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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Going to try not washing my hair during lockdown. Any advice?

46 replies

PutThemInTheIronMaiden · 03/05/2020 07:45

My hair is VERY oily. I wash it every day and by the end of each day it’s already oily. Yes I know I should do the whole “leave it two days in between washes” but if I did that I won’t be able to go outside or go to work because it would just look disgusting and dirty.

I’ve been reading up about the “no poo” movement (not using shampoo). I just wondered if anyone else had done this and whether it worked? I’m not due into work until next week so I thought I’d give it a small trial. Any advice appreciated.

OP posts:
SkaLaLand · 03/05/2020 08:06

disclaimer I use shampoo but I only wash every three days or so.

You will need longer than a week to see any difference at all.

I used to wash my hair daily then had children and just didn't have the time or inclination to faff like that every day.

So now it's day 1 really good brush and washed (shampoo bar, no conditioner this had really helped with the grease), day 2 wear up, day three wear up, maybe a little dry shampoo. Then back to day 1 again.

puffinandkoala · 03/05/2020 08:12

This might be interesting for you if you can get past the paywall: www.thetimes.co.uk/article/india-knight-on-why-shes-not-washing-her-hair-7q6859qth

clarepetal · 03/05/2020 08:17

Perfect time to try,good luck x

PippaPegg · 03/05/2020 08:18

You need 6 weeks or so for the grease production to calm down. I did it and rinsed with warm water 2x day it was that bad. My hair was quite short at the time which helped. After 3 months it had totally calmed down.

12 years later my hair is still amazing with wash 1x per week so it does work. Definitely worth it.

Mucklowe · 03/05/2020 08:19

Just wash your hair, FFS.

bluestarsatnightfall · 03/05/2020 08:21

I'm the same OP but I've been washing it over other day. By the afternoon on the second day my hair is a greasy mess but I just put it up and use dry shampoo if going out. I started at the beginning of lockdown so it will take time.

beautifulmonument · 03/05/2020 08:22

I have fine hair that gets greasy quickly so I wash it every day. It starts to look greasy within 18 hours of being washed.
A couple of years ago I cut back to washing twice a week with a super gentle shampoo. I kept it up determinedly for 4 months hoping my hair would become less greasy. It didn't. I needed dry shampoo every day that I didn't wash. It felt dirty and gross and I hated it so I'm back to washing every day.
I don't think the no poo method works for everyone.

Whentheleavesfalldown · 03/05/2020 08:31

I got my hair washing down to twice a week, and it was never greasy in between.
Now working 5 days a week (nurse) I have to wash my hair everyday due to covid, gets greasy by the end of the first day now!

Original poster
PutThemInTheIronMaiden · 03/05/2020 09:26

@Mucklowe

No

Thanks @puffinandkoala but I’m not a subscriber!

Going for a shower - with showercap!

OP posts:
Lucygucy · 03/05/2020 09:33

You need to wash your head! Just don't use shampoo on it but wash it with water or you will smell

PumpkinPie2016 · 03/05/2020 10:12

A friend of mine did it and it worked for her. I think she did the rinsing with warm water but no shampoo.

I'd love to be able to do it but I just can't Sad I shower every morning and just don't feel clean without washing my hair with shampoo. I'm not saying people who don't are dirty btw, just a personal thing.

Jeleste · 03/05/2020 10:18

I did it about 4 years ago and i can tell you 1 week is definitely not gonna work. My hair was like yours and stayed greasy for 2-3 months.at 6 weeks ir so it stopped getting worse, but it still took ages for all the grease to go.
You have to brush it a lot to spread the grease all the way to the roots. I made a paste with rye flour and water to wash it, which helped a bit.
It took ages but it was worth it in the end. I only wash with water now or sometimes conditioner and my hair is never greasy anymore.
Before the roots were greasy after one day and my ends were dry and split. My hair is now healthy and i only trim the ends every 6 months or so.
I was also never able to grow them past shoulder length because i have very thin dry hair and it would just break off. Now its down to my elbows.

