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Original poster

If you only wash your hair once a week

107 replies

JMAngel1 · 06/02/2021 19:00

So I only wash my hair once a week as it takes around 1 hour to wash and around d 6 hours to dry (thick curly long hair). I do curly girl so use sulphate/silicone free oroducts. If I wash it any more frequently, it gets dried out. I actually out leave in conditioner I the ends every day - it is the Sahara!
However, by about day 5, I feel like it doesn't smell very nice - a definite "scalp" smell.
Can anyone recommend me anything to rub into my scalp that smells nice and is CG friendly?

OP posts:
withmycoffee · 07/02/2021 06:05

@Justanotherfaceinthecrowd

Same here. An hour to wash my hair in sections and condition and run through. Have no tips per se but watching with intrest! All those who wonder how it takes so long, or accuse us of exaggerating are just jelous 🙄 Long and big hair is some serious dedication!
Questioning or not believing in no way equates to jealousy. That's a really weird conclusion.
dogsaremypeople · 07/02/2021 06:47

Wash your hair more! I have clients come in to the salon hat only wash their hair once a week and it's fucking disgusting. Why would you expect someone else to want to touch that 🤮

donttouchmyhair · 07/02/2021 06:49

OP try washing every 4-5 days instead, my 3c hair is much more manageable since I went to that from 7 days. Also drop the daily oil massages. Seal the cuticle once with a light oil when you sotc, any added after that does nothing.

Amused at the straight haired people horrified at the lack of washing, and hours long wash days. So naive Grin

donttouchmyhair · 07/02/2021 07:11

@dogsaremypeople

Wash your hair more! I have clients come in to the salon hat only wash their hair once a week and it's fucking disgusting. Why would you expect someone else to want to touch that 🤮
Where did OP say she expects other people to touch it?

Though funnily enough random people ask if they can touch my dirty unwashed hair most days, and they love it.

GwendolineWindowlene · 07/02/2021 07:39

The As I Am co-wash is really good. It's called a co wash but it's very different to washing with conditioner, it feels like you're putting conditioner on but cleans properly. Give it a go!

ufucoffee · 07/02/2021 08:58

If your scalp smells it's because it's dirty. Wash your hair. If it takes an hour cut out the faff and only do that once a week.

QueenPawPaws · 07/02/2021 10:25

@donttouchmyhair I know Grin like you can't wash Afro hair daily or it would be so dry and damaged
I went for a walk with my hair wet in summer when it was burning hot, came back after 2hrs and my hair was still wet. Takes maybe 20hrs to air dry

picklemewalnuts · 07/02/2021 10:41

@ufucoffee op knows that. She's basically asking how to clean her scalp without washing her hair. Telling her to wash her hair isn't very helpful. Some hair types can't be washed daily with head and shoulders.

Firefretted · 07/02/2021 11:32

I'm curly (3c) and only wash once a week. But I get it wet, condition it and detangle it at least every 2-3 days so the tangles don't get out of control - that might save you some time

Opalfruits2 · 07/02/2021 12:11

Oh I don’t know a single curly sister IRL so pleased others have joined! Honestly afro or curly hair is a completely different ball game to wavey or straight hair, it does not get greasy in the same way. Oils from the follicle travel down straight/wavey hair more effectively than down a drier, coil or sprial curl Grin.... But due to the product curls require you get build up

A blessing and a curse!

TooMuchChocolateForDinner · 07/02/2021 13:03

I'll probably be flamed for this, but only washing your hair once a week is disgusting. I know people who do this, and it does not look good and it does smell (even if you can't smell it yourself).

You wouldn't go a week not washing any other part of you, but apparently it's ok to not wash your hair and scalp? Your head sheds dead skin just like every other part of you. And then there's pollution, and general dirt that will get in your hair throughout the week.

I'm not saying it needs to be washed everyday, but I would say 3-4 days maximum just to maintain basic hygiene.

donttouchmyhair · 07/02/2021 13:47

@TooMuchChocolateForDinner

I'll probably be flamed for this, but only washing your hair once a week is disgusting. I know people who do this, and it does not look good and it does smell (even if you can't smell it yourself).

You wouldn't go a week not washing any other part of you, but apparently it's ok to not wash your hair and scalp? Your head sheds dead skin just like every other part of you. And then there's pollution, and general dirt that will get in your hair throughout the week.

I'm not saying it needs to be washed everyday, but I would say 3-4 days maximum just to maintain basic hygiene.

