4 Reasons I Still Use Shampoo (even though I hate it!)

November 3, 2015

Yes, I tried to kick the shampoo habit when I because a Curly Girl Method lover a couple of years ago. I just KNEW shampoo was history to me and was never going to grace my strands again. Well, I couldn’t have been more wrong and thankfully I learned before something bad really happened.OK, let me go back. I LOVE the Curly Girl Method. Switching over to it has changed the natural hair game for me and when I started following it in 2013 I was finally on the right track for my tresses. My strands needed more moisture, more conditioner, less shampoo and less dryness. I was only going to find that by changing up my methods and reassessing what my hair needed.

I followed the method to the letter and that meant giving up shampoo since it really did tangle my hair and left it feeling brittle. Co-washing is a part of the no-poo movement and for months I turned my back on it until I colored my hair and knew it was necessary for that process. I found myself returning to it periodically and in 2014 I came to terms with the usage of shampoo and now I can finally admit I need it in my life. *sigh*… Here are the reasons why I still use shampoo.

Shampoo cleans your hair
Hellooooo, I know you already know that and although my cleansing cowash (that I absolutely love) AS I AM Coconut Cowash gets the job done I know that if I really need to get my tresses as clean as possible then I need to incorporate shampoo.

Now, don’t get me wrong…I use good ones that will be gentle yet effective like Trader Joe’s Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo or SheaMoisture Strengthen, Grow & Restore Shampoo. I also use them pretty infrequently but removing them from my regimen all together is just not going to work.

Shampoo removes sweat, gunk and product build-up
Yes, it does and since I am working out around 3 times a week I need to ensure I am getting all those toxins out of my body. My cowash works great for regular dirt and pollutants but as much as I sweat when I work out I realized it needed a big more ‘oomph’ to get the sweat out.

Sometimes I let my wash-days go longer than I should
OK, more often than not I have been doing that so I have been left with more product build-up and sweat than I would like to admit. I also know that when I let the dirt, pollutants and sweat fester longer I have always needed a shampoo to really make sure it is getting all of the bad stuff out!

I sometimes use silicones
Yes, I do but not very often. Many silicones are synthetic additives that are not water-soluble and that makes them a little harder to wash out without the surfactants in shampoos. I’ve been loving TRESemme Flawless Curls Curl Hydrating Conditioner and my hair responds to it so well by having movement and shine. I do know that too much of it and my hair begins to squawk so I’m limited on the usage and know shampoo will be in my future.

I am adding shampoo into my regimen more often but not every week. I will probably not change that because I still know my cleansing cowash is amazing and gets the job done. I still have faith in it and love and abide by the CGM. I just alter it to tailor my needs.

So yes, I hate shampoo but know my hair needs it from time to time. I use sulfate-free shampoos and use them sparingly but with my lifestyle and quirks they are here to stay.

Gotta use what works Naturals,
Sabrina