Help me stretch just one day...

[winship2]

I'd like to ask you all for just a couple of things I can do to help me stretch washes. As long as I've washed my hair I've always washed every day, because my hair gets oily and because I like a clean, fresh-feeling scalp. But, as my hair grows longer, I would dearly love to be able to wash every other day. I've read a lot of advice on the forums, and I think I've picked up a few ideas to try but I also have some questions.

Would it help to WO on my non-poo day? Would it help to scritch/preen and/or BBB? Maybe do this and then WO? Maybe ACV rinse? Or just leave it dry and put it up?

I have 1b, ii, quite oily scalp and hair, scalp in good condition. Hair in good condition, basically unexceptional :) A little more than BSL (waist this year, whoo-hoo)! Oh, and I have briefly tried CO, but my hair started behaving oddly and I just don't have the time to try and figure it out right now-- I need move to less, not more :)

Thank you all!

[Sarahlabyrinth]

I wash once or twice a week. I use shampoo diluted 50/50 with water, which doesn't strip the natural oils so badly, I feel. Because this is more gentle on the scalp, it stops producing so much oil itself. (My theory).

The rest of the time I just keep my hair up. If there is any trace of oily roots, it is much more disguised that way. I think that very frequent washing can increase the chance of mechanical damage happening to hair.

This is what I do, I'm sure others here will have good advice.

[Mandie]

Perhaps every other day is what works best for you? Some people can't stretch. I can usually go about two days before my hair starts to look a little strange. My trick if I want to go longer is updos. Most people think greasy hair that's in a nice braid or pair of braids, up in a pretty bun, or in a ponytail...just has product in it. I also sometimes do half-ups if it isn't too obvious that my scalp is greasy. If my hair is loose it's super obvious that it's way too greasy. I'm 1b, iii, also greasy/oily. I find because I produce so much oil as long as I oil my ends before showers it doesn't hurt my hair to shower frequently. I enjoy taking showers, so I don't stretch for as long as some people do. I tried a week once (not on purpose I was just too busy/lazy at night to wash) and it was easily hidden with a quick brush and a ponytail.

For me preening/scritching doesn't seem too effective, it's a nice massage but all it does is make my grease cover even more of my hair and doesn't seem to make a difference in the level of health.

[Naiadryade]

Yes, WO on your non-poo day would definitely help you stretch. BBB'ing might also help. ACV is pretty much always a great idea.

But also don't be afraid to bun it and not worry about it being a little greasy. Chances are no one will notice or care, and really this is exactly what might help the most. Your scalp will need time to adjust. Once you start washing less frequently, you may even find that your scalp doesn't get oily as fast.

Good luck!

[winship2]

I wash once or twice a week. I use shampoo diluted 50/50 with water, which doesn't strip the natural oils so badly, I feel. Because this is more gentle on the scalp, it stops producing so much oil itself. (My theory).

Yes, I think trying to use 50/50 on my (hopefully) every other wash day is a great step. Thank you.

[winship2]

Perhaps every other day is what works best for you? Some people can't stretch. [...] I find because I produce so much oil as long as I oil my ends before showers it doesn't hurt my hair to shower frequently. I enjoy taking showers, so I don't stretch for as long as some people do. I tried a week once (not on purpose I was just too busy/lazy at night to wash) and it was easily hidden with a quick brush and a ponytail.

For me preening/scritching doesn't seem too effective, it's a nice massage but all it does is make my grease cover even more of my hair and doesn't seem to make a difference in the level of health.

I think I wasn't clear-- at the moment I wash every day, and I'd like to make it to every other day. I think what I'm hearing you say is: If you (I) have to wash every day, oil to help prevent damage; use hairstyles to mask oiliness; preening might make the appearance of my hair more, rather than less, oily. All good thoughts, thanks.

[winship2]

Perhaps every other day is what works best for you? Some people can't stretch. [...] I find because I produce so much oil as long as I oil my ends before showers it doesn't hurt my hair to shower frequently. I enjoy taking showers, so I don't stretch for as long as some people do. I tried a week once (not on purpose I was just too busy/lazy at night to wash) and it was easily hidden with a quick brush and a ponytail.

