Washing Hair

[Guest Wheat on Trial]

I am not sure where else to post this question, but I do appreciate all of the advice and help I've received in other aspects of my life here in the W30 forum. And I know this is group likes to exercise like I do. So figured I'd ask...

 

I've heard that washing hair should really only been done max three times each week - so that you can have healthy hair that isn't dried out. This isn't the only article I've seen on this topic, but sharing here as an example: http://www.webmd.com/beauty/shampoo/how-often-wash-hair

 

However - I am active at least 5 days a week. And I sweat. Showering is a must.

 

How do others handle their hair care?

[msssjenna]

I try to wash every other or every 3 days.  I sometimes use dry shampoo on the days in between. 

[AllyB]

I wash my hair every other day.  My hair is dry.  I use redkin all soft to wash and condition.  It's a pretty heavy conditioner which is great for my dry hair.

[Guest Wheat on Trial]

Thanks -

 

I try to wash every other or every 3 days.  I sometimes use dry shampoo on the days in between. 

 

 

I wash my hair every other day.  My hair is dry.  I use redkin all soft to wash and condition.  It's a pretty heavy conditioner which is great for my dry hair.

 

Specifically on days you work out  - what do you do? Use a plastic cap in the shower? Or just rinse your hair with water? Or just apply dry shampoo?

[nikki5577]

I workout 5 days per week and I only wash 2-3x time per week max, with cool to cold water. My hair usually looks best on Day 2 and the other days I use this product from Bumble and Bumble http://www.bumbleandbumble.com/product/10864/26946/Products/Styling/Thickening/dryspun-finish/index.tmpl. It helps with the separation, oil , etc... but is not as matte as a dry shampoo. I can sometimes go 5 days. but I have thick hair. I couldn't go that long at first, your hair actually seems to produce more oil the more you wash it, and you can wash it less over time.

 

My hair is much healthier and my hair color lasts better too - so, I save money on that too,

[msssjenna]

On days I workout, I just do not put my head under the water.  Which I guess I could wear a shower cap, but that seems like too much work.     I workout about 5 times a week and just let my sweaty hair dry.  Is that gross?  lol.  I also have pretty short hair.

[peace_positive]

Wash hair once a week for me, and put it up in messy bun for shower. I use coconut oil as leave in conditioner but avoid roots or it may look oily or too limp. When I wash more often my hair gets a little dry looking. My hair gets a lot of flat iron and bleached roots action.

[nikki5577]

I use a shower cap - yes, I look ridiculous.

[GLC1968]

Other than a chlorine neutralizer shampoo after a swim workout, I haven't shampooed my own hair in years.  I still get a shampoo at the hair salon, but since I stopped coloring my hair, I don't go there more than a couple of times a year anyway.

 

Not only do I workout daily, but sometimes twice a day!  I just rinse if it's my second shower of the day or I cleanse with a natural conditioner when my hair is dirty/sweaty.  Currently I like the products from Aubry Organics but I've used lots of different products over the years with varying degrees of success.  There are also 'no-poo' products you can use (Ouidad makes one for curly hair) that work fairly well, too.

 

Your scalp will produce WAY less oil once it realizes that it's not being stripped daily.

 

A few things to keep in mind

1) I have very, very thick curly hair (that I occasionally blow dry straight-ish).  I've had it super short and very long during the past few years, so length shouldn't matter.  I have zero experience with straight or thin hair so your experience could be different.

2) water quality really matters.  When I travel, I have varying degrees of success due to different water.

3) styling products matter.  If you aren't stripping your hair with shampoo, you cannot use products with 'cones' in them (silicone, dimethicone, etc) because they will not rinse out with just water and the buildup is a problem over time.  You must use water-soluble styling products.

[MrsStick]

I use a cleansing conditioner and baking soda whenever I look like I need some degreasing. I did pick up a castille soap for travelling (about to move to Korea, so need easy-to-travel solutions) but I haven't used a traditional shampoo in 2 years. Just a "no poo" system (Diva Curl) and/or cleansing conditioner/baking soda combination.

[luckylily]

I shower daily (and work out several times a week) and only wash my hair once or twice/week. I just put my hair in a bun and don't put it under the shower. I'm another non-shampoo'er. I alternate between a baking soda/water solution and a castile soap/coconut milk solution. I love this system, my hair looks great with very little fuss.

