Learn how to go a week without a shampoo trip

As it turns out, frequent shampooing does more harm
than good for your hair.
As it turns out, frequent shampooing does more harm
than good for your hair.

Now, how infrequently you wash your hair has become
somewhat of a badge of honor.
Going three days without shampoo used to be an
accomplishment to be proud of.
Now, women are boasting about washing their hair
every five days or even once a week.
If all of this sounds like madness to you, allow us to
show you how it’s done.

Stop the shampoo abuse
First things first, stop shampooing. By now you know
that ditching traditional shampoos is not merely a
passing fad, but rather a real, lasting change in the
haircare world. And if you haven’t hopped on board yet,
you should. The detergents in traditional shampoos
strip your hair of its natural oils, thus causing it to
overproduce oil. Ditching shampoo doesn’t mean you
have to quit showering, you have a few options.

For fine hair type
Fine-haired ladies will find the most success with either
the baking soda method, an apple cider vinegar rinse, or
a combination of the two. Baking soda gently cleanses,
removing dead skin cells, buildup, and dirt without
chemically stripping your hair’s natural oils. Just mix 1
to 2 tablespoons of baking soda with 1 cup of filtered
water, and massage the mixture into your hair. The
ratio is flexible. If your hair is particularly fine or short,
you may want to use baking soda. The other option for
women with thin hair is the apple cider vinegar rinse.

Some women like to first wash with baking soda then
rinse with an apple cider vinegar mixture (same ratio—
about 1 to 2 tablespoons of ACV for every cup of
water). But you can also just do the rinse. ACV clarifies
and softens hair while also balancing the pH of your
strands and scalp.

For thick curly and frizzy hair
If you have thick hair, try cleansing cream. The mild
formulas cleanse hair while still replenishing moisture.
It’s a very gentle clean, meaning it won’t dry out your
hair and cause frizz. Cleansing conditioners are to your
hair what cleansing oils are for your face—oil-
regulating, not oil-causing. If you’re just getting on a
cleansing cream regimen, you may need to wash twice
with the product to really feel clean. But after a few
weeks, you’ll be ready to ditch the double-cleanse
approach.

Ditching shampoo means ditching conditioner, too. Less
greasy hair and fewer products to buy.
When its wet
After washing, go easy on the products. Skip anything
with alcohol (which can dry out your tresses) or silicone
(which can weigh down you hair), both can cause
unwanted grease. Choose light formulas and steer clear
of anything offering extra shine. When you do use
products, try to avoid applying them close your scalp.
Keeping your roots free of product will go a long way
toward keeping your hair looking and feeling clean.

Have a hair plan
When you’re trying to stretch the time between
washing, you have to have a plan. Day one is easy:
You have clean hair (lightly) styled however you please.
Day two should go a lot like day one; those with fine
hair or particularly oily scalps may need to add dry
shampoo this day. Day three: Try a messy bun or loose
braid. Tease the roots slightly, and muss up your part
so it’s not perfectly straight (these tactics will help
disguise any first appearances of grease).

Day four can
be a repeat of day three, or you slick your back into a
low bun or a high pony. If you’re going for the sleek
look, you will want to use product. Day five is probably
wash day for those with fine hair.

Have a plan B
Around day three, four, and five, you may have to get
creative. When you just need a little boost between
regular washings, you effectively have two options:
rinsing and the half wash. Rinsing is pretty self-
explanatory. Let’s say you had a sweaty workout, but
you just washed two days ago; simply rinsing your hair
in the shower will take care of the extra grease and
redistribute your scalp’s oils. Or when the rest of your
hair looks fine but the roots along your hairline and
part are looking greasy, try the half wash. Pull your hair
back into a loose low bun, and just wet, wash, and
rinse about a 1- to 2-inch section along your hairline
and down the front portion of your part. Do this in the
shower with a shower cap over the rest of your hair,
but there are those who prefer to do this in the sink,
too. It may sound odd, but both ways work. And you
get to maintain that third-day texture we all love so
much.