Everyone's heard that you shouldn't wash your hair every day. Shampoo works to clean hair of sweat and grime, but once it's done with that it begins to strip hair of its natural oils. Washing every day can cause dry, brittle hair that loses its luster and shine.
So what's a person to do? Some people work out every day, leading to sweaty heads, and no one likes the feeling of dirty hair. But there are some tips and tricks to extend clean hair one or two days longer. Try them for the sake of your hair.
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1. Go easy on hair products.
Some products smell so delicious and make hair so silky that you're inclined to massage a whole handful into your hair. If you're washing every day and your hair is drying out, this urge becomes even stronger. That product, however, is only going to make your hair greasy. Be sparing with leave-in conditioners and straightening balms, and as Meraki Lane recommends, keep them away from your scalp.
Some products smell so delicious and make hair so silky that you're inclined to massage a whole handful into your hair. If you're washing every day and your hair is drying out, this urge becomes even stronger. That product, however, is only going to make your hair greasy. Be sparing with leave-in conditioners and straightening balms, and as Meraki Lane recommends, keep them away from your scalp.
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2. Understand that your hair isn't dirty after a workout.
After exercising, hair isn't dirty. It's just sweaty. Live About recommends brushing hair well to distribute the sweat through it instead of leaving it all sitting on the scalp. You'll find it actually leaves your hair quite silky. Flip your hair upside down and use a hair-dryer on a cool setting to dry off your scalp. Don't use it on hot – that's just as damaging as washing it daily. If your hair is seriously sweaty and you have time, you can rinse it with cool water (no shampoo, no scrubbing). Sweat is water-soluble; it'll come right out.
After exercising, hair isn't dirty. It's just sweaty. Live About recommends brushing hair well to distribute the sweat through it instead of leaving it all sitting on the scalp. You'll find it actually leaves your hair quite silky. Flip your hair upside down and use a hair-dryer on a cool setting to dry off your scalp. Don't use it on hot – that's just as damaging as washing it daily. If your hair is seriously sweaty and you have time, you can rinse it with cool water (no shampoo, no scrubbing). Sweat is water-soluble; it'll come right out.
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3. Stop touching it!
f you're someone who plays with your hair a lot, you need to stop. Meraki Lane explains that the more you run your fingers through it or flip it over your shoulder, the greasier it'll become.
f you're someone who plays with your hair a lot, you need to stop. Meraki Lane explains that the more you run your fingers through it or flip it over your shoulder, the greasier it'll become.
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4. Washing isn't the only way to restore shape.
Some people wash their hair every day because they have bed head or because they've tied it up for a game of dodgeball and now it's got major kinks. Live About recommends spritzing hair with plain water and briefly blow drying it. The kinks will disappear and you can begin your styling process as normal.
Some people wash their hair every day because they have bed head or because they've tied it up for a game of dodgeball and now it's got major kinks. Live About recommends spritzing hair with plain water and briefly blow drying it. The kinks will disappear and you can begin your styling process as normal.
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5. Wear a shower cap.
If you think shower caps belong in the past, you're wrong. Purchase a proper one and it'll change your life. Even if you manage to avoid the water stream hitting your hair when you shower, the moisture in the air will still make your hair look limp and feel greasy. A shower cap solves that.
If you think shower caps belong in the past, you're wrong. Purchase a proper one and it'll change your life. Even if you manage to avoid the water stream hitting your hair when you shower, the moisture in the air will still make your hair look limp and feel greasy. A shower cap solves that.
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6. Use dry shampoo.
This should be a staple in your bathroom if it isn't already. Dry shampoo comes in powder or aerosol form and is an effective way to remove excess grease from your hair. It's easy to use – just spray into roots, leave for a few minutes as it soaks up sweat and oil, and brush through. Be sparing with it, and if you're a brunette, get a dry shampoo that's made specifically for darker hair.
This should be a staple in your bathroom if it isn't already. Dry shampoo comes in powder or aerosol form and is an effective way to remove excess grease from your hair. It's easy to use – just spray into roots, leave for a few minutes as it soaks up sweat and oil, and brush through. Be sparing with it, and if you're a brunette, get a dry shampoo that's made specifically for darker hair.
