Back in May last year I wrote about The No-Shampoo Trend that hit Sydney. Many different views have been expressed by both men and women about this subject. Most men seem to be once a week and some, once a month while the women tend to be at least 2-3 times ans some, everyday.
Sharna wrote in asking:Â
I have tried to “stretch out†my washing to 2-3 times a week (hey I WAS a once a day girl, sometimes two!).
My question is - what is the best way to deal with the in-between days where you sweat / go to the gym? Should I continue to shampoo only once or twice a week with a thorough rinse on those days?
Also, how does using hair product fit into this?
Clean hair is a very individual and person thing, what may seem clean to some may be dirty/greasy to others, or on the flip side, may be overly clean. So to answer Sharna:
Washing your hair 2 times a week is what I consider good, but it really does depend on what type of Shampoo and conditioner you are using. As I have mentioned before in posts, the better the quality, the better the result. Many people have the mistaken belief that a good product is more expensive, they are for the initial outlay, but the quality means you use less and that they work much more effectively so reducing the need to shampoo as often. So the first point is, use a good quality shampoo and corresponding conditioner, your Hairdresser should be able to recommend the appropriate type for your hair.
Second, if you have been sweating etc and you feel your hair is a bit dirty, give it a good rinse in the shower using warm water. I say warm, because the hotter the water, the more it will stimulate the production of Sebum, the natural oil produced by the scalp. This is also true for drying your hair, the hotter the dryer, the more it stimulates the Sebacious Gland.
Once your hair is dry, giving it a brush will help distribute the natural oils along the length of the hair which will help moisturise the mid-lengths and ends. Don’t do this when it is wet as the hair is in a weakened state as water “breaks” the Hydrogen bonds of the hair which provides around 50% of the hair’s strength.
Lastly, if your hair is still a bit greasy but your not quite ready for wash day, use of a mousse or gel containing alcohol will also help as the alcohol will dry up the oil. Or for those so inclined, a swim at the beach can also be a great way to keep the hair clean on those in-between days, but remember to give your hair a good rinse after to remove any salt or chlorine.