Another article: "Don't shampoo daily"

[bjscheel]

The article may say not to shampoo daily, but to use a cleansing conditioner instead. If you follow the Curly Girl method, you co-wash, that is wash with conditioner and scrub the scalp well instead of using shampoo. Maybe it is not about that, but it is a possibility. Every other day shampooing works for me.

My oldest daughter had greasy hair so I got her the shampoos for greasy hair. It only helped a little. After reading about curly hair, I switched the girls and I to sulfate-free shampoos. Contrary to my original thought, the gentler shampoo helped her oiliness way more than the "tough stuff" I thought she needed.

 

[DebbieB]

I shampoo on Monday, Wednesday, Friday. I rinse it in the shower on the other days.

 

[camreesmom]

I shampoo every day even though I have dry hair. It is fine and it's short. I use lots of products to get it to look good. The next morning, if I don't shampoo, it's just bad. I can't make it do anything. It's not really dirty but it just won't behave. I guess if my hair was long with no real style, it would be okay.

But to the "funky smell." I'm apparently very sensitive to it. I go to the grocery store early every Sunday morning and there are obviously people there who haven't washed their hair. I can really smell it and YUK. I don't think I could live with that "scalp smell." Also, I agree that when I exercise it really messes up the freshness of my hair and scalp.

I thought I was the only one that thinks that scalp definitely has it's own smell. I tell my kids that I hate to smell scalp!

 

[wvjules]

I only wash my hair every other day. Mainly because I'm lazy and want to sleep in a bit every other day. However, I think my hair looks best on the second day.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

If I shampoo my hair daily, my scalp itches and my hair turns into brittle straw. Twice a week is about right for me. Once a week worked when I lived in a cooler climate.

I do rinse it with plain water after swimming in a pool, and use a dry shampoo spray after sweating. I don't use any other hair products so "build-up" of sprays, gels, etc isn't an issue.

 

[nkereina]

Aside from my hair being oily, I think about what my hair looks like in the morning - sometimes it's half curly, sticking up in places. Total bed head. I think my hair would always have to be in a pony tail if I didn't wash it daily because it would look like a mess!

 

[Magpie]

So, do people who do this (not shampoo often) just never exercise, sweat, or go swimming? Realistically, I suppose if you don't ever do those things, your hair doesn't need to be washed, but the absolute nastiness that would be my hair and scalp after even one day if I didn't shampoo... ewww. And what about the smell? When I go more than two days...like when I'm laid up sick, the funky smell starts getting to me. And my scalp gets so itchy too.

I mean, if it works for some, great. I just can't imagine myself doing it. I like to feel clean.

I exercise, sweat and swim, like everyone else (maybe more than most). All it does is make my hair damp for a bit, then it dries out, gets fluffier, and then I comb it out and all is good. It feels clean, my scalp doesn't itch, and there's no smell. Sorry to hear that you get stinky hair! I certainly don't. If anything, exercise seems to improve my hair.

Now, being sick in bed is another issue entirely. Yes, that makes me feel funky and gross and my hair gets clumpy... but that's not normal. That's being sick.

 

[Magpie]

To the posters who don't wash everydayand claim that nobody can tell...maybe its just that nobody has said anything? I can usually tell if someone is unwashed, but I would never say to them that they need a shower. Maybe people are just being nice to you? That's something I would worry wbout.

Believe me, my mother would let me know. She once had a nasal infection that she was unaware of, and followed me around for weeks complaining that I "stunk". I kept asking everyone I knew if they thought I smelled. They assured me I didn't. Finally I convinced my mom to go to a doctor... and what do you know? All that funk was up her own nose!

Also, even if my mum didn't, my husband would. And he says my hair doesn't smell like anything. I trust him.

Also, just because I don't put product in my hair more than once a week, that doesn't mean I'm "unwashed". I'm actually (due to some personal health issues), very VERY careful about my personal hygiene.

 

[pryncess527]

I exercise, sweat and swim, like everyone else (maybe more than most). All it does is make my hair damp for a bit, then it dries out, gets fluffier, and then I comb it out and all is good. It feels clean, my scalp doesn't itch, and there's no smell. Sorry to hear that you get stinky hair! I certainly don't. If anything, exercise seems to improve my hair.

