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Original poster

whats the longest you have gone without washing your hair?

21 replies

juicychops · 20/07/2010 17:37

just read an article about a woman who decided to challenge herself to not washing her hair for as long as possible.
there was a photo of her and her hair was fantastic. she said the first 3 weeks was the hardest and within 6 weeks it was completely self cleaning

anyone tried it? im quite interested in giving it a try! although unsure if i could last that one

OP posts:
BunnyLebowski · 20/07/2010 17:39

But why?? Is washing your hair that much of a hardship??

It sounds rank.

Oh and in answer to your question probably 4 days at a music festival and I couldn't bloody wait to get into a scalding hot shower and wash it!

GetOrfMoiLand · 20/07/2010 17:43

It may well be self cleaning, but I am sure you end up smelling sheepish.

What is so hard about washing your hair anyway? It is not exactly an onerous task.

I wash mine every day just to be clean and feel fresh.

Original poster
juicychops · 20/07/2010 17:45

im not considering it cos i cant be arsed to wash it, im thinking of the health benefits of not using chemicals

i use only organic products on my hair and skin now but have not tried not washing it

OP posts:
Maryqueenofchocs · 20/07/2010 18:22

I have heard this works well for some people, but tbh I think I'd fail miserably and cave in after 2 days..

olderandwider · 20/07/2010 18:28

I think you should read that book Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks. He writes about spending the night with a girl who hadn't washed her hair in weeks. He described the smell of her as, umm, "scalp-y". Nuff said.

FindingMyMojo · 20/07/2010 19:46

I went months without a hot shower in '94 campervan-ing around Europe. We washed on beach showers. When there was one. I once went at least 2 weeks without a shower but I was swimming several times everyday so was clean - but hair was always a nightmare - esp with the salt water.

Maybe it depends on your hair type - mine would just be lank, greasy with itchy scalp.

KnitterNotTwitter · 20/07/2010 19:54

I'm tempted to try this too - I think you still wash it with just water though - you don't actually leave it dirty/unwashed....

herbietea · 20/07/2010 20:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

BitOfFun · 20/07/2010 20:06

I've left it for weeks without shampoo, but washed it with conditioner instead. Seemed to work very well and cut out having to pay for serums and mousses because the condition was much better.

LadyBigBra · 20/07/2010 20:10

I hate washing my hair but do it every couple of days.
The longest I went was 3 weeks but I was very very depressed after a death in the family,I can remember it itching like mad and looking very greasy.

Original poster
juicychops · 20/07/2010 21:43

KnitterNotTwitter yeah you wash it with warm water regularly to get rid of the dirt. and aparrently by week 6 you have beautiful shiney hair cos the natural oils are balanced out and providing enough natural oils to keep your hair nice.... or something like that!

OP posts:
Meglet · 20/07/2010 21:46

4 days at Glastonbury. Hair was skanky by that point. Although my skin was brilliant . Amazing what fresh air, beer and chips can do .

AnyFuleKno · 20/07/2010 21:52

You can 'train' your hair to go longer between washes

I used to know a girl who washed her hair once a week, and it was gorgeous

said · 20/07/2010 22:01

I usually only wash it every 4 or 5 days anyway. It's not the washing that is the shag, it's the drying and making it look presentable that I hate. My hair still looks fine by day 4.

Sidge · 20/07/2010 22:12

About 3-4 days when I was in the military and couldn't shampoo it (on Dartmoor!)

It was vile, felt really lank and smelled.

lillybloom · 20/07/2010 22:24

I split my head open a few years back. I had very long hair at the time. My head was stitched together with my hair pulled back and I was told not to get hair near the stitches or wash my hair for 2 weeks. Because my hair was clipped up, people didn't notice how greasy it was but I felt awful. When I took the hair clips out, the hair stayed in place.[yuk] My hair was fabulous though when I did get to wash it.

AnyFuleKno · 20/07/2010 22:56

you have to gradually increase time between washes, that's the trick. Your scalp produces as much oil as it needs to - if you wash it every day it will up the oil production obviously so by day 3 it will be disgusting.

I wash every other day usually but less often if I'm off work or something.

I just can't be arsed to deal with my hair every day. It's usually better on day 2 anyway!

KnitterNotTwitter · 23/08/2010 14:48

Thought I'd do a quick update.... I decided to 'go for it' and haven't shampooed my hair for two weeks now. I don't think it looks too gross - although it feels a bit grim. it's definitely greasier and harder to brush but I haven't felt so socially unacceptable that I should resort to shampoo --- yet!

I'm having a hot shower most days so any dirt is hopefully rinsing out....

It doesn't seem to have got any 'worse' feeling for the last few days - but I was on holiday so dipping into the sea/pool fairly regularly...

Will let you know what happens in the next few weeks...!

deaddei · 23/08/2010 15:32

Have you any friends left though Knitter?
Do they stand about 10 paces away from you, or loudly talk about Tresemme?

KnitterNotTwitter · 24/08/2010 12:45

yes thank you :)

it honestly doesn't smell - it's clean as I'm washing it in water to get any dirt out!!

and DH hadn't even noticed although that may say more about DH than my hair....!

Hazeyjane · 24/08/2010 12:49

probably a few months, but then i was a stinky hippySmile

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