Q for ladies who shampoo less than daily

[Honey Doll]

Hi all-- I'm new to the lounge, but admittedly have been lurking for some time. I would like to shampoo less frequently (to give my locks a break!) and was wondering what kind of "routine" some of you follow for insight. I've been playing around with some new routines-- if I do a hotstick set on my non-shampoo day, it takes a curl nicely and sets well, but then I wonder if the heat of the curlers might just as well be as damaging as shampooing in the first place.

Thanks for any insight you may offer.

Honey Doll of Honeoye Falls,NY

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I wash and condition my hair about every three days (lately I have been using a sulfate free shampoo with good results), and I set it each evening with sponge rollers, rag curlers, or the new foam rollers I recently picked up. I do touch up with Hot Sticks as needed. Generally, I roll my hair in double reverse rolls and will smooth them out or re-roll them in the mornings if needed. I sometimes wear my hair in a Betty Grable updo and find that it will last 2-3 days with minimal smoothing or touch-ups; I just spray it with a firm hold hair spray to combat flyaways.

 

[Paisley]

I use Aussie shampoo and Sheer Blonde conditioner about every three days. I add a little baking soda to the shampoo to help get out the goop I put in my hair to style it.

There is also dry shampoo on the market, but I've never tried it.

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I add a little baking soda to the shampoo to help get out the goop I put in my hair to style it.

I occasionally do a baking soda and vinegar pre-treatment before I shampoo. It's a great way to get the styling gunk out of your hair.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Generally I shampoo every other or every third day, depending on my schedule, using a humectant shampoo and conditioner -- I do it in the evening, and soak up the excess water in a towel for about half an hour before doing a pincurl set.

On days when I don't shampoo, I pincurl in the evening and spritz the curls with Lottabody from a spray bottle to set them.

I've experimented with a lot of different hairsprays, and these days use a flexible hold volumizing spray. I usually wear it in reverse rolls at the front and sides, and loose in the back -- and I spray the rolls fairly heavily with just a sprtiz in the rear.

In cool weather I can go up to four days if I have to without washing my hair before the styling product buildup gets to be a bit much, but in hot, humid conditions every other day is a must.

I avoid using any kind of blow dryers or high-heat devices -- they turn my hair to straw. If I have to use a dryer, I have an old bonnet model that does a very gentle drying job.

 

[mysterygal]

My hair tends to keep it's curl pretty darn well so the first day I'll have it down, the second day might have it down or in a barette, I wash and shampoo and condition usually on the second day.

 

[RetroMom]

I wash and condition every other day. Lately I have been using the Wash-n-Curl shampoo, I pin curl my just washed hair after I put my setting lotion in. It will keep looking good until the next washing.

I just bought some Hot Sticks, since they got such a good recommendation here at the Lounge , but I haven't tried them yet. I will probably use them just for touch ups.

 

[Miss Dottie]

I'm quite scandalous with my hair. I usually wash it once a week. My hair is part afro and part scottish hair, so it's very dry.

I don't really use much product other than an anti-frizz solution and some leave in conditioner.

 

[Etienne]

So, if you pin-curl your hair at night, how does it dry by morning??? Even if I washed and pin-curled my hair at 4 PM, it would still be quite damp in the morning. Also, I would have to do afternoon errands, etc. with my hair in a set. How do you all get your hair to dry? And what do you do if you have to go out and it's set?

 

[magneto]

So, if you pin-curl your hair at night, how does it dry by morning??? Even if I washed and pin-curled my hair at 4 PM, it would still be quite damp in the morning. Also, I would have to do afternoon errands, etc. with my hair in a set. How do you all get your hair to dry? And what do you do if you have to go out and it's set?

Is your hair very long and thick? I noticed my hair seems to take longer to dry in pincurls than in rollers (I guess because the roller formation allows more air to circulate and the strands are more spread out). Maybe try damp not wet hair when putting in the pincurls, or try rollers? (I have a neck-length middy cut and can put wet hair in rollers at 11 PM and have dry hair at 7 AM)...
A nice scarf wil cover the pincurls fine..

