought that eggs could do a good job of being used as a shampoo.
Rather have them poached to be honest.
I’ve tried some of the no poo methods and they didn’t work. My hair was an oily mess and my scalp was very itchy. I struggle with most shampoos (scalp irritation) but now I use a shampoo bar and its working well for me.
I have yet to use a shampoo bar but they do appeal to me.
I was born in the shampoo era and I can’t ever imagine leaving.
I prefer shampoos and if they are talking of reducing cost by using an egg they must have written this a long time ago.
Sometimes I will do a Apple cider vinegar rinse on my hair.
I most likely will continue to use shampoo for now but it’s great information to have if/when I want to try some of these methods.
Keen to try some of these – has anyone given any a go?
Not for me but would love to read anyone’s results if they try these.
bicarb dries the hair a lot. too alkaline
My hair is quite oily so I’d rather stick with regular shampoo.
I’ve used beer on my hair before. I don’t drink it and it’s been leftover from parties.
I use unwanted beer cans to make my guiness pasties, very yummy too
I heard egg can cook on your head lol and be hard to wash out
I agree washing too much strips the natural oils, my hair is much softer without washing too much, sometimes once a week or I will skip a week if I feel it is not dirty, I sometimes refreshen with a spray of water with lavender in it before brushing. I use a natural solid shampoo these days and it works for me.
Regarding using Herbal Tea as a shampoo: How to use: You can either make yourself a pot of herbal tea and quite literally pour it over your head……
Well make sure you wait until it cools down before pouring it over your head!
A quick shampoo is my pick, twice a week and a water rinse only in between
It’s so much easier to just buy a shampoo, though. I don’t think I’ll be giving it up yet.
I haven’t try any.
I haven’t tried these but a very interesting read.
interesting article! I had heard about apple cider vinegar as a rinse
I tried Apple Cider Vinegar about 15yrs ago. I would highly recommend diluting it because it does sting your eyes.
I remember my mother very occasionally washing my hair with an egg decades ago. It must have been a thing in the 80s.
Yuk
I use too many products in my hair to ever go shampoo free.
mm yes no hairspray as that is harder to remove lol
no I no longer use hairspray
I love a good shampoo and conditioner and not looking to change as my hair is healthy and I don’t have dandruff
I used to wash my hair daily. Now that I wash it much, much less, my scalp is no longer so itchy.