Would you rather...

[LittleHealthy]

If I clarify my hair, I can go without a wash for 5 days.
If I use my regular shampoo or cowash, I can only go 3 days before needing to wash due to oily roots.

•Clarify every wash, and wash a bit less often.

•Shampoo lightly with SLS free products or COwash, but have to wash after 3 days....

What would you rather (imagining you didn’t have any scalp issues etc)?
I’m not sure what is best for me, to clarify seems like it’s extremely stripping compared to my usual shampoo, but then washing/getting your hair wet is leaving it open to mechanical damage. Does anyone else find themselves being able to go longer between washes after clarifying? What do you do?

[dancedance]

I would definitely clarify, but keep the shampoo on the scalp, and condition the length before shampooing so it stays protected from the sulfates. If the length needs washing, I'd then do the co wash on the length. But my hair responds really well to sulfates.

[lapushka]

Back when I still washed 2/3 times a week, I went sulfate-free. I still needed to wash as much as normal. It's not as if the sulfates made it possible for me to wash less. Nowadays my scalp seems to have "normalized" and I can do a weekly wash. But I need to use a sulfate and clarify wash each wash.

I have SD, seborrheic dermatitis, I can't do sulfate-free, personally.

[Scyphozoa]

I just prefer to wash my hair more often. I live in a warm area, and I don't mind having wet hair. My hair doesn't tangle much, so I just let it air dry without combing, then brush it.

[GrowingGlory]

I would avoid clarifying more often than is necessary. How about clarifying it on an as-needed basis instead of following a schedule?

[YvetteVarie]

I clarify and go 10 or more days between washes. This works best for me. I manipulate my hair less this way

[zmirina]

I hardly ever Clarify, it dries my hair out too much. Washing hair every other day wouldn't be too bad, I already do it when I actually go to the gym regularly

[TheDebby]

I don't have much choice, I need to wash as gentle as possible most of the time, otherwise it is going to hurt.
Besides I try to swim every week, it is easier for me to wash it with conditioner.

[CalystaStarr]

I would go with option two, because washing once every three days is already less than I wash it now.

[MusicalSpoons]

Ooh, given no scalp issues I'd love to clarify and go longer between washes!! With the right method (C-W-ROO-C) and products I can make my lengths love me after a full wash and could easily go 7-10 days without needing to see water, but my scalp lets me down. Most shampoos dehydrate it and give me crazy-paving style dry flakes, and even the mildest shampoo I can use that makes my hair feel clean - glucosides are the main cleansers - dries it out over a few washes. Unfortunately, to look presentable my scalp would need washing every other day, but if I'm not going anywhere it's perfectly fine with a full wash every week with a scalp wash in between (less thorough, otherwise it dries out the hair at nape length+ to wherever it gets wet).

If I could use harsher products without totally freaking my scalp out in order to give me longer between washes, I absolutely would!