EDIT: Oops! To answer the original question, my latest routine is put freshly washed hair in sponge rollers, have curly hair day 1, wear a hairnet to bed and wear brushed-out waves day 2, and then either reset it that night or wash it, depending.

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I usually let my hair partially dry before setting it (on rollers especially); and if I am pressed for time, I will blow dry it about 50 percent dry. It seems to dry quite well with rag curlers, because the cloth absorbs some of the moisture in the hair.

In between washings, I set my hair and pat it damp with water--this keeps it from becoming saturated with moisture, so my hair is guaranteed to be dry by morning.

 

[Carolie]

I have to wash my hair once a week due to my hair type (mixed black hair is fun times, with all the relaxing and what-not...), but my hair stay fresh all the way until the next wash, so I suppose I'm lucky lol. I wash my hair with Pantene Pro-V shampoo for relaxed hair and Aussie 3 Minute Miracle deep conditioner.

After blow drying my hair straight, I set my hair in pin curls by first using a curling iron and then pinning that curl up. Then, I mist my hair w/ flexible hold hairspray, and sleep on them overnight and take them out in the morning. My curls last about 4 or 5 days if I go to sleep with a hair net, and around day 5 or 6, I get this awesome flip (kinda like Marilyn Monroe's hair in the 60's after she straightened it), and that night, I start all over again!

 

[RetroMom]

So, if you pin-curl your hair at night, how does it dry by morning??? Even if I washed and pin-curled my hair at 4 PM, it would still be quite damp in the morning. Also, I would have to do afternoon errands, etc. with my hair in a set. How do you all get your hair to dry? And what do you do if you have to go out and it's set?

On the days I do shampoo, I do it at night and set it. I dry it slightly with a towel until damp then put my setting lotion in. I blot it a bit with the towel so it is not drippy (but not dry either) It can't be too wet, or the curl will not take and will still be wet in the morning. Also, you can't use too large sections of hair. I pin curl it, tie a scarf around it and it is dry in the a.m. My hair is very fine, so it really doesn't take long to dry. I haven't used a hair dryer(or blow dryer) in years, but you could partially dry your hair with that, to insure the curl would be set by morning

 

[AllaboutEve]

I only wash mine once a week, I wear it up most of the time so it's a bit easier to get away with.
I have a very sensitive scalp and it gets VERY upset if I wash anymore than this. Like Jitterbug I use a sulphate/sulfate free shampoo and I can second that this makes a huge difference as your hair doesn't dry out like it can do with most normal brands.
I sometimes just use a cleansing tea-tree conditioner on it's own and find that works between shampoos too.

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

I use Aussie shampoo and Sheer Blonde conditioner about every three days. I add a little baking soda to the shampoo to help get out the goop I put in my hair to style it.

There is also dry shampoo on the market, but I've never tried it.

I've used this dry shampoo. While in the hopital for weeks at a time, it comes in handy. I'll grab you a bottle the next time I'm there, but I'm hoping that won't be for a while, just so you can give it a try. I personally don't like it, but will do anything after day's of not being able to shower. (This is not by choice!!) It makes your hair smell nice, and I'm sure it makes it cleaner, but to me it feels greasy.

I like to shampoo every 2 days, but usually only do it every 3. It depends on how I want to set my hair. My hair definitely takes a better curl when it's not squeeky clean. I use a lot of product and heat on my hair and was worried about damaging it. I try to go to the salon for a deep conditioning at least every month, if not six weeks. If I can't get to the salon, I use V05 hot oil treatment. It doesn't work as good as what they use in the salon, but it does the trick. These treatments, at least my stylist tells me, rejuvinates the natural vitamins and minerals in the hair. My hair feels great afterwards, and it has a sheen that I just can't get rid of after using a regular conditioner. I have also noticed that since I've started doing these treatments, I have less split ends. This is good for me since although I am diligent with getting the deep conditioning, I'm not as diligent with getting trims and I often end up with split ends from all the heat I use.
I use Bumble and Bumble thickening shampoo and conditioner. I really thinks it's worth the money. It has a nice smell and makes my hair soft, but not so soft that it won't hold a curl.

