Gransnet forums

Ask a gran

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?

kwest Mon 07-Aug-23 13:42:18

Every day. Short thin hair, cut in pixie style every four weeks. takes about 3 mins to wash hair under the shower, towel dry, quick comb through and good to go.

DeeJaysMum Mon 07-Aug-23 13:41:40

I have naturally curly, boob length hair.
I only leave my house twice a week (disabilities), so I'll wash my hair once a week and just water spritz it the other day I'm going out, just to revitalise my curls because it goes frizzy.
It has been said that the 'norm' is to wash hair daily, but that doesn't actually do your hair any favours, it's far better to only wash it once a week.

Grantanow Mon 07-Aug-23 13:40:58

Maybe two weeks with dry shampoo inbetween. I find washing not only tedious but I lose hair in a water wash. And washing (in general) deprives the hair and skin of essential oils.

Saggi Mon 07-Aug-23 13:40:31

I swim 3 times a week …..so I wash my hair 3 times a week!

lizzypopbottle Mon 07-Aug-23 13:30:32

My hair is short but is usually vertical when I get out of bed. Styling it is fairly quick. I wash it maybe once a week but more often if it looks as if it needs it. Between washes, I wet it to make it lie down and give it a blow dry to revive the style.

JdotJ Mon 07-Aug-23 13:24:44

I have dry hair so find once a week suits me but if I was still working/going out I'm sure it would be more

Jess20 Mon 07-Aug-23 13:14:09

Thanks Silvercollie, thought I was the only one who went that long! Unless I'm doing something really dirty without a hat I find every 2-3 weeks is plenty. I was always told that more than this would make it greasy. I use a showecap and shower every day but my hair is long and I can't be bothered to wash it more than it needs. I air dry after washing and sometimes run tongs through to smooth it out.

Growing0ldDisgracefully Mon 07-Aug-23 12:52:17

Twice a week, usually mid week and at the weekend though tbh I could probably leave it longer nowadays.
It's long, past bottom of shoulder-blade length and white. I use collagen and biotin shampoo and conditioner, as it thinned post covid (fell out in handfuls at the time). I just wash, rinse well, leave it in a towelling turban while all the other bodily self-assembly is done, then comb through with a wide-tooth comb and leave it to dry itself.
Yesterday was a helmet hair day, as out on my motorbike (flat, with strange ridges here and there - the hair, not the bike!). It's sorting itself out today as normal.

Tanjamaltija Mon 07-Aug-23 12:40:57

Every day. I keep it short, so I blow-dry in front of the fan on high. It works.

silvercollie Mon 07-Aug-23 12:24:07

How often do I wash my hair? Little as possible! About 2 - 3 weeks and it shows no sign of suffering.
It is past shoulder length, not thin and white as I am 80 years of age. Physically difficult with no shower, in situ or as an attachment.
So there, a first class slut - yippee!

Hetty58 Mon 07-Aug-23 12:21:13

Every three or four days (unless in a heatwave) seems about right to me. After all, my mother and aunts had theirs 'done' only weekly (shampoo and set) - with their typical, matching 'Queen's' hairstyles - and never washed it themselves!

Vintagegirl Mon 07-Aug-23 12:18:17

Every 4th day unless have been swimming and use a shower hat on other days. Very thick, coarse, straight hair cut in a bob but needs a good cut. I dry off as much as can with fan heater. When swimming, the sauna helps plus two hairdryers. When nearly there, I use a styling brush to turn in a bit and put on a 'slumbernet' to hold the turn for as long as possible. ... Ena Sharples like!

bear1 Mon 07-Aug-23 12:17:19

i wash my hair every two to three days depending on if I think it needs washing but its up to you to wash your hair when you want to not what the normal seems to be these days

deedeedum Mon 07-Aug-23 12:16:00

Every 2/3 days. Apparently there is no need to wash it daily.

Glenfinnan Mon 07-Aug-23 12:12:22

Every 3-4 days use dry shampoo in between washes

Cid24 Mon 07-Aug-23 12:10:14

Every 2-3 days, I agree with OP it’s such a bore! My hair is in a bob, poker straight and flat, it takes a lot of effort to get it to look presentable!

Missiseff Mon 07-Aug-23 12:07:52

Every day as I still work so shower every morning. If I'm not going out in public over the weekend I leave it to give it a break from heat

abby0950 Mon 07-Aug-23 12:05:16

I wash mine every 4 days and because it is long and quite thick, it is easier to dry style every day with straightening tongs. I also think it looks nicer just before a shampoo. It also takes me ages to dry and style it. If yours is very thick, you could ask your hairdresser to thin it out with thinning scissors. I do this about twice a year and it makes drying much quicker and achieves a smoother look.

sazz1 Mon 07-Aug-23 12:00:36

Every 4 or 5 days. My hair is quite thick and straight just past shoulder length. I use a shower cap in the shower and bath. Very very rarely use a hair dryer as I just let it dry naturally and get a trim every 6 months or so when I would need 2 boxes of dye instead of one as then it's too long. Never go to bed with wet hair so wash early in the day.

nipsmum Mon 07-Aug-23 11:52:23

Short white and not thick. Twice a week is fine for me.

ParlorGames Mon 07-Aug-23 11:40:06

Twice a week but this does mean that I need to wear a shower cap in-between hair washes.

swampy1961 Sun 06-Aug-23 21:09:54

Every other day here! I have to blow dry and flatten my chemo curls in to submission!!
If the curls fell easily and naturally into a look I like - then I'd be happy!!

ClareAB Sun 06-Aug-23 21:00:20

Once a week or even longer. The more often I wash it, the more often it needs washing. It's long and I brush it through at least 3 times a day.
Also don't use blowdryers/straighters except on special occasions.

JackyB Sun 06-Aug-23 20:53:40

Like some have already said, I wash my hair daily as it's going to get wet under the shower every morning anyway. Just a single wash through - nowadays using a bar shampoo. Have washed it daily since I was 19.

I NEVER use a hair dryer as I think it is detrimental to the hair, as is rubbing it with a towel. Just wrap it in a towel until I've dried the rest of me off and drag a brush through. Use a mask or similar treatment once a week.

Theexwife Sun 06-Aug-23 16:55:18

Twice a week, I try to leave it as long as I can between washes as it needs blowdrying and I really don't like doing it.