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Learn more about this technique.
As such, people are throwing out their in-shower haircare products to adapt a water-only routine.
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If it still causes an eyebrow-raising reaction, compare this practice to natural deodorant.
Hence, the interest in water-only hair washing.
Which Hair Types Benefit From Washing With Just Water?
Water-only washing works best with curly, coily,thick, and coarse textures that are prone to dryness.
Chambers-Harris recommends following up with a deep conditioning mask orconditionerto seal in moisture after washing the hair with water.
“This will help you keep the moisture in the cortex of the hair strand,” she notes.
Benefits of Washing with Only Water
Both experts tout the water-only washing method for its multiple benefits.
It’s a natural alternative to chemical-laden shampoos.
Mamelak also notes that water-only washing eliminates the use of sulfates, a common additive in shampoos.
If your hair is tangle-prone, washing hair with just water plus a deep conditioning mask can be beneficial.
A quick note though, conditioner buildup may actually cause tangling, so avoid any heavy silicone-based conditioners.
“The scalp tends to compensate for the oil removed with shampoo by producing more sebum.
As the scalp normalizes, you’ll notice that your hair will feel greasier.
For best results, wean the scalp off shampoo by alternating between diluted shampoo washes and water-only washes.
While this will make the transition period longer, it’ll be less severe on the hair and scalp.
Natural Alternatives to Water-Only Washing
There are several natural alternatives to water-only washing, including baking soda.
Once that’s rinsed out, use a moisture-rich leave-in for added moisture.