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How often do you wash your hair?

(129 Posts)
LaCrepescule Sun 06-Aug-23 09:03:51

I’m almost 66 and am lucky to have a head of thick hair (I have a chin-length bob with a fringe.) But I HATE the process of washing, drying and styling; it takes me the best part of an hour. I’ve started leaving 4 days between washes as it doesn’t seem dirty but I know frequent washing is the norm these days. When I was young I only washed it once a week! How often do you wash your hair?

Maggiemaybe Mon 07-Aug-23 21:50:49

Usually every three days. Mine’s short and baby fine. I can wash it (with a kind bar shampoo) and dry it in 3 or 4 minutes, but have to use mousse with a quick blast from the hairdryer or it’s completely flat. Dry shampoo in between washes gives it a bit of a volume boost.

I can’t stand water on my face and have the shower head fixed at neck height, so my hair doesn’t get wet from my daily shower.

TwinLolly Mon 07-Aug-23 21:30:01

I've got long straightish hair, not thick. I wash it once a week and let it air dry. I've started using a detangling spay, during the drying process to help detangle knots when dry.

When I had short hair I would wash it every 2nd or 3rd day.

Shizam Mon 07-Aug-23 21:11:37

Depends on your hair type. Mine is thick, dry, wavy and happier with once a week wash. Gentle products and no harsh heat help, too. Although I do love an occasional treat of a blow-dry at hairdressers!

Sarahr Mon 07-Aug-23 21:09:10

Every 5th or 6th day, unless I am going anywhere special. When I washed my hair more often it went lank and greasy very quickly. Now it is in far better condition. If you don't wash your hair today, will it really matter. Nobody else notices anyway.

Bijou Mon 07-Aug-23 20:58:37

Once a week. I have white, short hair originally blonde and very thick hair. It grows very quickly. I haven’t been to a hairdresser since 1965. Have always washed it in a mild shampoo, no conditioner. My mother always washed my hair in ordinary soap because shampoos weren’t invented and we dried in front of the fire or in the sun.

MerylStreep Mon 07-Aug-23 19:27:09

Grandmama

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Serendipity22 Mon 07-Aug-23 19:17:17

Its funny reading this thread because it was only the other day that i thought about washing my hair.... I used to wash it every other day, 3rd day at a push but now its about once a week which suits me just fine because it is still thick ( which I'm thankful for )
😃

Grandmama Mon 07-Aug-23 19:10:28

My once greasy hair is now very dry and a even a hint of damp weather sends it frizzy. It is thick, very curly, very bushy and now it is now a bit longer I can pin it up (only just). I wash it once a week (it takes so long to dry as I don't have a hairdryer) but it has occasionally gone two weeks. No shower here and it's a bit difficult washing it over the bathroom basin.

PaperMonster Mon 07-Aug-23 17:29:46

Every day. I have short, fine hair so drying it takes a few mins. Used to be really greasy, but not so much now. But if I left it I’d look a fright! I shower every day anyway, so just part of my routine.

gardenoma Mon 07-Aug-23 17:24:59

I have very dry hair cut very short, less than an inch long. It's curly and frizzy. Both my hair and skin are dry, i can only have at most 2 showers a week otherwise my skin just flakes off. My hair only seems to get mildly greasy if I've been wearing a sunhat or my beanie!
My hairdresser suggested only washing once a month but maybe once a week just condition it as conditioner has shampoo in it, which i didn't know! And when i do shampoo it to use my conditioner before instead of after i wash it. I apply almond oil almost daily and a serum whenever. So I'm dry skinned and slutty!

Boz Mon 07-Aug-23 17:16:28

I pay £25 every ten days for a wash, blow dry and "iron". I am then "set" for 10 days. Every 5 weeks or so there is the colour and cut. I swim twice a week in a cap (only doing an old lady turtle swim) and use dry shampoo after about 7 days. My hair is always in good condition and well styled and fashionable. I also sleep on a silk pillow case which keeps your hair clean.
I think as you get older your hair does not get so greasy so touching 80 this routine suits me.

Sennelier1 Mon 07-Aug-23 17:05:49

I wash my hair every day. Just a bit of a very soft shampoo in a cup, mix with water, pour over wet hair in shower and gently wash. Rince thoroughly, gently towel, let dry on the air for a while then comb with a wide comb and a bit of spray-on conditioner (leave-on). That's all. I'm 65, have long blond hair (it's rather several shades of blond, never bleached or coloured) that now slowly moves to grey'ish. I think.

GrammaH Mon 07-Aug-23 16:46:45

Very much depends what I'm up to. If I'm at home , I don't bother for several days but if I'm going out, I'll wash it when I shower. If I go swimming, I always wash it afterwards. Like a previous poster, mine is a wash & go cut - I have a smile to myself in the changing rooms at the pool when I look in the mirror, run my fingers through my hair, smile & walk away, leaving some poor soul with a hairbrush in one hand, dryer in the other and a row of products in front of her, trying to get finished.

