2.23.2010

DON'T lather, rinse, repeat...


I just gave the bathroom the Tilex tootbrush treatment, and I'm a bit loopy, so bear with me.

Today we are going to turn our attention to hair care.

Ever since I was a teenager I have washed my hair every day. Every once in awhile I would skip a day, but for the most part I felt weird if I didn't lather up each morning.

Last week I went to a beauty supply store to buy a dandruff shampoo for color treated hair and I was approached by the store owner. She was quite the inquisitive lady. When I told her what I was looking for she requested that I allow her to do a full scalp and hair examination.

She lifted my hair and dug through the roots. It was a bit unnerving, but after her evaluation she asked me how often I wash. When I told her she exclaimed, "THAT is your problem! You are drying out your scalp and hair with all your scrubbing and blow drying. You CANNOT wash your hair every day! You should wash it at the most twice a week."

Shocking, but very compelling. It made sense. She put the dandruff shampoo back on the shelf and handed me a chemical free scalp and hair leave on conditioner. She told me to massage my scalp every morning, then take a shower, RINSE my hair with clear water and then apply the leave on conditioner. Once or twice a week I can shampoo.

I agreed to try it and report back in a month with my results.

When I returned home I did some Googling and came up with some interesting information. Washing your hair once a week is actually CHIC! Who knew?

Check out this article from the New York Times..."Of Course I Washed My Hair Last Year (I’m Almost Certain)".

A little oil is good for your hair and scalp.

Fascinating.

So, did you know about this? How often do you wash your hair?

I'm so glad I let that lady pick at my scalp like a monkey.

I think she changed my life.



23 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm really not sold on this. I need photo journey documentation of hair appearance over 14 days to sell me. Please?

I wash my hair everyday, it's greasy after 24 hours and I can't imagine not washing it! I need a lady to pick at my scalp like a monkey!

Unknown said...

Who knew I was so chic for those weeks after my kids were born!??!

I've heard about not washing your hair everyday...but only once or twice a week..NOT GONNA HAPPEN! I work out almost every day, if I didn't wash my hair...ewwww....

justme said...

i wind up not washing my hair everyday b/c i don't shower BUT i work out and my hair gets super greasy...i don't think my look is chic, but i feel better.

Bossy Betty said...

Ohhhhh. I've tried not washing my hair for a day. it was not pretty--not at all.

Anonymous said...

I know we probably strip our hair a little too much with daily washings, but I just can't do this. In less than 24 hours my roots and bangs are visibly oily. If I even skipped a day I'd look like I combed crisco through my hair, LOL!

I think this would be feasible for those with lots of thick hair maybe, but mine's too thin and fine. I remember my mom telling me that her mom only allowed her to wash her hair like once a week or so and I about died! Apparently back in the day that was just the norm. I will try the rinse only thing if you have good results.

Grace's Mom said...

Well, I might be the lone-ranger here, but I only wash my hair with shampoo twice a week. I also never blow dry my hair, but I do straighten and curl it.

When I first had Grace, my friend gave me a dry spray shampoo that absorbs grease - that's been a life-saver a time or two, but for the most part I shampoo my hair every three days.

Interesting post, since I just got my hair done yesterday and went to a new girl and she was floored when she heard my hair protocol - in a good way! :)

Mama Wheaton said...

I wash my hair every other day, I suppose if you had the right products you could go longer. I have heard for some time that washing it everyday is bad for your hair. Let me know how it goes.

Anything Fits A Naked Man said...

I'm with brown eyed girl, I'm afraid. I work out every morning, after which my hair is a sweaty, salty mess. I wash it every day. On days that I don't work out and have not washed it, it inevitably feels greasy and gross by mid-day. I'm sure that woman is right and a little grease is probably good for it, but I can't stand the way it feels.

I'm not a priss, really! I promise! So glad your life was changed by this, however!!

Everyday Goddess said...

I might have to try this. I do get more compliments when I have second day hair. Hmmm.

PaperCourt said...

I wash mine daily. It's nasty greasy if I don't. My hair guy told me to skip the daily lather. I tried but it didn't work so well. I looked nasty and gave up.

Heather Henderson said...

i've been a member of this club for a long time. I wash my hair every other day at most. And that oily feeling subsides. I think once your hair starts to get used to it, it slows down the oil production because it knows you aren't going to keep stealing it. Same concept with your face. People with oily skin tend to use very drying cleansers, this only creates a bad cycle. washing with a gentler, even oil-based cleanser helps your skin calm down and balance out.

Lipstick said...

I have heard of this many times...I wish I could coordinate. The healthier my hair gets, the more I have to wash it! If it's dried out, I can really stretch out the wash....if it's healthy, then I am a greasehead at the end of day 2! Go figure.

Not From Lapland said...

my god, that would mean i wouldn't be able to leave the house for 5 days of the weeks! Oh wait...i don't anyway. cool now i have an excuse for my slovenliness!

Lori P said...

Man that sales lady rocks. She should get sales lady of the year award or something.

Anyway, I do every other day. NOT twice a week. If I did my family wouldn't hang out with me. On second thought...

Tara R. said...

Funny, I've heard a lot about this very subject lately. I even read once that lice are less likely to infect dirty hair (since they can't latch on) than clean hair.

I don't think I can go more than two days without washing my hair, it gets too greasy.

"Cookie" said...

I've been the same way.....wash hair every morning. Until I was having "dandruff" issues. I started washing every other day... and some times I'll go an extra day. But, it's easier to do this with longer hair than short in my opinion. I do think my hair has gotten "conditioned" to the every other day. I used to be super oily if I went a couple of days.... now, it's not. Crazy I know but true!

SweetnSexyPeach said...

I have tried the washing my hair only twice a week. It looks dirty and dull after twenty four hours which isn't good when one has red hair. It's funny that not washing one's hair is chic LMAO

saltypaws said...

I was my hair about every 3 days. My scalp is not very oily and my hair is on the dry side so I can get away with less shampooing. I do play tennis about 3x's a week but for some lucky reason my scalp doesnt get sweaty...then again, i'm usually wearing a cap and ponytail. So much for a hairstyle :) I do have bangs and wash them every day when I was my face

Lynda @ SportsMadGirl said...

I wish I could go more than a day without washing my hair but that will never happen. My scalp produces to much oil (it's been diagnosed by a dermatologist as seborrheic dermatitis). I go more than a day and my hair is just GROSS!!

Did you know that dandruff is not caused because your scalp is dry?? Dandruff is a result of to much oil. It sounds crazy but there you have it.

Anonymous said...

you must, MUST go right out to Harmon and buy yourself Moroccan Oil. It is life changing.

Unknown said...

I have very oily baby fine hair i must wash and condition daily or else it would be bad verrry bad

Kate said...

I try to skip at least one day and between washes. Lately I've been able to go up to three days sometimes...but if I feel icky after a workout I at least rinse my hair.

Jaina said...

I don't know. I can usually go every other day...but I always feel oily and gross by the second day, especially because my hair is always down anymore. Forget it if it's been pulled up. I may try it, we'll see. I could do the rinse with water and just a little conditioner...we'll have to see.

 
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