In many countries, rye flour was used as a natural shampoo long before the invention of conventional shampoos. Indeed, it is one of the most traditional ways of washing hair alongside kefir, eggs, soapnuts, and some other natural remedies.
As more people learn about the benefits of switching to "no-poo" (no sham-poo) methods of washing hair, the rye flour "shampoo" becomes popular again as a cheap and effective alternative to conventional shampoo.
Benefits of Rye Shampoo
I am a big supporter of "no-poo" method, which means quitting using conventional shampoo and washing hair with natural ingredients instead.
There are a few reasons why you would want to go "no-poo". Some of them are:
- It is usually better for the environment as we are not polluting the water with chemicals
- It can be beneficial for your overall health and wellbeing
- Can be cheaper, depending on the ingredients used
- Hair can get more shiny, manageable, and voluminous; dandruff and scalp irritation/itchiness can go; also you can find that you need to wash your hair less often
- The process is very creative - you can find more about the cleansing properties of plants and experiment getting your perfect shampoo formula
Rye Flour No-poo Preparation and Washing
Ingredients (per wash):
- 2 tablespoons rye flour
- tea strainer
- water (approximately 1/2 cup, but might use less or more)
- container (can be a cup, a bowl, anything that you might want to use in the shower)
Preparation
- Strain 2 tablespoons of rye flour into the container using the tea strainer
- Put a bit of water to create semi-liquid mass, mix well together
Application:
- In the shower, wet your hair, then apply the rye flour and water mix to the scalp and hair, massage thoroughly. I then wait for about 3-5min for it to penetrate, it also acts as a hair and scalp mask. I then wash it off with warm water. You can then rinse your hair with 50-50 vinegar-water solution for extra shine and conditioning, but it is not necessary as rye flour shampoo usually conditions well.
- Dry and style hair as usual.
Cautions with Rye Flour No-poo Method
There are some disadvantages with "no-poo" - most of them are temporary, and the benefits usually outweigh those temporary inconveniences, however, it really depends on what you are looking for, your way of life, and dedication to the process.
- Takes time to adjust - in the short run hair might become greasier. As the scalp gets used to commercial shampoos "stripping" nearly all the oils off our scalp and hair, it can take some time to adjust to a new method where only some oils are washed off the hair and the scalp. "No-poo" is considered a much safer way to wash your hair as it leaves some oils essential for scalp's and hair's health. However, for a couple of weeks - months (depending on the hair and scalp type) you will have to come through an adjustment period with oilier hair. You can wash your hair more often and then over time extend the time between the washes.
- In the preparation for this method you will need to first put the rye flour through the strainer to get rid of the flakes, however, you will not be able to strain all the flakes, so when your hair will be drying you will see flakes falling out. You will also need to take extra time to comb the flakes out once your hair is dry.
For more healthy recipes and wellbeing tips by Olga, visit http://holistichealingtherapy.co.uk/
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