What Is A Low-Poo Shampoo?
The curly-girl method is on the rise due to the influence of drastic before and afters on YouTube and TikTok. The method involves a set of rules to follow in order to make your hair as healthy and beautiful as possible. These rules involve different processes, styling techniques, and hair care ingredients to use on your hair (via Cosmopolitan). Best of all, these rules can be great for healthy straight hair as well!
Before starting the curly-girl method, most participants show their hair as dull, frizzy, stiff, and not living out their full curl potential. After a few weeks of the curly-girl method, the participants' curls are hydrated, healthy, and manageable (via Real Simple). Some processes in the curly-girl method for healthier hair include washing your hair less, finger-twisting your hair, using wide-tooth combs, and using minimal to no heat. These are all known to improve the overall look and feel of your hair.
Changing the process of styling your hair is not a one-step fix to happy, healthy curls. One large factor of the curly-girl method is minimizing the harsh ingredients used on your hair by switching to a low-poo shampoo.
What makes a shampoo low-poo
Many shampoos have ingredients that are secretly damaging your hair, such as sulfates, silicones, and petrolatum derivatives. Low-poo shampoo will be free from all of these harsh chemicals (via Inoarus). These chemicals can cause irreparable damage to your hair. This damage strips your hair of too much natural moisture, leaving it dry and brittle. Breakage, dry hair, and an itchy scalp are all signs your shampoo probably has sulfates in it.
To ensure you are using a low-poo shampoo, it's important to read the ingredients to ensure there are no hidden sulfates. The most common sulfates used in shampoo are sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate. Low-poo shampoos are still expected to be paired with a sulfate-free conditioner.
According to Naturally Curly, some people even consider going no-poo, which involves completely cutting out a shampoo and instead switching to homemade mixtures like apple cider vinegar and baking soda.
Benefits of going low-poo
Going low-poo has great benefits for all hair types, though it is most commonly used by those with curly hair. Those who choose the low-poo method often have hair that outshines the rest, literally and figuratively! Truly going low-poo involves switching to a low-poo shampoo and washing your hair once every two to three days.
When this method of hair washing is used, huge benefits are reported. Most commonly those who go low-poo report having less frizz, more volume, and a healthier scalp. They are also taking less time out of their schedule to wash their hair (via Healthline).
Going low-poo is also great for the environment, as less water is used during the week for hair washing. Going no-poo is even better as plastic waste from shampoo bottles is prevented (via All Things Hair). No matter if you choose low-poo or no-poo, your hair will thank you!