What Low Poo is and what products are released

The Low Poo technique consists of replacing the hair wash with a common shampoo by a shampoo without sulfates, silicones or petrolatums, which are too aggressive to the threads, leaving them dry and without natural luster.

For those who adopt this method, in the first few days you may notice that the hair becomes less shiny, but over time, it will become healthier and beautiful.

What does the technique

To start this method it is important to know the ingredients that should be avoided and follow the following steps:

1. Delete banned ingredients

The first step to starting the Low Poo method is to set aside all capillary products with forbidden ingredients such as silicones, petrolates and sulfates.

In addition, combs, brushes and staples should be cleaned to remove all residues. To do this, a sulfate product has to be used which has the ability to remove petrolatums and silicones from these objects, however it can not have these ingredients in the composition.

2. Rinse hair one last time with sulfates

Before using a shampoo free of harmful ingredients, one should wash one last time with a shampoo with sulfates but no petrolatums or silicones, because this step is exactly to eliminate residues of these components, that the shampoos used in the Low method Poo are not able to do.

If necessary, more than one wash can be made to leave no residue left.

3. Choose suitable hair products

The last step is to choose shampoos, conditioners or other hair products that do not contain sulfates, silicones, petrolatums, and, if appropriate, parabens.

For this, the ideal is to take a list of all the ingredients to avoid, which can be consulted next.

Some brands of shampoo that no longer contain any of these ingredients are Low Poo Shampoo My Novex Curls, Less Poo Yama Soft Shampoo, Low Poo Bioextratus Botica Shampoo or L'Oreal's Extra Low Shampoo Elvive Oil for example.

What are the forbidden ingredients

1. Sulfates

Sulfates are washing agents, also known as detergents, which are very potent because they open the cuticle of the hair to eliminate dirt. However, they also remove moisturizing and natural oils from the hair, leaving them dry. Here's what sulphate-free shampoo is and what it's for.

2. Silicones

Silicones are ingredients that act by forming a layer out of the yarn, called a protective film, which is a kind of barrier that prevents the threads from getting hydrated, giving only the feeling that the hair is more hydrated and shiny.

3. Petrolatos

The Petrolatos work in a very similar way to the silicones, forming a cover outside the threads without treating them and also preventing the hydration of the hair. The use of products with petrolatums can lead to their accumulation in the wires in a prolonged way.

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 in addition to not enough studies proving its harmful effects, 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 early days, this technique can leave hair looking dull and dull due to the absence of ingredients that generally give the hair a shiny look. In addition, people with oily hair may find it more difficult to adapt to the Low Poo method and so some people return to the traditional method.

It is important for people who start a Low Poo method to 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 is used, nor the Low Poo. In these cases, people wash their hair only with conditioner, also without sulfates, silicones and petrolatums, whose technique is called co-wash.

In the Low Poo method you can also alternate the hair wash with Low Poo shampoo and conditioner.