To not wash my hair

[lionobserving]

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?!

Oh wow I didn't expect these replies.

I usually was my hair three times a fortnight on average (ie more than once a week, but less than 2).

I wouldn't want someone to "handle" my hair when it's not clean as in to cut it, but I got home late last night and assumed they'd wash it before cutting so didn't make sense to wash it twice.

Promise I'm v clean

I don't think it's very clean, how long since you last washed your hair it's not clear if you washed it 3 days ago or it needed washing 3 days ago.
Either way I wouldn't go to the hairdresser with hair that's full of product. Wash it, no need to style it.

I’m sure most hairdressers would wash before a cut, unless you specifically asked for a dry cut. Why would you bother washing it before it’s going to be washed anyway? Are people on here saying it’s “gross” for a hairdresser to touch dirty hair even as the hairdresser is literally shampooing the dirty hair?

My hairdresser always washes her clients hair even if they’ve said they did it that morning. She says when she does it, she knows it’s done properly.

I’ve watched people come in apologetically with their hair in a right state but it doesn’t phase her at all.

3 weeks is a long time though! Do you have to do anything else in between washes to maintain scalp health?

Just to throw something else into the mix,when I used to get my hair fully coloured, my hairdresser says that colour takes better on hair that is a few days past washing.

I go to my hairdressers with 3/4 days old unwashed hair before, my hairdresser prefers it and says that oils protect the scalp from the hair dye. Mine is thick and can stand a couple of days without washing, she must see some grim sights.

I have been told this too by my hairdresser.

They will wash it before they cut it.

I wash my hair once a week, at my hairdresser's recommendation. I still wouldn't go to a hairdressers with hair that hadn't been washed for a week. It's considerate to have clean hair when someone is handling it.

You could have washed your hair in the time it took you to worry about the issue and then post on MN...

As a hairdresser we will tell you it is fine, no need to wash it as we will wash it for you anyway before cutting. We actually really appreciate you washing it first if it's as dirty as yours sound. No one actually likes washing dirty hair.

Rank. I bet it smells

Think about what you're saying.. that all Afro hair, black hair types, coily, curly hair smells

Well at least you will give them something to gossip about once you have left

I have black African friends and a black half sister, so I know about Afro hair care. I envy their ability to have their head shaved and it suit them. My sister just wets hers and it looks fab, in the rain/wind. I would hope that there wouldn't be a reaction just like I (mixed heritage) or them don't react because some white friends babys didn't need oiling. Some people have dry/curly hair, but if you don't, then you need to wash your hair, usually twice a week.

Whenever I've had my hair coloured, they've always asked for 'dirty' hair, not freshly washed, then colour, wash, cut, dry.

Just a cut, it's never mattered because they've always washed it first. However, I recently had my first curly girl cut which they wanted washed with 24 hours, totally dry and detangled, and with absolutely no product in it. It is honestly the best cut I've had in 52 years!

No, when you have your hair coloured the colour goes onto dry hair. Then the colour gets washed out.

Wash your hair for the poor hairdresser!

I don't think op has that type of hair does she.

Depends on the hairstyle.

Some black women will have protective hairstyles such as braids, wigs or even locs. You can have these styles in for ages without washing your hair. If we have our natural hair out, then we’d use hair lotion everyday to moisturise it so it doesn’t ever dry out.

The best explanation is black hair types need to stay moisturised in order to be healthy. Whereas non black hair types usually need to be washed as soon as it starts to get greasy. I wash my hair once every two months as it starts to dry out if washed more often. I currently wash my daughters hair once a month. It’s interesting how different our hair textures are when you think about it

So interesting! I knew black hair often needs less frequent washing, but I didn’t know about the daily moisturising. I don’t think I’ve conditioned the roots of my hairs in years. I have a lot of hair but it’a quite fine and dry. If it doesn’t get a good brushing daily it turns into a fluffy bird’s nest. Apart from that it just gets put in a messy bun, or put into plastic curlers for going out etc. Your daily moisturising makes me wonder if I should do more with my dry hair too.

I'd just say you want a wash and cut when you arrive.

Black hair and curly hair gets drier when it’s unwashed, and moisture has to be added in, whereas white hair gets greasy and oily. You’re comparing apples and pairs.

Hairdressers l used to go to.. all gossiped about people going in with unwashed / dirty/ greasy hair.. so if you're planning on going back.. wash it.. you would be having your morning shower anyhow.. what's another 5 minutes washing your hair?. Most people just wash it every morning in the shower.. like you wash your body.. well my friends and family do. Why wouldn't you?