How often do you wash long hair?

[momto2inKC]

I wash mine every 2-3 days. Usually it's every 2 days because then it just looks dirty to me. But if I know i'll be at home and just doing housework or whatever, i'll wait until that 3rd day. I flat iron my hair and the only product I use if Chi protectant spray when flattening it, so I don't really have a lot of product build up issues.

 

[threeboysmom]

I have hair just to my shoulder blades, but even with that length, I wash every 3 days. As I age, my hair is drying out.

I also blowdry AND straighten - I can't afford the damage that does to my hair every day)

On the 3rd day I will usually put my hair in a shower cap and just wash the bangs since they get oily faster.

 

[drinkme]

Washing your hair everyday will overdry it and ruin it, especially if you're using hot styling tools on it. Shampooing takes out all the natural oils your hair needs. Get a dry shampoo (Suave, Tresemme, etc) and use that.

I wash my hair twice a week, three times max (and that's only if it's dirty). I used to wash it daily until someone explained to me the damage I was doing. Now my hair is much more healthy looking and easier to deal with.

I could have written the same thing.

I used to wash it every day. Now it's every 3 - 4 days. If I don't wash it on day 4, I use the dry shampoo and usually have it up.

However, in the summer when I go running on the trails I have to wash it when I get home.

HTH

 

[Skye23]

My hair is past my waist, straight, and thick. I wash it every 4-5 days. I use shampoo, light conditioner and no other hair products. I do not blow-dry it, perm it, staighten it, use curling irons or anything except a hairbrush to style it. It takes between 4-6 hours to dry. If something happens during the week where my hair gets dirty - like say going to the beach where you get hot at sweaty, have sunscreen, sand, salt water etc I'll wash it that night. But otherwise it just doesn't need it more often then that.

 

[StuckInKS]

Every day. Even going 24 hours, my hair begins to look greasy. If I waited 2-3 days, people would assume I don't take baths, as my hair would look very dirty. I don't use conditioner because it just makes the problem worse and, due to my hair texture, I really do not need it. Now that my daughter is 8.5, she is getting the same way. By day 2, it is looking bad. We both have hair that is halfway down our backs. That said, we also have very, very straight hair naturally, so washing it daily is not a problem. We let it air dry and then comb or brush it if needed (our hair is also very fine, so a quick run-through with my fingers usually works after it is completely dry. No tangles, nothing.)

 

[StuckInKS]

Greasy hair is a product of washing your hair too much - you can train your hair to be less greasy by washing it less.

This is not true for everybody. For people (or at least me anyway) who have very oily skin, your hair gets greasy. I have tried washing every 2-3 days for 3 months and nothing changed. I have had oily skin/hair even as a kid, the ONLY time it is not like this is during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. I do take advantage of it and only wash every 3 days when that happens. My youngest is 6 weeks old and I only washed every 3 days for the last 3 months of pregnancy. A few days after he was born, the oil came back and I immediately had to start washing daily again. My 8 year old only washed every 3 days her entire life up till now and all of the sudden I had to switch to every 1-2 days because he hair is beginning to look very bad by the 2nd day. Some people just have oily skin/hair and there is really not much they can do about it.

 

[shaylyn]

I was complaining about how long it takes to dry and straighten my hair every day at the salon and my stylist stated that no one with long hair washes it daily any more. Every 3 days is the norm. I don't think I could stand that. What do you guys do?

DD19 & I both have hair that is half-way down our backs.

We both wash our hair every day--can't imagine washing it only every three days!

 

[squirrel]

Every other night for me.

My sister is a hair dresser and said not to wash it everyday. It strips your hair of the natural oils that it needs.

I guess some people have to wash it every day, but mine is fine for a day or two.

 

[aprilgail2]

Wash it. My head would be itching and droopy. I have shoulder length and it's not long long but I can't stand it unless it is washed. It's just part of the routine.

That how I am too! Its just me but I would feel like such a skank if I didn't wash my hair everyday-sometimes twice a day. I make my daughter wash hers everyday too because after a day the head smells...and she is not a sweaty kid either!

My stylist told me to wash with shampoo every other day. On the off days, I get my hair wet in the shower and scrub it like I was shampooing and just don't use the soap. I have shoulder length hair and it works great for me. When you scrub your hair without the shampoo, you can actually feel the oils in your scalp releasing into your hair..... also to clarify, I live in a very dry climate with naturally dry hair that only gets worse with the blow dryer and straightener. This works perfectly for me.

If I couldn't wash it everyday that would be the only alternative I would go for--getting it wet and washing it without soap but still rinising it off....I could not/would not go days without washing my hair!

 

[jcemom]

I washed my hair every day for years and years, sometimes twice a day. Between all the washing, conditioner build-up, constant blow drying and straightening, I was destroying my hair. The texture was bad, it was always greasy and flat looking, and the ends were split.

My hairstylist (who is also a friend from high school) was always telling me I washed it too often, so I finally agreed to a trial run of less frequent washing. It took close to a month of ponytails and hats, but I was finally able to get to where I only need to wash it every third day! Sometimes I will do it every second day, if I have somewhere important to go and want a fresh hairstyle, but in general, it's every third day.

She also told me ponytails are not good (at least not the tightly pulled back ones I wear).

