The Low Poo technique consists of replacing hair washing with a common shampoo with a shampoo without sulfates, silicones or petrolatum, which are too aggressive for the hair, leaving it dry and without natural shine.
For those who adopt this method, in the first few days you may notice that your hair becomes less shiny, but over time, it becomes healthier and more beautiful.
What the technique consists of
To start this method, it is important to know the ingredients that should be avoided and follow the following steps:
1. Exclude prohibited ingredients
The first step to starting the Low Poo method is to put aside all hair products with prohibited ingredients such as silicones, petrolatum and sulfates.
In addition, combs, brushes and clips must be cleaned to remove all residue. To do this, you must use a product with sulfates that has the ability to remove petrolatum and silicones from these objects, however it cannot have these ingredients in the composition.
2. Wash your hair one last time with sulfates
Before starting to use a shampoo free of harmful ingredients, you should wash your hair one last time with a shampoo with sulfates but without petrolatum or silicones, because this step serves exactly to eliminate residues of these components, which the shampoos used in the Low method Poo are not able to do.
If necessary, more than one wash can be done so that no residue remains.
3. Choose suitable hair products
The last step is to choose shampoos, conditioners or other hair products that do not contain sulfates, silicones, petrolatum, and, if necessary, parabens.
To do this, the ideal is to take a list of all the ingredients to avoid, which can be consulted below.
Some shampoo brands that no longer contain any of these ingredients are Low Poo My Curls Shampoo from Novex, Less Poo Gentle Shampoo from Yamá, Low Poo Shampoo Botica Bio Extratus or Elvive Extraordinary Oil Low Shampoo from L’Oreal, for example.
What ingredients are prohibited
1. Sulfates
Sulfates are washing agents, also known as detergents, which are very powerful because they open the hair cuticle to eliminate dirt. However, they also strip your hair of moisture and natural oils, leaving it dry. See here what sulfate-free shampoo is and what it is for.
2. Silicones
Silicones are ingredients that act by forming a layer on the outside of the strand, called a protective film, which is a type of barrier that prevents the strands from receiving hydration, only giving the sensation that the hair is more hydrated and shiny.
3. Petrolatum
Petrolatums work in a very similar way to silicones, forming a layer on the outside of the strands without treating them and also preventing the hair from hydrating. The use of products with petrolatum can lead to its accumulation in the hair for a long time.
4. Parabens
Parabens are preservatives widely used in cosmetics, because they prevent the proliferation of microorganisms, ensuring that products last longer. Although there are many people who exclude parabens from the Low Poo method, they can be used because not only are there not enough studies to prove their harmful effects, but they are also easily eliminated.
The following table lists the main ingredients that should be avoided in the Low Poo method:
Undesirable effects
Initially, in the first few days, this technique can leave hair looking heavy and dull due to the absence of ingredients that generally give hair a shiny appearance. Furthermore, people with oily hair may have more difficulty adapting to the Low Poo method and that is why some people return to the traditional method.
It is important that people who start a Low Poo method know that after some time, by excluding harmful ingredients from their daily routine, in the medium and long term they will have healthier, hydrated and shiny hair.
What is the No Poo method
No Poo is a method in which no shampoo or Low Poo is used. In these cases, people wash their hair only with conditioner, also without sulfates, silicones and petrolatum, a technique called co-washing.
In the Low Poo method you can also alternate washing your hair with Low Poo shampoo and conditioner.
