View Full Version : How often do you wash hair & with what?
cleanbug
April 22nd, 2009, 05:16 PM
Hi there, being new to this list, iposted this under the 'new user" forum by accident. I'll repost it here seeing as it probably is more suited to this forum.
"I started out with a pixie cut (think Halle Berry) that was blond & damaged. I started using Jamilia Henna & have been growing it for about 1 year & 2 months. Over the time i have been growing my hair & really treating it well, I have tried many different ways of caring for it. I've tried washing with baking soda/vinegar rinses. I've tried no shampoo (conditioner only ) washing. For the last 2 months have settled on wash every other day. On my wash days, I use a professional shampoo that seems to leave my hair (when wet) not feeling too stripped out of natural oils. Some cheaper shampoos really make my hair feel stripped out when wet. I condition with GPB Aubrey Organics conditioner (which I love). I am okay with this routine for now but keep thinking all of these experienced long hair community of people probably have a better way to care for hair than what I am doing. I plan on growing my hair very long & want to help it along the way any way I can. I do not ever use curling irons, flat irons or curlers. I do occasionally use the hair dryer on low heat setting to get some dampness out but rarely dry it to bone dry. I try to let it air dry.
Thanks for any replies.Tami
http://ilovehenna.tripod.com/id1.html (http://ilovehenna.tripod.com/id1.html) "
BlndeInDisguise
April 22nd, 2009, 05:20 PM
I wash my hair every other day. Usually I CO, but sometimes I use WO. Just depends on my mood. ;)
It took me a long time to settle on this "routine" and I don't know how long I'll stay on it, because hair changes. :)
Anje
April 22nd, 2009, 05:38 PM
Well, I answered you before, but I'll do it again.
I'm a bit sporadic and do what I feel like on any given day. Usually I CO (conditioner only, you'll find all sorts of instructions around here if you look) with Suave Naturals, when my scalp hair starts to look oily, which is a few days to a week or so between washes.
Other times I WO or use a shampoo bar, but that's less often.
Suldrun
April 22nd, 2009, 06:02 PM
I work from home so I can stretch my washes out longer sometimes but for the most part it is every 3 days.
I normally scalp wash only unless I have oiled my length. I use CV shampoo bars with a mild vinegar rinse and then a catnip rinse. All the info on this is on the shampoo bar thread and the catnip for split ends thread.
It taken a bit of experimenting to find this routine.
marialena
April 22nd, 2009, 06:11 PM
Hello and welcome to the LHC.
(comment.. I saw your pictures and you are very beautiful and your hair color is fantastic ..end of comment! ) :)
I wash my hair every four days with olive oil soap, and this period I rinse them with a honey rinse and I oil them when they are wet with a little coconut oil.
I dye them as well with red henna.
Copasetic
April 22nd, 2009, 06:17 PM
Lately I have been washing with conditioner every five days or so, and maybe once a month I will use a traditional shampoo.
dancingmegs
April 22nd, 2009, 06:31 PM
Welcome!
I scalp wash (cover the length with a plastic bag so it doesn't get wet, and just wash the scalp hair) every 4 to 6 days, depending on whether I've been getting sweaty. Right now I use Giovanni Tea Tree shampoo.
Every three weeks or so I wash the whole length, CWC style. (stands for condition, wash, condition. One applies conditioner to the length, washes the scalp with shampoo, and reapplies conditioner to the whole shebang)
In future posts, could you please put a few line breaks in your responses? It's a bit difficult for some to read a big block of text. It all sort of swims together.
mellie
April 22nd, 2009, 06:39 PM
I wash every day (pretty much roots only though) with soapnuts. (No conditioner or acid rinses). Just let it air dry.
viking_quest
April 22nd, 2009, 06:42 PM
I wash 3 times a week with Burt's Bee's moisturizing shampoo and Suave Naturals conditioner.
cleanbug
April 22nd, 2009, 08:39 PM
Thanks for all the replies! I really appreciate it. I do find that my hair actually feels better & less tangly on the days I don't wash. Im thinking that the shampoo does a bit of a number on the hair?
I own a dog grooming shop so depending on if I am grooming the "little fluff balls" or the big hairy collie types, sometimes dictates if I can go a day or two w/o washing. Sometimes, I am just too hairy (with dog hair) & stinky to not wash my hair after work. LOL.
I appreciate the compliments...I am so happy i found henna & this group.
another quick question, when some of you say you "oil" your hair, would that be a daily thing or only after washing & conditioning? also, how much oil would you use & how do you disperse it as to not make the hair look oily?
