It took me awhile to get my hair to the point it is now, where I don’t have to wash it more than a couple of times a week. It’s a process and I’m not saying this method will work for everyone, but it works for me.
First a little hair history: I’ve pretty much always had longer hair. Sure, I’ve cut it a few times (I had boy hair when I was 3 when my family escaped communism, but that’s another story) and the haircut of 7th grade that we won’t mention…but other than that I had long hair for most of my life. My hair didn’t get to the thickness it is now until high school though. I always had baby fine hair up until that point. Now, my hair is naturally wavy (but not in a good way) and it’s thin but I have a ton of it.
So since I had long hair that I styled regularly, I realized that not only did I not enjoy spending time styling it everyday or every other day but that it was damaging my hair a lot to constantly blow dry and flat iron it. My hairdressers always suggested washing it less, so I gave it go and have never looked back.
So, here’s the breakdown of my weekly routine and some tips and tricks I’ve learned over time.
1. Give your hair some time
It takes time for your hair to adjust its own oil production. People who wash their hair daily might find this part particularly difficult. When people wash daily, they often complain that they HAVE TO wash their hair daily because “it gets so greasy” if they don’t. Just like skin, if you over-dry your hair, it’s going to overproduce oil. So you have to train your hair to produce less oil, by letting it get oily. I know that sounds completely counter-intuitive, but after two weeks or so, your scalp should regulate and produce a normal amount of oil.
2. Start slow
3. Embrace baby powder (or dry shampoo)
Are your roots getting oily? Sprinkle baby powder (my preference) or dry shampoo onto your roots for lift and volume between washings.
4. Use Mousse
Okay, I cannot emphasize this enough. When we were in Paris, I didn’t bring mousse and was forced to do an entire blowout without it. Well, combine the lack of mousse with wearing hats all day and my hair was as flat as a board and got greasy the next day. THE NEXT DAY. This is unheard of for me. I didn’t even know what to do with myself. Here’s the secret. Volumizing mousse gives your hair body and lift at the roots—thus, your roots aren’t plastered to your scalp all day, allowing them the breathe and stay lifted. So mousse helps blowouts last longer. Because I said so. My favorite is Redken Guts 10.
5. Create a washing schedule
I know this sounds crazy, but for a Type-A like myself, a washing schedule is just another normal occurrence. I wash my hair Monday morning and Thursday morning each week. Which means I go 3 days without washing from Mon-Thurs. morning and 4 days without washing from Thurs. morning to Monday morning. So basically, since I usually don’t do anything exciting on Sundays, I leave my hair one extra day and just let it be. This is a picture of my hair on the 4th day. Not bad, huh?
Obviously, you have to re-style your hair somewhat if you want it to look decent between washings. It’s not like a magical fairy fixes your hair while you sleep. So what I do is this:
Washing day: Wash and blow dry hair with round brush and set in various size velcro roller (see my entire hair routine, here). This is truly the key to creating a style that lasts between washings. It infuses volume into the hair and creates a nice shape that you can work with throughout the days you don’t wash.
Second day hair: Lately, I’ve been curling my second day hair in sections. Once you’ve curled it in sections (I use a Hot Tools curling iron
Third day hair: On the third day (which would be a Wednesday or Saturday for me) I either re-curl it (this time in larger sections than I do on second day hair) or if I’ve left if straight on the second day, I’d touch up with a flat iron. The third day is where you might choose to add more baby powder or dry shampoo. Bumble & Bumble
Fourth day hair: (If you make it this long) make sure your fourth day is a day you don’t care about or don’t need to be anywhere important (for me, this is Sundays when I’m usually cleaning the house and relaxing). I usually just add baby powder and brush it out a bit and let it do whatever it’s doing.
Like I said, this method doesn’t work for everyone. It’s trial and error. If you hair is very short or very fine, I imagine it doesn’t take long to wash and style it, so it’s not as much of an effort and inconvenience as us longer-haired gals, which means it’s probably not even worth it to try this method.
BUT…….
“What if I work out? How can I not wash my hair then?”
This is a question I get a lot. I work out and I don’t wash my hair after my workout. Sure, I sweat, but not massively. My hair is never more than ever so slightly damp at the sides and front roots of my hair. I wouldn’t even classify it as wet. When I get home from a particularly sweaty workout, I immediately put my hair down and blast it with low heat from my hairdryer (focusing on the roots). Then, I use a claw clip to keep the front part out of my face and to sort of “pouff” it up so it retains volume. I happen to be lucky and my hair doesn’t get drenched when I work out…but if yours does, another option would be to either just rinse your hair or use conditioner only when you wash it after a workout. Obviously the best choice is not to wash it, but if that’s simply not an option for you, then wash away!
