Washing Hair

[Sparklefiftyseven]

This is so interesting! I wash my hair every day and it seems okay but sometimes I wonder. I also stopped coloring and I love the texture and the color. And it does seem healthier with the W30. I use all natural stuff from LUSH so I know I'm not drowning in chemicals. But I love the idea of using the baking soda wash and cider rinse. So simple and so cheap!

 

Where is the string on what we do to our faces??? 

[Kmlynne]

 

Where is the string on what we do to our faces??? 

 

I use Bare Minerals makeup - maybe not the best, but the best I could do in my budget!  I take it off with Mary Kay Eye Makeup remover (the last holdover because I just can't find homemade stuff that works as well).  Then I use whipped coconut oil as a moisturizer.  

I use the same whipped coconut oil (with a few drops of essential lemon oil to make it smell pretty) all over my body.  I make my deodorant  with coconut oil, arrowroot powder, baking soda and cornstarch.

[Sparklefiftyseven]

I just ordered a bunch of Maia's Minerals. Hope I like it. 

 

I'm still on a LUSH kick for my face.

[ultrarunnergirl]

I wash maybe 3 times a week with shampoo, on workout days I just let the water run through, massage my scalp well, condition and rinse.

[quaintjack]

I have very short, largely prematurely gray hair (I'm 48) and only wash my hair once a week, but I do rinse it every day. I also largely use the no poo method when I do wash it (baking soda and vinegar) but I don't stress about washing it with a mild shampoo every once in a while. I don't use any products at all in my hair as the natural oils and slightly courser gray hair let me do what I like with it anyway :-) I'm a very lucky girl. 

[Clarabelle]

I stopped washing my hair everyday a few years ago, however, I rinse it in the shower every day. I probably shampoo in 2-3 times a week....my shampoo lasts forever! It actually styles better the second and third day after I wash it!

[healthyAbby]

I use the dirty poo from primal life organics. I really like the smell, I probably wash my hair about once every five-ish days. Definitely worth it. I also use their dirty mouth toothpowder and gum serum as well as the primal pit stick. The products are a little pricy but they work really well. 

[Guest WholeStanley]

Just adding my two cents - I have VERY thick hair that is cut in a short bob.

 

I LOVE showering and washing my hair, some people chose yoga for some relaxing 'me' time but for me its a quick go in the shower and a lather rinse repeat. I don't have any desire to wash my hair less often, (although I would be interested to hear WHY people are trying to reduce the number of times they have to wash their hair - it is a time/money/environment thing?)  especially because its short and asymetrical whenever I sleep it sticks up in all directions - I look like a cockatoo before I jump in the shower!

 

However I have noticed on Whole30 my hair is growing so fast! it's really strong with very little fall out, my PT says its all the protein!

 

Also I have started conditioning first and then shampooing and it has really helped it stay clean, look glossy and thick and avoid fly aways - I don't know how well that would work for thin hair.

[JJB]

 (although I would be interested to hear WHY people are trying to reduce the number of times they have to wash their hair - it is a time/money/environment thing?) 

 

I keep reading that shampooing less makes your hair healthier. And I'm sure some people are motivated to put less soap down the drain, both for environmental and financial reasons. I tried skipping it more often on days when I didn't have anywhere to go. It just looks terrible when I don't shampoo, that's all there is to it.

 

Instead, I have been experimenting with healthier products for several months now, and it has really backfired. I have long, fine hair which tends to be limp and "fuzzy." It never looks real smooth and shiny unless I use silicone products, and I get split ends easily too. I went totally silicone and sulfate free recently. My hair didn't look as good, so I was blow-drying it more (I went from ~2x per week to ~6x per week). I think the combo of more heat and no products to protect my hair pretty much ruined it. The ends split twice as fast as normal, and it always looked frizzy/fried. I am mostly back to my old products, but it still doesn't look as healthy as it did before this experiment...the lady who cuts my hair even commented on it. I think certain types of hair can handle the natural route just fine and others (like mine) cannot.