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7. Use dry shampoo like a pro.
Firstly, Live About recommends that you don't apply it directly to your part as it can look a little drying on your hair. Secondly, once your hair is clean and ready to be styled, try spraying or dabbing just a little water to your hairline and taking a couple of minutes to blow dry it away from your face in the way you normally would. No one will know you've cut your hair routine in half. Lastly, be aware dry shampoo adds texture to your hair, so if you're usually not confident about your hair holding a curl, why not give it a go on a dry shampoo day? Your curls will stay lush all day.
Firstly, Live About recommends that you don't apply it directly to your part as it can look a little drying on your hair. Secondly, once your hair is clean and ready to be styled, try spraying or dabbing just a little water to your hairline and taking a couple of minutes to blow dry it away from your face in the way you normally would. No one will know you've cut your hair routine in half. Lastly, be aware dry shampoo adds texture to your hair, so if you're usually not confident about your hair holding a curl, why not give it a go on a dry shampoo day? Your curls will stay lush all day.
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8. Only wash around your face.
Sometimes hair is still relatively clean but bangs have absorbed oil from your face and look less than fresh. That's no reason to do a full wash, though. Just lean over the sink, clip the rest of your hair away from your face and gently wash the selected sections of hair with shampoo and conditioner. It only takes a few minutes to blow dry and you'll look like you just stepped out of the salon.
Sometimes hair is still relatively clean but bangs have absorbed oil from your face and look less than fresh. That's no reason to do a full wash, though. Just lean over the sink, clip the rest of your hair away from your face and gently wash the selected sections of hair with shampoo and conditioner. It only takes a few minutes to blow dry and you'll look like you just stepped out of the salon.
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9. Shampoo gently.
To achieve shiny, healthy hair between washes, it's important that you're washing properly. Firstly, Stylecaster notes that hair needs to be thoroughly wet. Warm water opens the cuticles, allowing for a better clean. Secondly, don't feel that you need to scrub with a whole handful of shampoo to get a good wash. You should only use a small amount and focus on the scalp and roots of the hair, which are the youngest and oiliest. Scrubbing hard can damage hair, according to Allure, and when you strip away all the natural oils in your hair, your body will only work harder to produce more.
To achieve shiny, healthy hair between washes, it's important that you're washing properly. Firstly, Stylecaster notes that hair needs to be thoroughly wet. Warm water opens the cuticles, allowing for a better clean. Secondly, don't feel that you need to scrub with a whole handful of shampoo to get a good wash. You should only use a small amount and focus on the scalp and roots of the hair, which are the youngest and oiliest. Scrubbing hard can damage hair, according to Allure, and when you strip away all the natural oils in your hair, your body will only work harder to produce more.
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10. Condition properly.
Stylecaster recommends one key technique before conditioning: Make sure you squeeze the excess water out of your hair after shampooing as water will prevent the conditioner from absorbing into hair cuticles properly. Avoid applying conditioner to the roots of your hair – they don't need it. Concentrate on the dryer ends instead, and you'll have less oiliness in the days to come. Leave the conditioner in your hair while you go about the rest of your showering. The longer you leave in the conditioner, the silkier your hair will feel when you step out.
Stylecaster recommends one key technique before conditioning: Make sure you squeeze the excess water out of your hair after shampooing as water will prevent the conditioner from absorbing into hair cuticles properly. Avoid applying conditioner to the roots of your hair – they don't need it. Concentrate on the dryer ends instead, and you'll have less oiliness in the days to come. Leave the conditioner in your hair while you go about the rest of your showering. The longer you leave in the conditioner, the silkier your hair will feel when you step out.
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11. Rinse with cold water.
Cold water closes the cuticles, Stylecaster notes, which gives hair a shinier, healthier appearance and fewer flyaways.
Cold water closes the cuticles, Stylecaster notes, which gives hair a shinier, healthier appearance and fewer flyaways.
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It's tempting to wash your hair every day, especially if you lead a very active lifestyle and have hair that is prone to oiliness, but you're not doing yourself any favors. If you start washing your hair less often, you'll find that over time you don't need to wash it as often because oil production will slow down. In the meantime, use these tips to extend your clean hair days so you can stop reaching for the shampoo every morning.