I have great news! Hair stylists actually say you shouldn’t wash your hair everyday. Whew. And here I thought I was just a cochina. By the way, have you ever wondered, “Is pine tar good for your hair?”
So when I got this “Ask a Monican” question from a reader I thought I’d share how I deal with skipping a day of shampooing my hair.
“Sorry if this is a weird/random question. My hairdresser keeps telling me to stop washing my hair everyday because my hair is becoming brittle and dry. However.. I am also a runner and and sweat like a beast. My hair is always soaked after a run (and i run everyday) so how can I not wash my hair daily?! I have been following your blog for a long time and I was curious if you had any input on this? Do you wash your hair daily? Sorry if this is random but I love your blog and figured you would have some advice!
Thanks! C”
How to Skip a Day of Washing Your Hair
Step 1: Put your hair up in a pony and/or braid and pin your bangs back or wear a head band. You want your hair out of your face and off your neck but not necessarily super tight to your head – that will just hold the sweat on your scalp. 
Step 2: Get sweaty 
via Running, Rock climbing, Vigorous Texting, Other
Step 3. Put your hair up. Take a shower but don’t wash it. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200.
Step 4: Post-shower take it down and style your hair in a way that no one knows you just ran 5 miles as penance for that HUGE carrot cake cupcake you ate…
Option 1: Do the classic bun. It’s fast and easy. 
Option 2: Get a wig like those hd lace wigs or distract eyes away from your hair with a fashion don’t. 
Option 3: Use dry shampoo, batana hair cream, a few clips and a big barrel curling iron…
Here is how I do my hair on days I skip a shampoo sesh…
Ta-da!!! The front option of my new phone camera makes it look like I’m just a drunk memory, right? Maybe I am… it’s for the best. 
Hot Rollers Tutorial here
*** Also – I DO NOT run everyday. I usually take 2 rest days a week so sometimes if it’s a complete day off from exercise I skip shampoo on those days or carry it out another day.
Vote: Long Hair or Short Hair or Don’t Care??
You’re absolutely right. I usually have a bad case of dandruff, and I avoid washing my hair even though I work out three times a week (Yoga). I think that as long as your hair is out of your face or tied up in some way during a workout, it won’t get filthy even after a few days of you not washing it.
I have thick hair, so not only does that mean i takes longer to get/look greasy, but it’s just a lot to wash and dry very often. Good post! I also find that ponytails, buns, headbands and braids can get me through an extra few days without washing. PLUS when you’re doing that, you’re NOT wearing it down and so you’re less apt to use heat to dry/straighten/curl, etc and also less likely to use hair products.
In the many years since I’ve stopped washing my hair as often, I never need conditioner, and I get comments at the salon that my hair is very healthy for how color treated it is. What’s funny is that I like to do like a crown braid into a bun or some other french braid something or other when it’s super dirty, bc I feel like the braids hide the most, and I get more compliments when I do stuff like that! I always laugh and say thanks, whenever you see my hair like this it’s because I haven’t washed it in days.
Twice a week in the summer is the very most I’ll ever do…once a week is all that’s necessary otherwise.
As usual, I laughed out loud at your blog post. Always makes me smile 🙂 I always look forward to them every day!
I only wash my hair twice a week but I condition my hair almost everyday. I have thin hair and used to wash my hair everyday (sometimes, twice a day) but I read about it being so much healthier for your hair to not shampoo your hair daily. It did take some getting used to though.
I read in a fitness mag that sweat is water soluble, so if you’re able to rinse it out before the bacteria attaches itself, you’re golden and don’t need shampoo. It works for me!
Today was day #3 without a shampoo, so it was a pony tail with body (thanks to dry shampoo) and a lot of eye make-up, to district from the possible grease 😉
I just started doing the wash your hair every other day thing and I’ve noticed my hair looks so much healthier! Dry shampoo is AMAZING!!
I was once a “wash my hair every day” person but not anymore. However, I almost always at least rinse it & put a small amount of conditioner on it after every workout. But usually I only shampoo it (aka- wash it) twice a week – on Wednesdays & Sundays.
Long hair (but I lapse into moments of wanting shorter hair).
I must be one of the only people who washes their hair every day. I didn’t realise it was bad for you! I may have to try dry shampoo, as it takes forever to get ready if I’m going out after a run in the evening.
I have always had short hair just because it’s so think and with swimming it worked better. But I have wanted long hair at least once in my life so I could do all those fun up dos
I don’t wash my hair everyday either. In fact, I don’t necessarily wash it every week. Barfaroni, I know. One time I was on day 13 and my hair was the most gorgeous ever. I decided to see if it got even better with time, but day 14 looked like Medusa so I had to cleanse.
With naturally super curly waist length hair, washing more often than twice a week is too much work for me.
🙂
I openly admit to only washing my hair twice a week!
I’ve read if you can push past some of the greasiness, you will
produce less oil. I luckily didnt have to do that. Another tip if you have bangs is to just wash your bangs. I’ve put on shower cap and just leave bangs exposed to wash them. Also, I have to braid my hair for runs so it doesn’t turn into mangled mess of hair.
I haven’t washed my hair – the conventional way – in nearly 6 years. It’s now less dry, the scalp doesn’t itch, the curls are much more well-behaved, and no, it doesn’t smell one bit! I use no-silicone conditioners instead, aka the “no-poo” method (check out naturallycurly.com).
Long hair – so I could tie it up and keep them off my face and neck. And I absolutely have to wash my hair everyday (workouts/runs everyday) – I’m the type that can’t stand dirty hair. Sorry if this offends anyone out there!
