Is shampooing your hair every day or even every other day entirely necessary? This great shampoo debate began to interest me after reading in a magazine article a few years ago that hair does not need to be washed any more than once a week – this went against everything I had ever known. The explanation they gave was logical enough; clarifying that washing hair every day strips it from natural oils which in turn encourages hair follicles to compensate by producing more oil, leaving roots with an unattractive layer of grease. Despite the substantial evidence I ignored the article’s advice as I was convinced that after day 2 I’d end up looking like I’d just stepped out of the shower for the entire remainder of the week… and I was also slightly disgusted at the thought of a week’s worth of grimy hair. I’d dismissed the idea entirely when last year a friend of mine happened to disclose the article’s bizarre recommendation was her shampooing regime, yet I had never once noticed her sporting the shine of doom. Her healthy locks were just the incentive I needed to try this out for myself – and after a year I can safely say no one has mistaken me for being homeless.
I noticed the benefits of less frequent shampooing within a month so I have stuck with the routine. My hair not only gets less greasy but is also significantly healthier as I’m no longer drying it out with excessive washing. I’m also saving tons of money on shampoo and conditioner which is a godsend for my overdraft (it’s now Christmas break and I have only just finished my first bottle of shampoo from the beginning of term). But the greatest benefit of all links with the well-known fact that dirty hair is better for holding a style, resulting in more good hair days for me… or at least so I hope.
This shampoo boycott does however have some very obvious disadvantages. Whilst everything is smooth sailing on days 1-5, by day 6 I tend to have to blast my roots with dry shampoo and shove my hair into a top knot… which is not ideal if you want to look particularly nice on day 6. Despite my hair being naturally less greasy, the products I use throughout the week eventually start to weigh my hair down and I need to wash it to restore volume. Unfortunately, girls with thinner hair will notice this much sooner. Also, the first two weeks of starting this habit were dark days. My hair was accustomed to being washed every other day and needed time to adapt to this new routine, so messy buns became my staple hairdo.
However my experience has left me with three useful tips to pass on if you choose to brave this hair diet:
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Don’t dive straight in; increase the days in between your shampoos each week (e.g. every other day one week, every two days the next week, every three days the next week, etc.) until you reach your desired routine. This will help your hair adjust its oil levels at its own speed.
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Invest in some dry shampoo. This stuff works miracles in between washes by absorbing excess oil and adding volume and fragrance to hair in need of refreshing. My favourite is Batiste Cherry (£2.99 for 200ml at Boots).
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When the blessed day comes for you to finally wash your hair, follow Phoebe Buffay’s advice and make sure you lather, rinse, repeeaaat to ensure your hair is as squeaky clean as can be for the next week. Shampoo should foam when you massage it into your scalp.
And finally, this shampoo regime does not work for everyone. Some girls simply prefer how their hair feels after a wash and are put off by the thought of even one greasy day and I completely sympathise. I’ve realised after writing this article that it does sound gross on paper… So obviously I’ve invested in the help of a Ryan Gosling meme for extra encouragement:
Edited by Ili Mustafa