In Beth’s Call it a Day interview, shared earlier today, she mentions only being able to wash her hair every 4 or 5 days, and that she would have thought that was disgusting before it became her reality. When I read that, it reminded me of three different articles that have come my way in the last month or two.
One is about people who have stopped washing their hair at all with traditional hair products and only use baking soda and vinegar. (The article is from 2 years ago, and you may have seen a dozen similar ones since then, because they’re all over the place. Do a search for “the no shampoo method” if you’d like to read more. The first time I read about the no shampoo method was in 2012, and it was from a hairdresser’s perspective.)
People who have gone the no-shampoo route seem to really love it, and rave about how much more well-behaved, predictable, shiny, and healthy their hair is. Though it takes awhile to get there; they all talk about a tricky transition period. Apparently it takes a month or two for the hair and scalp to adjust to the shampoo-free routine.
As an extra bonus, proponents of the no-shampoo route emphasize it’s really good for the budget.
Another article is from the New York Times, about women who put off washing their hair in order to make a blowout last longer. The article says women may not be washing their hair enough.
I have totally done the make-a-blowout-last-longer thing. It was basically my system. I know my hair is super short now, but you may remember it’s only been this way for about a year, and before that I depended on weekly blowouts, especially if I had events to attend.
Blowouts saved me so much time and morning prep. They were the best! But it’s true, I ended up relying on dry shampoo or baby powder to make them last as long as possible, and I could feel my hair get oilier and stinkier the longer I tried to stretch it. With dry shampoo as needed, my hair would look pretty dang good for about 5 days, and then day six and seven, I would pull it up in a bun or wear a hat. And then start over again at another weekly blowout appointment.
The third article is from Forbes and it’s called Bumble & Bumble’s Founder Wants You To Never Use Shampoo Again. But the title is a bit misleading, or at least I feel like it is. I thought the article was going to be similar to the first one I linked to, talking about how people don’t need an extensive line of hair products. But really, it’s more about the Bumble & Bumble founder’s new line of products called New Wash, that he believes will be better for your hair. The most compelling part of the article was these two paragraphs:
“Because New Wash is so gentle and packs in so many good-for-hair ingredients, it’s the only product you’ll need—no conditioner, no masks. Skeptical? So was I. I have very long, thick, highlighted and colored hair, and it’s historically impossible to comb through without conditioner. But when I met Gordon at a panel discussion at StyleSeat’s headquarters in San Francisco, he promised I would not need conditioner.
He was right. I’ve gone from using shampoo and gobs of conditioner, plus a styling balm, plus a mask at least once a week, to using only New Wash. I comb it through in the shower and the comb glides effortlessly through. My scalp feels tingly and clean, and my hair looks and feels shiny, soft and healthier than ever.”
And now, I’m super curious to hear your thoughts. Have any hair-washing articles caught your eye lately? Would you ever try the no shampoo method? Does the idea gross you out? Or do you know anyone personally who has tried it (or is actively not-shampooing now)?
What about blowouts and dry shampoo? Do you agree that women aren’t washing their hair enough? Have you ever tried to make a blowout last?
Lastly, you by chance tried New Wash? It sounds similar to me to the Deva Curl regimen I followed for several years — which includes a product called No-poo (but you still use a conditioner).
Basically, I’d love to hear: Are your shampooing habits the same now as they’ve always been? Or have you tried new options over the years? Chime in!
P.S. — Not everyone agrees (NYT) that sulfates are really doing damage to hair or hair color. So interesting! Also, Olive received hair care products from the new Paul Mitchell line for teens, called Neon, and she loves them.
Melissa Leyva
January 19, 2017 at 11:15 amI have dark, thick (well, they used to be!) curls and the DevaCurl products were a game changer (also the Deva Cut – 14 years ago and I finally made peace with my curls.) I’ve tried the baking soda rinse and it never felt as if it was working well for me. I own dry shampoo but I don’t find it makes much of a difference.
Robin Amato
January 19, 2017 at 11:35 amI only wash my hair about 2 times a week. No reason other than I’m lazy and my hair doesn’t need more. Sometimes I’ll do 3 times a week. I can make a nice blow dry myself last days. I never saw what the big deal about washing it every day was.