Also—another option is to plan your vigorous cardio sessions around your hair washing schedule. Once again, totally Type-A, but as Tim Gunn says “make it work!” So making this method work for you as as simple as scheduling intense sweat-inducing cardio workouts on the nights you’re washing your hair the next morning. So let’s say you’re washing your hair Thursday morning—do crazy, sweaty cardio on Wednesday night.
BUT…….
“Isn’t it gross not to wash your hair daily?”
Nope. Everyone’s scalp produces natural oils that are good for your hair. Unless you’ve been somewhere stinky or dunked your head into a fish tank, you should be OK without washing your hair for a few days. I also change my pillowcase nightly. This is something you should do if you don’t wash daily—your hair products can rub off on your pillowcase, and you don’t want to be putting your facial skin on that every night to avoid clogging pores.
BUT…….
“I just can’t bring myself to do it”
That’s OK. Like I said, it’s not for everyone.
I hope this answers everyone’s questions about my hair washing routine! If you have any additional questions, I’m happy to answer them in the comments below.
xoxo,
Veronika.
I can go about every other day without washing my hair. Works for me. I can't do much more because I am also that girl that wakes up with hair like a 5 yr old kid….meaning it looks like I had a war with my hair while sleeping. It's always been this way…Totally sucks!
CMae- try sleeping with it in a high bun on the top of your hair—but leave some "pouff" at the roots—it can help retain volume and containe tangles 🙂
This was really fun to read! I wash my hair every other day and that seems to work perfectly for me. I want to try to go a bit longer, but first I need to buy some satin pillowcases! I heard satin pillows are the best for your hair and your face. I love your tips, I hope they help some girls out there who over-wash.
I wish I could go three days without washing my hair. I also use baby powder but some days it works better than others.
My hair is same way as yours, it's thin but I have a lot of it.
Btw, love your hair color!
Nicely put, Veronika! You are too cute!
Oh, this is amazing! I was just telling my boyfriend that I was reading this and he said it's gross to not wash your hair every day, but men don't understand how much we damage our hair to look good! I definitely should try this. Especially during the wintertime when the drynesa totally kills my hair. Thank you or posting this!
X
aimee—tell your bf that the hair actually self-cleanses. If you didn't wash it for two weeks (which actually is gross) then your hair actually self-cleans.
So informative and well put. Thank you!!
Awesome post Veronika! I've been thinking about doing this since right now I can only go every other day. I just hate the greasy feeling I get! Ugh!
I was just going to ask you what type of mousse you use. I wash every three days (my hair is on the drier side) and I really want to try it after reading your Europe story and see if it makes a difference.
I get some people can't go that long and not wash. My H has greasy hair and could never go more than a day without washing it. But if *I* washed and blow dried my hair every day, it would be extremely damaged.
Thanks for the post!
great post Veronika!! i am one of the lucky few who can go a few days without washing my hair and NOT have it look greasy. but usually by the 3rd day i'm in dire need of dry shampoo! my hair is extremely high maintenance so it saves me a lot of time!
LOL—Kinsey—anytime someone has accused me of being high maintenance, I ask them how often they wash their hair. They usually spend way more time a week doing their hair then I do… 😉
Great post! I have a similar routine and go about 3 days in between washings. People are always shocked when I tell them!
And I second the wearing your hair in a smooth high bun when sleeping. It really helps keep it less tangled at night.
Great post—interesting read for sure. I can only go ever other day right now and on the second day I have to use baby powder or its just ick! You are lucky you don't sweat a lot during work outs, my entire knot of hair is fully wet after one of my runs so I am forced to wash it but your hair always looks great so whatever you are doing works for you. 🙂
Too funny, I have Day of Style, 2nd day style, and third day style also. The people who knew me knew exactly which days I had washed my hair. lol.
@lindsay—you know what they say? if you fail to plan, you plan to fail 🙂 a routine is essential!
I'm one of those girls whose hair is completely drenched around the hairline after my workouts.
Here's what I do… I pile my hair into a loose bun on top of my head, and then I wash just the hairline in the shower. I get it wet and add a teeny bit of shampoo, lather it up, and then wash it out (while holding my ears so they don't get water straight in them, ha). Then I either let the washed and wet part of my hair dry naturally or blow it dry if necessary. That way, the majority of my hair (including the most fragile part -the ends) isn't being blown dry often. 🙂
@healthy honey—awesome tip—could you please share how you avoid getting the entire top of your hair wet? I'm having a hard time imagining how I'd do that—do you just do the perimeter of your head?
Great Post! I can go two to three days without washing my hair without it looking greasy but by the third day the ends look real straggly (like poufy and frizzy) and I don't want to flat iron them since that is really damaging. Do you have any frizz fighting cremes or smoothing lotions to recommend? Or any other suggestions?