EastMidsMumOf1 · 03/05/2020 10:29

It takes a while to notice a difference but instead of cutting out shampoo completely have you tried sulphate free? I have very thick hair but dry ends and oily roots, I found switching to SF shampoo and also replacing my usual brush for a boar bristle brush helped immensely. The natural bristles help to bring the oils down from the scalp and distribute them evenly instead of just building up in one place!

ConkerGame · 03/05/2020 10:36

My friend did this. It took about 6 weeks for the grease to go. She still washed it with water either every day or every other day and put it in a bandana until the grease went. I think she found weeks 2-6 very tough but now she raves about it! Never used shampoo, just water and brushing. Every so often I feel I should copy her but then I think of the horror of the first 6 weeks and just can’t bring myself to do it! Blush

NiceLegsShameAboutTheFace · 03/05/2020 10:43

I never wash my hair, except when I'm going to the hairdresser. I just rub some rose/geranium scented coconut oil through it to keep it smelling nice.

My hair is probably short - by most people's standard - but it's WAY long for me at the moment.

OptimisticSix · 03/05/2020 10:45

I didn't wash my hair for two months once.it got wet with water but not washed. It was okay, after a week or so it looked okay and felt okay but I didn't like not washing it so gave up in the end Grin

EveryDayIsADuvetDay · 03/05/2020 10:46

i do no poo; I started a couple of years ago, and my hair is in much better condition.
I was cowashing weekly, which was fine, but I've recently increased the frequently because of the virus - it will get on my hair, I touch my hair...

Unless you're 100% shielding as a household, not going out at all, or covering your hair completely when you go out, I wouldn't stop washing it completely right now.
You can still get sulphate free co wash and reduce frequency of 'washing'.

MadamBatty · 03/05/2020 10:51

a genuine question, why bother? Why not just wash. People appear to be wetting the hair anyway, why not just add shampoo?

i have fine hair that looks greasy quite quickly. i was in bed barely able to move for 6 weeks a few years ago. my hair was disgusting.

Surely you need to wash your scalp in the same way you need to wash your face?

justtb · 03/05/2020 10:59

I wash my hair once a week.. use dry shampoo in between washes.. shampoo once and condition on ends.. minimal heat during week. You have to train the hair, it's one of those 'it gets worse before it gets better' situations! Stick it up and try not to touch it, let it do its own thing! So worth it though

justtb · 03/05/2020 11:00

*personally I wouldn't no poo and there seems to be very mixed results

Original poster
PutThemInTheIronMaiden · 03/05/2020 11:03

Thanks for all the advice. This is going to be the least I’ll see people in my life so I want to give it a go. It seems the consensus is that the oil might still abate eventually even if I just wash with water - which seems acceptable!

OP posts:
Bubblysqueak · 03/05/2020 11:05

I started this at the beginning of lockdown as I had a really bad allergic reaction to fabric softener and had very painful sore spots on my head so I couldn't wash it.
I completely changed my shampoo and conditioner. I have now been able to wash every other day and my hair still looks good the second day. On the day I don't shampoo I still get head wet and gently rub my scalp which I think helps. I think I'm now at the point where I am going to start washing every 2 days.

JollyAndBright · 03/05/2020 11:07

I haven’t used shampoo for over 4 years and haven’t used conditioner for over 9.

I have very long hair which I only tie up when cooking or showering.
I ‘wash’ it once ever 10-14 days with a paste of rye flour and water and give it a refresh once a week just by just giving it a scrub with water.

I also always let it dry naturally.

My hair definitely prefers this as it’s in the best condition it has ever been in, I hardly ever get split ends or breakage.

JollyAndBright · 03/05/2020 11:09

If you have naturally oily hair I would definitely recommend a boarbristle brush, they are amazing for distribution of oils.

ch3rrycola · 03/05/2020 11:10

Good luck. I could never do this. I wash my hair daily or I don't feel clean. I wash everything else daily so hair should be no different. Don't forget to change your pillowcase a lot

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