Susan
January 19, 2017 at 12:08 pmI think it totally depends on your hair. My girls both have thicker, wavier hair than me. They can easily go 4 days or longer between washes, and you would not be able to tell at all. My hair is a much finer texture and super straight. My hair looks greasy after 24 hours. I can stretch a second day with dry shampoo but can’t go any longer than that. I’ve wondered if the no wash routine would be better for my hair, but a long transition period is a deal breaker for me since I can’t even go 3 days now.
Anna
January 19, 2017 at 1:57 pmThe thing is, how often you “need” to wash your hair is almost entirely a result of how often you DO wash your hair, or so I have found during my life. As a kid, we did once a week and that was fine. For most of my life I’ve done every third day, and it doesn’t get greasy until the afternoon or evening of the third day. During college, when I let it creep up to every second or even every single day, the only difference was that my hair started getting greasy that much sooner. Basically, washing your hair strips your scalp of its oils, so doing it more often sends your scalp’s oil production into overdrive. Of course, it takes some time to adjust to a longer time between washing, so it’s best if you have a long weekend or holiday when you can do it.
melro
January 19, 2017 at 4:04 pmI tottaly get Susan, it’s the same here. We can stay a while without washing, on holidays, but then you workout, or you go to the beach, or you wear a hat that makes it greasy… and you end up needing to wash it on a daily basis!
I didn’t wash it daily when I was a kid, but I had no hormones then :P
Beth
January 20, 2017 at 12:32 pmI also have very thin, straight hair. Before the Peace Corps, I could maybe go two days, and that was definitely a stretch, before it was totally gross and greasy. For me, my transition was gradual- I started washing my hair every two days (and not using dry shampoo), and then every three days, until now it’s about every four days (but I can make it five with the help of dry shampoo). I never thought it would work, but it has! The first part of the transition occurred when it was so hot and humid out that my hair looked terrible regardless of how often it was washed, so it was pretty easy to let go and have it look a bit greasy.
Jodi Sparks
January 22, 2017 at 8:02 pmMy hair is very fine and thin, and I used to wash every day. I could manage skipping a day by putting it up (when it was long) but even that would be so greasy by days end. I wanted to try the no poo metho for a long time, but was extremely hesitant because of the greasy transition phase. I thought it would kill me. Finally i just jumped in. I was a stay at home mom, so it helped not having to go to a job or something everyday. I just did my hair in braided and twisted updos to manage, and it wasn’t so bad. I really didn’t look like I did wash it most days during the transition and that’s okay. Eventually you can start spacing out washings, but you don’t have to at first. I’ve been doing it for 4 1/2 years now, and my hair is so much better. I don’t even use any product in it, except a little hairspray. I still can’t go a week, but I can do on average 3 days, and often I can wear it down a couple days in a row just fine. It’s the best thing I ever did with my hair. Absolutely worth it for me. If I’m traveling or something and I need to use regular shampoo I do, no biggie.
An extra note: my transition was taking sooo long (it was like 9 weeks!)…I had read about hard water not working with it but dismissed the info. Finally I tried what was suggested- I boiled several cups of water, as soon as it reaches a boil you turn off the heat and add 1 tbl baking soda per number if cups water. Then I put it in a bottle and keep it in the shower. Easy. Once I finally did that- voila! My hair was totally clean, transition phase over!
maria
January 19, 2017 at 12:14 pmAfter two pregnancies, I found that my hair was… just not as it used to be. Products never seemed to be washed out completely, and it always had a funny texture. So I used the baking soda/vinegar rinse for almost two years, but I didn’t find it to be life changing. Then I started back on shampoo, but only washing my hair every 4-5 days. But then — as that NYT article discusses — I had dandruff all of a sudden. So recently I am washing every other day. As a wavy-haired person, I’ve never figured out how to make my hair look good on day 2 (or 3 or 4). It always just looks kind of flat. But I’m far too lazy to wash every day or straighten my hair, so recently I just embrace it :)
Jane
January 20, 2017 at 8:15 amI’m totally with you, Maria! My hair is so different after having my second kid. She’s 2 now, so I’m past the stage where all your hair falls out. It’s growing back thinner, not as densely, and not as curly/wavy as it used to be. I was it every 2-3 days because it gets flat really easily. I don’t have the time to straighten or blow it out, so I wear a lot of buns.
