What's with the trend of not washing hair everyday?

[Anonymous]

I went to my hairdresser, and she was appalled that I wash my hair every day. She strongly advised me against it. My DD is also against washing hair all the time.
I remember being a teen with greasy hair and not washing it, and I feel gross just remembering it. I know some of my coworkers do not wash their hair as much, and honestly, if you are close, their hair stinks. Where is this new "hair mantra" coming from?
I am talking about a white woman's hair here. I know that different types of hair need different care, but I know that white women in the U.S., in my circles, used to wash hair every day in the 90s and 2000s.

[Anonymous]

I grew up washing my hair every day. It's a bit harsh.

I switched to every other day, and then every 3 days. Sometimes every 4th.

Yes, there is an adjustment period, and your scalp will get greasy. I wasn't a believer that your scalp adapts, but it truly does.

Obviously I wash my hair more frequently in the summer, because summer is just foul in this area. I wash on the days I run/sweat outside, and co-wash (just conditioner, or at least rinse) every single day or indoor/gym days. My hair is definitely healthier without daily washing.

[Anonymous]

Washing hair every day is actually a pretty modern practice.

[Anonymous]

White woman, fine blonde hair. I wash every other day as it keeps my hair from getting too dry. I don’t use that much hair spray or work out every day. If I get really sweaty I will wash more but I’ve also gone 3 days occasionally.

[Anonymous]

Washing every day is generally best avoided. Although everyone is different and you need to do what's best for you. However, I will agree with PP that your scalp adjusts after a few weeks (if you do decide to reduce frequency).

[Anonymous]

I wash mine once a week and it looks great. Used to wash every day but it’s bad for your hair and scalp.

[Anonymous]

It takes about 8 days for my hair to start getting greasy. I have a lot of hair and it's very thick. If I washed every day it would never be fully dry. I wash at most, every other day. Always have.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, but I’m never doing every other day. It’s never the same. I grew up in a culture where cleanliness and freshness is a priority. I know a woman that insists she only needs to wash her hair every three or four days, because her hair doesn’t need it. Trust me, it does. She always looks…not so fresh. And then can’t understand why other women look so put together and she doesn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wash mine once a week and it looks great. Used to wash every day but it’s bad for your hair and scalp.

Ok, but what about the smell? People around you can smell the grossness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry, but I’m never doing every other day. It’s never the same. I grew up in a culture where cleanliness and freshness is a priority. I know a woman that insists she only needs to wash her hair every three or four days, because her hair doesn’t need it. Trust me, it does. She always looks…not so fresh. And then can’t understand why other women look so put together and she doesn’t.

This is op. I do not know how often other women wash their hair, but I can tell when we are in a group meeting that it smells and is not clean. I do not know what the threshold is for different people; it could be a day or a week, and I have no idea.
For example, I washed my hair yesterday morning, and it doesn't smell today, but it is itchy, and I feel gross. By the third day, if I am sick or something, it will smell and look horrible. The second day or even the third, it will look pleasing to a distant eye, but I feel like crap.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It takes about 8 days for my hair to start getting greasy. I have a lot of hair and it's very thick. If I washed every day it would never be fully dry. I wash at most, every other day. Always have.

What type of hair do you have? I know people who put so much oil in their hair that it always looks greasy; at least, that was my assumption; maybe that is the natural look? But I suppose they like the way it looks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Washing every day is generally best avoided. Although everyone is different and you need to do what's best for you. However, I will agree with PP that your scalp adjusts after a few weeks (if you do decide to reduce frequency).

So how many weeks will I need to feel gross, and what are the benefits if I do not wash it that often?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wash mine once a week and it looks great. Used to wash every day but it’s bad for your hair and scalp.

Ok, but what about the smell? People around you can smell the grossness.

Don’t know what to tell you, but my head doesn’t smell bad. I guess my scalp doesn’t overproduce oils. Tbf if I didn’t wash my face every day it wouldn’t develop a smell either. So it’s a weird question.

[Anonymous]

I know it seems counterintuitive, but sometimes washing it every day makes it greasier - you’re stripping your hair and you make more oil. For most people, if you wash it a little less, once you get past the adjustment period, your scalp will make less oil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes about 8 days for my hair to start getting greasy. I have a lot of hair and it's very thick. If I washed every day it would never be fully dry. I wash at most, every other day. Always have.

What type of hair do you have? I know people who put so much oil in their hair that it always looks greasy; at least, that was my assumption; maybe that is the natural look? But I suppose they like the way it looks.

I ... don't put any oil in my hair? I happen to have psoriasis and my scalp is actually super dry. I take two different medications trying to manage this, and on the scalp it's especially tough because I'm trying to also let my hair look good.