There was an entire generation of women in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and beyond who went to their favorite beauty salon once a week to have their hair washed and set for the entire week. They wouldn’t do another thing to it until they returned the following week for their next shampoo and set.

Somewhere in the ’60s and ’70s, that changed, and the marketing push to wash your hair daily began. And now there is a no-poo movement that doesn’t use shampoo at all. So, where do you fit in there? 

Hopefully, you’re just looking for the healthiest way to manage your hair while still looking fabulous–and that goal is totally achievable!

The hair health balance

The trickiest part of customizing a haircare plan is that it has to be tailored to your hair. You can read all the how-to articles and ask all the experts, but it’s going to come down to a little experimentation to really get it right.

That said, you want to find a sweet spot where your hair looks great, and you know how to work with it until it reaches a point where you know a wash is in order. Even then, you want to make sure you’re not using a shampoo with harsh chemicals. They can “overclean” your hair and leave it struggling to recover and overproducing sebum to compensate. A focus on all-natural and gentle ingredients makes a big difference.

One of the biggest hurdles is getting over the idea that clean hair is healthy hair. Your hair and scalp need to have some oils to stay nourished, hydrated, and healthy. Rather than diving right in on a week without shampooing, try skipping a day, then two days, and so on until you find your own personal timeline. Be patient, it will take your scalp time to adjust to the new schedule, but in a few weeks, you’ll be so happy you made this change.

Tips for week-long hair 

So, let’s get to it! If your goal is to make your hairstyle last a full week, these tips will help you achieve your goals!

♦ Avoid overwashing and using harsh chemicals that strip your hair of sebum. You need this natural oil to have truly healthy hair. 

♦ Cut back on styling products that don’t work for your hair. Products can make your hair feel sticky, weighed down, and they create some wicked bedhead. Try going without product for a few days to see what your hair naturally does. Ease back in with something natural, like Hair La Vie Serum for gentle control.

♦ Change how you style your hair by cutting back on the heat. High heat used on a regular basis dries out your strands and leaves hair damaged and lifeless. A lower heat used less frequently is better. Or you can go even further and try using foam curlers for a really great and natural look.

♦ Sleep in satin. A satin hair wrap protects your hair from friction damage, and it helps maintain your hairstyle. If you toss and turn too much or you don’t like the satin turban, try using a satin pillowcase. 

♦ Try a volumizing spray that lifts your hair at the root to disguise the start of grease and give your hair body and depth. 

♦ Use all-natural dry shampoo to extend your style an extra day-maybe even two. Not only that, but dry shampoos add texture and volume to your hair. If it’s starting to go limp, it will spring back up and look and smell fresh again.

Hair La Vie’s Dry Shampoo is made of a natural balance of plants and minerals that leave your hair looking and feeling clean, healthy, and gorgeous. 

Black clay and cornstarch are simple natural ingredients that work wonders at absorbing oils without weighing your hair down or leaving messy clumps behind. Soapnut cleans your hair while bamboo and meadowfoam seed oil work to balance moisture levels and bring “fluff” back to your tresses.

Final thoughts

Hair trends have definitely shifted from an overdone era to an over-washed one, and now you’re lucky enough to live at a time where natural and healthy hair is the trend. This means less work for you, a final style that suits you, and a focus on health that makes life easier and more attractive.

Shifting to less shampooing can be tricky, and it’s going to leave you with a few days where you just want to pull on a hat and hide your hair, which is cool because you can also rock that hat look. Once you figure out your own hair schedule and get into a routine, your hair will thank you with thicker, longer, and lovelier locks that are noticeably healthier.

A big part of extending the time between washes is using all-natural products that nourish hair rather than zap it of moisture and nutrients. One of those products should be a reliable dry shampoo that effectively refreshes your hair and adds texture without clumping or weighing down strands. Hair La Vie’s dry shampoo gives you the best of both worlds and frees up another day or two, so you can use that morning shampoo and style time for something else.