[abby-wan kenobi]

I have medium thickness wavy hair. I only shampoo 2-3 times a week, sometimes less. I put my hair in a loose bun to shower and don't usually rinse between shampoos. I use the conditioner that come with my hair dye 2-3 times a month, and only when my hair is shoulder-length or longer.

If my hair starts looking oily I use dry shampoo or just pin back the front (usually the bits around my face look greasy faster from playing with my hair).

When I first started cutting back my hair did get gross and greasy in between but it adjusts after a few weeks. I've also noticed that your hair never looks/smells/feels as gross to other people as it does to you. I tended to be self-conscious about it for no reason.

[Mariana]

I stopped shampooing my hair about three years ago when I read about all the chemicals in shampoo and conditioner. I just "wash" it every morning in the shower without soap. Once in awhile I may use Dr Bronners if needed.

 

For conditioner I use organic hair oil (not coconut, it made my hair too greasy no matter how little I put on!) I do use coconut for deep conditioning: leave it in then wash with castile.

 

My hair and curls are healthier than ever!

[namaste]

Yeah you are right.Shampoo hair after 2-3 days.  However article that you mention in your thread says that done shampoo daily. Every good dermatologist recommend shampoo after 2-3 days in a weak to make your hairs healthy and softer..

[JJtraveler]

I wash mine twice a week, working on moving to once. I workout 4-5 times a week and actually don't even shower many days after a workout. just dry off and go. I quit shampoo about 3 months ago and it was a process of going ahead and putting up with really greasy hair for a couple of weeks. then it adjusted. SO much better once you stop stripping the natural moisture out of it!!!

 

so I use baking soda mixed with hot water twice a week. when I swim I use vinegar first, rinse that out, and use the baking soda. so far, so good. I've heard this can be very drying so I'm watching it carefully to see what happens. I also found for me I can't use a vinegar rinse after as it leaves my hair waxy and slimy.

 

I also started making my own deodorant because I had horrible BO I couldn't get rid of that would cling in my clothes (not so much on ME, but on the shirts!). now I have a baking soda/coconut oil/arrowroot, or just baking soda/coconut oil mixture. it is amazing and I haven't had BO in over a year. despite showering less.

 

It's winter now. I may have to step up my showering to 3x a week in the summer, but I should be able to wash off my body without shampooing my hair.

 

I have started to think americans wash way to much. I surely don't want ot go to the once a year bath, but I could definitely get used to once a week.

 

I have to use lotion maybe 3 times a year, usually in deep winter when I've been doing lots of dishwashing.

 

 

if it all doesn't keep working for me i'll go back to commercial product but for the moment I'm pretty impressed with this simple stuff!

[SusanB.]

I try to use shampoo as little as possible - if I wash too often everything gets dry and awful. Once or twice a week, unless I'm swimming. And I really just use a little shampoo, right around my bangs mostly - or anywhere that's a little funky. Sometimes I

 

However, I tried to go no 'poo a few years ago and it was a disaster. I did this for about three months, using baking soda, vinegar...my scalp just can't handle it. Took over three more months to get my scalp back to healthy - Nizoral was the only thing that fixed it. I know your scalp should adjust - mine just got angrier and angrier.

 

Now I'm swimming for exercise, and I'll admit, my swimming is limited by how often I (don't) want to wash my hair. I wear a cap, although it really doesn't keep my hair dry. At the advice of a stylist, I wet my hair and put a little conditioner on it before it goes in the cap. But with the chlorine, I just feel like I have to shampoo it. So I swim twice or a max or three times per week because my hair can't take more washings than that.

 

I am a shower fiend - a holdover from college, where it was the only place I could go to get rid of my roommates for a while. Given the time, I would love to shower every morning and every night. I'm trying to wean myself from this habit, because not only does the water waste bother me, but my skin hates it. I'm trying to use less soap, even...waiting for everything to adjust to not being stripped of all oils so often.