Clare Hepworth
January 19, 2017 at 12:33 pmI tried it – it was OK. Ultimately I came to the conclusion that shampoo is a pretty good product, and that chemical engineering generally serves us well. Just wish I could find a conditioner I liked that isn’t full of silicones – don’t like the build up at all. Ive almost never washed my hair more than twice a week (shampoo or no shampoo) as it doesn’t behave if I wash it more often, and it frees up extra time
Marianne C. Skarupa
January 23, 2017 at 7:28 amClare I use Suave Naturals conditioner (not the coconut one though) because they aren’t supposed to have silicones. They are inexpensive and easy to find and I’ve been using them for years. I have very thick, curly hair and I really like them. After rinsing out the conditioner I apply a very small amount back into my hair and leave it in.
Colleen Harker
January 19, 2017 at 12:48 pmI tried the “no poo” thing for a couple of weeks and couldn’t stand it anymore. I felt like it made my hair feel like straw. That said, I have a good friend who started it a couple of months ago and has never been happier with her hair! I really think it depends a lot on your hair texture and personal preference. I wash my hair every three days and it works for me. And I love the Trader Joe’s tea tree peppermint shampoo! It’s inexpensive and smells amazing.
Anna
January 19, 2017 at 1:53 pmYup – I did the baking soda and vinegar thing for several months (so I got past the adjustment period) but it still made my hair feel like straw. I also found the logistics of the baking soda application quite awkward compared to the ease of using shampoo.
Annie
January 19, 2017 at 1:04 pmOy, hair. I’ve been working on my ocd with cleanliness/germs and hair is my last big frontier. It’s just, like, I can’t lean back in, say a movie seat (or airplane – any public seat) without wondering if the person who sat there earlier was disgusting. It just grosses me out. So, no, I will always use shampoo. :P
I have gotten to where i only wash it about 2x week though, mostly bc my hair is dry on the ends and just sad looking. Batiste brunette dry shampoo has been a game changer! I also really love Silk Therapy and Oribe smoothing creme (I alternate them).
Tamara
January 19, 2017 at 1:14 pmI’m a blond with baby fine stick straight hair. I cannot not go more than 24 hours without washing my hair. I look like a grease ball if I go any longer. There’s no amount of dry shampoo or baby powder that can cover it up.
Tamara
January 19, 2017 at 1:15 pm*blonde
Kristin
January 19, 2017 at 1:41 pmMe too–100%. Blonde, baby fine hair does not do well without frequent washing.
melro
January 19, 2017 at 3:57 pmMe three, but with brunette colour with californian highlights. Really oily on the 2nd day, horrible.
As I wrote below, I like these ingredients to powder my hair on the 2nd day http://www.toepfer-babywelt.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Babycare_powder-1.pdf
Danielle Mallon
January 19, 2017 at 1:15 pmI think I must be the only woman whose head gets sweaty when they exercise! That being said, I definitely wash my hair every day, even if I haven’t worked out. I have very short hair, similar to yours, Gabrielle, and have tried (in a pinch) to just wet it and re-blow dry it, but I can never get the same effect as if I washed it first. Maybe things would be different if I had longer, shoulder-length hair (meaning, I could put it back in a ponytail), but I think with my head-sweating, it’s just not meant to be!
Lindsey Johnson
January 19, 2017 at 1:55 pmYes! This is exactly what I was going to say.
Part of the reason I got a pixie cut years ago was so that it was more manageable to wash it every single day because if I get sweaty from exercise, hormones (ugh, night sweats!), or the heat, I HAVE to wash it. And then there are the waxes and balms. I hate the greasy, sticky feeling even by the end of the day. But I wish I could skip washing it! ha!
Bernadette
January 23, 2017 at 2:56 pmDanielle, not at all. My head sweats quite profusely when I work out. And thus, I wash my hair every day. Totally get this. I’ve always wondered how this no wash thing worked for people who work out.
Amy
January 19, 2017 at 1:20 pmI have shoulder length curly hair and have not used shampoo in years. My current routine is fairly simple: Morning and night I massage my scalp and brush with a boars hair brush to distribute my natural oil through my hair (yep, I brush my curls – gasp!). Then in the morning I wet with cool water, add a small amount of DevaCurl One Condition and let it airdry. So far, so good! Here is more about using water only — http://www.paris-to-go.com/2017/01/how-to-start-water-only-hair-and-skin-face-acne-washing.html?m=1
stephanie
January 19, 2017 at 1:23 pmI have thick, straight Asian hair and basically try to wash it as little as possible. So that ends up being probably every 3 or 4 days. 3 is probably the sweet spot since I do work out but I can go 4 if I don’t have too much physical activity. My hair looks best on day 2 or 3 because it has more volume and texture. If I washed it everyday, my hair would be so puffy and just bleh. Now when people see me… they think I got a haircut when in reality I haven’t washed it for 3 days!