For me preening/scritching doesn't seem too effective, it's a nice massage but all it does is make my grease cover even more of my hair and doesn't seem to make a difference in the level of health.

I think I wasn't clear-- at the moment I wash every day, and I'd like to make it to every other day. I think what I'm hearing you say is: If you (I) have to wash every day, oil to help prevent damage; use hairstyles to mask oiliness; preening might make the appearance of my hair more, rather than less, oily. All good thoughts, thanks.

[winship2]

Yes, WO on your non-poo day would definitely help you stretch. BBB'ing might also help. ACV is pretty much always a great idea.

But also don't be afraid to bun it and not worry about it being a little greasy. Chances are no one will notice or care, and really this is exactly what might help the most. Your scalp will need time to adjust. Once you start washing less frequently, you may even find that your scalp doesn't get oily as fast.

Good luck!

I thin WO might help that "not so fresh feeling", and ACV or something else clean and tingly-feeling. Maybe I can bag the length? Having two hours of wet hair every morning is tiresome! And I think you're right, I will be WAY more sensitive to this than anyone else. Thank you for your reply.

[akilina]

You might as well give it a try if you really want to. If it doesn't work then don't fret.

I can not stretch even one day, and I have come to accept it. I used to be able to stretch two days when I had really nasty chemical laden water. Now that I have very very nice water, its impossible....And I am totally 100% okay with it.

If I do stretch one day I feel disgusting (not to say wash stretchers are disgusting at all) all day long. I usually just wear it up and use dry shampoo in my bangs/face framing at the roots. So, I guess I can stretch one day but I simply enjoy the feeling of clean hair. I enjoy it too much to be miserable just because Im jealous that other people can stretch.

[Rosethorn]

The best advice I can think of to give you is to put it up and forget about it- try not to touch it at all. For me at least, the less I touch it the less greasy it gets.

[winship2]

I guess I can stretch one day but I simply enjoy the feeling of clean hair. I enjoy it too much to be miserable just because Im jealous that other people can stretch.

I might end up in this place :) That's OK. I would like to give it a go with the best possible foundation for success though-- especially since there's so much good advice here. But it might not work and if not I'll just enjoy the clean every day feeling!

[winship2]

The best advice I can think of to give you is to put it up and forget about it- try not to touch it at all. For me at least, the less I touch it the less greasy it gets.

I have heard other people say this too, and it has been my experience in the past. I don't think I could even begin to try this if my bangs weren't grown out. Between them touching my forehead and me pushing them away from my face, they were immediately so dirty-looking first thing in the morning that I just couldn't be comfortable not washing.

[winship2]

The two other things that occurred to me were that I can try dry shampoo, and washing 36 hours apart at first (morning, day after evening, day after morning, instead of going for 48 hours.

[akilina]

I might end up in this place :) That's OK. I would like to give it a go with the best possible foundation for success though-- especially since there's so much good advice here. But it might not work and if not I'll just enjoy the clean every day feeling!

Definitely give it a go. Its all about trial and error IMO. :D I did WO for a about a week, my only observation was that my hair was just as dirty, and impossible to detangle. Ive done WO inbetween washes though, sadly the same story. I know everything takes time but it just wasn't working.

Something else that helped me try to transition was going CO, Id CO wash, then skip a wash, then CO the next day. I guess I did sound negative about myself..I seemed to have been able to stretch before, it was just a matter of not being happy about my over all appearance. In Nevada the water was so nasty and hard, Im not sure why, but I could go sometimes 4 days without washing. It was very gross though on day 4. Three days was about my max. Im not sure what your hair is like but my hair is sort of medium fine. Im a natural blond so I have the thing where the hair is sort of fine, but there is a ton of it.

[akilina]

The two other things that occurred to me were that I can try dry shampoo, and washing 36 hours apart at first (morning, day after evening, day after morning, instead of going for 48 hours.

Lol sorry I am like..bombing your thread. I used to use baby powder...And when I finally decided to quit being cheap and just give it up and use a real dry shampoo it was like night and day. Such great results....I wish I would have used it sooner.

