How to break daily hairwash habit

[Brookville]

For over 20 years I've washed my (fine, dullish, highlighted) bob every day because by Day 2 it's greasy and flat. The ends were getting so bad- dry and fluffy- that I had to have it cut again recently. Every hair stylist says I need to try and wash it every three days to improve quality but I seriously look dreadful. Thinking of trying to 'train' my hair whilst I'm not at work over the summer. Is it possible? I'd love it to look healthy and SHINY but it's always dull.

[prepperpig]

shiny hair and highlights don't tend to go hand in hand I'm afraid.

[Tronkmanton]

I have this problem too...try dry shampooing instead on the days between washes. It makes it more bearable! Alternatively stick to your daily washing but use an oil spray on the ends after washing. Also the intensive conditioner used daily for a few days helps with the dry ends.

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I don't think daily washing ruins hair - I daily wash as my hair is fine and it isn't dry at all.

Are you straightening your hair? Washing it gently with a good shampoo and drying it carefully with products?

[MrsCampbellBlack]

I go by this

[CointreauVersial]

Dry shampoo is your friend.

Spray into roots, rub in, brush out. Kills off that Day 2 greasiness straight away.

I swear by Batiste.

[suzannecanthecan]

doesnt dry shampoo sort of defeat the object thought, it soaks up the oils produced in your scalp which travel down the hair shaft and 'restore' it?

[CointreauVersial]

Well, it means you won't be stripping the oils by washing it so often.

Use it in conjunction with a good moisturising shampoo and conditioner, used every 2-3 days.

[Melonfool]

Do you have a fringe? I recently grew my fringe out of my bob and now I can get away with washing alternate days.

I don't tend to blow dry and style mine much, a bit but I'm quite lazy, so only on office days, which is only two days some weeks.

I use argan oil which keeps it in good condition and shiny. But mine is dark and not dyed at all, never has been, and very straight, so I think all that helps make it shiny.

Dry shampoo - my hairdresser suggested, re dry shampoo, to put it in your hair the night before. I'm not a big fan myself, makes my hair feel weird, I only use it about twice a year.

[Melonfool]

Oh and start chucking put shampoos full of silicone, it makes hair dill and great more quickly so you feel you need to wash it more.

Nearly all shampoos have it though. Just look for ones with it low in the ingredient list - it's listed as stuff like dimethicone, most stuff ending in ..one. Or buy Lush type shampoos, don't think they have it. (personally hate Lush, but anyway...)

[FuckingLiability]

YY to dry shampoo. I wash my hair every other day and use Batiste in between. You don't need much, just a quick spray along the parting and fringe. Hairdresser tells me it's in very good condition despite highlights and daily styling.

Regular trims, every 6-8 weeks will help stop it looking endy.

[Coastingit]

Yes to dry shampoo!

But after the initial cold turkey period, your scalp will adjust and produce less oil anyway. I wash mine every 4 days and days 1-2 it's absolutely fine, day 3 I use dry shampoo and usually wear it up. My hair is similar to yours - I have lots of fine highlighted shoulder length hair. It's shiny enough and the highlights give it volume.

But agree with MrsCB - it's the styling that really damages, if you're heat styling it daily that's the real problem. I can't leave mine to dry naturally so blowdry it properly whenever I wash it. I

I read that Kim Kardashian only washes her hair every 4 days so I'm in bad good company.

[Brookville]

Thanks all, I'll have a look at dry shampoo. Which normal shampoos are low in sillicon?

[MyOtherNameIsBetter]

Try showering in the evening. After a while you can get through to the next evening without greasiness.

Then, skip it one evening (eg fri) and wash the following morning (sat). Try to last this through to the following evening (so wash Sunday).

You will be down to 6 washes a week not 7

I am a greaseball and am cutting down successfully in this manner

Also agree it's not the washing but the drying/styling that's the killer. If you wash in the ring you could perhaps skip druing/styling?

[SometimesItRains]

I have swapped shampoo to one without sodium laurel/laureth sulfate in (I use Happy Hair Days) and found it has really helped make my hair less greasy. I wash every other day now and use a little bit of dry shampoo on the roots around my face (which get the greasiest) on the in between day.

[Brookville]

That sounds good sometimes is it readily available? Haven't heard of the brand. Faith in Nature is another organic brand but haven't tried their shampoo.

[TheHappinessTrap]

I wash my hair probably 4 or 5/7 days a week. I use a gentle shampoo, a rich conditioner which I comb through and leave in for 5 min, use a hair dryer and tongs or rollers, and a light hair oil. I have lots of unruly white hair mixed in with the softer brown. I get lots of compliments and hairdressers always comment on how healthy my hair looks. My hair can last 2 full days if i don't touch it, even to brush it, on day 2. After that it needs a wash. And i can't use products or it goes oily immediately. I wish I learned that lesson sooner, I spent the 80s wearing hair gel and hairspray and looking like ab oil slick within an hour!

[MyOtherNameIsBetter]

Timotei natural range (I think that's what it's called) is paraben free/low in silicones

Avoid fructis that's very siliconey

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Do you use products? My hair sounds similar to yours and I always steered clear of products because they weighted my hair down. New hairdresser persuaded me to try John Frieda root volumising spray and not only does it work (as in make my hair look fuller) but it also seems to have magical grease absorption properties.

I can get another day out of it - won't tell a lie, by night time it's awful - but the other day makes a difference.

Also experiment with styles, I tend to twist my fringe and clip it back on day 2 which also helps.

[JimmyCorkhill]

I am tempted to try the no poo method over the school holidays. Anyone have any experience?

I have to wash my hair daily or it is a lank grease ball by day 2. However, both times I was pregnant I could leave it for 3 days and it was fine. So it must have been hormonal? What was different?

I rarely style my hair or add products and it's still crap. My hairdresser loves it though - says it's in fabulous condition and so so soft. I always wash it before a visit though even though I pay for him to wash it too!!

[SometimesItRains]

I get it from sainsburys - usually when it's on a two for a fiver offer. I think boots might do it too.

[cerealqueen]

I swear by coconut oil on the dry ends, batiste on the roots night before, SLS free shampoo here too.

[snowaccidentprone]

try this not too expensive and easily available.

I have also used the Faith in Nature range with no problems.

Don't use very hot water to wash your hair, body temperature should be about right.

If your roots are feeling greasy, you could pour a small amount of witch hazel on some cotton wool and pat it on your roots.

[Brookville]

jimmy my hair was beautiful during pregnancy and then four months afterwards I was pulling it out in clumps like someone had asked me to weed a jungle. I nearly wept. My hair is soft now since the cut last Sat and I have tolerated alternate washing days since er.... Saturday! But I went out last night and used my Babyliss Big Hair (on dry) to give me a lift on my day-old hair. Just got by but didn't feel that great. I didn't run fingers through for fear of messing it all up.

[Brookville]

Thanks snow -looks good.

[SarahJinx]

I'm a once weekly girl these days! Dry shampoo will get you there, I used to wash every other day but having two littlies put paid to that. So, wash it, minimal conditioner on the ends and comb through, leave it for five minutes. At the point where you would usually wash it, just use dry Shampoo, just a little on your parting. Leave it for a few minutes, then brush it out, cope for as long as you can, but initially I'd go from daily to every two, then every three. I have long, really thick, highlighted hair, first three days I can wear it down, if I wasn't so lazy I could do with washing it on day 6 really, Cept I don't