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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not wash my hair

92 replies

lionobserving · 29/12/2023 23:26

I never usually have a haircut without colour, but tomorrow i do.

My hair needed washing about 3 days ago, and has been caught in the rain twice since. Today I scraped it into a "sleek" (mousse to cover the post-xmas laziness) ponytail, because I couldn't be bothered to wash it today when I'm going to the hairdressers tomrorow.

However, it's just dawned on me that I always have my hair washed pre-cut because it's normally coloured first. I'm not having it coloured tomorrow so I don't know if they will wash it first.

Either way, can I turn up without washing my hair, which is not only a few days late for washing, but has also been caught in two downpours and has lots of product in since the last wash. Have I got to get up early and wash it before the hairdressers in the morning?!

OP posts:
scoutingfor · 29/12/2023 23:51

adriftabroad · 29/12/2023 23:33

3 day old hair is not dirty. It is to be washed and cut anyway.

But it was dirty 3 days ago.

MrsO3 · 29/12/2023 23:55

This is a LOT of over thinking about hair washing. Jheez. Just wash your hair ffs

dementedpixie · 29/12/2023 23:57

What have you booked?
If it's a dry cut then wash it first
If its a cut and blow dry then they'll wash it first

AppropriateAdult · 30/12/2023 00:09

These replies are bizarre. They will wash your hair before cutting it, OP - this is absolutely standard. There's no need for you to wash it first. Hairdressers are not 'disgusted' by having to handle greasy hair Hmm

fliptopbin · 30/12/2023 00:09

My hairdresser always expressly tells me to make sure my hair hasn't been washed for 3 days before a haircut. However, mine is very curly and highlighted, and actually looks its best a few days after shampooing. I dampen it evey day to style it, or wet it with a little conditioner, but I only shampoo about once a week. And no, it is not disgusting and smelly -if I shampooed mire often my hair would just be a frizz ball. So basically it really depends on uour hair.

CarterBeatsTheDevil · 30/12/2023 00:11

I have very curly hair and wash it once a week max. The hairdresser has never washed it before applying my colour, only to wash off the dye and get it ready to cut. I'm sure they've seen worse.

babyshroom · 30/12/2023 00:14

How is it hard to wash hair?

Honestly, unless you have a disability you're being ridiculous. Surely you've been in the shower anyway? Just shampoo it and towel dry it no need to style it cos you've been shoving it up in a ponytail anyway.

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 30/12/2023 00:17

@mottytotty my Dd is the same. Looks like she's had her head in a chip pan god love her. Her hair needs washing daily. My hair absorbs smells and just feels manky if it's not washed daily or every other day at a push. Other people might not need to wash theirs as often but OP said hers needed washing three days ago.

angelikacpickles · 30/12/2023 00:46

babyshroom · 30/12/2023 00:14

How is it hard to wash hair?

Honestly, unless you have a disability you're being ridiculous. Surely you've been in the shower anyway? Just shampoo it and towel dry it no need to style it cos you've been shoving it up in a ponytail anyway.

Not just the OP but I really don't get this thing of not washing your hair for days on end that seems to have become popular lately. If your hair genuinely doesn't need washing for a week or more, great, but if you are filling it with products to disguise the fact that your hair is dirty, then just bloody wash it!

AlmostAJillSandwich · 30/12/2023 00:50

You wouldn't go to the dentist with unbrushed teeth, why would you go to the hairdressers without washing your hair?!

uncomfortablydumb53 · 30/12/2023 01:02

I always wash mine before I go, no styling products and rough dried

Bouncyball23 · 30/12/2023 01:48

Depends did you book a dry cut or wet cut? Everyone saying they will wash it are wrong all Depends what cut you booked in for!
I've had dry cuts when hair needs a trim I've had wet cuts when going shorter/restyling.

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 30/12/2023 03:09

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 29/12/2023 23:35

It could be more days. It needed washing three days ago.

Show quote history

So, I wash my hair once a week and I can assure you it isn't dirty. I'm so pleased I am old enough, and more than wise enough, not to be swayed by all the MN ultra hygiene freaks!