I find it absolutely fascinating. I don't mean that in a snarky way at all! I can't even wash my hair the night before work – it gets so greasy and grody. I am super jealous of people that can go a day or two (or four!) between washes. I also could not not wash my hair after a workout – I tried once and just couldn't do it! I have serious hair washing (or lack thereof 😉 ) jealousy! 🙂
Great post. I have super fine hair, and I have tried and tried to go without washing and just. cannot. However, I really liked your point about letting your hair get "used" to its own oil production. Something I've noticed (when I'm sick or in a very odd situation – the only time I don't wash it for a while) is that on the 2nd day my hair is untolerably oily…but then on the third day it somehow seems less oily! I've always just figured I was crazy but maybe that has something to do with your point!
Thanks for the advice! http://www.dlynne16.blogspot.com
Love this post. And I mean this in a an only positive way, but this is by far the most entertaining writing I have seen from you. I love all of your posts, but this writing style seemed a little funnier, clever-er. 🙂 Love it!!!
Great post, Veronika! I like how you addressed so many issues that people may bring up about not washing your hair daily. I wash my hair every third day, unless I have something important coming up and want to have it freshly styled. I would hate to have to blow dry it more often than that.
Love this blog! I got LC's Style book (thank you for the recommendation!) and I know she mentions that hair self cleanses as well. Great tip! 🙂
Love this post. You are adorable. That is all 🙂
Great post! I can go with washing it every other day but now as my hair gets longer I try to train it too. I hated when my hair was long and I had to blow dry it for hours. Thanks for your advice.
Olga
https://lapetiteolga.blogspot.com/
I used to wash my hair every other day when it was longer. It was never as long as yours, but it only maybe 3 inches shorter than yours. I LOVED when I could go a day without having to wash it. I still would get it wet in the shower and blow dry, but nixing the whole shampooing and conditioning thing some mornings shaved off about 15 minutes of shower time for me (I'm really anal when it comes to shampooing…I feel like I never get it all out so I spend about 10 minutes rinsing!).
V great post! As my hair gets longer I am "training" it to go without washing via the "Veronika" method lol. Right now I am at every other day. This is a really good idea for women who color their hair as we all know that frequent washings totally drains your color, literally!
How do you wear it while you're sleeping? That's usually my problem. I sleep hard apparently & it gets really flat & messy.
Mrs. williams— I usually just wear it down. I tend to be a stomach sleeper for more than half the night so maybe it doesn't get as messed up.
try a high, poofy bun if you want less tangles and also a satin pillowcase 🙂
Funny V, my routine is almost the same, but my days are fully set (though I normally do it Sun Night/Thurs Night) and I don't use a flat iron or curling iron. I do have certain hairstyles though… the first 2 days are "down", day 3 is half up (to hide my flat and starting to getting a little oily roots), and day 4 a low pony or a braid…. I've been doing this since High School!
oh and ps… I'm totally buying the Philosophy Mini Peel Pads right now bc of your review. I love Philosophy products, but have been stalling a sephora order… finally going to get them 🙂
Great post! I have naturally curly/wavy hair that's fairly dry, so I can go a good three days (often 4) without washing. My trick to keep my hair fluffy on the non-wash days is to sleep with it in a ponytail. Of course, that would probably create a pretty severe kink in straight hair, but it keeps it from matting to the head overnight.
I usually try to go every 2-3 days without washing my hair. The only problem is that I have 2 different cowlicks at the crown of my head and after not washing, my part tends to go halfway down the back of my head!
Great post, Veronika. I always wonder about this whenever you've mentioned your hair routine in the past. I sort of felt in awe–like how the heck can she do that! I guess the idea of washing/styling your hair and then going several days without washing it again always seemed sort of Southern or old school to me (think Steel Magnolias), but your hair is totally pretty and modern!
One question though: Did you notice a difference with your facial skin as you got to this point in your routine? I've found that if I go a day without washing my hair it seems like my facial skin doesn't get quite as deeply cleaned (since I'm trying to keep the water off my face a bit more to protect my hair) and is more oily than usual.
allison—i wear my hair in a high bun and use a headband when I wash my face before bed (i was it at the sink, not in the shower) so I haven't noticed it not getting as clean at all.
what a perfect hair!! you're so beautiful!!!
kisses!
Montse
https://streetdressed.blogspot.com
great post and gorgeous hair! I love using dry shampoo as well! works wonders xo
Great tips, I agree with what you've said, V, on 'training your hair' – it does take time. I wash every 3 days but used to wash everyday (a few years ago). I find by the third day though, it's definitely a wear-your-hair-up day 😉
A.Co @ A.Co est. 1984
PS – you can have my legs if I can have your abs!!!
thanks for the tips!! i am definitely going to be using the trick of keeping hair off my scalp during & after my workouts!!
