How to Train Hair to Wash Less

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This blog post is all bout how to train your hair to wash less.

It always amazes me when I hear from other women that they wash and style their hair from scratch every… single… day.

Admittedly, I too used to go through the hassle of washing my hair most days. That was until I realized there’s a whole other world out there. The world of washing your hair once every 7-10 days.

Yep, you heard that right.

I wash my hair roughly every 7 days and it’s definitely possible for you to do the same!

I’ve been washing my hair once a week for a few years now, so it’s safe to say I am a professional at making my hair washes stretch.

That’s why I’m here to offer some tips and tricks I wish I had know when I started attempting to prolong the time between washing.

But first, you might still have some questions like:

Why Train Your Hair To Wash Less?

If you are someone who is used to washing your hair daily, you may be wondering what the benefits are of going longer in between hair washes. Here’s the reasons why I do it!

Time and Convenience

The most obvious reason why people want to start washing their hair less often is because it will save so much time. If your daily routine consists of washing your hair, that’s most likely a whole 30 to 60 minutes that you could be spending doing other, more productive, things.

Not to mention, if you have thick wavy hair like me, your whole styling routine from wet to dry can be a strenuous process. It’s definitely not something you want to repeat multiple times every week. By the way, this weekly hair styling routine will make your life a million times easier if you have thick wavy hair like I do.

But even if you have a more manageable hair texture, it would still be super convenient to wash your hair less frequently.

Better Hair Health

Another reason it is beneficial to train hair to wash less is because it’s way healthier for your hair.

Washing your hair daily, or even multiple times a week can be extremely drying. Especially for those who chemically treat or dye their hair or are prone to split ends.

The natural oils secreted by your scalp work to coat your hair shaft and prevent split ends – therefore aiding in hair growth.

So, it stands to reason that when you wash your hair less often, you aren’t constantly putting your hair through the entire styling process. This means less heat damage because you can make a single in-depth styling session last all week.

Save Money

Cool it on sudsing up your hair every day because it will save you money.

A good salon quality shampoo and conditioner can run you anywhere from $20 a bottle to upwards of $50. And yes, I used to be one of those people who thought fancy shampoo didn’t make a difference. BUT I am here to tell you after years of experimenting that it REALLY does.

Keep in mind, when you wash your hair infrequently, you will not be using nearly as much shampoo and conditioner as you used to. I buy the jumbo bottles and only have to buy new shampoo and conditioner a few times a year.

Over-washing also causes color to fade quicker, so you will find yourself going to the salon less often.

So, now that you’re convinced the grass is greener on the minimal-hair-washing side of life, let’s get into how you can actually train hair to wash less!

So now that you know why you should stop washing your hair so much, here’s how to start!

In order to really make your time between washes last the longest, you need to start training your hair to do this efficiently. Basically, you have to train your hair to slow down on oil production.

When you are in the habit of washing your hair daily, your hair is being over-washed and therefore dried out. Your hair’s way of compensating for this is by producing its own oil to hydrate it.

Once your hair is not continually being washed, it will begin to ease up on the amount of oil it secretes, therefore making your washes last longer. This won’t happen overnight and can take weeks to months of “training.”

How to Start

Start the training period by going one day in between washes for 2 weeks.

Then, progress to 2 days in between for 2 weeks.

After that, 3 days in between for 2 weeks– and so on.

Your hair will naturally start to adapt over time.

You should also get comfortable with the idea that during this period of time, you’re going to have a little more oily hair than you are used to until your hair adapts. Don’t be discouraged! You can easily disguise this with a cute cap or updos for the time being.

General Tips While You Train Hair to Wash Less

Use these tips that make it easier to extend your time between washes!

Use Good Hair Washing Technique

It all starts with the technique you use at the beginning of the washing process.

Vogue’s article on how to wash hair properly does a great job of acknowledging that different hair types require different products and levels of care can vary. However, the following general hair washing tips are helpful regardless of your hair type:

As you apply the shampoo to your head, you should be vigorously working it into your roots, making sure the shampoo emulsifies and sudses up. This ensures the shampoo is fully activated to get your absolute best clean.
Use appropriate amount of product for the thickness of your hair. I made the mistake for a long time of only using a quarter size amount of shampoo when I have enough hair to cover the heads of 4 people. Once I started using enough shampoo, I noticed a big difference in the cleanliness of my hair. The same principle applies for those with fine hair to use less product.
Make sure you rinse all shampoo out thoroughly. Any leftover will accumulate as buildup on your hairshaft.
Use a good clarifying shampoo once a month to ensure you are really getting your scalp clean.
Use a scalp massager for extra thorough removal of buildup and a good hair-growth stimulating massage won’t hurt while you’re at it.
Don’t condition all of your hair. Only add conditioner starting at halfway down your hair to the ends. Conditioner on your scalp will just cause oil to buildup quicker.

Brush Hair Daily

You should be brushing your hair daily in order to properly distribute oils down the hair shaft. This way they aren’t just sitting there on your scalp accumulating.