[winship2]

... I did WO for a about a week, my only observation was that my hair was just as dirty, and impossible to detangle. Ive done WO inbetween washes though, sadly the same story. I know everything takes time but it just wasn't working.

Something else that helped me try to transition was going CO, Id CO wash, then skip a wash, then CO the next day. I guess I did sound negative about myself..I seemed to have been able to stretch before, it was just a matter of not being happy about my over all appearance. In Nevada the water was so nasty and hard, Im not sure why, but I could go sometimes 4 days without washing. It was very gross though on day 4. Three days was about my max. Im not sure what your hair is like but my hair is sort of medium fine. Im a natural blond so I have the thing where the hair is sort of fine, but there is a ton of it.



Mine is medium, maybe a little on the finer side. Soft water. I'm just perusing the WO thread, and am seriously impressed at the dedication those folks show. I don't have it in me! I would never have guessed you're a natural blond. I have noticed your (relatively) new avatar photo-- very pretty!


I used to use baby powder...And when I finally decided to quit being cheap and just give it up and use a real dry shampoo it was like night and day. Such great results....I wish I would have used it sooner.

That's very interesting to hear. A lot of people here swear by the cupboard substitutes, like corn starch and cocoa. I have the Acure stuff, and I know there are a couple of companies who make brown dry shampoos. My hair is actually a rather nice rich brown and I don't want to dull the color with whitish powder, especially if I'm already pushing my comfort-zone, hair appearance-wise, with weirdly greyish roots! Sometimes the specialty products are more effective.

[SerinaDaith]

I love cinnamon on my hair for that extra day, coco is great too however, I have dropped the dye and started letting my silver show and both tend to tint my silvers a bit, it washes right back out but it was something I had not thought of before I started using it. My scalp and I can take about four days wash free but it has taken time and dedication oh and there are some updos I can do with the oils that I cannot without, most french braids and sock buns actually look loads better with a little of my own oils. Weird right?

[socks]

I wash my hair about twice a month. You can always try a dry shampoo in between washes or just stick a hat on your head so no one is the wiser. Your scalp will probably get used to it soon enough and start producing less oil.

[Ravenwind]

In my experience, after a wash and I leave my hair up until my next wash, it doesn't get oily at all. I also have a pretty dry scalp and it takes a good few days for it to get oily. Maybe try doing that?

[akilina]

That's very interesting to hear. A lot of people here swear by the cupboard substitutes, like corn starch and cocoa. I have the Acure stuff, and I know there are a couple of companies who make brown dry shampoos. My hair is actually a rather nice rich brown and I don't want to dull the color with whitish powder, especially if I'm already pushing my comfort-zone, hair appearance-wise, with weirdly greyish roots! Sometimes the specialty products are more effective.

I have never actually tried corn starch for cocoa. Id be really interested to see how cocoa worked for me with my hair being dark. The biggest thing for me is that using options like that really do make my hair look matted like you mentioned. Its the only reason why I like using the actual product...I don't have a specific brand I really like though as I have found they all seem the same. The current one I have was just a free sample so I lucked out. Baby powder worked amazingly when I was blond because it didn't show at all.

And thanks about the dark hair :o Everyone is usually surprised to hear that I am naturally blond. I usually have my hair black, and fill in my eyebrows dark anyhow :p Having my natural color would be so awesome too see, but for now I have come to the conclusion (yet again blah) that i just love my hair black.

[Fantak]

I second the diluted shampoo idea because that's what worked for me :)

I actually diluted it 25:75 so about 1 quarter shampoo three quarters water. Just remember to pour it over your scalp then scrub it in. In the beginning I just poured it over my head and rinsed it out. disaster lol. You need to scrub/massage it in like you would when you normally shampoo :)

Good luck!

