How to Extend the Time Between Hair Washes

Up until about five or six years ago, I used to wash my hair EVERY SINGLE DAY. Looking back on that now, I can’t believe I ever had that much time and patience, but my hair used to get so oily that I felt like I had to wash it every single night. Of course, now I know the more you wash it, the more you need to wash it, and I’m now happily a twice a week kinda gal.

I’ve always had super fine hair, but lots of it. So it gets weighed down really easily through a lot of product. It also means that when it gets even the tiniest bit greasy, it looks really flat and blah and then I feel I need to wash it again. I’m currently trying to spin my hair washes out to every 5-6 days from my current 3-4, so I thought I would share a few of the ways that I keep my hair grease free and extend the time between hair washes.

Don’t condition your roots. Seriously, conditioner will weigh your roots down and will make your hair oily quicker. I always condition BEFORE shampooing, and I only ever condition the ends (up to about shoulder level). This means there is no heavy product being deposited into my roots.

Find the right shampoo for you. Okay, so this can be hard, but finding a shampoo that works for you will make all the difference! I know my highlighted blonde hair really doesn’t seem to like supermarket shampoos, so after a bit of trial and error and recommendations from friends, I settled on the Angel En Provence range (which absolutely amazing AND natural!). My hair immediately started getting less oily and I could go a couple of days longer in between hair washes! A good shampoo for your hair type makes all the difference! I also alternate every second wash with my go-to Essano Purple Shampoo for toning my blonde hair!

Tie your hair up at night. I used to sleep with my hair down all of the time, but I noticed it got a lot more oily as it was near my face and was picking up residue from night creams and oils I had been using. I now always pull my hair back when I sleep – either in a messy bun, or plaited – plus I get cute waves for the next day!

Actually leave it as long as possible. seriously, make the most of things like hats, hair scarves, or buns to keep your hair going without a wash as long as possible. The more you do this, the less you will need to wash your hair. Going to be lazing around home for a day? Don’t bother washing your hair. Cold outside? Choose a cute beanie or hat and no one will ever know that your hair is looking a little worse for wear. In fact, I’ll let you in on a wee secret – I often wear hats in my blog photos and curl the bottom part of my hair, and no one would ever know my roots don’t look quite up to scratch 😉🤫

Avoid too many hair products. If your hair is prone to being oily, then avoid as many hair products as possible. If you do need to use them, apply them to the ends of the hair and stay away from the roots. Again, this avoids putting heavy products near the part of your hair that is going to get oily quickest. Generally the only thing I use on my hair is heat protectant and I only use it if I know I need it and I mostly spray it on the lengths and ends only

Blow dry. I know there are pros and cons for blow drying, but I always notice when I blow dry my hair it always looks better for longer than if I let it air dry. This might not work for every hair type, but I find it definitely works for me, and the less I’m washing my hair, the less I have to blow dry it anyway.

Dry shampoo. Now this for me is a last resort. Dry shampoo isn’t good for you or your hair, so I only use this if I’m desperate and no more than usually once a week. I spray a very tiny amount into my roots on the top of my head and under layers a little bit, let it do it’s magic, and brush it out. I’ll use this if my hair is looking a bit flat and I need to head out somewhere. In my opinion, Batiste Dry Shampoo is the most effective, however I’m currently using one from HASK which is a little safer in terms of chemicals! I’m yet to find a natural dry shampoo that I totally love!

I hope these tips help and allow you to make the most of leaving your hair as possible in between washes. I noticed a huge improvement in the condition and strength of my hair when I stopped washing it every day (as well as the amount of time I saved!) The first wee while can be tough as your hair feels heavy and greasy, but trust me, it will get better!

If you have blonde highlighted hair like me, then check out my haircare routine post here (I’ll do another one of these super soon with my updated products!)