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

I have hair that is past my bra strap and it is thick, "dirty blonde" coloring, and is wavy/frizzy. I have to blow dry it and the next day use a Flat iron. I wash my 3-4 times a week because my hair dresser said that it's better for my hair to wash it less. I live in a very dry climate. I can go for 2 days but that third day is a pony tail day because it is greasy. I hate it. I have tried the dry shampoo trick and the baking soda but it doesn't seem to work for me, it still looks greasy 5 minutes after I use it. I use the Suave Spray Dry Shampoo but maybe I should try the foam? I didn't even realize there was a foam. Every other time I shampoo, I use the Suave clarifying with conditioner on my ends. Maybe there is a better clarifying shampoo out there? I hate my oily/greasy hair.

 

[bettymae1121]

My hair is down to my shoulder blades and I wash every 2-3 days. I also don't style it and don't use "product". Even at the 3 day mark it's not greasy, just flat looking.

 

[ShirikiUtundu]

Hair care will never be a one size fits all thing. There are people who should wash daily and people who shouldn't.

I wash my hair daily 99% of the time. I skip only if I've just had it colored or styled and it still looks good the next day. I shampoo only the scalp and condition only the ends.

I very rarely blow dry or use heat styling tools.

My hair is gorgeous and looks like I've spent a lot of time on it when in fact I wash and go.

 

[ccgirl]

I was complaining about how long it takes to dry and straighten my hair every day at the salon and my stylist stated that no one with long hair washes it daily any more. Every 3 days is the norm. I don't think I could stand that. What do you guys do?

My hair is long and thick. I usually wash it every other day but sometimes wait up to 3 days. It is actually not good to wash it every day. I have to say, I just treated myself to the Keratin treatment and it has decreased drying time immensely. Along with the straightening time.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

My hair is halfway down my back, and I wash it 2-3x a week. In between washing, I rinse with water in the shower daily, and sometimes add a bit of conditioner, but have found that washing it with shampoo more often than 2-3x a week overdries it and makes it impossible to deal with. The only other product I use is hairspray to keep my bangs swept to the side.

 

[pintamino]

This is not true for everybody. For people (or at least me anyway) who have very oily skin, your hair gets greasy. I have tried washing every 2-3 days for 3 months and nothing changed. I have had oily skin/hair even as a kid, the ONLY time it is not like this is during the 3rd trimester of pregnancy. I do take advantage of it and only wash every 3 days when that happens. My youngest is 6 weeks old and I only washed every 3 days for the last 3 months of pregnancy. A few days after he was born, the oil came back and I immediately had to start washing daily again. My 8 year old only washed every 3 days her entire life up till now and all of the sudden I had to switch to every 1-2 days because he hair is beginning to look very bad by the 2nd day. Some people just have oily skin/hair and there is really not much they can do about it.

I understand because I have oily skin (and therefore greasy hair), but it has vastly improved since I switched to oil-based cleansing for my skin and cutting back on washing my hair. I had been dealing with acne from breakouts because my skin was so oily, etc. (with input from my GP and derm over the years) so it's not that I haven't been there. But using harsh soap on a frequent basis only makes it worse - most people even with oily skin could get away with only washing every other day with time and patience. Some people have oilier or drier skin than others, but hair that will NEVER adjust is the minutely rare exception (of course we all like to think we are that exception!).

 

[sandynd]

I have hair that is past my bra strap and it is thick, "dirty blonde" coloring, and is wavy/frizzy. I have to blow dry it and the next day use a Flat iron. I wash my 3-4 times a week because my hair dresser said that it's better for my hair to wash it less. I live in a very dry climate. I can go for 2 days but that third day is a pony tail day because it is greasy. I hate it. I have tried the dry shampoo trick and the baking soda but it doesn't seem to work for me, it still looks greasy 5 minutes after I use it. I use the Suave Spray Dry Shampoo but maybe I should try the foam? I didn't even realize there was a foam. Every other time I shampoo, I use the Suave clarifying with conditioner on my ends. Maybe there is a better clarifying shampoo out there? I hate my oily/greasy hair.

The foam shampoo is made by Tresemme, apparently for dry curly hair. It looks almost exactly the same in packaging as their spray dry shampoo, so look closely - it will say waterless foam shampoo. I work it through my hair closest to the scalp and towel dry to remove the oil and foam, then proceed with your normal routine. It dries in seconds under the blow dryer and smells really nice. I wouldn't use it every day, but it gives my extremely long hair a break from water while still keeping my scalp from looking like an oil slick

 

[Maddies Mama]

In an average week, I work out 6 times, enough to make at least my hairline sweat, but usually I end up with a wet head of sweat from high impact cardio. I can't imagine not washing my hair after a workout. On my off day, I usually don't wash my hair, though.

 

[Pooh_Friend#1]

The foam shampoo is made by Tresemme, apparently for dry curly hair. It looks almost exactly the same in packaging as their spray dry shampoo, so look closely - it will say waterless foam shampoo. I work it through my hair closest to the scalp and towel dry to remove the oil and foam, then proceed with your normal routine. It dries in seconds under the blow dryer and smells really nice. I wouldn't use it every day, but it gives my extremely long hair a break from water while still keeping my scalp from looking like an oil slick

Thanks! I will be making a trip to Target when I get off work for this product. I appreciate the help.

 

[JamesMom]

My hair is a few inches past my shoulder and THICK. I never blow dry it and probably straighten it 1-2x a month. I wash it 2x a week - any more than that and it is frizz and fly-away central. My hair looks its best the day after I straighten it. I wash at night and let it air dry as I sleep. I live in scrunches as I can't stand to have hair in my face so I straighten it only for occasions I want my hair down. I am tempted to get it cut short, but fear the hair in the face thing too much, lol.