OP it's normal for hairdressers to wash your hair before a cut unless you've asked them not to.

ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming · 30/12/2023 03:13

AppropriateAdult · 30/12/2023 00:09

These replies are bizarre. They will wash your hair before cutting it, OP - this is absolutely standard. There's no need for you to wash it first. Hairdressers are not 'disgusted' by having to handle greasy hair Hmm

Honestly, it's like being back in another era, all the posters on MN who are "disgusted" by perfectly normal things and compete over how clean and hygienic they are. Thank goodness hairdressers are another breed who won't recoil in horror over hair not washed for a few days.

Josette77 · 30/12/2023 03:32

One of my best friends is a hairdresser and says it's gross how many people come in with greasy hair.

I'd wash it..
If it was one day it'd be fine, but more than that (if you're white) is gross.

Dustyblue · 30/12/2023 03:39

I've got really fine hair and always have a "dry" cut. They just spritz it with water.

Having it washed there just adds to the bill.

But I always was the day before. No-one wants to handle my greasy hair.

Anotheronenearlydone · 30/12/2023 03:51

If it was one day it'd be fine, but more than that (if you're white) is gross.

We are not all the same 🙄

You get greasy after a day. Not everybody does.

Some people have incredibly dry hair/ their scalp doesn't produce much oil, at all.

Ponoka7 · 30/12/2023 03:54

LinnieM · 29/12/2023 23:47

I wonder how people would react if they knew that black women wash their hair every 3/4 weeks (and sometimes even longer). I think some people would fall off their chair!

<completely misses the point of the post>

Different hair, root growth, scalp etc, needs different care. Not really relevant.

@ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming , then you must have dry hair. My Mum was the same. However inner city rain can be manky.

OP, if you have running water were you live, just wash your hair. You can go to the hair dressers with damp hair if need be. Out of respect, just make sure it's clean.

LinnieM · 30/12/2023 04:24

@mottytotty it does not. I’d still like to see peoples reactions though!

@Ponoka7 it’s relevant because it’s still hair and I’d like to see peoples reactions🙂

brainworms · 30/12/2023 05:51

lmao

Justleaveitblankthen · 30/12/2023 06:40

When I was a 'Saturday Girl' in a local salon with an elderly clientele, it was the only time their hair ever got washed.
I don't remember ever being freaked out about it. It was my job.
For the record, I definitely wouldn't wash it.. before going to get it washed 🙄

Tobleronebear · 30/12/2023 06:47

JustACountryMusicGirlInCowboyBoots · 30/12/2023 00:17

@mottytotty my Dd is the same. Looks like she's had her head in a chip pan god love her. Her hair needs washing daily. My hair absorbs smells and just feels manky if it's not washed daily or every other day at a push. Other people might not need to wash theirs as often but OP said hers needed washing three days ago.

I'm the same, it needs washing daily. I tried not washing it daily during lockdowns to see if I could eventually get to washing every 2 days and I never could. So so greasy.

Iwantmyoldnameback · 30/12/2023 06:57

Oh OP if you'd only washed it three days ago you wouldn't be having all this angst now.

KimberleyClark · 30/12/2023 07:13

I had a cut and colour a week ago and still haven’t washed it. It looks fine. My hair is very thick and slightly dry. I do prefer to go to the hairdresser with clean hair. He usually puts the colour on first unless he is really busy as he was last Saturday, and I got shampooed first then. .

doriangraybutimthepaintingintheattic · 30/12/2023 08:22

@ithinkthatmaybeimdreaming it's great that you wash your hair once a week. Well done. However, OP has said that hers needed washing three days ago. Ergo, it is dirty. I can't go three days or a week because it would be vile.

The hairdresser may not be bothered but she may and I would be as the customer.

It's nothing to be offended by or take to an extreme about "perfectly normal" things.

It's perfectly normal for my teeth to not be very pleasant after eating so I'd brush them before the dentist. Same for a smear test.

It's a five minute job at most.