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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how often you wash your hair?

292 replies

laidbackneko · 29/05/2016 17:57

Now, I shower every morning and sometimes have a bath in addition (as a luxury) in the evening. But I only wash my hair twice a week. Which I thought was pretty normal and acceptable until it came up in conversation with a friend who had a look of Shock barely concealed horror. She washes hers at least every other day and thinks it's poor personal hygiene to go more than two days without clean hair.

Perfectly fine with being called a scuzzy grunge pot (I really don't think I am!) but curious to know which of us, if either, you think is BU.

OP posts:
Cluesue · 29/05/2016 19:22

Every day,every other at a stretch because it gets very greasy,by the way the Korean extraordinary clay system is crap

badg3r · 29/05/2016 19:22

I used to have to wash it every morning or by the end of day two it was really greasy. After having DC though only need to wash every other day and could get away with once every three days sometimes. But only with the help of dry shampoo!!

Cluesue · 29/05/2016 19:22

Loreal not korean

Brummiegirl15 · 29/05/2016 19:24

Every other day with dry shampoo on the "off" days. Admittedly I feel more polished with clean hair.

I had gallbladder surgery a week ago and have been told to keep my dressings dry so therefore no shower and as I can't bend, means my hair hasn't been washed in said week.

I feel minging!! And look pretty shocking too

Moanranger · 29/05/2016 19:28

I was an every other day person for years, but I noticed it starting to get quite dry & (expensive) colour & occasional straightening being affected, so after discussion with my hairdresser, I dropped it to once week & my colour fades very little now. I will wash it more often if it feels dirty, but as you age it would seem you produce less oil. I have very thick, medium length hair.

simbobs · 29/05/2016 19:41

My hairdresser tells me not to wash hair more than once a week - or less!! He recommends using dry shampoo to extend time and over time hair will need less washing, as the act of washing strips natural oils and body just produces more. I have tried this, and though I can't last as long as he recommends I seldom wash mine more than twice a week, apart from the fringe which I do every day or so.

orangebird69 · 29/05/2016 19:43

Once a week. At the hairdressers followed by a blow dry. Got into the habit when preggers and have maintained it. My hair has never looked better! A bit of Batiste if my fringe starts to look stringy. I bath every day though!

karalime · 29/05/2016 19:51

Every other day. I used to do it everyday but it just made it oilier.

My mum otoh has short coarse, dry hair and can go weeks without washing it to no ill effect.

TheGardenOfEdenExists · 29/05/2016 19:54

When it was short, every day. I looked like a mad ol'scarecrow otherwise.

Now it's long, every other day. One day down and blow dried. Next day up. The only reason it's every other day is because I can't be arsed to blow dry it straight every day. Left its own devices, long, my hair resembles Monica ('It's the !').

Either way, washed daily or no, my hair is in gods, thick, whiney condition. Daily washing doesn't strip my hair of any 'bad' oils.

happystory · 29/05/2016 19:55

Every other day but my hair is mid length and fiendishly wavy so I partly wash it to make it easier to style. Quite dry too, I think every day would be too much for me.

bertsdinner · 29/05/2016 19:57

Every other day. I wash it and straighten it on day one, then just re straighten on day 2 or wear it up. It gets greasy by the end of day 2 so don't like to leave any longer.

C4Envelope · 29/05/2016 20:00

The less you wash your hair the less it will need washed, it becomes less stripped of natura oils so after time produces less. My mum washes hers every day and if she skips a wash it becomes greasy, wheras my good friend washes hers once a fortnight and it never really looks greasy!

SouthDownsSunshine · 29/05/2016 20:02

I have fine hair and it needs a wash every day or it looks awful. Actually now I'm pregnant I can get away with every other day which is lovely. But I still like a daily shower so I end up washing it anyway.

What do people use to stop it going frizzy in the shower?

Littlelondoner · 29/05/2016 20:03

Curious those in every day group. What is your hair like? Washing mine is a right task blow dry, style, products on etc can easy take hour. I just don't have time every day so every other day for me. Shower morning & bath evening every day for me though.

Dakin1 · 29/05/2016 20:04

I am so envious of people who don't need to wash their hair every day - it would make festivals so much easier! I have to every day, have tried leaving it but it looks horrendous.

Catvsworld · 29/05/2016 20:07

I have Afro hair and it can't be washed more than once a week it will dry out then brake

MarieJeanne · 29/05/2016 20:08

Every 3/4 days, but my hair is very thick and quite dry. I was in hospital once and couldn't wash my hair for 10 days, it felt awful but everyone sad it looked ok.

Florinda2016 · 29/05/2016 20:09

Bath and hair wash every evening. Mucking out horses each day makes my hair ( and clothes) stink.

AppleSetsSail · 29/05/2016 20:10

I wash my hair every 3.5 days and the last 1.5 days is pretty vile. I'm 43 and have long, double-process colour - there is no way I can wash it daily - much as I would love to. It would break and refuse to grow long.

My sister washes her hair daily, and sometimes 2X daily! Unbelievable. She has great hair and can get away with it.

AppleSetsSail · 29/05/2016 20:11

I would be crawling out of my skin if I went 2 weeks without washing my hair.

NicknameUsed · 29/05/2016 20:12

"I had gallbladder surgery a week ago and have been told to keep my dressings dry so therefore no shower and as I can't bend, means my hair hasn't been washed in said week."

Can you get it washed at the hairdresser? I did this with DD after she had a knee operation.

"The less you wash your hair the less it will need washed, it becomes less stripped of natural oils so after time produces less"

I think you are right. When I was a teenager no-one washed their hair every day and no-one had greasy hair.

"What do people use to stop it going frizzy in the shower?"

Wear a shower cap of course. My hair never goes frizzy.

gentlydownthestreamm · 29/05/2016 20:13

Generally I'd say probably 2-3 times a week.

But at the moment I am trying to fit in a lot of runs and workouts, so it's more like every day or every other day. Because I can't not wash it once it's drenched in sweat! Have tried just the dry shampoo option in these circumstances, but it doesn't work for me.

TheVillagePost · 29/05/2016 20:15

I used to do it every other day. Now I have a baby it's more like once a week. I bundle it up most of the time anyway to keep it out of reach of sticky paws...

flanjabelle · 29/05/2016 20:15

Every other day. The day in between I just run wet hands through my hair in the shower and then dry it and restyle it so it looks neat.

RaeSkywalker · 29/05/2016 20:18

I wash mine daily. Started doing it because I did intensive cardio exercise most days, so needed a hair wash then. I've had HG for the last 10 weeks so have not been able to exercise, however I find that showering and washing my hair each day allows me to feel a bit more human and 'fresh' after all the vomiting!

My hair is brown, wavy, layered, and probably about 3 inches below my shoulders. I don't dye it. I wash it using organic shampoo and conditioner, then allow it to air dry for about 15 minutes, then blow dry on a low heat for another 5 minutes. I'm lucky in that the condition has always been good, despite all the washing!