Here at HuffPost Finds, we’ve experimented with all of the various ’poo trends, from cleansing conditioners to apple cider vinegar washes. Our judgment? There’s actually no “right” way to wash your hair, but chances are you’re probably washing your hair way too much.
In fact, you should probably only wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner once or twice a week. But because there’s a slight adjustment period before your locks start living their best life, most people who are accustomed to washing their hair more frequently have a hard time slowly stretching out the time between washes.
Now that you have nothing but time on your hands thanks to social distancing because of COVID-19, it’s a good time to experiment with riskier beauty trends you’ve been eyeing from a distancing, like natural deodorant or fewer ’poo washes.
Colorist and stylist Haley-May Block at The Wayward Hairdresser told HuffPost Finds previously that now is the time to heed your stylist’s advice about shampooing less.
“Remember your stylist telling you not to shampoo so much? Take this time to get through that awkward phase while you’re inside and no one is seeing you,” Block said. “Consider this time to get your hair healthy, strong and less shampoo-dependent.”
“Remember your stylist telling you not to shampoo so much? Take this time to get through that awkward phase while you’re inside and no one is seeing you.”
Washing your hair too often can strip your hair of its natural oils and dry out your scalp, causing it to overproduce oils. That’s what leads to greasy, grimy hair. Because of this, most people are misled into washing their hair even more frequently, resulting in a vicious cycle of hair that’s either too clean or too dirty.
If the idea of lathering less has you on edge, you don’t have to give up rinsing and repeating. You can start by rinsing your hair with water in between shampoos (a great post-workout hack) and use dry shampoo when you’re nearing your next wash.
After a few weeks of less washing, your hair will likely start to look and feel healthier, and you’ll probably notice more body and shine.
If you’re inspired to lather up less these days, below we’ve rounded up all of the steps to help you train your hair to be less oily. We’ve also rounded up our go-to products to help you start washing your hair less often.