When did you last wash your hair?

[millerjane]

I'm doing the no poo thing and my hair is incredibly soft right now.

I have long, thick hair which is often complimented but I got into terrible habits of overstyling.

I wash mine every day.

@moklty

I have never really understood the point in not using shampoo tbh. Shampoo isn't bad?

Well it depends on your hair and the shampoo. A lot of them coat your hair in silicones to "feel" nice, but it leaves a residue and isn't good for it, especially if it's dry and needs to absorb moisture. They can also be very harsh and either dry your hair out or cause it to over produce oil in response.

Co washing works by lifting out excess oils and dirt (I think the theory is like sticking to like, like pulling Blu Tac off a wall by pressing more Blu Tac on to it) without stripping your hair or coating it with crap. I know it sounds nuts, but for lots of people, it really really does work. It does depend on your hair type though. A lot of people go "low poo" rather than "no poo", using a gentle, sulphate and silicone free shampoo as infrequently as possible.

I've yet to find the solution to low or no poo that gets residue of styling product out while keeping the lovely natural softness.

My hair was getting increasingly oily which is why I gave it a stab. I wouldn't describe my hiar as naturally oily but I was reaching for the dry shampoo earlier and earlier.

My roots were horrendous a few months ago but are very normal now.

Only thing I dislike is how the waves at the front of my hair curl inwards - not very flattering imo - so I'm always faffing with them when I airdry.

@millerjane

Sheba - the only styling products I use are the SheaMoisture Coconut & Hibiscus Hold & Shine Moisture Mist and Kerastase Oil.

Brushing my hiar with a tangle teaser (very thoroughly) and washing with apple cider vinegar leaves my hairproduct free. But I stay away from heavy products and gels etc

Thanks, I've heard good things about those products. Sadly I really need styling stuff. I'll try this though. Do you dilute the vinegar? My hair is long and thick.

Does conditioner not have silicone? Could you not achieve the same by using shampoo with no silicone? Sorry for all the questions, I have never heard of not using shampoo, nor with my very greasy hair could I imagine not using it.

With shampoo, 4 years ago
With conditioner, yesterday

I have thick curly hair, if I don't use shampoo it feels really heavy and I get an itchy scalp.

Two weeks this Saturday

@FiveShelties basically washing with conditioner is like using a cleansing balm on your face, if you compare it to shampoo as being soap on your face. So it cleans still but more gentle and less stripping
You have to be careful which other products you use and no silicones and water soluble

@FiveShelties

Does conditioner not have silicone? Could you not achieve the same by using shampoo with no silicone? Sorry for all the questions, I have never heard of not using shampoo, nor with my very greasy hair could I imagine not using it.

Some have, some haven't, is my understanding. You can look up "Curly Girl approved" products for sulphate and silicone free products.

There'll always be some trial and error. Some products work for some people and not for others. I tried a conditioner everyone raved about, but it left my hair lank, think it was too heavy. It may not work for everyone but it's worth a fair try.

It's possible that your hair is greasy because it's overproducing oil to counter being washed so often. My hair is much less greasy since I started co washing. Counter intuitive, I know. But true.

@QueenCT - thank you, it is very interesting.

I wash my hair everyday, even if I’m not going anywhere.

I get that I shouldn’t, but I don’t like the feeling of it not being washed. I feel unclean. (:

@Bodgedboxdye

I wash my hair everyday, even if I’m not going anywhere.

I get that I shouldn’t, but I don’t like the feeling of it not being washed. I feel unclean. (:

Give co washing a try...

@ShebaShimmyShake - thank you. This is really interesting - y hair is very short and looks really bad if not washed, but then I just wonder if more washing means more washing etc etc

This morning, gets washed every day.

This morning. I have fine, soft hair. If I don't wash it every other day, it is limp and lifeless. Also, I hate the smell of stale hair. When DC don't wash their hair for three days I can smell it and it puts me off cuddling them.

I once let mine go 3 or 4 months. It wasn't deliberate, I just forgot. I had random ppl volunteering to me that going without shampoo didn't actually work. I didn't understand what they were talking about until I worked out when Iast washed my hair. So it must have looked pretty bad. Now wash about once a week.

Monday, and it's at the outer edges of visibly dirty now. No poo is not for me.

[quote FiveShelties]@ShebaShimmyShake - thank you. This is really interesting - y hair is very short and looks really bad if not washed, but then I just wonder if more washing means more washing etc etc[/quote]
I'd definitely give it a try. You may need to give it a while to readjust.

If I don’t wash my hair I get spots on my face and neck. Have tried the ‘no poo’ several times and every time I get the most sore and irritating breakout of blind spots. As I have quite long curly hair it’s impossible to lay down without laying on hair and it’s too uncomfortable to wear in a bun overnight, as I wake up with a headache if I do. Wash every three days or so and don’t use any product other than water in between washes, just to dampen down any annoying frizz.

I think there's always confusion between
No washing - you do nothing except water!
No shampoo - using conditioner to wash
Mine gets washed and scrubbed well but I just don't use shampoo on it, conditioner only or a co wash

Shampooed and conditioned on Tuesday but used my dry shampoo this morning as my hair is really long and couldn’t be arse drying etc.

I used a few dry shampoos before I hit the jackpot. Loads of them left my hair powdery or not clean. It was only a few quid as well - Colab Dey Shampoo and it is amazing stuff!

This morning. I can count on the fingers of one hand the days I've not washed it and I'm ancient! However I use a pea size amount and lots of conditioner. Its very fine and shoulder length and very shiny and healthy.

Wash mine every morning. Thick curly hair. It’s the only way I can tame it or get a tangle teaser though. Can’t just rinse it without shampoo because I have to use a lot of products to keep it under control.