I’m sure if you’ve been on the ole internet a time or two you would’ve seen that washing your hair everyday isn’t that common of a thing anymore. Which is crazy because I grew up washing my hair every. single. day.
My hair would start to get greasy not even 24 hours after I washed it. And the feeling of greasy hair was just so icky.
I hated the way it looked too: shiny and stingy. Definitely not something I was a fan of. And so I washed it everyday. Now that I’m learning it’s not actually good for your hair, I’m a little confused.
Here’s the science behind it: washing your hair everyday actually strips your hair of it’s natural oils and can seriously dry your hair out. Yes, even if you’re using a shampoo that has extra moisture.
Your skin has 1000’s of little bacteria living on the surface. Good bacteria that help maintain your skin pH levels and help stop bad bacteria from festering. (source)
By washing your hair daily, you’re washing these good little guys right down the drain and preventing them from doing their job: which is protecting you.
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So if you’re just deciding to stop washing everyday or you’ve tried and failed before, don’t you worry. I’m sharing my tips with you!
I personally wash my hair every two to four days. How long you go in between is really up to you.
Some people go a week without washing (Which seems a bit crazy) but even if you can manage every other day, it’ll make a difference.
Now it’s important to remember that this process takes time, especially if you’re used to washing your hair everyday.
Your hair will naturally be greasy in the days following your wash but it’s important to resist the urge to wash it. It’ll take a while for your hair to get used to your new schedule. After about 4 weeks you’ll notice your hair getting less and less greasy between washes.
How to stop washing your hair everyday:
1. Dry shampoo is your new best friend
Especially when you’re just starting to cut back on your washes, you’ll need a little help to keep your hair looking and smelling clean.
If your hair gets really greasy, really fast, I suggest using the dry shampoo on your clean hair so it has all day to work and absorb oil as it comes.
Anther way to use it is to spray it in before you go to sleep and rub it in in the morning. I find this works best for me when I’m on day 2 or 3 of not washing my hair.
Here is an amazing vegan, cruelty free and handmade dry shampoo that I absolutely love.
2. Start slow
Start by washing your hair every other day. Do this for a few weeks and then start washing it every 2 days, then every 3 days and so on.
It will take a while for your hair to adjust to the new washing schedule. But don’t panic, it will adjust. You just need to make it through a few months before your hair learns to hold onto it’s moisture.
3. Brush your hair daily
It’s also important to brush your hair everyday if you don’t already. Especially between washes. Oil will first build up on the top of your head which is what gives you that greasy look. Brushing it daily will help to distribute those oils evenly throughout your hair.
This is important because not only will the build up of grease look less but it also helps to moisten the rest of your hair.
4. Don’t forget to shower
Now, just because you’re not washing your hair doesn’t mean you can’t shower. (Seriously, please still shower.)
Either get a shower cap or throw your hair up. You can still get your hair wet in between but I wouldn’t recommend it. Even just rinsing your hair can strip away oils and good bacteria.
If you must rinse your hair, make sure it’s room temperature water. Hot water is so damaging to your hair and skin in general. Even when you are washing your hair, make sure it’s room temp.
Washing your hair:
I make a little concoction about once a week to help get rid of the buildup that’s accumulated on top of my scalp.
Simply mix a little baking soda and water together and apply it to wet hair as you would shampoo. Make sure to massage and rub your scalp to loosen and get rid of buildup from natural oils and all the dry shampoo you’ve used that week. 😉
It’s important to do this on a day when you’re already washing your hair. I’d advise against trying to get rid of buildup in between washes because you’ll end up with flakes that will cling to any moisture on your hair.
After I rinse the baking soda out, I proceed with washing my hair as normal. I am obsessed with this shampoo bar and conditioner bar from unwrapped life. I could go on and on about what a great company they are. They stand for everything I and this blog believe in which is ethical and sustainable practices. And they make fantastic products too.
Second day hairstyles:
Day one:
Wash day. Normally I will just let my hair air dry as normal and then straighten out a few kinks that inevitably happen at the ends of my hair. Wearing it straight is always easy for day one.
Day two:
I’ll usually curl my hair on day two as I find the curls hold and look better on second-day hair. I can usually get away without using dry shampoo on day two.
Day three:
Starting day three I tend to break out the accessories. I usually need a touch or two of dry shampoo by now. Just a little on the roots usually does the trick. Here are 2 ways I love styling my hair with accessories.
Shop similar headband here and berets here.
Day four:
This is usually my last day before washing my hair again. I tend to just want my hair out of my face. My go-to is a side french braid on my “bangs”.
By this point, I put on quite a bit of dry shampoo on my hair the night before, without rubbing it in so it has time to soak up all the oil. Then I massage in whatever product is leftover in the morning.
Then simply rinse and repeat. See what I did there? 😉
Now, I don’t wear these exact hairstyles every week, I like to switch it up sometimes but these were definitely the most helpful for me when I was transitioning to washing my hair less.
How long can YOU go without washing your hair? Let me know in the comments because I would love to know!
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Great tips Caity! So import to be mindful of what we’re doinf to our hair. ?
Thank you! I know, it’s crazy, I’ve gone my whole life never really knowing just how much damage I was causing to my hair!
I wash every 5 or 6 days. I have curly hair that is very dry. So washing less has really helped. I also air dry.
Yes! I agree! I also find that when I air dry I can go longer between washes!
Awesome tips! Thanks! 🙂
Kind of an awkward thing to ask, but I’m also someone who washes my hair every day. Honestly, most days if I have time I shower twice a day, it just makes me feel clean. That said, my hair is starting to suffer from it and I want to start treating right. But, there’s one thing I’m always confused about when people say “don’t wash your hair.” So my mom has always told me that “washing your hair” is like shampooing and that you shouldn’t do that every day but should still condition every day. Is that what you and the internet trends mean too? Or am I supposed to go in the shower and just not touch my hair?
Thanks!
I personally don’t use shampoo or conditioner on no hair wash days! I don’t even get it wet (unless to change the style) because the hot water can still cause build up in between washes. My best advice would be to not do anything to it! That being said everyone’s hair is different. If you do get it wet in the shower, I would recommend a leave in conditioner if anything. I hope that helps!
Awkward question- does your scalp smell after a couple of days without washing? My hair looks great, but I can’t stand the smell of my scalp. It’s like a sweaty sports bra.
Not awkward at all! I haven’t really noticed a smell. usually, my hair smells mostly like my dry shampoo by the time I rewash it. I take extra care to thoroughly scrub my scalp when washing it and that seems to do the trick.