How often should you wash your hair

Have you ever wondered how often should you wash your hair? Find out how and why I only wash my hair once a week!

This is one of my favorite topics to discuss. It seems like anytime I am with friends, the topic somehow always come up on how often I wash my hair and when was the last time I washed it.

I only wash my hair once or a twice a week and most people are completely baffled on how this is possible. It all started about 10 years ago when I read an article in a magazine about a lady that stopped washing her hair for an experiment and eventually her hair began to naturally cleanse itself.

However, she had to “train” the hair to act this way. This is because our hair has been conditioned based on washing it every day and based on the hair products and styling products we put into our hair every day.

The lady that wrote this article stopped washing her completely not even when she graduated from college or got married! It was unbelievable.

The article also included photos and her hair was beautiful. At this time, I was washing my hair every day.

I have a ton of hair so I was easily spending 1.5-2 hours PER DAY washing, drying and fixing my hair. It was time for a change and this article inspired me to start immediately!

How many times should you wash your hair?

I have a ton of reasons why I only wash my hair once a week.

Reasons I don’t wash my hair everyday:

Saves Time – This is probably the biggest reason for me. Like I mentioned above, I was easily spending 1.5-2 hours per DAY washing, drying and fixing my hair. That’s 547-730 hours a year wasted on my hair! Even as I type this, I still cannot believe it. This is so much time and I can easily think of 10 things that I would rather be spending that time on instead of washing and styling my hair.
Saves Money – Not washing your hair everyday can easily save you money. Not only are you saving on the cost of shampoo and conditioner but you are also saving on the cost of water. I do still shower everyday but these showers are a lot quicker when I’m not spending tons of time on my hair.
Saves Your Hair – Washing your hair everyday can dry your hair out which will eventually need to split ends which can destroy your hair. Not washing your hair everyday is a great way for your hair to create it’s own natural oils which makes your hair overall healthier.

How do I start washing my hair less?

I’m a big believer that you can train your hair just like you can train your body. Most people cannot run a marathon overnight.

They train day after day and eventually work up to the big race. Training your hair has to follow a similar pattern.

If you are washing your hair everyday, I recommend that you start by only washing your hair every other day. Once your hair has adapted, then I recommend that you switch to every third day of using shampoo and conditioner.

Continue to extend out your wash days until you are on a schedule that your hair and you are comfortable with. Generally, it takes 2-3 months for your hair to adjust to this new washing schedule and become fully “trained.”

Here are a few tips to help you through this transition.

- Dry Shampoo – Dry shampoo is your best friend! If you feel that your hair is getting greasy, you can use dry shampoo to help soak up some of this grease.I recommend that you apply the dry shampoo at night to allow your hair time to soak it in. I prefer to make my own so I know what’s in it and I’m not adding more unnecessary chemicals to my hair.Here are instructions on how to make dry shampoo for blondes and brunettes. I love to use this when my hair feels greasy or I have oily hair.
- New Hairstyles – Fun hairstyles are a great way to hide grease or flatness while you are transitioning your hair to this new washing routine. You can easily throw your hair up in a messy bun or a fun ponytail.Also, I find curling my hair helps to add more volume to my hair as I approach my next hair washing day.
- Don’t Over Condition – You might have the urge to apply more conditioner since you are not washing your hair as frequently; however, you should resist this urge. Over conditioning will just cause more build up on your hair and extend your hair training period.I recommend just applying the conditioner on the ends of your hair and avoiding your scalp.
- Clarifying Shampoo – A clarifying shampoo is a great way to help remove build up of products on your hair. I use a clarifying shampoo once a month to help replenish my hair.If you have thinner hair, it also help adds volume to your hair by removing this build up of products on your hair. Clarifying shampoo is stronger than a regular shampoo so I do not recommend using it at every wash.You can make your own all natural clarifying shampoo as well and make sure to rinse with water thoroughly. This is great for all hair types including straight hair and curly hair.

Is it bad to wash your hair everyday?

Like we mentioned before, washing your hair everyday can dry your hair out which will eventually need to split ends which can destroy your hair. Not washing your hair everyday is a great way for your hair to create it’s own natural oils which makes your hair overall healthier.

How many times should you wash your hair a week?

I think that this amount will be different for everyone based on your type of hair and preference. However, I also don’t think that anyone should wash their hair everyday.

This will likely cause more harm than good to your hair (remember the split ends!). At the most, I would recommend every other day.

Is it OK to wash your hair once a week?

If your hair is not super oily or not super dry, I would recommend washing your hair once or twice a week. Now, if you hair is naturally oily, you may need to wash more and if your hair is naturally dry, you may be able to wash less.

If you workout and are wondering how often should you wash your hair if you workout, it is possible to still only wash once or twice a week. You can use dry shampoo to freshen and soak up the sweat.

Whether you are wondering how often should you wash your natural hair or how often should you wash your hair if you have dandruff, it is all possible to minimize the amount of time you wash your hair.

Many people want to know how often should you wash your hair woman and most people are seriously over washing their hair!

I hope I have encouraged you to get to know your hair more and save time, money and your hair by not washing “training” your hair and not washing it everyday!