That said… I also use A LOT of dry shampoo and have sold so many bottles of it to friends. The key to dry shampoo is using enough. I’ve seen friends skimp on it and not liked the results but when you use just a little bit more… your hair looks great!
Jessica G
January 19, 2017 at 1:50 pmI’ve discovered Keratin and will NEVER go back! Keratin has been a LIFE-SAVER & LIFE-CHANGER! I don’t have to wash my hair very often, I don’t have to style it when I do. Its literally wash & go hair!
Amy
January 19, 2017 at 1:51 pmI’ve used no-poo for three or four years now (BS and ACV). Mostly I like it, and will stick to it because I’m idealistic. It brings out the curl/wave in my hair and is really shiny. Downside: I feel like it gets greasy-looking fast. I struggle with 2nd-day hair even. I work out regularly, so I don’t go long without a shower anyway, but I’m still learning! Learning how it feels in the shower (enough of each ingredient) and the results of different tweaks.
bdaiss
January 19, 2017 at 1:51 pmI have long (as in past the middle of my back), colored, coarse hair. In the winter I shampoo my hair once a week. In the summer, 2 or 3 times depending on what we’re doing and how sweaty/dirty I am. That said – I rinse and condition my hair every day. If I don’t it’s lank and sad. I also don’t blow dry, curl, or otherwise do anything to my hair unless it’s a special occasion. (And even then, most of the time I go with an updo that requires bobby pins but no curling iron. Lazy with a capital L.) I’ve noticed many changes to my hair over the last 10 years. Between aging (I’m 42) and having kids, it seems my hair changes its needs every couple months. Sometimes more oily, sometimes more dry. Sometimes more coarse, sometimes more flyaway. I have 3 or 4 high quality conditioners which don’t use sulfates, parabens, triclosan, or polyethylene glycol. I rotate through them depending on what works.
Ling
January 19, 2017 at 2:42 pmI think women are washing their hair enough if they are comfortable with whatever it is they are doing! Generalizations like that are kind of moot when everyone’s hair type and routine and body are different :) I used to be all about pantene shampoo & conditioner but started moving off of conventional shampoos in my post-grad years. Nowadays I only use a shampoo on my hair when I wash & I go every 3 days, 2 if I’ve been really active. It’s a gentle shampoo (gentle enough for babies!) so it’s been sort of a stepping-stone away from conventional shampoos+conditioners. I also never understood how conditioner helps if you just end up washing it out! And if it’s sticking, then what chemicals are doing that? Once I run out of that shampoo I’d like to try the baking soda+vinegar no-shampoo method.
I’m skeptical of the “new wash” simply because the term “natural” and “essential oils” are doing to the beauty industry what the “eco” prefix did/is doing to sustainability industries. I think if you want natural hair product then the ingredient list of that product shouldn’t need so much explaining.
Christie
January 19, 2017 at 2:52 pmMy hair is thin and light colored and you can really tell when I haven’t washed, particularly around the hair line, even with powder or dry shampoo. I Usually do one day down (wash day) and one day up (non-wash day). My family decided to go zero waste around a year ago, and I started to use a shampoo bar at that time. It took a couple of weeks for my hair to adjust, but now it has body and I don’t use a conditioner or styling creams. It is fine–even with my super fine hair!! Using a shampoo bar cuts down on all of the plastic bottles, but it also ended up saving a ton of money. Our whole family uses the same bar with success (my husband has very dark, thick hair and uses styling products in it, and the bar works great on his hair, too).
melro
January 19, 2017 at 3:52 pmTottaly my type of hair and my intentions of going “less plastic” (I don’t attempt “no waste” for now…), but it is hard to find a good bar shampoo! Which one is yours?
Brenlin Lura
January 19, 2017 at 2:58 pmMy hair is curly, dry, and about shoulder length. I “wash” my hair with conditioner about two times a week. No particular brand. I pick up whatever smells good to me at the time. I’ve been doing this for years and my hair is definitely more manageable!
melro
January 19, 2017 at 3:49 pmI have a very thin/not dense/ultra straight type of hair. I wash it every day, eventually every two days, with a mild shampoo. I often use this no talc baby powder and I don’t complain http://www.toepfer-babywelt.de/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Babycare_powder-1.pdf
You have an article saying wonders about the no poo recipe you gave http://theartofsimple.net/how-to-clean-your-hair-without-shampoo/
On the other hand, this french/american woman of the no waste movement gave up shampoo until… her husband complained she smelled like vinaigrette. Ha!