[Melimuse]

Coconut oil makes a great moisturizing conditioner. Davines Naturel tech shampoo and conditioner every 2-3 days!

[wifebando]

I am not sure where else to post this question, but I do appreciate all of the advice and help I've received in other aspects of my life here in the W30 forum. And I know this is group likes to exercise like I do. So figured I'd ask...

 

I've heard that washing hair should really only been done max three times each week - so that you can have healthy hair that isn't dried out. This isn't the only article I've seen on this topic, but sharing here as an example: http://www.webmd.com/beauty/shampoo/how-often-wash-hair

 

However - I am active at least 5 days a week. And I sweat. Showering is a must.

 

How do others handle their hair care?

 

I work out (and sweat a lot) most days.  I just rinse my hair with water when I'm in the shower those days.  Since I've switched to silicone-free shampoo and started shampooing less often (maybe 2 months now) my hair has grown almost 2 inches and my hairstylist says it's the healthiest she has ever seen it.  I don't even use conditioner anymore.  The amount of avocado and coconut fats in my diet more than take care of that!

[cadarad]

This is an awesome topic! I was actually wondering about this question myself as I was washing my hair last night. I also have been trying to wash my hair less and less for the past 6 months. My hair would also get pretty oily and greasey looking on the second day after washing. So, I started out washing it every other day and now I am up to washing it every 3-4 day (twice a week). I've noticed that it looks even better while eating on the Whole30! I also work out everyday and never worry about it. I will just put it in a nice side braid and wear a head band and it looks fine!

[JJB]

This topic kind of fascinates me, in an 'omg-you-really-do-that?' sort of way. I have never even considered not washing my hair every day. I will skip it every once in awhile, only on a day when I don't plan on leaving the house. My hair looks super greasy and GROSS when I do not wash it; there's no way I could go out in public like that. It's very fine/limp so just a little oil is very noticeable, and it's not even presentable if I pull it back. Do you all have super thick hair or something?  

[Vian]

I wash my hair every. single. day. I have very oily skin and my hair gets greasy and nasty every time I sleep on it (even if I shower before bed, I have to shower again when I wake up because I feel gross). So long as I don't blow dry it every day, it doesn't get dried out and is shiny and soft.

[nikki5577]

Yeah, there is a little of the shock factor for people if I tell them and I was surprised that even working out every day my hair doesn't get very oily and does not smell. I have very thick hair, and I think that does help. But, even with thick hair it took a few months to get to the point I could go 5-7 days without washing. Sometimes I will have to pull it back or style it differently (i.e. curly instead of straight).

 

I'm a big advocate of not washing your hair every day Saves time and $$$. And my hair does look better.

[Vian]

I've been wanting to go "no-poo" but I'm so, so afraid of the transition period! Basically you mix up two solutions, one with 8oz. water and 1 tbs. baking soda, and the other with 8oz. water and 1 tbs. of apple cider vinegar and put them in separate spray bottles. Then in the shower, you spray the baking soda mixture on your hair and work it into the roots and scalp, then rinse, followed by the same process with the vinegar solution and a rinse. 

 

I was able to switch to oil cleansing on my face, but having greasy hair is way more obvious than having some extra oil on my face!

[wifebando]

This topic kind of fascinates me, in an 'omg-you-really-do-that?' sort of way. I have never even considered not washing my hair every day. I will skip it every once in awhile, only on a day when I don't plan on leaving the house. My hair looks super greasy and GROSS when I do not wash it; there's no way I could go out in public like that. It's very fine/limp so just a little oil is very noticeable, and it's not even presentable if I pull it back. Do you all have super thick hair or something?  

 

my hair is very thick - but i also wonder if it is your shampoo that is possibly the problem?  same as whole 30 - you don't know till you take it away - your hair deals with the same kind of crap added to shampoo!  make sure you are using a silicone-free product - so garnier and pantene and all the well-promoted brands are out - i use nexxus weightless moisture - and you will already begin to see a difference!

[cadarad]

This topic kind of fascinates me, in an 'omg-you-really-do-that?' sort of way. I have never even considered not washing my hair every day. I will skip it every once in awhile, only on a day when I don't plan on leaving the house. My hair looks super greasy and GROSS when I do not wash it; there's no way I could go out in public like that. It's very fine/limp so just a little oil is very noticeable, and it's not even presentable if I pull it back. Do you all have super thick hair or something?  

