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Original poster

Has anyone ever seen it through?

44 replies

sandytoesallsummer · 21/10/2022 18:22

I am not sure what you call it, but has anyone ever gone through with not washing their hair until it 'self cleans'?

I am not planning on it, but I am genuinely curious to see if it would work and how awful it gets before it starts to self clean

OP posts:
dawnfromgavinandstacey · 21/10/2022 18:23

I don't think I could I am
Not even sure it would self clean just get worse and worse surely

Original poster
sandytoesallsummer · 21/10/2022 18:28

That's what I think!! But apparently it's a 'thing'

OP posts:
FinallyHere · 21/10/2022 18:31

I tried this when the lock downs first started in 2020. Nothing really happened. I scraped all the hair back off my face and waited to see what happened.

Went from daily hair washing to weekly without any issues at all.

Don't use any product in my hair and don't tend to go into big areas of pollution.

Complete non event. I can't believe how much of my life I have wasted washing my hair daily.

LeoEisor · 21/10/2022 18:41

Yes!! In lock down went 6 days no washing. Used to wash my hair every other day. Now I only have to wash on a Wednesday and Sunday! I can even wear it down the day before wash day. It does work! My hair used to get greasy very fast but it's a lot better now. Lockdown was helpful as I didn't need to leave the house and worry if my hair was greasy lol

NotRightNowNo · 21/10/2022 18:41

I did this in my early 20s, many years ago. Not sure whyi started washing it again. My hair was lovely and soft. At the time I was a smoker and it didn't smell of smoke, unlike my clothes. I recall the transition period was OK except for a few days where I nearly crumbled

dawnfromgavinandstacey · 21/10/2022 18:43

I thought you meant not wading it for weeks! I have heard of it somewhere somehow but I don't think it would work.

wibblewobbleball · 21/10/2022 18:53

I did it during lockdown too as I was also on maternity leave. I wouldn't say it self cleans Grin but I used to have to wash it every day and now I was it maybe twice per week, three times max.

GettingStuffed · 21/10/2022 18:57

I saw it on a TV experiment once it worked

Original poster
sandytoesallsummer · 21/10/2022 18:58

That's really interesting those who have reduced how often they wash it. I do mine every other day but would love for it to be less.
Mine is curly so ends up a logistical nightmare!

OP posts:
Smilelesstalkmore · 21/10/2022 19:03

My hair is really bleached and I've gone from washing it every other day to twice a week, and it's definitely made a positive change to the condition of my hair. I would like to go even less, but I do feel a bit manky by the time I haven't washed it for 4 days! If I didn't have a side fringe and it was just one length that I could scrape back I would probably go down to once a week.

notanicepersonapparently · 21/10/2022 19:06

Just washing the fringe can freshen it up without doing the full head of hair.

EasterIssland · 21/10/2022 19:09

Smilelesstalkmore · 21/10/2022 19:03

My hair is really bleached and I've gone from washing it every other day to twice a week, and it's definitely made a positive change to the condition of my hair. I would like to go even less, but I do feel a bit manky by the time I haven't washed it for 4 days! If I didn't have a side fringe and it was just one length that I could scrape back I would probably go down to once a week.

This is me too tho I guess bleach dries it a bit and gets rid of much of the oil.
I can now was it once a week and the hair doesn’t look as greasy as pre colour hair in 2020 when 2 days without washing would make it feel awful

GetRidOfIt · 21/10/2022 19:11

Bear in mind that in the vast majority of cases, this isn’t ‘a thing,’ and doesn’t work, due to hormones. You are much better off investigating if you are hyperthyroid (subclinical or otherwise).

M0rT · 21/10/2022 19:19

I tried this and couldn't do it, and I only wash my hair once/twice a week anyway.
My sister did it ten years ago when her hair was very short and only wets it in the shower now and puts Apple cider vinegar through it about once a month.
Her hair is in great condition, but she doesn't dye it or use products. Might be different if you do.

Littleguggi · 21/10/2022 22:44

I used to hair wash every other day but like a lot of people, during lockdown, extended it to every 6-7 days. I have continued to do this now unless I workout then I will of course wash my hair after! It rarely gets greasy now!

dudsville · 21/10/2022 22:52

I've never done it properly. I did once go to co-washing by accident - I'm quite short sighted and didn't realise i was using two conditioners, 😅. I do this now if i want to freshen my hair but not shampoo it. I basically wash weekly now, it doesn't get greasy, but it does start hurting a bit around that length of time, i don't understand why but the discomfort goes away with a quick wash.

mackthepony · 22/10/2022 01:22

Are the people who approve of this method blonde or darker haired?

I'm blonde and honestly don't think I could do it. It's so greasy and uncomfortable even after a day or two

Mercurial123 · 22/10/2022 05:49

I had eye surgery a few years ago and couldn't wash my hair for two weeks. There was no self cleaning it looked and felt awful. I have really dry hair the longest I can go without washing is 5 days. I've tried to wash it once a week but it wasn't worth feeling rubbish.

Askinvillarblues · 22/10/2022 08:53

A distant (male) cousin tried this one and it STANK. He seemed to think all was fine and the self-cleaning thing was working, but you could absolutely smell him coming. Not saying that’s the same for everyone but just bear in mind that he didn’t seem to be able to smell in it the same way the rest of us could (and we weren’t close enough for me to be able to mention without being rude).

Askinvillarblues · 22/10/2022 08:54

Should add, he wasn’t washing it AT ALL, so not even weekly or anything.

Coffeepot72 · 22/10/2022 09:13

During lockdown I tried to go from washing every day, to washing alternate days, sadly it didn’t work for me

Garysmum · 22/10/2022 09:19

Managed it until I started daily cardio. A rinse with water never seemed to suffice when the sweat is dripping off you.

SirChenjins · 22/10/2022 09:21

I was mine every 2 or 3 days usually - don’t have time to wash and dry every day. I didn’t was it yesterday so I’m day 4 and it looks and feels awful - and there’s a definite whiff of eau de last night’s cooking coming from it. I don’t think I’d want to go for weekly or less frequently washing.

Snoredoeurve · 22/10/2022 09:24

GetRidOfIt · 21/10/2022 19:11

Bear in mind that in the vast majority of cases, this isn’t ‘a thing,’ and doesn’t work, due to hormones. You are much better off investigating if you are hyperthyroid (subclinical or otherwise).

Yes I cant believe people think it works.
My colleague did this and the reality was she reeked and her hair looked filthy.
All the look how good condition my hair is was in her head.

Gensola · 22/10/2022 09:24

You can smell people who don’t wash their hair regularly - I teach at Uni so have plenty of experience of this. It’s a very distinctive sort of musty smell.
I do spin classes most days so have to wash my hair daily/every time I work out as it’s dripping in sweat.
like a PP I get a sore/ uncomfortable scalp if I don’t wash my hair for a few days in times when I am not working out, I thought it was just me!

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