[cranberrymoonz]

I helped my long haired boyfriend strech his washes from every day to every other day. Here are a few things that worked for him:
- every night before wash day: careful scritching , spreading excess oil, lightly oiling the ends and braiding/bunning. The scritching helps with dandruff and itchy scap problems or acne and oiling is a perfect way to help your hair recover over night as well as protecting it from the shampoo a bit.
- use a mild washing method. You can delute your shampoo or use a sulfate-free one. make sure to NEVER dry out your scalp. you will have to give in on squeeky cleanliness, I'm afraid.
- bun or braid your hair on the second day. french braids are great at hiding oil.
- keep doing this religiously for a few moths. it took my BF half a year to adjust.

[LadyCelestina]

How about just a scalp wash with something mild,maybe dilluted shampoo or strong nettle tea? I believe there was a thread ENTIRELY about this,but it was a looong time ago.Basically throw your hair up and wet/wash just the scalp without touching the lenght.Maybe you can do it with BSL hair,I don't know I haven't tried yet.

If you experience flakiness on the second day /can happen even if your scalp doesn't flake normally/ or can smell your own sebum,scritch. I have a very sensitive nose - I could never go without washing my skin twice a day because the smell would drive me insane and also can't use strongly perfumed products for that reason - and after I scritch and spritz my roots with floral water,I smell nothing.

[Mesmerise]

I wash every second day... on the day I don't wash I guess I WO cause I have a shower and my hair gets wet! I usually wear my hair up so I don't really notice that it's not as clean feeling as it is when I wash it.

[kidari]

I just wanted to chime in that the most I can do is every other day. I notice for some reason in more humid climates I can stretch longer more successfully but in dry climates I cannot...? I don't know why, it just is. If my scalp looks okay then I make partings and spray some rose water on my scalp before bed. It kind of acts like a toner and refreshes it so I feel clean. Whenever I stretch washes my scalp gets either sore or itchy. Sometimes if I even skip one day I cannot scritch, because if I even run my hands through it the grease goes all the way to my ears it's really gross and obvious that dry shampoo couldn't even soak it up. I have also come to accept it and it doesn't bother me at all anymore to stretch washes. In order to make up for it I use gentler shampoos, sometimes diluted and alternate shampoo washes with CO or WO sometimes. I also religiously do a deep treatment at least once a week. I found the daily washing helps moisturize my ends (damp bunning afterwards and always air dry) as well as keep my scalp happy. My skin is so oily that I often have to wash my face midday- or else my oils run into my eyes and sting, no kidding. My scalp/hair is the same way. Also, if you lightly oil your ends damp after every wash, I'm sure that protects it at least somewhat from the frequent washings.

[DancingQueen]

I have no idea how this will work for you, as my hair is naturally fairly dry, and I wash every 3-4 days. But this monday, I did a beer rinse. I shampooed my hair, and poured a lot of beer over it for around five minutes (you can look at ArrowOdens video on youtube). As I found it a bit difficult to rinse out, I shampooed very lightly with just a teeny tiny bit of shampoo. Then I just let it airdry. There was a bit more shine than usual, no frizz whatsoever, which is rather impressive, and still none of it on day 3, counting wash day as day 1.

One thing though was, that my scalp was very dry; there was literally no moisture whatsoever, even though the hair was as soft an shiny as ever. It feels better now, but I suspect it is only because I put a bit of coconut oil on the scalp last night.

You could always try it out, maybe it will work better for you, and help you stretch that one day or more. :)

[Angel Barchild]

I have hair exactly like yours :) It's even the same length. I tried stretch washing for a year and a half, I did everything suggested and could never make it work. Now I just blow dry it on medium if I have to go out of the house. I don't know maybe go one day regular wash and then do a diluted wash on the second day, and work down from there. My hair looks glued to my head with random bits sticking out if I don't wash. I hope you find something that works, if you do let me know. If you don't you can always just hang out with the shampoo everyday kids :D

[missfaroe]

I also Think that putting your hair in updo's helps a lot when your hair is very oily. Actually, I get most compliments from my friends when I wear my very oily hair in a high ponytail or a Big/messy bun placed on top of my head :D

When I first started streething washes, i felt that my hair looked very dirhy and disgusting and I was afraid that others would notice or could smell my hair.
But after some time - almost a year and a half - I have come to the point where i can appreciate my natural oils; i really like how silky soft my hair is after 3-4 days, especially my roots :love:

