Hair questions are some of my top asked, everything from how I curl it, to my products, to removing frizz, to even how I get it to grow so fast. (I’m not sure on that last one. I suspect genetics.). But nothing amazes or shocks people more than when I tell them that I go 7 days between hair washings. Yep. You read that correctly. I only wash my hair once a week. And before you ask, yes. I workout. 5 days a week and I get super sweaty. It is still possible.
I doubt this is a new concept for most of you. Most of us have at least heard at some point, that you shouldn’t wash your hair everyday, but I am actually surprised how many people haven’t tried it.
I actually stopped washing my hair every day during my junior year of high school. While visiting a salon and in desperate need of a solution to my ever increasingly frizzy hair, the stylist recommended that I stop washing my hair every day. She said that I didn’t need to because my hair was so thick and that washing it that frequently was actually drying the ends out and making it more frizzy. She suggested I start skipping one to two days between washings. It was a mind-blowing concept and although I can’t say that it solved my frizz problem, my hair was healthier, and it saved me so much time. I have never looked back, except now I go 7 days between my hair washings.
And today I’m going to share all the details for how, and why you should stop washing your hair every day.
First let’s talk about all the benefits to not washing your hair every day. 1-Washing your hair every day actually makes it greasier. Did you know that! I know it feels counterintuitive, but when you strip the oils from your scalp and hair it messes with the PH balance of your scalp and triggers your glands to produce more oils, which equals greasier hair. I’ve also read that the combination of hot water and over-shampooing can cause/aggravate dandruff (although I have no personal experience with this, so I’m just passing that along, I can’t say if it’s true.) 2-Washing your hair everyday dries out your ends, which makes your hair frizzier. There’s never a chance for the natural oils to get down to the ends and do their job! 3-It causes more breakage. I swear this is probably a little bit why my hair seems to grow so fast. Hair is the most vulnerable when it is wet. So the less often it’s wet, the less breakage you’ll have. 4- your hair color will look better and last longer! If you get your hair colored this is a huge benefit. (same if you get a kerotin treatment! It will literally last 2-3 times longer if you cut back washing!). Hair treatments are like clothes, the more you wash, the more faded and worn out they get! 5- It will save you so much time!
Okay, so let’s talk about how you can actually get your hair to where you can go several days between washings.
The first thing you need to understand is that ANYONE can train their hair to go longer between washings. You might not be able to go 7 days, like me (I have thick, corse, curly/wavy hair) but, the truth is, you can train your hair to go much longer than you think, it just takes time. And patience, and a few weeks of feeling a little greasier than you normally would like to feel. IT IS WORTH IT! And yes, you can skip washings even if you work out and get super sweaty. (I do Orange Theory 5 days a week and I still go 7 days between hair washings). It take a few weeks for your scalp to adjust, every time you add a day so just plan on that. You can combat the greasy feeling with a little dry shampoo. Once I started working on increasing the time between my washes it took me a few months to get up to 7 days. There are times when I can go longer and times when I need to wash sooner, depending on the weather, or how humid it is in New England, but generally I go a week between washings.
Now let’s talk about how to train your hair.
Step one: wash day.
You’re going to want to wash your hair with a high quality shampoo (something designed for your hair type), and you will wash it twice. The first wash removes all the product built up, the second wash removes the oil. This is important. If you don’t wash it twice, your hair will still feel oily at the end because you just removed the product but not the oils. After the second washing, use conditioner, but not on your roots! Just on the middle and ends of your hair. I love Living Proof’s no Frizz shampoo and conditioner.
Step two: protect.
Before styling, use some protectants on your hair. I use a serum (that helps with frizz) and a heat protectant. (love the smell of this one, plus it works great.). This keeps your hair protected through the wash period. Reapply each day as needed (mostly on the ends.)
Step three: on non-wash days, spray a good dry shampoo into your roots and then distribute the dry shampoo using a boar hair brush and blowdryer or this amazing tool that I shared with you guys a couple weeks ago. This will give your hair some lift, dry out any sweat from a workout, and help distribute the effectively throughout your hair. The dry shampoo absorbs excess oil, sweat and leaves your hair smelling and feeling fresh. I am a HUGE fan of this dry shampoo. I started using it a few years ago and I have never looked back.
This hair dryer has been such a game changer for extending my blowouts and my hair has literally never looked better on day 7 than it does since I started using it!
Another tip for you. The first few days after my hair washing, I style my hair straight. Then I start curling it on about day 3-4. Straight hair needs less product so it keeps the product buildup from getting too bad, and also my hair curls easier (i.e. needs less heat) once it’s a little dirty, so it’s a totally win/win.
Okay, that’s it! Simple right?! I will add any other details if I think of them, but in the meantime if you have any questions. Feel free to ask them below, and I will definitely answer!
Great tips. I also find if I wear my hair up st night it helps and I put dry shampoo in my hair then the shower cap and leave in dyring my shower.
yes! I’ve never tried a shower cap, but it’s a great idea!
Doesn’t it smell?
Drying sweat back in to clean hair?
I’m not trying to be rude, why would it matter if it was “greasy” if I’m washing every day?
I’m kind of a wash and go more often kind of routine.
It doesn’t smell at all, the dry shampoo absorbs any of that, and it actually smells nice. But obviously, this might not be for everyone. This is more meant for anyone who’s asked me how I go so long, just sharing how I’ve done it, and why it might be a good thing for someone.
What do you do with your hair when you shower on non wash days? Up in a bun? Thanks! I’m so looking forward to trying this.
I just throw it up in a bun!
Im really wanting to try to go longer without shampooing..but when I work out I usually wear a hat so my hair is really smashed down and looking seriously ratted out. Do you dry your hair after a workout if its wet? Can you rinse? or does that still strip the oils out?
I don’t rinse it, but I use the blow dryer and it gives my roots a nice body again! Although I don’t wear a hat, but it is definitely worth a try!
Two questions. I go about 4 days without washing and I work out 5 days a week and get pretty sweaty as well. I usually just let my hair air dry after working out. Do you blow dry or use the new revlon dryer? How do you wear your hair to bed? Hats are my go to for day 4.
Love this post, but one question- how do you avoid getting the kink in your hair when you workout from having it up?
If I straighten my hair with a straightener ( I have a tad bit of wave to my hair and it is pretty fine) and then try to curl it the next day without washing it, the curl doesn’t stay in nearly as long as it does if I curl it the same day I wash it. Any ideas on how to keep the curl in better? I would like to try to extend my hair washings a couple days, but don’t always have time to curl it and I would like to put less product in it early on.