Feisal shares that “washing with water alone is like taking a shower without soap—great as a quick refresh, but probably not ideal for most of us to do all of the time. Water will only help rinse the hair's surface of dust and debris, but will not do much else and especially won't 'wash' your hair.”
A water-only hair wash routine will help preserve the natural oils. Further, it is a low maintenance hair care routine that requires you to invest in minimal hair care products. You can use lukewarm and cold water to wash off the dirt and dust and then follow it up with a good conditioner.
Also, if you have tangle-prone hair, you can choose to clean your hair only with water and then go for a deep conditioner. Skipping shampoo will allow sebum to evenly spread over your scalp and keep your hair moisturized.
Many beauty experts say that it's okay to skip your hair washing after a workout. Rinsing with water may be enough. In addition to saving time, skipping your post-workout hair washing every once in a while can actually be beneficial for your scalp health.
Water can remove most visible dirt and debris, but might not eliminate odors or oily deposits. Shampoo helps water remove dirt, debris, and odors, such as smoke or sweat effectively. Shampoos can also remove oil.
"You can use dry shampoo to lengthen the time in between washes, to absorb sweat after workouts or to just refresh hair for a 'fresh-styled look' without the hassle of getting hair wet and blow drying it."
For starters, washing with just water may not be effective in removing all the dirt and oil from your hair. This is especially true if you have a naturally oily or greasy scalp, as water alone will not break down the oils as effectively as shampoo would.
"There isn't really any benefit to not using shampooing, the alternative is that your scalp continues to produce oil making your scalp and hair greasier which can lead to a breeding ground for bacteria causing scalp issues, especially dandruff.
"The average individual can typically go 2 to 3 days without shampooing their hair. However, if your hair is visibly oily, you may not want to wait that long," she says. "Usually, you can go longer without washing your hair when your hair is styled up, but no one should ever go more than 14 days."
The no-poo method can mean cleansing with only water or with shampoo alternatives like coconut oil, baking soda, or apple cider vinegar.
There's also your everyday body odor, sweat, and bacteria that fester in your hair. Left untreated, it can start to smell sour or mildewy, especially if you have thick hair which traps odors more easily. The longer you go without washing, the worse the stench gets.
Cold water closes the hair cuticles and helps reduce frizz.
Unless the cuticles are open, water cannot penetrate the hair and eliminate unwanted oil, dirt, and sweat.
Also, it's important to note that for some, 'hair training' can take months, and for others, it may only take a few weeks. It just totally depends on the texture and weight of your hair. For me, I would say it took ~2 months of training before I was able to confidently go so long in between washes.
'Unfortunately, just using water for washing won't remove dirt, bacteria and germs from our skin,' he explains. 'That's because water alone can't lift off the invisible oil where the germs are hiding, often tucked into tiny creases in the skin.
'No poo' is a method of cleansing your hair without using commercially made shampoos and conditioners. No poo methods can range from washing your hair with only water or using just a few simple, natural products, like vinegar and baking soda, to cleanse your strands.
She rarely washed her hair, as the process was involved and not terribly pleasant. Women were advised to dilute pure ammonia in warm water and then massage it through the scalp and hair, like modern shampoo.
When to wash. Rossi generally tells his patients they should wash their hair once or twice per week. But if you've had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier — such as bleach, perms or relaxers — you might want to wash it less than once weekly to avoid breaking or brittle hair or split ends, he said.
Clay, plants, henna, animal fats… Each civilisation had its own technique. The Egyptians alternated between vinegar and lemon mixed in water. The Indians opted for soap nuts and plant mixes, amongst other things, whereas in North Africa, soapy clay was combined with dried fruits.