new thread
I posted earlier and got a bunch of helpful responses so I thought I'd ask another question: When people talk about not washing their hair everyday, do they mean they are washing it without shampoo or that they aren't washing it at all (not even getting it wet). Because to me, it seems like it would be difficult to get a shower without getting my hair wet. Also, I exercise everyday and get very sweaty and stink, so I feel like I need to wash it. I have thick slightly wavy hair that is a few inches past my shoulders, would it be a good idea to stop washing my hair everyday? If so, how often should I?
Taking a shower without getting your hair wet generally requires wearing a shower cap, or at least putting it up in a bun (or similar arrangement).
As to the question of how often you should wash it, even just a water wash, that's pretty much a question you're going to have to answer for yourself. Just as everyone's growing rate is a little different, so is the rate at which your scalp produces oils. And then there's the question of how quickly your activities "dirty up" your hair.
In your case, with your exercise schedule and such, you may need to at least water-wash daily. In my case, with a fairly sedentary job and lifestyle, I can get away with once or twice a week of shampoo washings.
Frodo
I think the only way you're going to know what works for you is to just try the various options. While I've tried not washing or rinsing my hair for an extended period (4 days while on vacation in the wilderness) I really didn't like how my hair looked or felt. As my hair grew longer my own personal routine has settled into rinsing, conditioning, and lightly applying essential oils (coconut, almond & walnut) daily, and only shampooing once or twice a week unless I get exceptionally dirty at work. (I work in a garage and sometimes end up with motor oil in my hair. Not the type of oil you want.) I'm still fine tuning my hair care regimen, as each hair care product produces slightly different results. It all boils down to experimenting and finding what products and schedule works best for you.
--Dale
Thanks for the responses... So when articles talk about how often you should wash your hair, are they only referring to shampoo washings?
It depends on your hair and type. I wash mine once a week.
Cheers,
John.B
Hair washing is a very personal thing. Some people have hair which gets dirty or greasy very easily, and need to wash every day. Others find washing less often works better.
The best answer for you depends on your lifestyle and the individuality of your own hair. I think the best thing is to try different methods until you find one which feels right.
The salt in sweat I heard from my grandfathers turn of the century etiquette book weakens the hair, along with dead skin that builds up. They reccommended washing when it gets sweaty, and brushing. I had a girl friend who would just put the shampoo on her scalp and wash it, rinsing it down the hair shaft in the shower, so her hair wouldn't get too dried out.
Washing's ok, especially with mild shampoo. Using a blowdryer can be bad though. If it's not sweaty, a few days can be skipped if desired. You sound young. Young people can handle washing much more frequently. If it feels right, do it.
I wash once or sometimes twice a week. Often I just wash (with shampoo) once a week, and rinse once a week.