Warning: we are about to get very real here! I am going to be very, very honest with you. My mom is probably cringing and some of you are probably beyond confused about the title of this post but that’s okay! After Andrew so rudely called me out for not washing my hair for an entire week, I took to my Instagram Stories to see if I should be embarrassed or proud. The answer was a resounding proud (I knew you guys were my people!!) and I got tons of questions about how I go so long without washing my hair. Today, I’m letting you in on my best beauty secret ever! I’ll be telling you how to go an entire week without washing your hair or using dry shampoo.
Train The Tresses
Every time I tell someone that I can go a week (or more) without washing my hair, I hear this long story about how they could never because their hair gets so oily and if they don’t wash it every single day, it’s too gross. First of all, I know that there are different types of hair and some get more oily than others. However, even if you think your hair needs to be washed every single day, you’re wrong and you can train it to last longer – trust me. On a very basic level, here is what happens: your hair produces oil for its own health, to keep it hydrated and nourished. If you strip your hair of these oils daily, it’s going to produce even more oils because your hair is basically starving. The more you wash it, the more oils it will produce. If you train your hair by not washing it often, it will eventually learn not to produce so much of these oils. There will be a learning curve for your hair if it’s used to being washed daily – it’s going to look greasy and feel like you need to wash it but don’t give in! This is all part of the process. Start weaning it off and gradually adding one more day between washes.
Start at the Scalp
If you have excess build-up, I recommend using a product like this before shampooing. This one needs to be used on dry hair! You simply spray it onto your roots and let it sit for 3 minutes. Do it while your shower is warming up. You’ll feel it popping, cooling, and fizzing – it’s amazing! This will do a little bit of prep work for you and get your scalp clean and pure. You don’t need to use this every time you wash it – only every other time or if you’ve been using a ton of product. Things like dry shampoo and hairspray have a tendency to build up on the scalp; if you don’t take care of this from the root (no pun intended), your hair won’t ever be completely clean even right after you wash it.
Wash It Well
This sounds like a given but it’s definitely the first step in making your clean hair last longer. Once your scalp has been pre-cleansed, it’s ready for the official wash. Saturate your hair in water, the more wet it is, the better. Most good quality shampoos have no water in the formula so they need water to function and lather. Focus on shampooing the scalp and roots – the ends don’t typically get very oily and can become dry if you wash them too often. Make sure you’re getting a good lather and rinse thoroughly. Then do it all again! Yep, that’s right. Wash your scalp and roots for a second time to make sure it’s squeaky clean. This may sound repetitive but you’d be surprised how much cleaner it gets with this second step. Think of it this way, the cleaner it starts out, the longer you have until it gets dirty again.
Conditioning
Now that I’ve told you to focus on the scalp and roots when you shampoo, I want you to completely forget all of that when it comes to conditioning. Since you’ve just worked so hard to get the scalp clean, don’t add back all of that oil with conditioner. Condition your hair only from the mid-shaft to the ends. If you have very, very dry hair, you can use whatever is left over on your hands after that to gently condition the strands above that if it’s completely necessary. Since you’re only going to be washing your hair once a week (if that!), that also means less conditioning so you may want to use a deeper, more intense conditioner so that the hydration lasts to your next wash. My favorites are: this one, this one, and this one.
Primed for Success
This step is huge and a definite key to success. I’ve used and loved this product for so long (I posted about it here two years ago!) and have never found anything even remotely similar. It’s a primer for your hair that allows your style to last longer and stay clean. I don’t know how the heck it works but all that matters is that it does. Apply a dime size amount to damp hair from root to end and style as usual. This product is a miracle and that’s all there is to it.
Hands Off
If you can, avoid blow drying or styling your hair as much as possible. Not because the actual blow dryer or irons do anything to make your hair dirty faster but because the more you style it, the more you’ll be touching it and applying product. Your hands contain oils that make your hair dirty and styling products build up quickly, which will make you feel like you need to wash your hair sooner. The less you’re able to mess with it, the longer you’ll be able to last between washes.
Dirty Hair Styles
If you’re used to having a fresh wash and blowout every day, you may be at a loss when it comes to dirty hairstyles. Since I’m a seasoned professional when it comes to dirty hair, you’re in luck because I have lots of suggestions. All of these styles actually look better when the hair is dirty. I usually cycle through these styles throughout the week before I wash it again. My personal favorite is putting my hair up! A sleek pony tail, a tailored top knot, or a teased pony are all great options. These all get your hair off your face, make it look clean, and utilize the extra oils perfectly. This is the perfect solution if your hair is still in the training phase and is getting more oily than usual. Another great option is tousled waves because it’s such an imperfect style already. Since it’s meant to look messy, dirty hair works perfectly here!
Let me know in the comments, what’s the longest you’ve ever gone without washing your hair?
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