LouLou23 Mon 07-Aug-23 16:36:44

I have thick hair and it is cut in a cute short cut. I wash my hair once a week, sometimes 2X a month if I have alot of pain. My hair does not get oily. Because I have chronic pain, I shower less frequently than I used to when I was younger. Of course if I need I do a sponge bath. But truly once every 1 or 2 weeks for my hair and shower. Weekly I think if you are wanting to stretch it is perfect if showering and washing one's hair presents challenges. Sponge baths are perfect additions.

Cambia Mon 07-Aug-23 16:35:33

Got long hair and have a wash and blow dry once a week at the hairdressers. If I wash it myself, it’s more like twice a week but it lasts much longer when the hairdresser does it!

TillyWhiz Mon 07-Aug-23 16:30:00

Once a week. Its a bob with fringe and very fine. Any more than that and it flies all over the place!

JayDee60 Mon 07-Aug-23 16:27:49

I’m 62 with shoulder length hair. I wash one day and blow dry. I then only brush and straighten the 2nd day. I too sometimes can’t be bothered so if I think my hair isn’t right I spray on dry shampoo. That normally helps me out.

Saetana Mon 07-Aug-23 16:22:39

When I was young I used to wash my hair every day. Over the years I have discovered that washing hair every day means it NEEDS to be washed every day. My hair is very short, shaved short at the back and sides and spiky on top - I wash it once a week. If it was longer then it would have to be twice a week as I find longer hair starts to look limp after a few days. I am big on low maintenance when it comes to personal grooming lol, all mine needs is a quick towel dry and a tiny bit of styling paste on the top grin

jerseygirl Mon 07-Aug-23 16:20:53

I have to wash mine every day otherwise i look like ken dodd!!
I wish they would bring back perms when we just washed it put some mousse through it, let it dry on its own and then just run your fingers through it. Heaven !!

Suzey Mon 07-Aug-23 16:04:29

When I remember usually 7 to ten days I can't stand water on my head

AreWeThereYet Mon 07-Aug-23 16:02:55

LaCrepescule

So interesting to read all your replies. I think I might try to leave it until the 4th day and also stop styling it. My hair is naturally wavy and I’ve been beating it into submission for years with a straightener! It has a tendency to bushiness/friziness though so needs plenty of moisture. At least I stopped colouring it and now have a head of proudly silver hair!

One way to help with moisture is to use a good hair mask - I use Noughty to The Rescue Intense Moisture Treatment before two out of three shampoos. I wet my hair and put the mask on about an hour or so before getting in to the shower - wrap it in cling film or a shower cap to stop drips.

LaCrepescule Mon 07-Aug-23 15:33:17

So interesting to read all your replies. I think I might try to leave it until the 4th day and also stop styling it. My hair is naturally wavy and I’ve been beating it into submission for years with a straightener! It has a tendency to bushiness/friziness though so needs plenty of moisture. At least I stopped colouring it and now have a head of proudly silver hair!

Dempie55 Mon 07-Aug-23 15:27:11

I'm 68, and didn't visit a hairdresser for the last 3 years, just chopped away at my hair with my kitchen scissors when the ends looked raggy. It grew to about shoulder length, I wore it in a plait or up, or loose when going "out out". I decided to visit a salon a couple of weeks ago, so now I have a chin length bob, like just about every other 60-something in the North West of England. I wash it about every 4 days, 5 if I'm staying in. It does get greasy at the scalp, but I just wear a hat. (Nobody looks at me anyway, old ladies are invisible.) My problem with this new haircut is that it looks OK when it's just blow-dried (I have a turning brush thing) but after I've slept on it, it turns up instead of under and just looks weird. The rotating brush thing is quite heavy and it hurts my arms to keep using it for more than 10 minutes. I think I'm just going to grow my hair long again and go back to the plait!

SheepyIzzy Mon 07-Aug-23 14:16:45

66 with thick hair? I envy you! I could cry, I'm 49, fine hair, long, frizzy, dry. NOTHING I do seems to help it. I wash it every 4 days, 3 usually, and let it dry naturally, which is wavy. But when the humidity hits it, I look like I've stuck my finger in a electric socket! I've had it short (2 inches all over) but since Covid struck, I let it grow again. I know I'm stressed (a lot going on) and my hair is paying for it! I don't want to have it cut short as it's actually more work. It's light brown with "skunk" streaks underneath but from afar look like natural highlights. I used to dye it in my 20's and early 30's various shades of red but now I can't be bothered! I also DON'T have a little elfin face for pixie cuts!

DeeJaysMum Mon 07-Aug-23 13:45:16

I forgot to say, I always leave it to air dry.
I gave my hairdryer away over 20 years (along with my iron and ironing board) and have never bothered replacing them.