I wish I could do this! My hair easily gets dirty & if I don’t wash it after a run, it gets ridiculously itchy & I end up moody. My hair unfortunately has gotten really dry so I’ve started using treatments at home twice a week to help prevent it from getting worse and it’s starting to get a little better too. Lucky you!
Apparently I’m a cochina as well. Except, if you asked me what that meant, I would say “kitchen.” Apparently my Spanish is a bit rusty.
Ha!
not sure if this is a good idea or not, but it seems to be working:
in the shower, shampoo every other or every third day, condition every day. that way my hair smells good but the shampoo is not stripping the moisture. so far so good on this one:)
Oh I HATE washing/drying my hair. It’s super long and thick. I wear it in a bun under a hat during all of my excercise classes to attempt to “save it”. Dry shampoo is one of my best friends…
I have really curly hair and I do the conditioner only thing most days and actually use a sulfate free shampoo like twice a week. More in the summer if I’m swimming. Trader Joes has a spa conditioner that I use most the time that is great. (Btw, I think all their shampoos are sulfate free and that is super important.
I love my long hair and it (luckily) doesn’t get too greasy. I can go 3 or 4 days without washing it…is that gross? I love my dry shampoo! 🙂
I wash mine every other day, but just rinse it (like Rose mentioned) on the other days. This way I can revive my curls and it doesn’t look totally gross.
Long! Dreaming of having long hair again. 🙂
I use Suave Dry Shampoo. It smells great and it lasts all day!
This going to sound gross but, I wash like 2xs a week only.
omg r those avocadoe tree in that yard!!!!!!!!! i grew up on 13 acres of avos in ventura and now live in bay area 🙁 miss them…..ohhh well i have grapes!
Yes! Avocado trees FTW!
Long hair! I know it’s a bigger pain for exercise, but it just gives so many more options for the non-sweaty times. Ususally I just pile my hair on my head and twist the hair-tie as many times as I can, and then let the hair air dry (gross? probably) before I re-style it, still pulling it back. Doing it this way, I get away with washing my hair every other day!
Short-medium hair!
I am sure this sounds gross…but I only wash my hair 2 or 3 times a week. Basically after I swim and maybe once on the weekend if I have a hot date or something extra special to do. I work out every day. I know it is gross…I just hate washing it!! L)
I vote the awkward medium hair of someone who wants to grow their hair out but gets bored and winds up with short hair again every time she gets close to it finally being long
Omg me too!!
Short hair – I don’t have time to do it, so if it’s short enough I can just do a quick washaroo, brush it and walk out the door. I’m ready to go in 10 minutes tops. That or I just slap a hat on it.
Sheila!
Just recently found your blog! I wash my hair every two/three days… sometimes I wonder if I’m just a grunge. 😉 Glad to know I’m in good company!
Question- 2 weeks ago you did a sponsored post for Aveeno where you said you SHOULD wash your hair everyday. If you dont believe that, why would you say that? Just to shill a product?
FYI- I am actually pretty sure it is common knowledge not to wash everyday. Shampoo companies of course would like us to believe otherwise ;). You can always rinse with water to get rid of the sweat!
Hey Casey, Aveeno just came out with a more gentle shampoo so people can wash everyday – I never said you should. From the comments it seems some people need to wash daily for their own reasons. To each their own 🙂
I bought those rollers after your tutorial. So much easier than using an iron on my entire head.
I only shampoo my hair every 4th day. I use a combo of conditioner only washes and dry shampoo depending on if I workout and/or get sweaty in the Texas heat. If I washed everyday my hair would be a big frizz ball. The natural oils really keep it tame. I’ve been playing around with the idea of going no-poo like I’ve read about online.
Yes, this is excellent info! I do not wash mine everyday even though I sweat most days. I swear by a ponytail during a workout & baby powder afterwards to freshen it up! Works wonders & smells like a baby’s bum 🙂
I rinse my hair in the shower after I run. The idea of leaving sweat on my scalp is gross. Sweat is water soluble, so getting your hair wet, but not using shampoo, is a great way to keep your scalp clean without smelling funky.
But I thought you hair would smell like roses either way?
Get it?
I’m sure you’ve never heard that one before…
It’s been a long time, actually.
Mostly my husband just tells me my farts smell like roses, but I don’t think it’s a compliment.
I actually “wash” my hair with just a little conditioner most of the time. I have curly, course, thick hair and can’t afford to dry it out with shampoo. There’s a whole “no poo” (as in shampoo) movement!
My hair is too thin to be able to legit skip a shampoo 😛
I’m with you. I can usually get away with every other day, but where everyone else in the world talks up all the volume they get from not washing, my hair turns into a stringy, flat mess.
I am so glad to have an ally!! 🙂
Long hair! I have to wash my hair everyday or its discusting. Mine is really oily but my hair dresser always compliments me on how healthy my hair is (probally because I’m always too lazy to blow dry and style it).
When you are runner, blogger and a mom of three kids under 7, two that are twins, you learn very quickly how to go un-showered one, two even three days, I miss being able to do my hair, but it is the lowest priority on my to-do list… dry-shampoo, ponytails and buns are my friends… thank you for the great tips!
I love long hair, but mine is so thick and I am so bad at styling it that I’ve gone back to a bob with bangs… And am now ready to take the next step to a shorter cut. My main requirement from a hairstyle is that it’s quick and easy to dry. But it does mean I have to wash it every day or it sticks up like a bush!
I HATE washing my hair. It is long, red, curly, and frizzy… which means it takes quite a while to tame and make presentable. I am a big fan of the blow dryer, baby powder, and braids for post runs! I prefer longer hair because it is easier to hide a bad hair day! Is it bad that it’s only Tuesday and I am looking forward to no shower Friday??