A student who has not washed her hair for two years now uses the "no poop" method

A student who has not washed her hair for two years says it looks healthier than ever since she adopted the "no poo" method.

Iiris Heikkinen, 24, had a habit of washing her hair daily but she said it was "too clean", leaving her with a dry, irritating scalp.

She decided to trade her organic products for apple vinegar and baking soda, supposed to absorb dirt and grease, but after some research she decided to go even further after discovering groups of "no poop methods" on Facebook.

The growing movement, which is popular among wellness bloggers, sees followers abandoning shampoo and conditioner, believing that hair can be cleansed with natural oils.

At present, Iiris, from Inari, Finland, uses nothing but water – and a drop of coconut oil once both. month – and states that she has never looked back.

She explained, "After only a few weeks of using the no poo method, the itching stopped. There was a moment when my hair looked greasy, but I pbaded through and the hair quickly returned to normal.

"Now, when people meet me, they do not know that I do not use shampoo. When I tell them, they are always surprised and say how healthy and clean my hair is. "

Eco-conscious Iiris, who is following a master's degree in primary education, explained that she was washing her hair every two or three days with an organic shampoo and conditioner.

She added: "I've always taken into account the environment and that's how I started using organic cosmetics when I arrived at the university because I lived in a big city while there was more choice.

"I think it's far better to use organic products. It's better for the environment, nicer because there are no tests on animals and it's also healthier to know that you only use natural ingredients and that you do not add any chemicals that are corrosive to your skin. or your hair.

But Iiris has always found that her scalp itches terribly and she thought it was due to the shampoo that took away her natural oils.

So, in the fall of 2017, she started looking for alternatives.

She continued, "I searched Google for things like" How to wash your hair without shampoo "and ended up finding Facebook groups without a poop method.

"Everyone was exchanging tips and advice, so I went through all their experiences. Many people have recommended trying apple cider vinegar or baking soda instead. "

In September 2017, Iiris definitively abandoned the shampoo and conditioner, becoming a true adept of the no poo method.

The idea behind this move is that the overuse of chemicals – some of which may be harmful, according to the nonprofit environment working group, which has created a database on which users can check the ingredients of their cosmetics – makes the hair unable to clean itself naturally.

"There were a few weeks of that greasy," she admitted. "But about the same time, I was at the hospital after surgery for some persistent health problems, so I did not really think about my hair anyway.

"I never wanted to wash it. I do not know exactly how long it took for the fat phase to pbad, but by the time I recovered from surgery and was coming back in January, my hair was normal. "

Now, Iiris simply washes her hair with water every time she takes a shower and only occasionally uses a little coconut oil or neem leaf powder – a type of herb used in her body. ancient Indian medicine – to give extra conditioning if it has flare up dandruff, or talc to help comb its highlights by adding extra texture.

Anyway, her braids were in pretty good shape because she rarely used a hair dryer or a straightener, but she noticed that they looked thicker and wavier since she had abandoned her shampoo.

Interestingly, the color of her hair has also changed slightly and looks more like a natural blonde.

As many of her friends are also eco-responsible, she is not much criticized for her decision to avoid hair products – but remembers the occasion when a friend asked her if her hair smelled bad.

"It seems like a big misconception," she said. "Of course, it's quite difficult to feel my own scalp, but for me, it feels completely neutral and I have certainly never commented on it.

"If you met me, you would not know that I do not use shampoo.

"When people find out, they are really surprised. This should therefore show that it is easy to stay hygienic. They often say that my hair is more beautiful than if I had used shampoo.

Iiris hair needs to be washed a little more rigorously than usual after using a sauna – an essential part of Finnish culture.

She continued: "In Finland, we have a lot of saunas, so you obviously sweat. When I'm part of it, I always use only water but I think it sometimes takes a few washes to make my hair look normal.

"I like the poop-free method, but I understand everyone's hair and lifestyles are different, so I can not say if it suits everyone.

"For example, if you are a person who is exercising and sweating a lot, just using water may not be right for you. It's not me though, I'm not someone who trains at the gym every day. "

Taking advantage of the virtues of her hairless diet without products, Iiris says it is unlikely that she will ever take back the bottle of shampoo.

She concluded, "It made life so much easier, even things you would not think about, like traveling. Now I do not have to worry about carrying all these different bottles of product with me.

"I like the environmental benefits too. I do not use plastic, it will be thrown into the ocean.

"To anyone who wants to do the test without pooping, I would tell them to try it. Why not?

"My hair looks and is healthier than ever, and I do not lack shampoo."

Organic hairdresser Tabitha James Kraan added, "Of course, it's not possible to poop, I think hair gets cleaned automatically when left alone, or at least when the oil is not removed. Then the hair can stay healthy and balanced.

The problem is that most of us have washed our hair with very chemical detergents, which have the task of removing all traces of sebum, such as a degreaser.

When they remove all the oil, our body reacts (very intelligently) by putting it back in place, which creates a greasy hair situation.

This makes the "no poop" method a challenge, as you have to go through a very stinky and unpleasant period as the body rebalances. "

To learn more about Iiris's hair method on Instagram @iirislinneawriter