Now, being sick in bed is another issue entirely. Yes, that makes me feel funky and gross and my hair gets clumpy... but that's not normal. That's being sick.

OMG me too! I wondered if I was nuts, but I swear it always looks better if I work out in the morning.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I can't skip my hair, I just don't feel clean with out washing it.

 

[Starshine]

I have super fine hair, and dry shampoo is my friend!!! Mine will start to get greasy on the second day, but dry shampoo fixes it right up. I started only shampooing 3 times a week and my hair isn't nearly so limp and floppy as it used to be. Oh and the dry shampoo takes care of any smell too.

 

[gwynne]

I shampoo about every other day. I change products occasionally. Switching to another brand for a few washes now and then seems to work better.

 

[nancygirl1]

I have thin/fine hair so I use a lot of product to style it. Dry shampoo was okay the second day, but it stripped the color out of my hair pretty fast. My hairdresser has been telling me for years that it's better for your hair not to wash it every day. Plain water does not get everything out. So I'm stuck with every day.

 

[10MoreMinutes]

My hair is super thick. I shampoo and condition every other day or every third day and that seems to be the magic number. My hair never looks dirty, although I do notice the "scalp smell" that some others have mentioned if I only wash every third day.

 

[Minnesota!]

I used to be daily. Switched to e/o day a few years ago. Took some getting used to, but, yes, my hair does better like this. Mine used to be so greasy in the front after one day. That is not the case anymore...

I just kept it pulled back on day 2 until my hair adjusted.

 

[Minnesota!]

So, do people who do this (not shampoo often) just never exercise, sweat, or go swimming? Realistically, I suppose if you don't ever do those things, your hair doesn't need to be washed, but the absolute nastiness that would be my hair and scalp after even one day if I didn't shampoo... ewww. And what about the smell? When I go more than two days...like when I'm laid up sick, the funky smell starts getting to me. And my scalp gets so itchy too.

I mean, if it works for some, great. I just can't imagine myself doing it. I like to feel clean.

I shampoo every day even though I have dry hair. It is fine and it's short. I use lots of products to get it to look good. The next morning, if I don't shampoo, it's just bad. I can't make it do anything. It's not really dirty but it just won't behave. I guess if my hair was long with no real style, it would be okay.

But to the "funky smell." I'm apparently very sensitive to it. I go to the grocery store early every Sunday morning and there are obviously people there who haven't washed their hair. I can really smell it and YUK. I don't think I could live with that "scalp smell." Also, I agree that when I exercise it really messes up the freshness of my hair and scalp.

Scalp smell...YES!!! I have a coworker who, I can smell it on her a few days a week. Makes me gag.

When I work out, my hair and scalp don't sweat. Do yours? I just put my hair up and then take it down again once I'm done. And I've never noticed my hair having a bad smell either - it usually smells like my styling products.

Yes, my scalp sweats like crazy. I have super thick hair, and no matter what, my head is a sopping mess at the end of my daily workouts. Which is why each morning I wash at least the hairline.

I don't use styling products, at all. So, my hair either smells clean or like sweat/scalp. There is no inbetween

 

[PrincessV]

I haven't used shampoo in years! But I also don't use any products that build up and can only be removed by shampoo, and I do wet it and cleanse with a cleansing conditioner at least daily, most days twice a day: once in the morning and then again during my post-workout shower. I have curly hair and I bleach it, so it's extremely porous and dry - whether my routine would work for someone with straight, fine hair not in need of a ton of moisture, I don't know. But I think the most critical element is the not using products that can't be removed with plain old water.

 

[pocomom]

Eh... you aren't supposed to use Qtips in your ears either. Guess I'm a rebel.

 

[Kitty 34]

I wash my hair twice a week and have for many years. Works for me.

 

[DLgal]

When I work out, my hair and scalp don't sweat. Do yours? I just put my hair up and then take it down again once I'm done. And I've never noticed my hair having a bad smell either - it usually smells like my styling products.

Uh, YES my scalp sweats...that's crazy that yours doesn't. My hair is practically soaked after a workout. It has always been this way.