As she says, she now “poo’s”
http://www.zerowastehome.com/2010/01/zero-waste-bathroo/
I still use shampoo, but a very mild one. When I end it I wanna try a bar of good olive oil soap bar, like this one http://www.olivae.eu/, a portuguese version of the famous savon d’Alep…
rachael
January 19, 2017 at 4:26 pmI use conventional shampoo and conditioner but only every 2 or 3 days. My bangs are what gets me. They get oily quick so I have to use dry shampoo on day 2. But for those saying that they have to wash their hair after they workout, you don’t. I work out hard 5 days a week, and unless I’m dripping in my own sweat for an hour I don’t wash it. Sometimes I’ll rinse with water but my husband never complains of my head smelling :)
Amy B
January 19, 2017 at 5:23 pmGabby, this topic has me wondering if you are still doing oil pulling instead of brushing your teeth?
Anna Swallow
January 19, 2017 at 7:34 pmI would love to only wash my hair once or twice a week, but with a combination of sebhoretic dermatitis (scalp eczema) and working out 4-5x a week, I am lucky to go more than a day or two between washes. I have to use T-gel (soooo stinky!) to keep my scalp eczema under control, but I’m sure that washing it more often only irritates my scalp more. I’d love to hear how other people workout regularly and don’t have to wash their hair! I can blow dry the sweaty hair one day but the next day it’s just gross.
Mary-Ellis
January 19, 2017 at 9:39 pmI’ve got long, dark wavy hair and have used baking soda and vinegar for about the last 4 years. I have to wash (baking soda and vinegar wash, I mean) a little more than once a week. I had zero transition time and neither did my husband. It really feels like no compromise- it works better than the crazy expensive shampoo and conditioner I was using before and there is no chemical exposure! For a long time I continued using my standard products after washing but I’ve recently found a leave in conditioner product from Acure that is a 1 on the EWG site (totally non-toxic) and works just as well for shine and frizz-taming.
Heather Schaffer
January 19, 2017 at 9:47 pmI have eczema on the back of my scalp and regular shampoo really irritates it, so I switched to the no-poo method about 5 years ago. It worked very well for 2-3 years, I could go up to 5 days without washing “washing”. But my hair became dry and brittle, I think the back and forth with the acidic and basic rinses was hard on my hair. By the time I was ready to be done with the no-poo method sulfate free and gentle shampoos were much easier to find and a lot cheaper. I use Alba, which I can buy at target, as well as a sulfate free purple shampoo and conditioner because I added some blonde balayage to my hair. So fair my scalp only acts up in the winter when it’s drier, so I just have to put the conditioner directly on my scalp in those irritated areas to help keep it moisturizer. I can still go 4 days without washing.
I’m always interested in how other people take care of their hair and scalp. Thanks for the topic :)
Nathalie
January 20, 2017 at 2:23 amI used to wash my hair every morning and I sometimes even washed it again in the evening because I thought it looked a bit greasy (thin, straight, blondish hair). For a few years now I’ve used baking soda and apple cider vinegar about once a week and it only starts looking greasy at about day 6. I do rinse every day with water and use a boar bristle brush.
My 5 year old has gorgeous hair and it gets wet when she bathes but I’ve only actually washed it a handful of times (to get out horribly sticky food). Her hair and scalp are clean and sweet smelling, it’s like magic. I wonder if it will change when she reaches puberty.
shannon
January 20, 2017 at 7:48 amMy method is less ‘poo. I have long, curly, dry hair; I shampoo and condition with traditional products about once/week. If I straighten it and use dry shampoo, I can stretch this to 10 days. I used to have dandruff issues and lots of frizz when I washed every day or two, but now I have much less of both. It works for me and on the plus side, a large bottle of shampoo gets me through an entire year!
I used to be concerned about sweat: isn’t it dirty? What if I work out?! But someone made the point that sweat is 99% water so you can just let your hair dry, and it is very nearly as clean as it was before you got sweaty. And of course if my hair gets smelly or looks oily, I just wash it. That’s what this whole method is really about for me – only washing your hair when it actually needs it, and not just doing it all the time out of habit.