What a load of bollocks. This may be the case for someone with straight/wavy hair, not for coarser Afro types. I get never ending compliments about my hair, how it looks, how it smells, how it feels. Everyday people ask to touch it, uninvited I must add, I'd rather they fuck off. Do you think they'd do that if it was as disgusting as you say?
picklemewalnuts · 07/02/2021 14:34

@TooMuchChocolateForDinner essentially you are being racist. You may know a few people who don't keep their hair clean enough. That doesn't mean that all the people who care for their hair differently from you are smelly. Which is what you said.

You are assuming that what is true for your hair is true for everyone else's- and we know it isn't, and particularly so for people of colour.

TooMuchChocolateForDinner · 07/02/2021 14:48

Eh? Racist? Confused Really?

I'm saying that everyone I know who follows this (and speaks about it), does not seem to be benefitting from it in a positive way. I never mentioned race or said any race is 'smelly!' Wasn't even in my mind, you are the person who has jumped to conclusions here.

picklemewalnuts · 07/02/2021 15:33

"washing your hair once a week is disgusting. I know people who do this, and it does not look good and it does smell"

You said people who wash their hair once a week are disgusting.

Many people of colour (among others) cannot, do not, wash their hair more often than once a week (if that), because it damages it. Are they disgusting? How is that not racist?

Daydreamsinglorioustechnicolor · 07/02/2021 15:46

@TooMuchChocolateForDinner

Eh? Racist? Confused Really?

I'm saying that everyone I know who follows this (and speaks about it), does not seem to be benefitting from it in a positive way. I never mentioned race or said any race is 'smelly!' Wasn't even in my mind, you are the person who has jumped to conclusions here.

You were certainly being small minded and only thinking about people you know, and I think people with straight or wavy hair which you are familiar with. Curly or afro hair textures are damaged by too much washing.
Insertdeadcatsnamehere · 07/02/2021 20:02

Your hair sounds similar to line OP. I wash mine every 4 or 5 days with As I Am cowash. Don't use anything else at all. Wrap it in a t shirt to dry for as long as possible and sleep with a silk wrap. Been doing this for a few months now and after 30 odd years of actively fighting my hair it's the best it's ever been (and requires the least effort).

Insertdeadcatsnamehere · 07/02/2021 20:03

*mine.
Obviously.

Shitonthebloodything · 07/02/2021 20:55

I have 3b hair although mine is fine and there's much less of it than you'd think. I don't think you need to be doing that whole routine every time you wash. You can do a normal co-wash in between. By the end of a whole week you must have so much product in it! After 4 days I need to wash mine just to get rid of the products in it. If youre literally just wanting to cover the smell then aveda leave ins are mostly CG friendly (I think) and smell v strongly of actual heaven.

Chanandlerbong01 · 08/02/2021 19:27

@Insertdeadcatsnamehere when you wrap it in the tshirt do you just add the product, scrunch then wrap? Or do you do anything else? I’m quite new to this and don’t know anyone irl to ask.

Would I use this monthly?
www.superdrug.com/Hair/Shampoo/Everyday-Shampoo/AS-I-AM-Naturally-Curl-Clarity-Shampoo-237ml/p/771249

Insertdeadcatsnamehere · 08/02/2021 20:20

I don't add anything, just cowash and wrap in a t shirt to dry. I haven't had to clarify yet as not using any product. Scalp seems quite happy too so I haven't bothered.

MirandaMarple · 08/02/2021 20:23

No idea if it's already been asked but those who wash hair once a week, do you wash behind/in your ears daily? I even get an oily ear overnight.

pinkearedcow · 09/02/2021 00:35

@dogsaremypeople

Wash your hair more! I have clients come in to the salon hat only wash their hair once a week and it's fucking disgusting. Why would you expect someone else to want to touch that 🤮
You're not a very good hairdresser if you don't understand how curly hair works!
tabulahrasa · 09/02/2021 00:42

@MirandaMarple

No idea if it's already been asked but those who wash hair once a week, do you wash behind/in your ears daily? I even get an oily ear overnight.
That sounds quite extreme tbh... can’t say I’ve ever noticed it being oily there...

But yes, I clean behind my ears when I do my face and neck, because my hair is up so I don’t get skin products in it.

Nogardenersworld · 09/02/2021 00:49

I just use really nice smelling products when i style (refresh?!) for the day.

To cut down time, I use an overnight mask, the night before wash day.