"With more natural oils lubricating the hair [from water-only washing], the hair shafts glide over each other, leading to less tangles." Skipping shampoo also allows for the hair's sebum to distribute throughout, and this may make hair appear more shiny and less frizzy.
While most of you choose to use shampoo to wash your hair, do you know it tends to strip off your hair's natural lustre at times? Shampoo is great, but it can have damaging effects on your hair and scalp too. The good news is that you can wash your hair even without shampoo.
Warm water helps to soften the grease, but it doesn't wash it away on its own. You need to use a shampoo to properly clean your hair and scalp.
Shampoo and Greasy Hair
Once you stop using shampoo on a regular basis, as the theory goes, oil production slows down and you naturally produce less. (You may experience a few greasy days or weeks of "transition period," proponents say, but eventually, your body finds balance again.)
Showering often with hard water can make your hair extra dry and susceptible to breakage. If you continue to shower with hard water, the breakage and other hair damage can ultimately lead to hair thinning.
Even just getting hair wet can lead to more breakage! When hair becomes wet, the shaft swells, resulting in hair that is more elastic and easier to break. In addition, shampoos can sometimes work too well, removing the oils your hair naturally produces resulting in hair that looks dull and dry.
For the average person, every other day, or every 2 to 3 days, without washing is generally fine. “There is no blanket recommendation. If hair is visibly oily, scalp is itching, or there's flaking due to dirt,” those are signs it's time to shampoo, Goh says.
"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."
What Is the No-Poo Method? The no-poo method is a hair-cleansing technique that removes shampoo from the equation, says Geeta Yadav, MD, a dermatologist in Toronto. Instead of using shampoo, followers of the practice use alternatives such as apple cider vinegar, a cleansing conditioner, or just plain water.
If you want to fix frizzy hair without washing, you need a product that works on dry hair. Comb one whole pump of Almost Everything Cream through your mid-lengths and ends using your fingers. This will again, smooth frizz, as well hydrate dry ends and give your hair a healthy sheen.
Yes, there is no harm in washing hair daily with plain treated water but prefer cold water. You need to check for excess chlorine or bleach in water which may cause dryness and split ends on repeated exposure.
The best way to transition to a water-only hair washing routine is to decrease using shampoo gradually. For example, if you shampoo your hair twice a week, do it once a week. Alternatively, you can dilute the shampoo with water to minimize using shampoo. After 3-4 weeks, stop using shampoo at all.
"Shampooing is topical and hair growth is systemic, meaning that the act of not shampooing will not affect or prolong the growth phase of the hair growth cycle," she told me. Worse still, Kingsley suggests that abstaining from regular shampooing could actually do more harm than good.
Dries Out Hair: Frequent wetting can also lead to a dry and itchy scalp, which can cause discomfort and even hair loss over time. Increases Risk of Damage: When your hair is wet, it's more susceptible to damage, so excessive wetting can lead to breakage, split ends, and other types of damage.
In fact, when you don't wash your hair enough, you allow oils and dirt to build up on your scalp and clog your pores, paving the way for actual hair loss. That's why finding the perfect frequency for your shampooing schedule is the key to caring for your scalp and avoiding hair loss.
“Not shampooing enough will only make your dandruff worse — it causes more oil and dead skin cells to accumulate on your scalp, which the yeast and fungi just continue to feed on,” warns Beverly Hills dermatologist Stuart H.
Washing the hair less often can help the scalp remain healthy, prevent itching and flaking, and keep the hair soft and shiny. People with very oily scalps may develop acne on the scalp or along the hairline and may need to wash their hair more frequently to keep their hair looking clean.
When your hair is wet, it's more fragile and prone to breakage, says Jasmine Burnside, a hairstylist in New York City. "Going to bed with wet or damp hair will most likely lead to more friction on the strands, ultimately leading to potential damage." That's why she says it's something that she advises against.
Damaged hair is when your hair feels matted or spongey when wet. In extreme cases you may have hair loss. Dry hair needs moisture while damaged hair needs protein.
While people with very oily or very healthy straight hair may be able to skip conditioner every so often, it's still not recommended since even a small amount can help reset hair and scalp pH, says Longsworth.
The simple answer: not-so-great things. According to cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos, hair can become more brittle, susceptible to tangles, and prone to breakage with the absence of a conditioner. "If you stop using conditioner, your hair will likely be more difficult to comb," warns Romanowski.