Don’t forget to keep your brush clean by cleaning out the hair and soaking it every couple of weeks!

I’ve been using this brush for a few years now after researching best hair brushes and it lives up to it’s reviews! I love how it stimulates the scalp and distributes natural oils for extra shine!

Products Matter

The type and amount of hair product you use are critical when it comes to washing your hair less often.

The quality of the products you are using really do have an impact on your hair health and all products are not created equally. You would be surprised how much of a difference converting to a salon quality shampoo and conditioner can make stretching your hair washes.

Pro tip: wait until Ulta has their Jumbo liter sale and stock up while they’re affordable!

As for the amount, don’t use a bunch of different hair products which ultimately causes buildup. This includes hairsprays, serums, mousses, creams, etc. I try to keep my hair product collection minimal so I’m not tempted to load up.

Look, Don’t Touch

As tempting as it may be, try to avoid touching your scalp. The oils from your fingers will spread to your scalp and make your scalp look oily.

Dry Shampoo Usage

Dry shampoo can be a great tool for making your hair washes last longer but only if they are used correctly.

When used incorrectly, dry shampoo can actually cause you to have to wash your hair prematurely because of the unnecessary buildup it causes.

This is why I recommend using a small amount preventatively and only at night so it has time to absorb oil while you sleep.

It’s okay to use a spritz or two here and there on a a must need basis if you have a particularly oily spot. But for the most part you’re better off using it sparingly.

This dry shampoo is recommended by so many and for good reason. It smells amazing and is full of high quality ingredients.

Keep Ends Of Hair Hydrated

A lot of people give in and wash their hair sooner than they should because the ends start looking gnarly. This is because the appearance of dead ends become more noticeable on 3rd and 4th day of no washing as the hair starts to dry out.

However, you can easily bring life back to 3-4 day old hair by adding some hydration to the ends. Use a moisturizing hair oil only on the ends to bring life back to dull, dry ends after a few days without a wash.

This hair oil is amazing because of it’s multi-purpose qualities. You can use it as a pre-shampoo treatment or a leave in treatment on clean hair!

Style Smarter Not Harder

I like to wear my hair down for the first few days after washing. I find the sooner I start piling my hair on top of my head, the sooner my crown of my head starts to produce oil.

When you do put your hair up, pay attention to the type of tie backs you are using. Regular hair ties usually leave dents and creases in your hair that only washing and re-styling will remove.

Fabric scrunchies and hair ties like these are the absolute best. Not only will they will help you stretch your hair washes, but they are super helpful in preventing hair damage.

Plan Around Wash Days

If you know you have an important event coming up that you want to have freshly washed hair for, wait to wash your hair until the night before or closer to the event.

Better yet, get into a schedule that accommodates having cleaner hair on the days you want to look your very best. For me, it’s the weekends. So washing my hair on Thursday evening or Friday morning gives me the ability to have freshly washed hair all weekend long.

How to Train Hair to Wash Less When You Workout

If you are someone who works out regularly and sweats a lot, training your hair to wash less becomes a little trickier. It is still perfectly doable though!

Here are some tips to incorporate before and after your workout to make your wash last longer.

Pull Your Hair Back

Keep your hair pulled back and off your neck and face to reduce excessive sweating and oil production.

Don’t Style Tightly

Don’t wear your hair in tight hair styles to the gym. When your hair is packed together in a tight bun, it gives the sweat somewhere to sit and build up.

If you have long thick hair like me, try using a claw clip which allows for air flow but still gives enough support to keep your hair in place.

Dry Shampoo Application

Spritz hair with some dry shampoo before you go to the gym. I repeat – BEFORE.

Don’t use dry shampoo after you’ve already worked out on sweaty hair. The powder will mix with the moisture on your hair and form a pastey gunky goo. No thanks!

Blow Dry

When you get done with your workout, use the complimentary blow dryer found in most gyms to dry the sweat on your scalp before it has a chance to really soak in.

Flip your head over and blast your roots and hairline with cool air for a good minute or two.

Hats off

If you are working on stretching the time between hair washes, avoid wearing a hat to the gym. This is because the heat you emit will be trapped inside the hat causing your scalp to sweat more.

Unless you are on day 5+ hair and you will be washing soon, I wouldn’t recommend wearing a hat to the gym.

Final Thoughts on How to Train Hair to Wash Less

I hope these tips on how to train hair to wash less are helpful to you!

Be sure to leave a comment below with how many times a week you wash your hair. I am curious to know if I am in the minority as someone who washes their hair only once a week!

Here are some related haircare posts that you might also like:

How to Style Thick Wavy Hair – Easy Weekly Styling Routine (For Sleek Hair)

If Your Hair Won’t Grow Past Shoulders – You Need to Try These 11 Tips (Now)

How to Apply Oil to Hair and Skin: 8 Natural Oils (To Always Have in Your Vanity)