I think these are great tips! I am an every other day washer, represent (AND H-town, represent, too)!!! However, one thing really made me giggle. I honestly cannot believe you change your pillow case NIGHTLY! That's some dedication.
– Meg @ O. is Me
Thanks for sharing this. Just curious – how long does your hair routine take you (both on the days you wash it and on the days you don't)?
Lisa—when I get out of the shower and apply my hairproducts and then blowdry it and set it in rollers it takes me 25 minutes or so, sometimes 30.
It's worth it though because then I don't have to deal with it for the rest of the days. Curling my hair takes me maybe 10 minutes. It's pretty quick once you get the hang of it 🙂
I'm growing my hair out just so I can curl it and I can't wait! I was wondering why you prefered velcro curlers over heat rollers?
@lost in Chicago- I do not curl my hair with velcro rollers or hot rollers, I use a hot tools curling iron 🙂
I just followed from infinite whimsy–I LOVE THIS POST!!!! I love your schedule and all of your tips. I have fine thin hair and have been training my hair for the past year and slowly but surely I can make it to day 4 but it doesn't look like yours and I have to put it in a topknot. BUT I am so happy I can do this now! The day I'm having a hard time with is Sunday. If I wash on Thursday, then by Sunday its a topknot day but its also a church day and I like to have nice hair for church so it needs to be tweaked somehow. But Sunday-Thursday is reallly pushing it…. I am buying extra pillowcases this week. I've been putting a hand towel over my pillow on the 'dirty hair' days and having lots of extra pillowcases is a much better idea. Thanks for posting this, seriously.
@chelsea—so glad you enjoyed this post 🙂
this is amazing! i have naturally thick and wavy hair which i've dyed red, and i really worry about how often i have to re-dye my hair to keep the colour up. it's just too damaging for my liking! i was always a 'wash every other day' person but since this article i've officially only been washing my hair twice a week for over a month now. my hair has never looked better, the wave doesn't go frizzy like it used to, the colour is keeping amazingly well and the mousse trick you mentioned works a treat! thank you so so much 😀
I have used your hair routine for about 4 months now and LOVE IT! As a young mom, it saves me so much time. I also recently found a 5 minute curls routine that involves a headband, semi-wet hair, and sleeping on it, and I LOVE IT TOO! I think you'd like it. Check it out my blog:
https://msgotitalltogether.blogspot.com/2011/07/mama-hair.html
And thanks for all of your awesome ideas!!!
i love this! i was my hair on the same schedule- mondays and thursdays! i just found your blog and i'm loving it.
I have really really long and very thick hair, so I've never been a daily washer. Your comment about switching out your pillow case every night just changed my life! What a genius idea. I bet that will be better for my skin (which tends to be oily), as well.
@waspy redhead—it definitely helps my skin!
I'm late to comment but have a few tips to add. My routine is very similar to yours, Veronika. One difference is that my hair is super curly, so I can only "pre-dry" to 40 or 50% before drying individual sections with a round brush. Because I do this, I usually skip the step with Velcro curlers.
Here are my tips:
1) Use dry shampoo preventatively. I apply a very light spray immediately after my initial blowout. I also apply a very light about before and after styling each day. I find applying light coats several times SO much easier than trying to correct greasiness after a few days. I have very dark hair, so I have trouble getting a large amount of product spread evenly.
2) If you use a method like this, you MUST use a clarifying shampoo before getting your hair colored. I always shampoo mine the night before and go to the salon with crazy air-dried hair the next morning. Four+ days of dry shampoo and not washing can block the color from getting to your hair.
grat pst… thanks for the vey helpful information.. i have been doing this training period ( i washed it every day) then after one day, and now i am on the second day ( two days without washing- third day i wash it) and even though it tooked some time to the hair to adjust ( not that long , over 3 weeks) its now pretty good , it holds a lot better without been greasy … so the training its fundamental and definitely works, i have to say i have very very veryyy thin hair and its working though
ps: now I'm going to try the redden mousse and see how it works
thanks again for the information and helpful tips
I just ordered the Redken Mouse. I have always been a daily hair washer. But living in Alaska its hard on my hair. The way you describe your hair it sounds like mine. So with baby steps Im going to try this out. I take it you still bathe and shower daily. Or do you? And what do you do to protect your hair from getting wet?
Hi Veronika. Just discovered your blog a few days ago and I'm loving it! So much good info! I have a question about styling 2nd day hair and beyond. Do you need to put any heat protectant or other styling product in your hair before curling on days 2 and 3, or is what you put in it on day 1 enough?
I really want to try this but I workout everyday and I sweat since there is no a/c in my gym, i sweat like disgustingly sweat, but maybe I can still make it work.