Define your curls with No Poo

"No Poo" is a hair care technique for naturally curly, frizzy, and coily hair, developed by New York hairstylist Lorraine Massey.

 

Lorraine Massey is an American hairstylist.
She wrote a book ("Curly Girl").
This method involves no longer using shampoo and washing hair with conditioner (but not just any conditioner).

Results: softer, more hydrated, and more flexible hair. No Poo helps to define the curls of "predisposed" hair (this method is not an alternative to perms, curly, or wave treatments!).

Originally designed for curly hair. This type of hair is naturally drier than straight hair (like coily hair) and tends to frizz.

 

To avoid this, treat it gently, starting with detergent-free washing. Shampoo is a detergent and therefore makes curly and coily hair even drier... This is what needs to be remedied. Shampoo is therefore replaced by conditioner.

 

Defining your curls with the No Poo method

 

Exfoliate your scalp: once a week with the following mixture. 1 tablespoon of cane sugar or quinoa and 3 tablespoons of conditioner.

 

Clarify your scalp (remove residue) when necessary. The curlier and drier the hair, the more conditioner is needed. The quantities are given as a guide; it's up to you to see what you need.

 

Once a week, wash hair and scalp with conditioner (without silicone or SLS), following steps 1 and 2. For other days, steps 1 and 3 are sufficient.

 

Step 1

 

In the shower, let the water run over the hair without touching it. Lorraine Massey recommends not touching because her method was primarily designed to achieve well-defined curls.

 

Step 2

 

Take half a spoonful of conditioner (or more if necessary). Clean, focusing on the scalp with your fingertips, massaging well. Then rinse.

 

Step 3

 

Take half a spoonful of conditioner between your hands, and apply it to the top of the hair (the part most exposed to the elements). With another half-spoonful, apply to the hair at the nape of the neck (the part most prone to tangles). Gently detangle with your fingers.

 

Then apply the same amount of conditioner to each side of the head, still using your fingers as a comb. Distribute well. At this stage, the hair should be soft and silky, like wet seaweed. If you rinse, let the spray run for just a few seconds to perfectly distribute the conditioner without removing it completely.

 

Avoid leave-in conditioners that do not contain enough emollients. Warning: do not use silicone-based conditioner, which weighs down the hair and "clogs" it (leaves residues that can only be removed with shampoo). To check if a composition contains silicone, look for names ending in thicone, thiconol, siloxane, or silane.

 

 

 

Drying your hair

 

Take a towel, place your hair in the towel, and gently press the hair towards your head to squeeze out most of the water. Do not rub, and do not wrap your hair in the towel. Gently squeeze each section of hair, without rubbing, so as not to disturb the curls.

 

Defining your curls with styling

 

Take a teaspoon of gel (if necessary) and spread it in your hands. Take the lengths of your hair in your hands and press the hair towards your head (accordion technique).

 

Here are our tips to define your curls even better:

- press sections of hair towards the head

- wrap a few curls around your fingers

- use barrettes to "lift" some curls at the root.

 

If possible, avoid blow-drying your hair; if not, use a diffuser and work in sections.

 

The NO POO method and beyond?

 

Coily, frizzy, or curly hair is naturally very dry due to its structure, which is why the No Poo method is so popular, as it avoids harsh detergents and instead cleanses hair with emollients found in conditioners.

 

However, it is necessary once in a while (once a month) to wash them with a nourishing shampoo that will rid the hair and scalp of all conditioner residues, as well as accumulated dirt and pollution.

 

Article by Karambole extracted from the blog on 2009-02-26

 

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