[Chromis]

I think some of y'all are overthinking this! :lol:

Just try skipping a day here and there at first. Nothing irreversibly bad will happen I promise. I find my hair misbehaves right after a wash so I can't imagine washing it daily, but I also did not grow up with daily washing. I still take showers, I just use a shower cap, no biggie. I'd rather not deal with wet hair when I don't need to. No one has ever said my hair looks greasy or smells bad and I've even had good friends sniff it for me after a week. Nada. In fact if I take it down at a party, people still want to pet it and have no clue that I haven't washed it in a week!

I do oil my hair, but that is more because it gets really dry and that also helps make it sleeker instead of frizzy.

[Kherome]

Usually the "need" to wash everyday is just a mental fixation. Tell yourself no, I'm not washing today and get on with your day. Given enough time you'll adjust to this and it will become the new normal.

[sylvanasylvana]

i wash every other day, i cant stretch washes too.. on my non wash day i spray some rosewater on my roots, it helps with the greasyness

[truepeacenik]

My hair likes to be dry while the scalp is inclined to hold oils. I can usually skip a day of washing.
I already alternate diluted shampoo (and it is non SLS) and diluted conditioner, and scalp only wash as a matter of course.

I'd love to be out from under the water a day or two during the week, but my hair holds pollen, and I'm not on friendly terms with pollen these days, so I rinse at least every night, braid, and if needed, scalp wash in the morning. (Because quick showering helps me wake up)

I think stretching works better the longer your hair gets, the more you use natural bristle brushes (I don't), and the older you get.

I also think that you do what works, even if I t isn't LHC "gospel."

[Vrindi]

I'd like to ask you all for just a couple of things I can do to help me stretch washes. As long as I've washed my hair I've always washed every day, because my hair gets oily and because I like a clean, fresh-feeling scalp. But, as my hair grows longer, I would dearly love to be able to wash every other day. I've read a lot of advice on the forums, and I think I've picked up a few ideas to try but I also have some questions.

Would it help to WO on my non-poo day? Would it help to scritch/preen and/or BBB? Maybe do this and then WO? Maybe ACV rinse? Or just leave it dry and put it up?

I have 1b, ii, quite oily scalp and hair, scalp in good condition. Hair in good condition, basically unexceptional :) A little more than BSL (waist this year, whoo-hoo)! Oh, and I have briefly tried CO, but my hair started behaving oddly and I just don't have the time to try and figure it out right now-- I need move to less, not more :)

Thank you all!

It took me a long time and a lot of patience to be able to stretch washes. I started by getting rid of SLS and letting my scalp adjust. Then I spent about a month washing my hair about every 36 instead of 24 hours. When I first started, I could literally stretch only a few hours more. Then every other day, then every 3rd day. Now I can shampoo once a week with a condition only somewhere in between. Keeping it up helps, brushing the oils down helps too, but when I first started, I felt like this made it look worse. In the beginning, I just wouldn't touch my hair after it had dried until my scalp adjusted.

Try not to do too many new things at once because your scalp might freak out by producing even more oils. Just take it slow, it might take a while, but it'll happen, so don't get discouraged.

[ravenreed]

Going CO has allowed me to stretch my washes from every day to every other day. I don't go longer than that for several reasons- I have severe allergies and my allergist recommends washing the hair frequently. My ends dry out if I don't wet them and condition them every other day. I wash my body often to be clean, and prefer my hair is clean as well.

Trying to WO my hair in between makes my hair more oily, not less. Also, the same is for using a BBB. A BBB will make my clean hair look slicked down and oily. I only use them when I use dry shampoos. I have had success with dry shampoos for those times when I desperately need to leave the house but my hair is too oily for me to be happy about being seen. I don't understand the put it up and forget it thing, because the roots still look oily.

