Could YOU go cold turkey on shampoo? Mother reveals why she hasn’t washed her hair in EIGHT MONTHS

We’re a world obsessed with our hair – so much so that analysts have estimated the global haircare industry to be worth a humongous $100 billion.

And while for many, there seems to be no limit on what we’ll spend to avoid a bad hair day, devotees of another more left-field beauty movement say the secret to soft and shiny locks lies in ditching the shampoo altogether.

One such follower of the ‘no poo’ movement is mother-of-two Virginia Tapp, from regional New South Wales.

The 27-year-old – who blogs at Bush Bambinos – ditched shampoo, conditioner, artificial hair dyes and hair cuts eight months ago, and hasn’t looked back.

Here, she reveals why she ditched shampoo – and her at-home treatment that keeps her locks looking sleek.

Even though she hasn’t cut, coloured or washed her hair in more than half a year, Virginia (pictured) said it knots less easily and looks shinier than ever

According to Virginia, she stopped using shampoo, conditioner, artificial colour or dye just over eight months ago because she wanted to live a more environmental and less wasteful life.

‘In a nutshell, I started doing this because I wanted to use less stuff on my body and send less stuff down the drain,’ Virginia explained.

‘Isn’t it just a little bit strange that we have to use three different types of soap when we wash?’.  

While she expected to notice some sort of change, the 27-year-old freelance journalist said she saw ‘nothing for six months’.  

‘To be honest, I haven’t even missed it – one less thing to do in my day,’ Virginia added. 

Virginia (pictured with one of her children) stopped using shampoo, conditioner or dye eight months ago because she wanted to live a more environmental and less wasteful life

Around six months in, she said she started to notice her hair was getting ‘slightly oily’ at the roots – but rather than reach for the Pantene Pro-V, she used an at-home recipe of bicarb soda

Around the six month marker, Virginia said she did a trip to another state to visit her sister, upon which point she did observe some ‘slight oiliness at the roots’.

But, rather than reach for the Pantene Pro-V like many of us, she instead used an at-home recipe.

‘I scrubbed my scalp with one tablespoon of bicarb soda dissolved in a cup of warm water,’ she said.

After doing this, Virginia noticed the oil had ‘completely gone’. She followed it up with a banana and raw egg hair mask to prevent the natural oils from being stripped.

After doing this, Virginia (pictured with her children) noticed the oil had ‘completely gone’. She followed it up with a banana and raw egg hair mask to prevent the natural oils from being stripped

Since that point, the mother-of-two confessed hasn’t touched her hair with any product, instead washing it with warm water.

‘If anything, I actually get less knots now. My hair is neither oily or dry. It doesn’t smell like Palmolive, but it doesn’t smell like sour milk either. It just smells like hair,’ she said.

She also said that if you do want to continue using shampoo, the best thing you can do is opt for something that doesn’t get too soapy or full of suds, as this often indicates lots of ingredients.

Since that point, the mother-of-two confessed hasn’t touched her hair with any product, instead washing it with warm water – she loves the results

The ‘no poo’ movement has gathered steam in recent years with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Shailene Woodley, Adele, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Simpson saying they day washing their hair for days, weeks and even months on end – but do use shampoo when they infrequently wash.  

The reasons for trying it vary. Some worry the chemicals in shampoo are damaging to their hair and scalp.

Others embark on the regime to save time – or because they believe it simply makes their hair look and feel better.  

The benefits of going ‘no poo’ include healthier hair and scalp that produces a balanced amount of oil, more voluminous locks, better textured hair and less need for styling products and less exposure to potentially irritating chemicals.

If you think you can’t forgo shampoo entirely, then experts recommend you use shampoo just on your scalp and leave the ends.

You should also only shampoo as often as you need to – rather than just washing your hair just for the sake of it. You can just use conditioner.     

To read more from Virginia Tapp, you can visit her website – Bush Bambinos – here.