Longest you've gone without washing your hair?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The more you wash your hair, the more oil your scalp makes.

I typically only use shampoo (cowash) once a week. I also water "wash" my hair mid-week to reset my curls.

I don't believe this. Everyone I know who went 'no poo' or decided to stop washing their hair for long periods of time came to this conclusion, but...their hair LOOKED flat and greasy and dirty, and it smelled non-so-fresh. There is a distinct odour to unwashed hair. I think you stop noticing the grease and the smell after some time.

That being said, you have curly hair so it is probably not as oily as some, so you most likely don't need to wash as often as a straight-haired person.

[Anonymous]

I tried to go a month and it looked awful, even rinsing it with water. Was trying to "reset" my hair so I wouldn't have to wash everyday. After that, I could wash every other day, lol.

My mom had hers "done" and only washed once a week her whole life. Now that I am going thru menopause, I can maybe wait three days before my scalp is incredibly early.

[Anonymous]

Once three weeks while traveling in Central and Western Asia. We had no privacy and no control over our hours. Showers were supposed to take 15 min max. I had bra-strap length when stretched 4b hair. Just detangling with conditioner could take 15 min. A friend advised corn-rowed hair under a wig. I regret not taking that suggestion. Instead I did chunky twists in a bun and wore a hat as much as possible.

I’m AA. Most of my life, every other week at the hair salon. Since going natural, once a week is my norm. Three weeks is too long.

[Anonymous]

Agree that it probably depends greatly on your hair. I have very thick hair, long, wavy hair that tends to be very dry in the winter. I wash it at least 2x more often in the summer.

I grew my hair out to donate a few years ago and as it got longer I tried stretching out time between washes. I used to wash every 3 days. Gradually went to 4 and then 5. My scalp really did adjust oil production accordingly. I’ve tried pushing to day 6 and 7. By day 6 my hair had to be all the way back in a braid or pony tail. Day 7 is too much for me. My head feels disgusting.

During the Pandemic I go 5-6 days depending on activities. It looks the best on days 3-4.

Longest I’ve ever gone was 8 days after my first child was born.

[Anonymous]

I have very dry, curly hair and like some other posters, I only wash once a week. I wet my hair and use leave-in conditioner during the week to re-activate the curls if I'm not doing a ponytail.

[Anonymous]

3 or 4 days but I wet and rinse/scrub scalp with conditioner daily

[Anonymous]

Ok I was going to come on here and say that I really did get the best blowout once and it lasted 5 days with a little dry shampoo, I didn't exercise and wasn't going anywhere. I thought people would be horrified at 5 days.

I get it when people say they use conditioner. I think that plus water does get some of the dirt out.

People saying they go over a week? I would think it has to smell if you aren't rinsing it at all either.

[Anonymous]

I have long, thick, dry hair. I only wash every 10-14 days.
It never looks dirty, actually looks shinier & healthier the longer I go, and I get more compliments, but my scalp gets itchy by the 10 day mark.

[Anonymous]

A month while traveling through Africa. 5 days in the US. I have curly hair, so washing is a no for me unless I get extra sweaty.

[Anonymous]

I usually wash my (very thick, long) hair about once a week. The longest I have gone without washing it is 10 days. That said, when my hair was very short (pixie cut), I used to wash it daily.

[Anonymous]

I have curly/wavy hair and used to only be able to go 2-3 days before it getting greasy. I'm late 40s now and can easily go 5 days, with 7 days being common for me, especially now during Covid. My scalp tends to get itchy by the 7 day mark. I went 8 days last week. Longest stretch for me has been 10 days.

[Anonymous]

Do you people not exercise? Like, exercise enough to sweat? I've skipped washing my hair when I was really sick and maybe for a day or two post-partum, but I can't imagine not washing my hair daily in normal times.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Two months while I was in the hospital recovering from an accident. Plates, pins, and screws all over my body. Unable to move or be moved.

What happens (other than the looks)? Does it become awfully itchy? I am so tempted to keep putting it off, now that I am not going to work or anywhere really. But so far I haven't gone longer than 2-3 days.

I'd imagine that the greasier your hair gets the less itchy, no? Natural oils are moisturizing.

[Anonymous]

2 days at the most. It itches & I break out if I go longer.

[Anonymous]

Six days.