I used grapeseed oil a few times & it just made my hair look greasy. I probably used too much.
Oh yes, one more question. For those of you who c/o wash, did you just go cold turkey off shampoo or did you gradually wean yourself off shampoo? i tried this for up to a month thinking that my scalp would eventually stop producing the extra oil, but i never really came to a happy medium.
My hair was not dry at all but i could feel it on my scalp that it was so heavy & very flat.
Thanks again & sorry for all the questions.
Tami
marajade
April 22nd, 2009, 08:57 PM
I do condition wash condition- basically put conditioner ears down, shampoo the top, rinse, and apply conditioner and let it sit for a bit (5 minutes)- then final rinse. I do this every other day or every third day. It seems to be more necessary to wash more often during the summer. I do CO less and less now simply because its less convenient since for me its more effective to leave it on for 30 minutes or more. I apply a leave in after shower- Giovanni or a little bit of my conditioner and olive oil. By the way I just wanted to say I love your hair color- it is beautiful!! I hope you like it here. :)
inspiral
April 22nd, 2009, 09:34 PM
I condition my hair everytime i wet it, it is the best way I have found to detangle my hair. I've been using two different conditioners: the cheapest AND the most expensive natural conditioners that I can find, currently Natures Gate Henna and John Masters Organics Neroli and Citrus Detangler <----the best stuff ever!!! After I wet my hair and squeeze out extra water I put in a little bit of the expensive stuff, then gobs of the cheap stuff, leave on for as long as possible, rinse out, then a tiny bit of the expensive stuff again and leave it in. I used to just buy the mid-grade stuff, which I would go through so fast!
I've been keeping it up in buns most of the time recently so the need to detangle has decreased, therefor I can go longer without wetting and conditioning/detangling. If I wear my hair down for a special occasion (ie~ going out dancing, parties, dinner, fun stuff, which is maybe once a week) then I pretty much always rinse, condition and detangle ASAP, either that night or the next day. Doing this has done wonders for my tangles, I used to go a couple days with really tangly hair and just keep putting it up, and my tangles would get so crazy it would take me an hour to detangle in the shower (I only detangle very gently with my fingers, and only after it is completely detangled will I use a comb.)
I use shampoo about once every two weeks or so, unless I am doing lots of oil treatments or have put any product on my hair, (which by the way, I have found that no product is really neccesary when I do the deep oil treatments, all I've been using is a little bit of leave in conditioner and a few drops of oil), and I recently discovered how AMAZING my hair is if I do a deep oil treatment before I use shampoo, then I will use a little shampoo on the length to get most of the oil out. My hair LOVES this and I am vowing to never shampoo without oiling first. I've been experimenting with different oils, and right now I am LOVING castor oil for deep treatments. (Castor oil is also INCREDIBLE for healing skin!) It seems that any oil works for deep treaments for me though. I completely drench my hair as much as possible and leave it on as long as I can. My boyfriend is NOT okay with me coming to bed oily, so I've been doing the deep treatments during the day when I don't have to work and then washing it out at night, and then I leave my conditioner in during the night, (just towel dry and bun on top of head) rinse it out the next morning and my hair is fantasticly moist and soft.
I also use oil on my wet hair before I air dry, but only a few drops, because too much will make it look greasy. I like coconut oil and also a blend of oils that I bought, its called Herb'n'Life Hemp Oil I think, it has a blend of essential oils in it also.
Blessings and good luck finding a routine that works for you!!!
lizzyjo
April 22nd, 2009, 09:57 PM
I use Suave shampoos and conditioners because they are inexpensive and smell good and, of course, because they work well for me. I average three washes a week.
I oil my hair about every other day. It doesn't make a difference to me whether my hair is wet or dry. The first time I oiled my hair I used too much and it made my hair oily and piece-y. Use only a drop or two to start out with; you can always add more.
Anje
April 22nd, 2009, 10:00 PM
I just went to CO cold turkey, but oiliness isn't really a problem for me. I get a little greasier in the winter, which has me COing every 2-3 days, but it's quite effective at removing my sebum, and I'd be washing as often with shampoo that time of year.
rose_in_bloom
April 22nd, 2009, 10:06 PM
I wash every day or every other day with various products. A month ago I went on a ridiculous product buying spree (I was extremely depressed and for some reason buying things for my hair made me feel better...don't ask why because I don't know :o), so I've got tons of products to use up. I tend to use cheap products because they seem to work pretty much the same as expensive ones. Right now I'm using VO5 passionfruit smoothie S&C, and I alternate that with Garnier Fructis length & strength S&C. I put a tiny bit of coconut oil on my ends after washing.