[winship2]

It took me a long time and a lot of patience to be able to stretch washes. I started by getting rid of SLS and letting my scalp adjust. Then I spent about a month washing my hair about every 36 instead of 24 hours. When I first started, I could literally stretch only a few hours more. Then every other day, then every 3rd day. Now I can shampoo once a week with a condition only somewhere in between. Keeping it up helps, brushing the oils down helps too, but when I first started, I felt like this made it look worse. In the beginning, I just wouldn't touch my hair after it had dried until my scalp adjusted.

Try not to do too many new things at once because your scalp might freak out by producing even more oils. Just take it slow, it might take a while, but it'll happen, so don't get discouraged.

Many thanks for the surprising number of responses! I'll be at 48 hours this evening, which will be awesome and the first time I've felt comfortable going this long. I know my updo is looking a bit greasy, especially at my ears and temples, but I'm trying not to look in the mirror too much, and I trust the single employee in at work today doesn't notice/can't be bothered. I did use some Acure dry shampoo today but can't say I think it did much good. Maybe I'll try another brand I saw recommended on Amazon.

There have been a lot of good points made, and Vrindi makes one that I think is pertinent for me, which is that you can stretch even by a few more hours and really take your time to get to a goal. I'm writing down all the comments people have made in my notebook. To the poster who mentioned beer-- funny, I had just followed a link rabbit hole to Arrow's video on that. Sounds like a fun thing to try when I wash one of these days! I also have just switched type of BBB, from one that had been my grandmother's, that is an unusual shape with very dense, stiff bristles, to a paddle-type with softer bristles. I feel more comfortable using this on my hair, and less concerned about damage.

I think I read elsewhere the advice to change pillowcases very frequently. I bought some silk the other day to make pillowcases, and I wonder if the smoothness of the silk might reduce friction stimulation that could encourage temple greasiness? I don't suppose the effect would be measurable, but in theory it sounds plausible.

I really appreciate the advice and hope this thread will be useful for people who have modest stretching goals but want to be have some tools to try to help them succeed.

[winship2]

Double post :(

[lapushka]

Have you thought about using dry shampoo on the day you don't want to wash? Maybe you could start by washing it one day in the evening, then the next evening delay your wash until the morning, this is stretching a bit already. See how you go.

[winship2]

Have you thought about using dry shampoo on the day you don't want to wash? Maybe you could start by washing it one day in the evening, then the next evening delay your wash until the morning, this is stretching a bit already. See how you go.

Yes, I think stretching little by little is an excellent idea. Do you have a brand of dry shampoo you can recommend? I'd love to find something brown if possible. I believe Loepsie has a video on DIY colored dry shampoos, but I haven't watched it yet.

[Chromis]

I don't think silk pillowcases have done anything for my sebum production, but they do help keep the new shorter growing hairs less frizzy and apt to halo and they help keep my nape less tangled too. (I always have to sleep in a braid or I got horrid tangles in the my length!)

[lapushka]

Yes, I think stretching little by little is an excellent idea. Do you have a brand of dry shampoo you can recommend? I'd love to find something brown if possible. I believe Loepsie has a video on DIY colored dry shampoos, but I haven't watched it yet.

The Batiste brand has one for dark hair. It's also raved about on YouTube. I have no personal experience with the Batiste. I had a dry shampoo last when I was a teen (so: many many years ago) and that was a very local brand that's no longer around.

[lapushka]

Yes, I think stretching little by little is an excellent idea. Do you have a brand of dry shampoo you can recommend? I'd love to find something brown if possible. I believe Loepsie has a video on DIY colored dry shampoos, but I haven't watched it yet.

The Batiste brand has one for dark hair. It's also raved about on YouTube. I have no personal experience with the Batiste. I had a dry shampoo last when I was a teen (so: many many years ago) and that was a very local brand that's no longer around. It's okay if you wash daily to get the start of oiliness out of your hair, but not for really *really* oily hair that needs a wash. Dry shampoo is a good measure to test the difference, actually.

[HairFaerie]

I am an everyday washer, but I found something that I like that helps me stretch at least one day...
I brew a cup of rooibos tea, let it cool, transfer it to a small spray bottle. I spray the cooled tea on my roots on the day I don't wash. It supposedly helps with grow and it "freshens" my hair too! I love it! Oh, don't forget to store the spray bottle in the refrigerator and it should keep for a week or so, otherwise it will get moldy. Ew!

