Yes I am telling you NOT to wash your hair everyday.

No I have not completely lost my marbles.

Yes you will thank me later.

Why NOT to Wash Hair Everyday

1. Normalize production of oil/sebum

We wash our hair to remove oil, but washing too often dries out the scalp and it produces even more oil, resulting in greasy hair. Washing hair less often allows the scalp to normalize the production of oil and also produces less oil over time.

2. Help scalp stay moisturized and less dandruff

Overwashing strips the natural oils from hair resulting in a dry scalp. Dry skin on the scalp can become itchy and flaky… and before you know it: Hello Dandruff!

3. Time saver

Shampooing, conditioning, drying, styling… it all takes time. Think about how much time will be saved with only styling. You could have more time to do things you love in the morning, like sleep in, make a yummy breakfast, have a dance party, take the dog for a walk, work out, or have some ‘me time’. [PS You’re welcome.]

4. Easier to style 2nd day hair

There are a bajillion 2nd day [or 3rd… or 4th… hey I won’t judge you] day hair styles on the interwebs if you need some inspiration. All sorts of braids, buns, curls, twists, etc. [I am super low maintenance and will usually be seen sporting a messy bun… see my above photo… occasionally a flower gets picked for my hair.] Unwashed hair has more ‘grit’ and so it can stay in place better with styles like updos, buns, curls, and braids.

5. Money saver

Save money on: shampoo, conditioner, water bill, electricity bill, and styling products since they are used less often. Think about this: even if you wash your hair every other day instead of everyday, you will have your products for TWICE as long… There will be extra money in your pocket for things you love and need [so like coffee and essential oils..]

6. Coloured hair will last longer

Coloured hair inevitably fades [insert sadness]. It fades even faster when hair is washed more often. If you want your coloured hair to last longer, wash less often (especially those faux Red Heads… that colour doesn’t last long at all!). Also because those shampoos made for coloured hair are a joke.

7. Less split ends and breakage

Hair that is washed everyday dries out quickly causing more breakage and split ends. Once split ends happen there is no fixing the damage. Yes all that ‘split end repair serum garbage’ is just fake. The only way to fix hair is to cut off the damaged parts and regrow it. Any kind of treatment will make split ends and damage SEEM less noticeable but will not actually fix the problem.

Washing hair less often will result in saved time, more money in your pocket, and healthier hair. So basically a win-win situation!

Some Tips for Washing Hair Less Often

If currently washing hair everyday, begin by washing every other day for a few weeks, then extend it to every 3 days, etc. Essentially you are training your scalp to produce less oil. It will take time for oil production to normalize.

Become friends with dry shampoo and a BBB (boar bristle brush). Dry shampoo will soak up the oil at the roots for hair that looks washed. BBB’s take the hair’s natural oil down the hair shaft to make roots appear less oily and to nourish the hair ends. So we may be bffs, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Happy Shampooing-less 🙂

How often do you wash your hair? Will you try extending the time between washes?