[Water-only hair washing] I'm trying it out. Is this the solution for stickiness? [Peppermint oil]

A note from someone I recently followed was written about water-only hair washing.

I have tried water-only hair washing before.

I often hear that even famous people do it, so I actually tried washing with just shower water, but my head felt sticky and not refreshed.

I also felt like the odor on my scalp wasn't removed, so I gave up.

The reference book introduced in the note above.

First, I searched for water-only hair washing on YouTube.
A video of Dr. Takasu from Takasu Clinic came up first.

Dr. Takasu is currently practicing it, and his stance is that water-only hair washing suits some people and not others.

And then, a video by Dr. Ryuichi Utsugi, the author of the book mentioned above.

It's a bit long, so I watched it at 2x speed.

Many other videos by Dr. Utsugi have been uploaded as well.

To summarize the reasons why you should do water-only hair washing:

・Using shampoo daily strips away even the oils necessary for the scalp
・The scalp tries to replenish the oils
・As a result, the scalp prioritizes producing oils for nutrition, which leads to nutritional deficiencies in the hair, causing hair loss and thinning hair

Apparently, this phenomenon occurs when you shampoo every day.

In fact, Dr. Utsugi formed the hypothesis above and practiced water-only hair washing himself, and he says his hair volume increased.

Actual before-and-after photos were also posted in the video above.

To summarize the no-poo method:

・When doing no-poo, use lukewarm water if possible. Cold water is even more effective.
・First, wash gently with a shower for 3 minutes.
・Wash with just enough pressure so that you don't create wrinkles on your skin.
・Start by doing no-poo once every two days. As you get used to it, increase the frequency of no-poo.
・In about 4 weeks, the scalp's oil-secreting function will normalize, and the stickiness will no longer be a concern. Try it for at least about a month.

According to Dr. Utsugi, this is based on his own experience and practical examples from about 100 patients. He mentioned that this is not a matter of evidence-based discussion.

There are many other helpful videos besides the one above, so check them out if you're interested. Or check the reference books.

I tried it out immediately. No-poo with lukewarm water.

I carefully and gently washed my hair and scalp for about 3 minutes.

By the way, peppermint oil has been my obsession this summer.

I put a few drops of this peppermint oil into a Daiso ethanol-compatible bottle, dilute it with water, and make a peppermint oil spray. Be careful, as peppermint oil has the property of dissolving polystyrene (marked as PS)!

The recipe above is originally for insect repellent.

But peppermint oil actually has deodorizing and antibacterial properties.

I use it daily for wiping off sweat as well.

I thought this might go well with no-shampoo, and it turned out to be a great success.

Usually, no-shampoo doesn't remove as much oil as shampoo, so the stickiness after bathing can be a concern.

However, after the no-shampoo wash, I lightly massage my scalp with the peppermint oil spray mentioned above and rinse it off in the shower.

This provides the deodorizing and antibacterial effects of peppermint, along with the refreshing cooling sensation unique to menthol, making it feel fresh even after no-shampoo.

Peppermint oil is often used in shampoos, after all.

So, my first no-shampoo experience in a while was made comfortable with peppermint oil.

Just to be safe, I had my family check for any odor, and they said, "?? It smells like your previous shampoo."

So, for now, there's no problem. I don't notice anything either.

So far, I haven't had any issues with my hair or scalp, so I started with high curiosity and low expectations for no-shampoo.

My goal for now is one month. But I won't push myself, and if the stickiness bothers me, I'll use shampoo as needed.

I've always been concerned about over-washing with shampoo and the effects of preservatives on my skin and body.

As we head into autumn, peppermint oil will start to feel too cold due to the cooling effect, so I'll look for natural herbs with similar benefits.

Many people are likely interested in no-shampoo but worried about the stickiness right after starting.

Peppermint oil feels quite good. A bottle isn't expensive, and it's versatile, so please give it a try.

Postscript

Especially for those living with cats, please be very careful when handling peppermint oil. It is said that it can lead to symptoms such as liver dysfunction and respiratory distress in cats.

I have stopped using peppermint oil just to be safe.
I will try the no-shampoo method with occasional shampooing without pushing myself too hard.

See the links below for details.