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This topic got me thinking lately, and I'd love to read your tips and ideas.
Within the last year I went from daily CWC to C/O washing about twice a week (shampoo once or twice a month).
The following points helped me achieve this:
- Henna. Within the first week or two after using henna I found that I could go for an extra day between shampoos. I always went back to washing as usual after a while, but more out of a habit than because I really needed to. At some point I just didn't and it worked.
It seems to me as if the henna coating works a bit like a corn starch dry shampoo, absorbing excess sebum. While it washes out bit by bit the scalp has time to adjust to less frequent washing.
I actually found henna to be the most important step - it was always after a treatment that I felt comportable skipping an extra day and then continue this way.
- Rinsing. Whenever I feel like wearing my hair down and have it look especially good between wash days, I thoroughly rinse with warm water, condition with my favourite conditioner, rinse again and let air dry. Doesn't look quite like freshly washed, but definitely good enough most of the time.
- C/O instead of CWC. My scalp calmed down and produced less oil once I stopped using shampoo most of the time. Makes sense to me that skin that's being stripped from natural oils all the time tries to protect itself. I was always wondering why my scalp seemed to be the only part of my skin that was even remotely oily, when all other skin on my body was sensitive and dry. Then in occurred to me that I'd never wash any part of my body with anything as harsh as regular shampoo. I even have to wash my hair bent at the waist because I get a rash and painfully dry skin on my back if I shampoo standig straight.
- Brushing at night with a BBB. The brush distributes the natural sebum from the roots through the hair, making it slightly greasy - just the right amount of oil to be absorbed over night and look good in the morning.
- Learning to love the look of updos. Especially since I mastered the hair stick bun I'm finding myself looking forward to non-wash days, because that means I can wear my hair up all day. Updos don't hold well when my hair is freshly washed, plus I don't want to bun or braid damp because I don't like the massive waves that creates.
That's what I have to share on this topic. Any other tips? I wouldn't mind being able to wash only once a week some day and still feel comfortable.
The one thing that has always set a limit for me is my crown cowlick - as soon as my hair starts being slightly greasy it looks like I have a bald spot on the back of my head, even though the rest of my hair still looks quite reasonable. Any tips besides placing a bun just over that cowlick?
For those who cut down washing from daily to less frequently: do you think your hair benefited from this?
For those who wash only once or twice a week: Do you do anything to hydrate your hair in between?
TIA for any input!
Cheers,
Madeleine
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1cFi, just above bra strap, dark ash blonde hennaed fiery red