[ladyshanny]

I am a shower fiend - a holdover from college, where it was the only place I could go to get rid of my roommates for a while. Given the time, I would love to shower every morning and every night. I'm trying to wean myself from this habit, because not only does the water waste bother me, but my skin hates it. I'm trying to use less soap, even...waiting for everything to adjust to not being stripped of all oils so often.

 

I actually stopped using soap or bodywash on my body about 2 years ago.  I use it maybe once a week or so if it's been hot out or if I was overly sweaty overnight. To be completely open about it, my husband didn't notice at all (if you get my meaning) and I think that's because there is nothing about the human body that needs scented soaps stripping all the natural oils and lubricants.  Once you stop stripping, it stops over producing! 

 

Just in the last week I've started to experiment with skipping hair washing days.  I don't use styling products so there really should be nothing to wash out.  My plan is to not use anything besides hot water, we'll see how that goes.  I don't love what I've read about how the bsoda and ACV actually work on the hair shaft so I figured I would apply my bodily lack-of-routine to my hair.

 

(for my facial cleansing I use the Oil Cleansing Method just because I have some problem facial skin that was NOT helped by stopping any sort of routine)

[SusanB.]

I actually stopped using soap or bodywash on my body about 2 years ago.  I use it maybe once a week or so if it's been hot out or if I was overly sweaty overnight. To be completely open about it, my husband didn't notice at all (if you get my meaning) and I think that's because there is nothing about the human body that needs scented soaps stripping all the natural oils and lubricants.  Once you stop stripping, it stops over producing! 

 

I love how you put that. 

 

I know these things about soap and oil and stripping and overproducing....but the habit - and the comfort of a long hot shower (I know, hot is the worst for your skin). These things are so difficult to give up! Particularly because the hot shower before bed is my favorite part of the insomnia-fighting advice.

 

But it's good to know that it can be done. New thing for me to work on: less soap. fewer showers. My mother would be appalled 

[MrsStick]

I've also stopped using body wash most of the time. Other than my smelly areas (armpits, lady bits, etc.) I use a wet washcloth for the rest of my body. My skin is less dry (not completely but better) which is awesome. I've been really dry lately!

[ladyshanny]

I love how you put that. 

 

I know these things about soap and oil and stripping and overproducing....but the habit - and the comfort of a long hot shower (I know, hot is the worst for your skin). These things are so difficult to give up! Particularly because the hot shower before bed is my favorite part of the insomnia-fighting advice.

 

But it's good to know that it can be done. New thing for me to work on: less soap. fewer showers. My mother would be appalled 

I love the hot shower too, the hotter the better. Half the time I don't even bother turning on the cold water tap to mitigate the heat. Makes hubby yelp whenever he tries to sneak into the shower with me, LOL! I've been trying to ease myself into lukewarm but man, I'd rather eat rocks for a week, LOL!

[Leslie Franklin]

Hi Ladies! I'm brand new to the forum but have just started my 3rd Whole30! I would LOVE to only wash my hair twice a week (or less!) but find that it gets so oily on day 2 that I feel like I have to shampoo. I recently switched to oil cleansing on my face and found that my oil production decreased dramatically. I believe that if there is a natural solution for my face, something must be able to work for my scalp!!

Do any of you have suggestions for articles I could read to get me started? The info out there is a little overwhelming! Thanks!!

[anahita]

I have super thin hair and not good quality. I have eating/living Whole9/Whole30 way for almost a year now. I also workout 5-6 times/week, which means I wash my hair often, almost daily. I will buy dry shampoo and try that out for sure. My hair has thinned out a lot and really bad quality. What can I do to improve it?

[ladyshanny]

Do you make and consume bone broth regularly?  The collagen and gelatin in bone broth is an excellent supplement.  I'm a fine haired red head and in the last year of consuming 1/2 litre per day of bone broth, my hair is thicker, stronger, shinier and falls less.  It'll never be super model hair....but then....even the super models don't actually have super model hair!