Alternative hair washes are a way to wash your hair without shampoo and are the perfect solution when you need to wash your hair often.
If you sweat a lot, are often at the gym or if it's summer and you need to wash your hair more often, alternative washes are the perfect solution to keep your hair protected, soft and hydrated.
In fact, shampoos, even the most delicate and natural ones, have a high cleansing power that is not necessary if you wash your hair very often.
Using shampoo too often can make your hair brittle, dull, and more prone to breakage and split ends; it can also make your scalp more sensitive and irritated, more prone to producing dandruff and excess sebum.
In this article I will tell you about the easiest and most effective alternative washes to use.
In this article we talk about:
Washing your hair without shampoo: the co-wash
Co-wash is a very delicate alternative wash that features conditioner as the main ingredient.
This type of wash is perfect for all hair types, but works best on dry, frizzy, arid and curly hair that needs pampering and hydration.
How do you co-wash?
When I first started dealing with organic cosmetics, there was only one way to do it: by adding sugar to a light and possibly inexpensive conditioner!
These first co-washes often left the skin feeling dirty because they often didn't use products with surfactants which therefore left the skin greasy and oily.
Furthermore, sugar often created micro-lesions on the skin and it was difficult to rinse it well without residue, especially on long hair.
There were also those who were more daring and added bicarbonate, a practice that is absolutely not recommended for maintaining healthy skin!
Fortunately, the world of organic and natural cosmetics has evolved and specific products for co-wash have been created, designed to cleanse delicately.
As I anticipated, co-wash has an extremely delicate cleansing power; for this reason it does not foam and it is necessary to learn to massage and rinse the product well to have good results.
I recommend applying the product to well-wet skin, distributing small amounts of product to various areas of the head.
Especially if you have very long or thick hair, be very careful to apply the product to the scalp and not to the hair .
The areas that are usually easiest to forget are those of the temples and the nape of the neck, make sure you have applied the product there too and massaged it well into the skin.
I find that washing my hair upside down is easier when I co-wash, it allows me to reach the scalp more easily and massage better.
Use the right amount of product , approximately equal to a cup of coffee: using less product would further reduce the cleansing power and increase the risk of greasy skin.
Another tip for making the best use of co-wash is to give the product time to work : after massaging the product well over the entire head, leave it on for at least 5 minutes, then emulsify with a little water and massage for another couple of minutes .
Now you can rinse, taking care to remove all product residue.
To co-wash my hair, I use Yuniwa Cosmetics Co-Wash , a cleansing conditioner rich in strengthening and antioxidant active ingredients.
Alternative washing: low poo
If co-washing isn't enough for your hair and you prefer a treatment with a higher cleansing power but still gentle on your scalp and hair, you can use a low-poo product.
This type of product is halfway between shampoo and co-wash : it has an intermediate cleansing power, obtained thanks to the use of delicate surfactants that respect the skin and hair.
Low-poo products also produce little foam, so it's important to make sure you massage and rinse well when using.
Yuniwa Cosmetics Strengthening Cream Shampoo is formulated with super-delicate cleansing active ingredients, it helps you gradually reduce the fragility of the hair fiber, counteracting dullness, frizz, knots and split ends. It soothes irritation and dryness of the scalp, for the total well-being of the hair.
Wash your hair with Ayurvedic herbs
Ayurvedic herbs are medicinal plants used in Ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicine. Many of these herbs can also be used in cosmetics, providing numerous benefits to the skin and hair.
Among Ayurvedic herbs, there are some that have a fair amount of cleansing power and can therefore be used for alternative, delicate and healing washes.
Specifically, there are 4 Ayurvedic herbs that you can use as an alternative wash, let's see them together.
Aritha
Aritha has cleansing, antibacterial, antifungal and anti-dandruff properties, cleanses the hair leaving it soft and hydrated.
It is indicated for greasy hair, with dandruff or to prevent itching .
You can prepare aritha by mixing little powder with warm water. Apply it on damp hair and leave it for about 10 - 15 minutes. Then rinse it off with warm water.
Shikakai
Shikakai has excellent cleansing properties and helps strengthen the bulbs, stimulates growth and combats hair loss. It also does not change the pH of the hair and gives volume and shine to the hair.
Suitable for weak, fine, greasy hair, hair with dandruff or sensitive and irritated scalp.
To prepare a natural hair cleanser based on shikakai, combine 1 or 2 tablespoons of powder with hot water until you obtain a smooth, lump-free cream, to be applied from the roots to the lengths. Massage the product with your fingertips and leave on for about 10 - 15 minutes.
After this time, rinse with warm water and proceed to dry your hair which will be soft, clean and light.
Sidr
Sidr is a powder rich in saponins, minerals, vitamins and mucilages that cleanse the hair and give nourishment and body to the hair .
It is a non-foaming powder that washes the hair very well, purifies the scalp and fights dandruff.
You can prepare your alternative hair wash with sidr by combining the powder with warm water until you obtain a creamy mixture. Apply the sidr to wet hair, spreading it evenly and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water and enjoy your clean, soft, light, hydrated and untangled hair.
Ghassoul
Ghassoul is an alternative wash recommended for all hair types, even in cases of seborrheic dermatitis, as it regulates sebum production and helps combat dry or excessively oily skin.
Prepare the Ghassoul with hot water and let it rest for a few minutes. Then use it to wash your hair, just like a normal shampoo, massaging the scalp with your fingertips to help absorb the active ingredients.
Leave the clay to act for about 5 minutes and then rinse, taking particular care to remove all residues thoroughly.
