Photos of hairstyles that make missing wash day work for you

[jane_marie]

Do you sometimes miss wash day but still need to look somewhat presentable? I know I do.

I'd love to see how people manage to transform their dirty, dry, flaky, or oily missed wash day hair into passable looks. Please feel free to post your post wash day hair styles.

If you feel like it, I'm sure many might benefit from some extra information like hair length, how long it's been since your last wash day and your hairs problems when you skip a wash. Perhaps we can all learn something from each other.


Oh, and please no judgement. Sometimes it's easy to forget. :flower:

[Seeshami]

I use a no water shampoo on some days. And others I just slick my bangs back and pin then so I looks like I styled with product.

[NV]

I recently had to skip a wash day but had a classical concert in the evening where I wanted to look put together. My Solution was a Dutch Braid with the ends rolled under. I recently tried this hairstyle for the first time, and I am loving the way it looks. My hair is just over APL, so the braid isn't too big to tuck underneath. Maybe if it were longer I would roll the ends up in a bun at the nape of my neck. When I have gone a while without washing my hair (around day 5), my scalp starts to get itchy and I tend to get breakouts on my scalp as well. This style keeps it up and out of my face. The braid contains itself really nicely due to the grease and that keeps me from redoing my hair as I would sometimes do if I wore it in a bun.

https://i.imgur.com/L2fh6Vw.jpg

[-Fern]

French braids are my go-to. They stay neater longer with my hair a little greasy. If your hair is long enough, the Masara (https://youtu.be/ND5dJXnBs2k) is a stunning and simple modification. :o

[Nox_Inber]

NV that looks really nice! And I love the color of your sweater :)

[Begemot]

Beautiful look, NV :)

[Simsy]

At the moment, I regularly skip wash day because I’m at work in the truck and can’t take the time. I will take the time to comb, maybe use the Tangle Teaser if the tangles are bad; apply new oil and put the whole mess back up. I might add dry shampoo if my hair feels like it needs it before oil. I might braid the mop before I bun, if it feels particularly argumentative and I don’t want to risk cutting or breakage. I won’t French or Dutch braid if it’s fighting me; I’ll just comb into a pony-position and English braid.

It all kinda comes down to how everything feels when I pull it down. I have taken one look/feel at the single clumped coil and put it straight back up without trying to detangle or even unwind the strands. Sometimes, the battle I avoid is the one I can win later with more time and patience.

Go-to bun is my Reverse Cinnibun; photo below is of day4(?) without touching it. Given the temperature I’m currently working in; and how much my hair hates being handled while wet and not washed;, I probably won’t take it down for another couple of days. It’s not going to cool down until I get close to home, so there’s not much point fighting my hair when it’s quite happy just being left in this bun. That being said, I can take it down, rewind and put back up; and it will be almost as good as new.

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=38759&d=1570452068

[Elodea]

No photos at the moment, but generally the issues that arise for me when I miss wash day are oily roots and sometimes flakiness. This tends to look the worst at the crown of my head. I generally try to wash about once per week although sometimes I've ended up stretching that to maybe 9 days or so.

Buns are good for hiding the oily roots (at least somewhat) because I think that makes it less obvious that my roots are super oily but lengths less so.

If I know I need to wash my hair soon but don't have a chance to do that yet, I try not to scratch/disturb my scalp too much so the flakiness doesn't look super awful. If I have scratched my scalp (therefore worsening the flakiness) and don't have time for a wash but still need to look at least vaguely presentable, I just try to pick out and remove the most obvious flakes with my fingers and hide the rest as best as possible.

I haven't tried wearing a scarf tied sort of like a headband or bandana (to cover up the crown/hairline area) but it'd also probably help hide oily roots/flaky scalp. Or instead of using a scarf, you could use one of those thick fabric headbands. Frida Kahlo braids also seem like they'd work for hiding oily roots and flakiness.

[desisparkles]

Love it NV, looks so sophisticated.

Hi, Fern :heartbeat ! Long time no see (granted I've been away for a bit myself).

[Arciela]

What I usually do is a crown braid, french braid or nautilus bun.

[Captamericium]

When my hair gets greasy, i'll usually put my hair into dutch braid pig tails. I feel like the smaller braids contain the greasy look better than just one large dutch braid, but braids in general are a big go-to for combatting wash day hair for me. :)

[leayellena]

https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=36485&d=1554970581
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31916&d=1527675857
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31293&d=1523960389
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=29987&d=1516869237
https://forums.longhaircommunity.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=28821&d=1507790982

[Laurenhope29]

My hair was pretty greasy in this picture, not sure if you can tell... but i think braids are definitely the best way to hide oily hair!
https://i.imgur.com/rwN4TlK.png

[renaatijs]

Looks great! I'm planning to try this out today!

[YvetteVarie]

I agree with doing Dutch braids. My hair looks better in Dutch braids the longer I go in between washes (2-4 weeks)