It might sound silly, but it’s a crucial & viral concept in our curly hair community. The term low poo is derived from the phrase “low shampoo” and is used to describe using either a tiny regular shampoo or a specially formulated low poo shampoo to clean your hair.
If you have curly hair, you may have heard of this hair care method and wondered if it could benefit you. Let’s explore it in detail.
But What Is Low Poo?
Well, low poo is the latest trend in hair care that uses gentle, sulfate-free cleansers and shampoos to keep your scalp and hair healthy. It’s different from traditional shampooing methods because it’s designed to be used in a gentler way to avoid overstepping natural oils from your hair.
Basically, It helps keep the hair’s moisture balance, which keeps it from breaking and makes it look soft, shiny, and easy to style. The low poo method also helps to strengthen the roots of the hair with nourishing ingredients like rosehip oil, macadamia oil, and argan oil.
Low Poo Shampoo
Basically, these shampoos are hair care products designed to be gentle on your hair and scalp.
Unlike normal shampoo, which is manufactured with harsh surfactants like sodium laureth sulfate, low poo shampoos offer an alternative that gently cleanses and hydrates the strands without stripping away beneficial oils.
Ideal for those seeking to maintain the natural moisture balance of their hair, low poo shampoo can be used semi-regularly without risking over-drying and frizziness that regular shampoos can lead to.
For anyone with curly, natural, wavy hair, low poo shampoos can be a godsend.
But Keep in mind,
To maintain healthy long-term hair, we recommend avoiding these aggressive chemical ingredients. Through this mindful approach, low poo seeks to promote the use of hair products and brands that rely on natural components in their formulas.
The goal is to preserve our natural locks while avoiding any potential damage caused by petrolatum over time.
How Does Low Poo Work?
Usually, they are known for their milder ingredients, so low-poo hair products are a great option for cleansers who demand gentler ingredients for their hair care routine.
Low poo haircare works by avoiding traditional cleaning detergents such as SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate) and ALS and opting instead for more mild surfactants to cleanse the hair.
For those with sensitive scalps, this can be an absolute game-changer!
This formula can be just as effective as traditional shampoos in that they still clean the scalp, only without stripping it of its natural oils.
Combined with regular deep conditioning treatments, you can reap the benefits of indulgent low-poo cleansers!
Origin :
American hairstylist Lorraine Massey wrote “Curly Girl”, in which she presented treatment methods that prioritize using gentle cleansing agents and ingredients that nourish and enhance the health of curly hair, rather than simply covering it up.
So here are the terms that come with that-
- No Poo
- Co-Wash
- Low Poo
Difference Between High Poo And Low Poo:
Okay, let’s figure it out.
High poo shampoos contain high levels of sulfates, which are strong cleansing agents.
These sulfates effectively remove dirt, oil, and buildup from the hair and scalp, but they can also strip away the hair’s natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle.
On the other hand, low-poo shampoos contain low levels of sulfates or are sulfate-free. These shampoos are gentler on the hair and scalp and contain nourishing ingredients to help moisturize and protect the hair.
The goal of using this shampoo is to maintain the hair’s natural oils and balance rather than stripping it of its moisture.
And then there’s the no poo method, which involves ditching shampoo altogether and using alternative methods to clean the hair, such as baking soda, vinegar, or just water.
The main approach of this method is to eliminate the use of harsh chemicals in hair care and allow the hair to return to its natural state.
Benefits of Low Poo for Curly Hair
For starters, these types of shampoos leave behind natural oils that are essential for keeping your curls nourished and moisturized
Going low poo is a great choice if you want to keep your hair moisturized and healthy.
But, there are a few things to keep in mind.
Because these shampoos contain low levels of sulfates or are sulfate-free, you need to avoid using conditioners and styling products that have silicones and petroleum derivatives.
These ingredients are hard to wash out without sulfates, so using them will cause buildup in your hair and harm your hair and scalp over time. Well, let’s look at the potential benefits—
- Gentle cleansing: Low poo shampoos contain a low concentration of sulfates or are sulfate-free, making them more delicate on the hair and scalp than traditional shampoos.
- Nourishment: These shampoos often contain nourishing ingredients such as oils and plant-based extracts to moisturize and protect the hair.
- Maintaining natural oils: Using this shampoo, you can keep the hair’s natural oil balance instead of stripping it of its moisture.
- Reduced damage: Since these shampoos are gentler, they can help reduce damage to the hair from harsh ingredients found in traditional shampoos.
- Improved hair health: Using a low-poo shampoo can help improve the overall health and appearance of the hair by reducing dryness and promoting moisture.
Is Low-poo Good For Hair?
Yes, using a low-poo shampoo can be good for your hair. Because low-poo shampoos contain fewer sulfates or are sulfate-free, they won’t strip your hair of its natural oils and moisture like traditional shampoos can.
This means low-poo shampoos can help keep your hair healthier and more nourished.
As we mentioned earlier, since they often contain nourishing ingredients like oils and plant extracts, they can make your hair look and feel better over time.
It delivers weightless hydration that is ideal for wavy hair.
Wrap Up
By using either tiny regular shampoo or specially formulated low-poo shampoos, you can keep your scalp healthy while preserving its natural oils and providing extra moisture to help reduce frizziness and breakage.