No! My hair is on the finer side. I also used to wash my hair every single day because it would get greasy and oily at the end of the day but then I went to a more eco-friendly salon and they told me that I can "train" my scalp to not produce so much oil by not washing it as much. The hair salonists had beautiful hair and they told me they only wash it once a week! It was tough at first and I started out just every other day, but now I'm up to every 3-4 days and it feels healthier. I also always get complimented that I don't have as many split ends as I used to every time I go in for a trim. Plus, I love saving on water and shampoo/conditioner!

[JJB]

my hair is very thick - but i also wonder if it is your shampoo that is possibly the problem?  same as whole 30 - you don't know till you take it away - your hair deals with the same kind of crap added to shampoo!  make sure you are using a silicone-free product - so garnier and pantene and all the well-promoted brands are out - i use nexxus weightless moisture - and you will already begin to see a difference!

 

So...no parabens (already on that), no silicone, no sulfates. I'll check out Nexxus. I'd definitely be willing to switch to a healthier shampoo, and *maybe* skip it altogether once or twice a week. That's all I can wrap my head around right now. 

[JMACCAR]

Hi there,

 

I used to wash my hair everyday - it was greasy every day and I was active. I found out about the Curly Girl method (I have curly hair) and since that time I do not shampoo my hair at all any more. I rinse it with water and use a conditioner (base product from an aromatherapy store) which has no nasties in it at all.Then I style with an alcohol free gel.

 

Personally, I have no need to shampoo my hair - I know it sounds disgusting, but my hair is clean and in the best condition it has ever been.

[Angelica Douglas]

Get ready for a long post.

 

I stopped using shampoo and conditioner over two years ago and started doing the no poo method. Since doing this method, I now only need to ‘wash' my hair once or twice a week. I work out at least 6 times a week, sometimes twice a day. My primary workout is in the morning (before work) but sometimes in the evening I'll add a yoga session or an Insanity workout. To wash my hair, I take a large mason jar, fill it with hot water and add 3TBLS of baking soda, apply to wet hair. I massage my scalp with the BS/water mixture, then rinse it all out. To condition my hair, I take a large mason jar, fill with hot water and a few TBLS of apple cider vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil, and pour over my hair. I comb my hair with a large tooth comb and leave this in my hair while I wash the rest of body, shave, blah blah blah. After I rinse my hair I spray on some aloe vera juice/water mixture. I have shoulder length hair that is VERY thick and curly. If I wear my hair curly for a few days, I will do a water only rinse in the mornings. This helps to ‘redo' the curls after I've slept on them. If I'm wearing my hair straight, there is no need for me to do a water rinse. I always wear a baseball hat when I work out, I think this helps to grab the sweat off of my scalp. I know others who wear a scarf for the same reasons. Anyways, after my workout, I just put my hair in a high bun and shower, I just don't wet my hair. After I shower, I'll cook breakfast, iron clothes for the day and get changed. By this time my hair has dried out (from the sweat from the workout and the moisture from the shower) and if I need it, I'll run the flat iron through it to smooth it out. That's it. One thing I feel I need to mention, since going paleo, I don't think I smell as bad after a workout.

 

I know this probably sounds gross to some of you, but really, the hair does not smell bad. Also, I do not have dandruff or itchy scalp. Actually, my hair is a lot healthier then it was before. Before, when I used regular shampoo and conditioner daily, I would never wear my hair curly, because my curls were almost non-existent. They were just a heap of frizzed out mess. I actually have paleo to thank for introducing me to this. Since changing my eating habits, I was introduced to a lot of other lifestyle changes.

 

One more thing to add, it has taken me almost two years to get to this point. When I first switched to this method, I was washing my hair three to four times  a week, then it went to twice a week, and now I'm at once a week.

 

Good Luck!

[Angelica Douglas]

I should also add that I do not use any styling products like hairspray or gels. Before I started doing no poo, my scalp was very greasy (which was why I felt I needed to wash daily) I later found out, it was just all the chemicals I was using that was making my hair gross.

[Kmlynne]

I used to have to wash my hair daily so it wouldn't look greasy or limp. The problem was that my scalp was also very dry and scaly.

I started using castile soap solution (1C castille soap, 1 C distilled water, 2 tbsp coconut or sunflower oil) daily, followed by an apple cider vinegar rinse (1part acv, 1part distilled water).  I found that I was able to go 2-3 days between washing (only rinsing after a workout) and am using the acv solution maybe once a month now.