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Original poster

Prolonging hair washing

33 replies

mikado1 · 29/01/2023 22:30

Hairdresser advised this and I'm giving it a good go. I'm going minimum three, sometimes manage four days before a wash when previously it was every second day. The wash, when I do it, is unbelievable, hair looks fab and it's getting a little less greasy on day 3 and 4 than it was.

I'm wondering if anyone has particular advice on keeping my hair as half decent as possible in between washes until hair gets more used to it? What do you wear in shower when not washing it, cap or no, a certain type? I spray mists etc on my face and moisture before sleep (few hours before) and I think I should maybe cover my hair someway at this point to stop extra moisturises and oils getting in hair. Any other tips that might help?!

OP posts:
YerAWizardHarry · 29/01/2023 22:31

I’m currently trying The Inkey Glycolic acid pre treatment and I like it so far! Gives me an extra day before my hair is too greasy

Original poster
mikado1 · 29/01/2023 22:42

Oh! Haven't heard of it..what's the idea of glycolic acid in hair I wonder? Thanks for the tip. Quite honestly, my roots are quite greasy now ahead of day 4 tomorrow but the wash on Friday and the condition my hair was in was so good so Km going to push through!

OP posts:
BillyAndTheSillies · 29/01/2023 22:46

I was just about to pop on and recommend the glycolic scalp treatment from the Inkey List, it gets me three or four days out of a wash instead of two days.

YerAWizardHarry · 29/01/2023 22:52

I’m not sure to be honest! It’s a 10 minute pre wash treatment. Also gives me a bit of volume too. Not insanely expensive (around £10 on Amazon and lasts a fair few goes)

Original poster
mikado1 · 29/01/2023 22:52

Ooh really interesting.. assume ok with coloured hair, thanks a mill.

OP posts:
YerAWizardHarry · 29/01/2023 23:10

Yeah I’ve got bleached hair and no issues

AnotherSpare · 29/01/2023 23:30

I tried to get into this a while ago. I used to wash my hair every day and wanted to break the habit. It took perseverance but I got there. I would wash on day 1, then weirdly I used to find my hair looked awful on day 2 but day 3 was great and sometimes I stretched to a day 4. It took me a few months of perseverance to get to this.
Unfortunately for me, peri menopause has now hit and I get terrible night sweats which mean I'm back to washing my horrible sweaty scalp every morning again.

AnotherSpare · 29/01/2023 23:32

Forgot to add my top tip - investing in a silk pillowcase was a game changer.

Original poster
mikado1 · 29/01/2023 23:39

Ah thank you and sorry you're going through that after all your efforts. Yes I have a silk pillow! I know what you mean, day 3 here not great but somehow day 4 looks better... v weird.

Thank you pp re the acid, seems like it exfoliates the scalp 👍 worth a try.

OP posts:
SchoolTripDrama · 29/01/2023 23:44

YerAWizardHarry · 29/01/2023 22:31

I’m currently trying The Inkey Glycolic acid pre treatment and I like it so far! Gives me an extra day before my hair is too greasy

That did absolutely zero for my scalp or hair. Certainly didn't increase time between washes. Now trying the salicylic one

SchoolTripDrama · 29/01/2023 23:46

mikado1 · 29/01/2023 23:39

Ah thank you and sorry you're going through that after all your efforts. Yes I have a silk pillow! I know what you mean, day 3 here not great but somehow day 4 looks better... v weird.

Thank you pp re the acid, seems like it exfoliates the scalp 👍 worth a try.

I can tell you it definitely does not exfoliate the scalp! Not even slightly and I really persevered and used the entire bottle as I have seborrheic dermatitis on my scalp so it's very oily but nope, nothing. Didn't even remove any flakes

AnchorWHAT · 30/01/2023 14:33

I do mine every three or four days and it seems to be improving the condition but i have also stopped most of the additional products i used to use to try and improve the scrunched curl effect, also stopped heat appliances and use a heatless curl headband after washing when my hair is slightly damp, i sleep in it and have lovely curls next day that gradually fall leaving my hair nicely wavy for the days until i feel like it needs a wash.

SunshineLollipopsAndRainbows · 30/01/2023 14:38

Dry shampoo

Original poster
mikado1 · 30/01/2023 19:22

AnchorWHAT · 30/01/2023 14:33

I do mine every three or four days and it seems to be improving the condition but i have also stopped most of the additional products i used to use to try and improve the scrunched curl effect, also stopped heat appliances and use a heatless curl headband after washing when my hair is slightly damp, i sleep in it and have lovely curls next day that gradually fall leaving my hair nicely wavy for the days until i feel like it needs a wash.

