Shampoo is a relatively new invention. In the early 20th century, when water supplies in cities became more alkaline, shampoo was developed to work better than soap, which people had heretofore used to wash their hair, with mineralized water. However, in order to make an effective product, shampoo wound up being a fairly harsh cleanser that strips all the natural oils from hair. That’s why conditioner was invented—to replenish the natural oils stripped by shampoo. Of late, more and more women have decided to eschew the potentially damaging ingredients in commercial hair products and gone “’poo free,” meaning they no longer use shampoo to wash their hair.
Would You Go Shampoo-Free?
