The Case Against Washing Your Hair

As a rule, anything that facilitates laziness is something I'm on board with. And the idea of not having to wash my hair every day (and therefore also not having to blow-dry it every day) is about as appealing as it gets. Still, even though I had heard about the benefits of the "no-poo" lifestyle before, I continued to have reservations (and not just because of the unappealing name). Could abandoning my daily shampoo really be good for my hair? I spoke to the experts to find out.

Shampooing less often can make your hair healthier. (Yes, healthier.)

The logic behind this is pretty simple: "The less you process and touch your hair, the less it breaks," says dermatologist Doris Day. Think of how dry your hands get in the winter when you wash them obsessively. The same idea applies to your hair. "The more you shampoo, the more you potentially remove oils needed to protect hair shafts and keep the scalp healthy and moisturized," says dermatologist Jason Emer. Another benefit? Your hair color will last longer. "Minerals in shower water can dull blondes, strip color from reds, and cause brunettes to lose richness. Skipping washing so often will really help to extend the life of your color," says hairstylist Kerrie Urban.

OK, you're obviously now thinking, I'm in. So just throw away the shampoo?

Not yet. First you need to consider your hair type. "The curlier your hair is, the longer you can go between washes. The straighter it is, the faster the oil wicks down, so that can make it oilier faster. If you have superstraight hair, you may not be able to go more than two days without washing," says Day.

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Don't go cold turkey on the shampoo.

Think of this as a transition. "Start off washing every other day. If in between you need some dry shampoo, go for it," says Urban. "If you have bangs and they start to get greasy first, you can just wash your bangs." She recommends sticking with this routine for three or four weeks, and then switching to shampooing every third day.

When you do shampoo, do it right.

"Use shampoo on the scalp only—not on the ends of your hair. The shampoo will rinse down in the shower, but you don't want to scrub the ends. Try not to put the conditioner on the roots, because that can cause your scalp to get greasy faster," says Urban.

If you need to, you can rinse your hair.

You may not be able to imagine not washing your hair after a workout (we totally get that), but you can can always rinse out sweat without shampooing. A water-only rinse will remove salt and sweat without stripping hair oils, says Urban. But it's also worth investing in a good shower cap. We like the Sonia Kashuk Couture Shower Cap.

Dry shampoo = your best friend.

Here's how to use it the right way, if you still aren't sure: "Shake the can well to distribute the powder, then hold it at least six inches from your head. Lift up your hair in sections, spray the dry shampoo at the roots, and let it sit for a few minutes before rubbing it in with your fingers," says Urban. Another product that can help stretch the time between washes? Styling creams like the Living Proof Prime Style Extender. "It repels dirt and oil and really does help you go an extra few days without washing," says Day.


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