 

[Kaela]

I have a pretty similar routine to all the ladies here. I tend to have oily hair though, so it's hard for me to get away with even three days without washing. I usually wash my hair, before dinner hour, let it air dry until it's just barely damp, then spray in dilluted setting lotion with a mister. So I wear it down curly, the next day brushed out, or in top reverse rolls. The third day if it still looks alright, I have to wear it in some sort of an updo to hide the mess it seems to become.
I find that if I use a shampoo that gives body (john freida brunnette shampoos make one for body that I like a lot!) I can get away with much more glamorous unwashed hair than before! This has actually had the biggest help, especially since I don't set my hair when it's completely wet, so it won't look too flat against my head.
If you use rollers you can get your hair off of your head, or arrange pincurls so that they give as much body as possible, that way you won't get greasy hair from having it right against your head.
If I washed my hair everyday I'd be a big fluff ball! You'll be amazed how much nicer your hair will look and behave after a couple weeks of laying off the daily shampoos! And it gets so healthy you can allow yourself some of the evil curling iron from time to time without feeling as guilty!

 

[Daisy Buchanan]

I have a pretty similar routine to all the ladies here. I tend to have oily hair though, so it's hard for me to get away with even three days without washing. I usually wash my hair, before dinner hour, let it air dry until it's just barely damp, then spray in dilluted setting lotion with a mister. So I wear it down curly, the next day brushed out, or in top reverse rolls. The third day if it still looks alright, I have to wear it in some sort of an updo to hide the mess it seems to become.
I find that if I use a shampoo that gives body (john freida brunnette shampoos make one for body that I like a lot!) I can get away with much more glamorous unwashed hair than before! This has actually had the biggest help, especially since I don't set my hair when it's completely wet, so it won't look too flat against my head.
If you use rollers you can get your hair off of your head, or arrange pincurls so that they give as much body as possible, that way you won't get greasy hair from having it right against your head.
If I washed my hair everyday I'd be a big fluff ball! You'll be amazed how much nicer your hair will look and behave after a couple weeks of laying off the daily shampoos! And it gets so healthy you can allow yourself some of the evil curling iron from time to time without feeling as guilty!

I find that after a few days my hair looks a bit oily. When this happens I brush a small amount of baby powder through it. This helps sop up the oils, but doesn't take away from the shine or make my hair look white.

 

[RedShoesGirl]

hello ladies, what great advice you all have for a newbie here! do most of you wear your hair in vintage styles everyday?

for my long hair i wash every two days during the work week and then give it a rest on the weekend.

sometimes i wash just the bangs and blow dry those so i don't have to do the whole head of hair which is a pain.

thanks for letting me jump in!

rsg

 

[MissQueenie]

For those of you who set your hair and use the set for two or three subsequent days, how do you keep your hair from becoming a stiff, sticky mess? The few times I've tried to recycle a set, I've been disappointed with the stiffness and stickiness -- it makes my hair seem brittle and frizzy. I thought this was due to the hairspray, but I recently set my hair with setting lotion and didn't use spray. While it was better, it still wasn't great. Any tips?

 

[jitterbugdoll]

For those of you who set your hair and use the set for two or three subsequent days, how do you keep your hair from becoming a stiff, sticky mess? The few times I've tried to recycle a set, I've been disappointed with the stiffness and stickiness -- it makes my hair seem brittle and frizzy. I thought this was due to the hairspray, but I recently set my hair with setting lotion and didn't use spray. While it was better, it still wasn't great. Any tips?

I brush through the set thoroughly before resetting it. I use a strong hold hair spray and this loosens it up (though I think the hair spray helps the second and third sets hold better.)

hello ladies, what great advice you all have for a newbie here! do most of you wear your hair in vintage styles everyday?

I do; my hair is always styled in a 1940s-50s look. I feel best when dolled up this way