Roseate
April 23rd, 2009, 01:36 AM
I do a CWC with diluted SLS-free shampoo once a week. If I swim, or get dirty, or want to wear my hair curly again before I'm ready to shampoo, I'll do a CO.
Diluting the shampoo is great for me; it makes it spread more evenly over my scalp and is very gentle. Also makes my bottles of shampoo last forever!
florenonite
April 23rd, 2009, 02:41 AM
I wash with a mixture of about two parts shampoo to one part conditioner scrubbed into my scalp only, and I do this weekly. I just got a shampoo bar in the post the other day, though, so I'm looking forward to trying that and if it's successful I'll probably alternate that with my current shampoo until the liquid stuff's gone.
Snowball
April 23rd, 2009, 05:45 AM
I used to wash my hair every second day. Now I wash it every 5 - 8 days.
I have a very sensitive scalp :( so I can not use SLS shampoos. I tried self mixed shampoos, which were okay. I tried CO, but my scalp freaked out. For 2-3 years I used selfmade shampoo bars. My scalp loved it, but because of the hard water here my hair always looked a bit dull. I tried egg shampoo but I really hate the smell. Rhassoul/Ghassoul was too drying for my hair.
Now I use shikakai and aritha and my hair and scalp are happy with it. :)
Curlsgirl
April 23rd, 2009, 06:25 AM
Usually every 5-6 days with Paul Mitchell color-safe shampoo followed by Jessicurl too shea or other various rinse out conditioners. Then I add a leave-in conditioner and curl cream and then coconut oil as needed and in between washes. I have settled on a fairly simple hair routine.
cleanbug
April 23rd, 2009, 06:28 AM
What is "shikakai and aritha " ?
Thanks
Tami
sagebabies
April 23rd, 2009, 06:30 AM
I cwc two times a week. I use CV (Chagrin Valley) teatree shampoo bar because I was having a dandruff problem for the first time in my life. For conditioner, I use Aubrey Organics Honey Suckle Rose. I love that stuff!
I usually do a deep conditioner treatment every monday morning before I wash. I also use a very small amount of jojoba oil on my ends a few times a week.
I'm pretty new here as well, but this new routine has been great for my hair.
florenonite
April 23rd, 2009, 06:33 AM
What is "shikakai and aritha " ?
Thanks
Tami
Indian herbs that people use to clean their hair. I don't know anymore than that, as I've never tried them, but if you search in the Recipes, Henna and Herbal Haircare forum or the articles section I'm sure you'll find more information on them.
dearladydisdain
April 23rd, 2009, 07:11 AM
I have tried many methods of washing but currently wash every other day with Yes To Carrots shampoo & conditioner. Seems to work! :)
JamieLeigh
April 23rd, 2009, 07:36 AM
I try to go at least 4 days in between washings, and I CO with Suave Naturals tropical coconut conditioner. I only shampoo once a month, to clarify my scalp. I'm agreeing with the 2nd poster in this thread - it also took me a long time to get to this routine, and I'm happy with it so far. But sometimes your hair-needs can change and when that happens, I'll roll with it and do whatever feels best. :)
Welcome to LHC and good luck! :flower:
KajiKodomo
April 23rd, 2009, 07:43 AM
I wash my hair anywhere between every 4-7 days. I CWC (condition, wash, condition) when it's longer, but for now just shampoo and conditioner. I use Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine shampoo, and Aussie Moist Deeeeep 3-Minute Miracle conditioner. :D
Eden Iris
April 23rd, 2009, 10:28 AM
Currently I wash every 8 to 9 days with a shampoo bar, condition the ends with Aubrey Organics Honeysuckle Rose, and rinse all my hair with a white vinegar solution (1:10 WV to filtered water, with a few drops of rosemary EO and either sandalwood or some BPAL for fragrance). When it's mostly dry, I put a small amount of coconut oil on the length.
Once a month or so I need to do a clarifying shampoo. I use the AO green tea version and condition all of my hair with the AO HR. No vinegar rinse.
Every three months or so I henna. (Your color is fantastic, by the way.)
Welcome!
cynthia.md
April 25th, 2009, 03:03 AM
I wash every other day or 3 times a week with sls free shampoo.
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