How long can you leave your hair unwashed!

[Eesha]

Not as icky as it sounds, but I could go a week. Just wondered if people leave it longer and could it make the condition better? I thought since I'm home, better try and improve my condition all over!

2 days. I'm in my late 50s. It all depends on the type of hair you have but surely everyone knows this.

4 days naturally, a week with dry shampoo and a messy bun

I usually start looking a bit greasy at the end of day 2, so then wash it. I could squeeze 3 days if I'm staying at home!

Every 2 days

I usually wash my hair every other day but sometimes wash it on the third day.

Tbh, whilst it would be more convenient in some ways to wash it less than that, I don’t feel clean if I haven’t washed it after 2 days. I have curly hair and it’s not greasy but our scalps are still skin that produce oil and sweat so I don’t think it’s a good idea not to wash every couple of days (or more).

I also hate the idea of product and oil from my hair going on to my pillow and transferring to my face.

The dandruff only started last summer by the way

Do you have a dry scalp? If oily then might be dandruff and a dandruff shampoo or treatment could help. If your scalp is dry then it might not be dandruff and just a dry flaky scalp, in which case, dandruff shampoo would exacerbate the problem do you need a gentle shampoo or something that nourishes your scalp. This is just something I’ve found after researching as my own scalp can get dry and flaky at times.

3 days max.
I can't stand how it feels or looks after that.

3 days.

I wash every other day, can stretch to 3 days. It still looks acceptable at day 3 but not amazing.

Pre-lockdown, I washed my hair every day, irrespective of anything. Since lockdown, I’ve left it every other day, and it is rather liberating! That being said, by the end of the second day, I am desperate to wash it...it just feels awful.

Every day. It's so greasy.

I have fine hair in a medium length bob, I usually wash it every day for work as I get bed head and it gets pushed up at the crown and flattened in at the nape.

But on lockdown I can wash it every three days or so because noone really sees it and style doesn't matter, and it's not as dirty with no pollution and no product going in it.

Mine really needs doing every day. I have tried to stretch it but it looks and feels awful. I also get a really itchy scalp and tend to lose loads of hair if I don't wash it after a couple of days.

I feel like I lose loads of hair if I don't wash it every day but I think it's the same amount overall, just feels like more because it's two days worth of losses, iyswim.

I take iron to try to slow down hair thinning, it does seem to help.

I have to wash my hair every day, twice if I've been exercising or have got particularly sweaty. It's very fine and if I don't wash it it feels horrible and won't lie in the right direction. It used to be very greasy and since menopause it isn't so much, but I still wash it every day in the shower when I get up. It's short and dries very quickly. Basically, every time I shower my hair gets washed too.

It can go a week no problem, I have very long hair and dry skin generally so it doesn't get greasy.
I've been washing it daily during coronavirus as I work on the NHS.

Maybe three days. It could go longer but the smell of unwashed hair makes me gag. The water where we live is horrible though and washing it makes your hair all rough and claggy feeling.

By day 4 it's starting to get a bit gross usually. But sometimes I can stretch it further if I'm staying in. Or with dry shampoo.

I can go a week, no problem. Dry, thick, curly hair.
I feel that my hair tells me when it is ready to be washed as my scalp starts to get a bit itchy on day 6 and the textures not so good.

I used to wash my hair 3 or 4 times a week. Then started to only wash it after a gym session, 2 times a week. Currently washing once a week and it’s in better condition than ever.

My hairdresser told me after 30 days, it sortof sorts itself out. Mine must be that now and actually doesn't feel bad!