[kidari]

Some people with very oily scalps probably need to wash more often than those with dry hair/scalp. If you let it go too long it can damage the follicle and cause hair to shed and hair to thin. Also, oiling the scalp too vigorously can have potential ill effects. I don't think that feeling the need to wash more often is all a mental thing if your scalp becomes sore from it and your ends dry out while the rest feels waxy and you are uncomfortable and itchy. Some people have great success from CO washing almost exclusively but that doesn't mean that a person who uses SLS laden shampoos is doomed and vice versa.

Also, be careful of dry shampoos, especially the ones in spray cans. Drying alcohols are listed high up on the ingredients list.

[winship2]

Some people with very oily scalps probably need to wash more often than those with dry hair/scalp. If you let it go too long it can damage the follicle and cause hair to shed and hair to thin. Also, oiling the scalp too vigorously can have potential ill effects. I don't think that feeling the need to wash more often is all a mental thing if your scalp becomes sore from it and your ends dry out while the rest feels waxy and you are uncomfortable and itchy. Some people have great success from CO washing almost exclusively but that doesn't mean that a person who uses SLS laden shampoos is doomed and vice versa.

Also, be careful of dry shampoos, especially the ones in spray cans. Drying alcohols are listed high up on the ingredients list.

I would never have dreamt that hair is such an individual thing as I have learnt it is since joining LHC. I guess you could take it as a kind of metaphor...

2:52 on the west coast of the States and I'll be washing in about 4 hours. Looking forward to a nice brushing and scalp massage! Then shampoo at 50%, a good conditioning, and nice clean hair...

[excentricat]

I'm a little late to the party, so sorry if this has already been said. My best advice for stretching is to do it before it gets hot and sweaty. I can stretch much longer in the winter (up to 4 days) than I can in the summer (every other day). Also, I found WO on non-wash days did not help me. It seemed to spread the oil from my scalp down about 4 inches without removing any of it, leaving me looking greasier than if I had just kept it dry. Hopefully you find what works for you.

[Dorothy]

I have very oily hair, and did this gradually. I started by washing Friday morning and then not again until Sunday night, on weekends I don't have to look fabulous. After quite a long time I could wash one day, wear it down, bun the next day. It helps to use a very fine tooth wooden comb (I have a vintage japanese one meant for smoothing fancy hairdos) after bunning to comb from the hairline to the bun, all the way around, this eliminates the clumping that reveals oily hair. Now, after 5 LHC years, I'm at washing about twice a week, and sometimes I can wear it down 2 days in a row before bunning for a day, and then there's the weekend again. My belief is that not only has my tolerance increased, but my head is making less oil.

[Mandie]

I think I wasn't clear-- at the moment I wash every day, and I'd like to make it to every other day. I think what I'm hearing you say is: If you (I) have to wash every day, oil to help prevent damage; use hairstyles to mask oiliness; preening might make the appearance of my hair more, rather than less, oily. All good thoughts, thanks.

Whoops I did not check back at all. Yes you understood me right; oil the ends to keep them from getting dried by over-washing, shampoo only on the scalp with just a tad of the bubbles run down your length, condition only from the ears down. I started doing that two months ago and almost instantly my hair's condition improved and I can last longer before the oil starts since I'm not starting out with a conditioned scalp. Hairstyles will mask the oiliness, and preening never hurts to try but I don't care for it.

I hope you can make it to every other day. :)

[Lunadriael]

It might have already been mentioned, but I find that it really makes a difference what is in the shampoo & conditioner I use as to how greasy my scalp gets and how quickly. If I use an SLS shampoo and anything with lots of cones in, for me, I produce more grease a lot faster than when I use an SLS free shampoo with maybe aloe or some oils in, for example, so the recommendations for SLS free products are probably a good idea. Or at least something that doesn't coat the hair with a lot of product might help you. Failing that you could try just washing the scalp and bagging the length to protect your ends? I'm sure you can defo stretch a day in time. HTH and GL.

