You’re in–you’re ready to start stretching the time between your hair washes so you can reap all of the benefits of shampooing only when necessary. But how do you do it and still look and feel great (and clean)? 

The following tips will help you master those in-between days. Eventually, with the right approach, you may learn to love them even more than your freshly washed days.

Why less washing is good

Better hair is the goal, and less frequent shampooing can get you there, here’s why:

♦ The wrong shampoo will strip your hair and scalp of natural and essential oils

♦ Overwashing hair prompts scalp to make more oil = oilier hair

♦ Some shampoos contain harsh chemicals

♦ Rubbing to create lather damages hair strands

♦ Wet hair is fragile

Not only can shampooing directly affect your hair in a negative way, but there are also some damage-causing “side effects” that can happen when you wash your hair.

♦ Hot water is bad for your scalp and your hair.

♦ Towel drying (mainly vigorous rubbing) is a hair-damaging habit.

♦ Not rinsing well enough leads to build-up and stress-inducing weight.

♦ Blow drying can suck out even more moisture from your hair and scalp.

♦ Extra styling puts stress on your hair and head.

That’s a lot of great reasons to cut back on how often you shampoo your hair. Of course, you want healthy hair, but you also want it to look (and feel) great. So how do you find the perfect balance?

When to wash

Part of skipping shampooing is really knowing when your hair needs a wash and when it doesn’t. If you’ve been a devotee of the daily wash, this can actually be a pretty difficult hurdle to get over, but these when-to-wash tips can help.

♦ The build-up of a product has made your hair dingy looking and lifeless

♦ Your oil situation is out of control

♦ When was the last time you washed, three days ago, maybe longer?

♦ You have dandruff issues

♦ Your hair smells bad

♦ You were exposed to chemicals or smoke that can cling onto hair

♦ Hair tangles are out of control

♦ Curl definition is a thing of the past

Once you become familiar with your hair and how it reacts to skipping shampoos, it will be easier to determine when a shampoo is necessary.

Shampoo skip days

If you’ve determined that your hair doesn’t need a wash, then you’re ready for a shampoo skip day. In the beginning, these days will feel a little different, but the following ideas can help you manage them until you can master them.

♦ Go as-is because second-day hair often looks better than fresh hair

♦ Dry shampoo to soak up oil and add texture for new styles

♦ A quick zap of the blow dryer with a round brush can help dry up roots

♦ Use blotting paper for touch-ups at the root

♦ Regularly brush with a boar’s bristle brush to absorb oil

♦ A change in hairstyle can also help extend your no-poo days

Dirty hair hairstyles

Having a few shampoo skip day hairstyles in your back pocket can do a lot to get you over an oily day and support your hair and scalp health. Try a few of the following to see what works for you or use them as hair-spiration.

♦ Up-dos are great for next-day hair and even day-after-that. The “dirty” texture of your hair helps hold it in place and adds volume. Play with messy buns and ponytails.

♦ Second-day hair often becomes a combination of hair with dry bits and oily ones, curly parts, and straight sections. Braids are not only phenomenal at disguising this, but they can also set you up for beachy waves the next day if you sleep in them.

♦ Speaking of beachy waves, add a little styling product and a couple of your favorite curling tools and transform second and third-day hair into phenomenal beachy waves. 

♦ Hair La Vie’s Renewing Growth Treatment is a great product to work into your dirty hairstyles. Short-term, this spray hydrates your hair, adds volume, and helps tackle tangles. Long-term, it’s even better because it fights oiliness and internally repairs your hair to prevent hair loss. 

♦ Giving yourself a new part will also help hide oily spots, but it does more than that. Parting your hair in the same place daily weakens your hair in that spot. Moving the part lets that area recover, and it adds volume to the new part. 

♦ Accessorize with clips, claws, scarves, and more. A cute accessory can be a necessity when extending the time between shampoos.

♦ Dry shampoo is perfect for the last day of your no-poo regimen. It soaks up oil, adds volume, and can even help you control your hair for more intricate styles. With the right dry shampoo, this is bound to become your favorite day of the week.

One thing to note when you’re using a dry shampoo to extend the time between wet shampoos and to help with hairstyles is that some of them can further dry out your hair, which can lead to damage. Check the ingredient list on your dry shampoo to make sure it doesn’t use alcohol, talc, or parabens.

Hair La Vie Dry Shampoo

A great way to make sure your dry shampoo is supporting hair health and not derailing your efforts is to go with Hair La Vie’s Dry Shampoo. Containing only perfectly balanced plants and natural minerals, your hair instantly looks and feels clean, healthy, and gorgeous. 

Through its natural oil-absorbancy, dry shampoo lets your scalp return to its normal state with a harmony that supports growth and nourishment. As an added benefit, the ingredients in Hair La Vie’s Dry Shampoo help to add texture to your hair strands, so your hair has a visible appearance of vitality and fullness–perfect for today’s health-centric styles.

Final thoughts

Daily shampooing is quickly becoming a thing of the past as more people realize the benefits of going a day or several without washing. There are a number of reasons to skip shampoos, but the most important takeaway is that fewer washes mean healthier, more naturally-balanced hair. And who doesn’t want that?

To make the most of those days between shampoos, it’s key to learn a few go-to hairstyles that look amazing yet help hide your hair concerns, and especially so when you’re doing it for the first time. A little accessorizing, using the right products like Hair La Vie’s Dry Shampoo and Renewing Growth Treatment spray, and some skill with a curling wand can go a long way toward creating great looks that don’t rely on a wet beginning.

Once you get comfortable with your new routine, you’ll find that the dry shampoo days quickly become favorites. The right combination of all-natural ingredients will leave your hair looking and smelling fabulous, and you’ll actually spend less time on your hair in the morning. It’s a win-win all the way around.