Hello, I'm new the the forum and I'm kind of freaking out. (I know this point is Very long, but bear with me, all the details are necessary).
To start off, the main reasons why I wanted to go no-poo besides the obvious benefits, was to not have to depend on commercial products, which were not helping the life of my color treated hair, and to help the consistency of my natural hair.(After I grew out the Keratin back in 2011, I realized that the front and the canopy is like a lifeless 2b/2c while the back is my natural 3b-3c. ). I've tried so many things that I just decided to go no-poo as my last resort method. Also, I started using SLS free, color protecting shampoo about 3-4 months before starting, however I felt the need to wash my hair more often than before (I always wash once a week). I stopped when I realized that it contained silicones (which is kind of counter-intuitive for a SLS-free shampoo -__-').
Based on all the research and stories I've heard from going no-poo, I hear that the transition period is one that entails having uber-greasy hair episodes with some dandruff, since the cause of this is the hair detoxifying itself, correct? So, why in gods name has my hair not even remotely become greasy!? If anything I feel like there's no sebum being produced at all! My hair feels crunchy...like dead grass. And it's a frizzy mess, especially the canopy which does not resemble hair in the slightest (it looked more like hay). It's important to note that, because I'm a redhead "by choice" instead of washing with BS, I use all natural shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley.
My first CV sample bar was the Rosemary Mint. It left a tingly sensation and felt amazing. But my hair felt extremely dry. I followed with 1 tbsp of ACV to 1 cup water. And I add 2-3 drops of lavender essential oil. The results were horrendous. (I was so disappointed since I love all things minty). However for the first time in almost 2 years, the front section of my hair curled. It was a miracle. However after about 3 days (I couldn't take the extreme dryness anymore) I tried again, but this time, I just rinsed with water and followed with the same ACV rinse (except I added 1 tbsp of honey to the mixture and used peppermint essential oil instead). The front was somewhat curly, but rest was still pretty dry.
Mind you I take very good care of my hair. I did condioning treatments 3x a month, avoided heat always, used a hardcore conditioner every time I washed. The only thing my hair goes through is coloring, and regardless of the slight bleaching my hair undergoes, it has still appeared healthy up until starting no-poo)
My theory is that since I used a hardcore conditioner on my hair every time I washed for almost a year(Kerastace), I over conditioned my hair to the point where it has stopped producing as much sebum. Because the front sections and the canopy are more porous than the rest of my hair, the over-conditoning left it lifeless and it could explain why the curls in the front are just starting to reappear. The front section loves the ACV rinse, its soft and shiny with no frizz and has beautiful 3a whirls. The rest of my hair is a disaster!
Please help! I don't know what to do! I've considered going the CG method, but I really don't want to as now I've realized what causes my hair to be lifeless and I don't want to go back to commercial conditioners (trust me the different textures looked extremely odd if I didn't come up with a creative hair-do to hide it). Plus, I don't want to depend on any commercial products anymore, just my own natural oils...which I seem to have none of at the moment.
So I figured I just have to work harder than the average no-poo transitioner and help my scalp to distribute it's oils. I brushed my dry hair upside down (knowing it would go completely berserk and fluffy, which it did) and even though I felt the tingly sensation in my scalp which implies that more circulation is happening, my hair looked just as dry as before I started brushing! Nothing was distributed. I bought Omega 3 oils which I'm gong to be taking alongside with a Biotin pill. I also decided I would wait about 2 weeks to help my hair grease up on it's own. But honestly I don't know what else to do. I don't want to give up only 2 weeks in, but I'm afraid my hair will just start breaking off if I continue. (yes it looks that bad).
(I should also include the fact that I stopped using heat in May-June back of last year, and even then I barely used it that often to begin with.)
Could someone please help me?
(Edit: I learned that I'm actually a 2b/c naturally, and that the limp front strands/ canopy are a 1a/b.)