[Coolcombination]

I wash every other day and can't stretch to every 3 days at all. I think what's happening to u is that you wash daily to get rid of oil.This dries out your scalp and so overstimulates the scalp to produce more oil. Try choosing a mild shampoo, and using dry shampoo on the in between day.

[Sarahlabyrinth]

Let us know how you get on...

[winship2]

Let us know how you get on...

Thanks for asking! I went 48 hours a couple days ago, from Monday evening to Wednesday evening. Wednesday evening I washed with a small amount of a new shampoo to me, Desert Essence Fragrance Free. It didn't clean my hair sufficiently, and it may have made me shed a bit, so no more of that. So Wednesday evening, after I could see it wasn't going to dry clean enough for me to do another 48 hour stint, I oiled my damp hair with a little argan oil, then washed and conditioned with my usual Nature's Gate Daily. Lovely hair yesterday. I did a little BBB last night and it was still beautiful when I got up this morning (if I do say so myself). I did a little BBB to fluff this morning, and to test my hypothesis that any fooling with my hair in the morning makes it looks way oilier. (It does.) So I put a speck of shampoo on the length, not the roots, of my little bit of chin-length fringe, and I think that masks the worst of the oiliness. It's in a pony tail to the front of my shoulder now, so that at least it's apparent that my length is clean :) and I think I can make it to tomorrow morning.

I had hoped to switch my washes to evening to save time and wet hair in the morning, but of course the last, oiliest 12 hours are easiest to get through if I'm in bed. So perhaps as long as I'm doing 48 hours I'll do morning washes. When the warm weather comes I may move to evening daily washes again, we'll see.

Anyway, I think I can do this most of the time at least.

I think it's also true that since discovering my gluten and dairy intolerances last year, after running across the Paleo thread here and being inspired to give it an experiment, I know I am less oily on my face and I think it may be true of my hair also. My body odor has also decreased. I think it might be more difficult for me to try this change without the support of my dietary changes. I also have not had my period this month, and have some medical history reason to think I might be entering menopause early, so perhaps my hormones are also changing? Also, having imbibed some of the LHC culture over the last year makes me more motivated to do this and more chill about the oilier days.

I think there were so many good suggestions made in this thread, and as I go on I'll be very keen to try some. It's true that the bottom line is, "Just don't wash it", but having some strategies to make the transition smoother and less personally uncomfortable makes the experiment more likely to be a success. So thanks very much, everyone!

[Cirafly24]

I only wash my hair once a week, and I wear it up every day anyway, so I don't notice if it's oily.

I'm not sure if anyone suggested this yet, but you could try some dry shampoo on the roots if you feel like they look a little greasy.

[winship2]

I only wash my hair once a week, and I wear it up every day anyway, so I don't notice if it's oily.

I'm not sure if anyone suggested this yet, but you could try some dry shampoo on the roots if you feel like they look a little greasy.

I did try dry shampoo on Wednesday morning-- I used Acure-- but I did not find that it helped at all. Either I used it wrong, or my oiliness-fu is too strong, or its effects were cancelled out by the increased oiliness caused my manipulating my hair, or maybe I should try another brand. Any tips for successful usage? I have watched a couple videos, but maybe my hair is oilier than theirs.

[leslissocool]

I am too lazy to wash my hair every day. I don't have the time, my showers are like 2 minutes and there are usually children running in circles waiting for me to finish :lol:. I wash like once a week, when DH can keep and eye on the kids and I can take 10-15 minutes :lol:.

[jacqueline101]

I first started this task about four years ago I did it to economize. I did have oily roots in the beginning but I wore my hair up and no one noticed. I do love my stretched washes.

[vindo]

I failed at stretching washes before I started using a super mild organic shampoo.

Then I also had to just bite the bullet and deal with oily hair for a while until it normalized.

I stretched from 3 days, then did for days for a few weeks, then 5 days and very gradually got to a week.

One hint: some people do have an oilier scalp due to hormones and not much can be done. Women tend to be less oily.