Thank you. Yes good point, I don't use any extra product but it would definitely weigh it down.

OP posts:
ShesThunderstorms · 30/01/2023 19:26

I only wash my hair once a week now. Every Thursday so it's nice for Friday and the weekend.
I have very fine hair that used to get so greasy if I'd have only washed it once a week but it's not bad at all now.
The two days before I wash I tend to do very slicked back with hairspray, middle parting, in either a low bun or ponytail so that if it is looking a bit greasy, it's all slicked back anyway.
My hair is in such lovely condition now, it's grown quickly and I find I'm using heat much less on it.

lmnabc · 30/01/2023 19:51

@AnotherSpare what difference does a silk pillowcase make?

CombatBarbie · 30/01/2023 19:55

Dd and I have been doing this since covid.... Her hair never went past her shoulders..... Now she's like rapunzel and hairdressers comment when she goes for a trim.

One thing we were discussing the other week was dry shampoo, she uses it on day 3 but said apparently your supposed to put some in when your hair is damp to soak up the oils.... I have no idea if it works though.

Original poster
mikado1 · 30/01/2023 21:09

ShesThunderstorms · 30/01/2023 19:26

I only wash my hair once a week now. Every Thursday so it's nice for Friday and the weekend.
I have very fine hair that used to get so greasy if I'd have only washed it once a week but it's not bad at all now.
The two days before I wash I tend to do very slicked back with hairspray, middle parting, in either a low bun or ponytail so that if it is looking a bit greasy, it's all slicked back anyway.
My hair is in such lovely condition now, it's grown quickly and I find I'm using heat much less on it.

Wow, that's good going. Mine looks slicked back now today, day 4.. I will try to push it to day 5 maybe next week!

OP posts:
AnotherSpare · 30/01/2023 21:11

@lmnabc The silk seems to generate less friction on the hair than cotton, which leaves the hair looking better in the morning and needing less intervention. Less bed hair!

Original poster
mikado1 · 30/01/2023 21:13

CombatBarbie · 30/01/2023 19:55

Dd and I have been doing this since covid.... Her hair never went past her shoulders..... Now she's like rapunzel and hairdressers comment when she goes for a trim.

One thing we were discussing the other week was dry shampoo, she uses it on day 3 but said apparently your supposed to put some in when your hair is damp to soak up the oils.... I have no idea if it works though.

Thats brilliant, so it's improved growth and health of hair too! I thought dry shampoo might take from the effect so I have been avoiding other than a very rare day. How long does DD go now between washes? Great idea to do during Covid! Does she mean dry shampoo post wash or maybe post a body shower when hair is a bit moist maybe.

OP posts:
Businessflake · 30/01/2023 21:18

I wear a shower cap, just the cheap ones from Superdrug, probably last me about a year or so before the elastic goes.

I plait my hair for sleeping, not sure if it helps or not but definitely less annoying!

if it’s a bit flat I give it a blast with a hairdryer.

the only product I use is Moroccan oil just before blow drying.

I can just about go a week between washes if I haven’t done much exercise. Currently on twice a week as running a fair bit.

PartingGift · 30/01/2023 21:22

Apply dry shampoo before bed and don't brush it out until morning. The extra time means it can soak up all the grease. If I do this with day 2 hair I can usually get another day or two. Sadly my hair seems to be untrainable to go any longer: I would LOVE to only have to wash it once a week!

LancashireSquirrel · 30/01/2023 21:31

Cornflour dapped around the roots (or wherever your greasy areas are!) with a clean blusher brush. The cornflour is natural so no nasty chemicals and is amazing. You can always add a few drops of essential oil if you fancy.

Game changer.

CombatBarbie · 30/01/2023 21:34

mikado1 · 30/01/2023 21:13

Thats brilliant, so it's improved growth and health of hair too! I thought dry shampoo might take from the effect so I have been avoiding other than a very rare day. How long does DD go now between washes? Great idea to do during Covid! Does she mean dry shampoo post wash or maybe post a body shower when hair is a bit moist maybe.

Show quote history

Dd is every 4 days, i done a quick Google and many articles seem to match the logic of putting it on freshly washed hair to absorb oil. Constantly using it will cause a build up but ant imagine on day 3 and washing on day 4 being too much of an issue.

It drove her nuts yje first few weeks, teenager, hormones, greasy hair usually by day 2 but she was OK about 6 weeks in as the hair got used to it. Think the trick is being creative with hairstyles whilst in the greasy phase. I'm a messy bun person, DD preferred braids so she wasn't constantly touching it.

LaLuz7 · 30/01/2023 21:36

Baby powder rubbed on the roots on day 2/3 gives me a decent look for a extra day.