lip top 10: edible shampoo alternatives

We’ve all been there. You’re having a casual shower and suddenly find yourself a little peckish. What is there to eat in here? Soap? No. A loofah? No. Perhaps the grout? Definitely not. Well, thanks to the ‘no shampoo’ movement, there are several natural alternatives to shampoo you can try that are, if hunger strikes when you’re washing your locks, all up for consumption.

1. Water
So, apparently, the more you wash your hair, the oilier it will become. The theory is that because shampoo strips out all the natural oil, the scalp will produce more to compensate. Obviously there’s a weaning process, but eventually running your fingers through your hair like you were lathering shampoo under water can be just as effective. Not that I’ve tried it.

2. Baking Soda
According to the Google results, this is a really popular method. Basically it cleans without removing the oil. The important thing to do though is rinse with vinegar. Baking soda is very alkaline and will eventually damage your hair, so the vinegar balances that out.

3. Egg
Eggs basically act like a detergent – they cut through grease. They also prevent dandruff and hair loss. Just don’t use water that is too hot or you might find your egg is cooked before it gets to your head.

4. Tea
Okay, this isn’t really much different to just using water, but it leaves your hair smelling lovely. There are a few claims around the interwebs that different teas will produce different effects, such as softness of colour, but there really isn’t much evidence of that happening.

5. Lemon
My mother uses lemon juice for cleaning, so now that I think about it, I can see how it would work on your hair. Lemon has some pretty sweet anti-bacterial qualities too. I might throw out the betadine as well when I get rid of my shampoo.

6. Mayonnaise
This is where it starts to get a bit odd. But it does make sense – mayonnaise contains egg, oil and vinegar, making it great for split ends and dry hair. The best part is when you’re done, you can reuse it on a salad.

7. Beer
This one is my favourite. The hops in beer coat the hair and help to seal off the ends, and the malt makes your hair glow. I’ve bought a case in anticipation, but if it doesn’t work, oh well, I’ll just have to drink the other 23.

8. Coconut Oil
Coconut oil is actually more suitable as conditioner as it keeps the hair moisturised. It’s used in lip balms, skin moisturisers and even some makeup, so why not give it a crack on your hair?

9. Coffee
Just when you thought coffee couldn’t get any better, the grounds will soften your hair and make it shine. The caffeine also promotes hair growth. You should totally take your morning coffee into the shower.

10. Cake Batter
I wish.