Many people think that No-Poo is just a way to wash hair without using any chemicals. The statement is true if you only look at the practical application of the No-Poo Method in your daily life. 

However, for me, after being on the No-Poo Method for several years, I take a more serious approach than just using it for hair alone. I use the same principle on many other things outside of the hair care routine such as in my cooking, body cleansing, commuting, making compost, or washing my clothes. I try to require only the bare minimum and it seems to be working perfectly fine.

My First Contact with No-Poo Philosophy

To truly understand how it all happened, I have to recount the story of when I was 11. Back then, it was not at all about my hair. In fact, I didn’t realize that it would be a crucial part of my No-Poo journey until later.

During that time when puberty hits, many things on the body change. For me, my number one concern, as an 11-year-old, were pimples. My face got oily. I started to see larger pores, blackheads, and whiteheads out of nowhere. It frustrated me to a point that, I was desperate for a solution. 

There was no internet back then. People relied on reading magazines, watching TV, and listening to the radio. All the ads and commercials bombarded me with “Buy this cream” “Use this foam!” “Try this new product” to get rid of unwanted stuff on your face. So, as an 11-year-old who had no means to support her skincare solutions, I started collecting sample tubes of different products given out at school gates or malls. At some point, I had 7 tubes of facial scrubs, foam, and cream to choose from. 

In Search for the Solution

I would try out one product for a few weeks and see if it helped. Then, I’d go try another one, and skip to the next. I also changed some routines after seeing some of my friends wash their face with facial foam during lunch break to get rid of excess oil. So I tried that, but I felt my face got too dry. My mom gave me some pimple cream to put on the pimple spots. I used it for the big ones whose whiteheads were about to pop. 

I would spend up to 30 mins in the bathroom, trying to squeeze out blackheads. It hurt a lot, but I thought that beauty comes with some sacrifice. Sometimes, I took antibiotics to help with my pimples, which it did. But, I didn’t want to rely on it all the time. In the end, I was obsessed with having “perfect” skin!

This was my life for over a year. Until I got really tired of going through the rituals. I became lazy and started to care less and less about the pimples. I stop squeezing my blackheads and whiteheads. I started thinking that it’s ok not having perfect skin. In the end, I am just one of the billions of people in this world and nobody would really CARE about my pimples.

The Big Realization

I started thinking: Why do I have to hurt myself over and over again? And so, I let these little imperfections show up. My friends started calling me “acne face.” I was like, “Meh… so… are you going to unfriend me?” If I am a good person, then, why would people care so much about how I look. Wouldn’t goodness shine on its own?

At that point, I decided to be a “bystander” to the whole process that was happening in my body:

• Instead of washing my face with facial foam three times a day, I only washed with water.
• Instead of squeezing the blackheads out of my large pores, I surrendered and accepted that they would always be there given my skin qualities. 

I started to appreciate what I have: oily skin is actually less prone to dryness and wrinkles. 

The Result

Gradually, to my surprise, things seemed to get better. I had less angry pimples. And when they showed up, I saw it as an opportunity to learn patience and do nothing. If I “win” at this game, it disappeared within a week. If I “lose”, it healed longer. I distracted myself by focusing on other things more important like studying and reading.  

The small pimples came and went within a few days. The blackheads became less noticeable. I’m not sure if it was because I touched my face less often or because my body has adapted to my hormonal whirlwind. Looking back, it was a good exercise mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. 

This whole experience gradually changed me. I became stark aware of my imperfections, and because of that, I became aware that I could turn it into a sort of “game or an experiment. By the time I turned 13,  I realized that: 

• Ads tell us to buy stuff we may not need and,
• Perfect skin only happens when we feel good about ourselves from the inside. 

No-Poo Philosophy

That’s why when I learned about the No-Poo Method, I became a full convert right away. Mainly because it reaffirms my previous belief about truly living and enjoying life, instead of worrying about the small imperfections. Meanwhile, I took it as an opportunity to learn more about myself.

The extent to which that whole experiment affected my life is enormous. It changes how I perceive the world and choose a course that’s different from most people. It makes me question a lot of bullsh*t happening in our society. I become more aware of the kind of clothes I wear, the place I want to live, the career I want to build, and the kind of life I want to have. I keep learning about myself and safe and responsible practices every day. 

I no longer have to deal with pimples now. They barely show up, even with the mask-wearing!

All I want to say to them is this: “Bye pimples. Thank you for the inspiration!” 🙂

Disclaimer: Please note that this is my personal experience. The tips mentioned here may or may not apply to you. I highly recommend you experiment on your own. My only advice is to truly and honestly listen to your body. Comment below if you have been through something similar. I’d love to hear from you too!