The washing hair debate

[wombat]

(although that is about to change this week as I take a non-bohemian job for the first time in five years)

THREAD, I am pointing a gun at your head and demanding that you take me to a story about Jough's new job or I will shoot.

[Doc]

I wash my hair generally five days out of 7 (there are 2 days a week I generally don't sleep at home and at the persons place I am at I can never find the shampoo) I know generally after two days without washing my hair is noticably greasy though not terribly so. I never use conditioner as it makes my hair go completely limp and then it won't stay out of my eyes.
Now that I think on it though when I was younger I remember we only used to wash our hair every second day.
But I'm really for people washing their filthy bodies every single day.

Then again I know my main lady doesn't wash hers everyday, particularly after a dye job and she does fine.

I think this is about the most he's said about it Womby.

[jough]

I'll have more to tell this week when I choose between hopefully three offers.  That is, if my #1 choice of an employer gets back to me soon.

[AugustWest]

Wash my hair every time I take a shower, which is usually 6 days out of 7.  I have rather oily skin and hair and if I don't I'm uncomfortable and feel skeezy.

[Hobot]

When my hair was very short, I didn't ever use conditioner. This was helped by the fact that I'm a total sucker for Aveda products and use a lot of product to style my hair.

I just hate having greasy roots. I don't know how to get around that without shampooing every day. I like my hair SHINY, dammit. I hate days when I oversleep and don't have time for a shower. On those sad days, I always end up coming home over lunchtime and washing my hair in the kitchen sink. There is something totally refreshing about washing your hair in the sink. I love it.

Most of the people that I know who don't wash it every day have very long hair. They also do stuff like use heated styling tools on it, which I do not do (save blowdrying it). Their hair is also not shiny. However, one of my sisters does not wash her hair every day, and her hair always looks fabulous. My other sister washes her hair every day and it looks fabulous. I think that as long as I take care of it and remember to eat protein every day (yuck) then I should be okay.

I was vegetarian/vegan for many years and my hair always looked like shit compared to my omniverous sisters. However, now that I make smoothies with protein powder and try to eat subsistence-caught giraffe, my hair looks great.

It's crazy how much this post applies to me.

I am a sucker for Redken products, which I believe keep my very long hair in good shape.  My hair is shiny and healthy and all that good stuff, despite the fact that I don't wash it every day (rather, every other day); in fact, it is safe to say that I have excellent hair.  I am consistently complimented on it by my hair stylist, as well as by friends, acquaintances, and even a random guy on the street one day (which was endearingly weird).  I never blow-dry it (because I am afraid of hair dryers; they are loud and get terrifyingly tangled in my hair) and rarely use a straightening iron on it, which keeps it from getting damaged.  Oh, and I'm also a vegan.

SUMMARY: expensive products + not washing it every day + not using heated styling tools + veganism = fantastic long hair.

[theinevitable]

I am having a great image of you turning on a hairdryer and just freaking out and your hair flying all over...
and then you're like NO. STOP. and you turn it off.

I am not sure why my mental image was so elaborate.

Yeah, my hair is super-greezy if I don't wash it every day. Also: right now it is So Long. And my hair is the thickest hair ever, so it is basically a ball on top of my head. it is horrible. It is at the point where I fantasize about shaving it all off (or, at least, most of it.)

(a slightly more clever way to express) My Mom's Opinion About Shaving My Head: "Daniel, quite frankly, you're too skinny to shave your head. Everyone would be looking for the number on your arm."

[linnea]

Hobot, I think that you just have Good Hair Genes.

Some people can grow their hair long and it looks smooth and fantastic. Some people like me just can't grow long hair and have it look pretty. I did get my hair trimmed on Friday after work and I'm pretty happy with it now. When I'm not on call I will cook up a batch of henna and slather it on my head. It is such a soothing ritual.

[slink]

(a slightly more clever way to express) My Mom's Opinion About Shaving My Head: "Daniel, quite frankly, you're too skinny to shave your head. Everyone would be looking for the number on your arm."

I think with me it's a cross between that, and that people would be looking for the scars where my brain surgery happened. I've never had the healthiest complexion, as well as being the skinniest person on earth. I also have a fear I have an odd shaped head, though I'm probably imagining it having never seen it.

As for hair, I tend to wash it most days, though sometimes every other day. That is, it still tends to get washed every day, but the shampoo might be left out. I have incredibly frizzy hair unless I give it a touch of product straight after washing it. I don't even go near conditioner as it makes my hair even frizzier. Due to the frizz, and since I'm going to grow it out again, I might try dreading it first, just to see how that works out.

[theinevitable]

a girl I work with has a solution to the hair issue: she has shaved her head.

actually, this is the completely awesome story:

"honey I just -love- you hair! Where do you get it done?"
(I'm thinking: what? her hair is so hideous!)
"well, um, ma'am... you know. just a place."
"but where? who styled it?"
"well... the store. it's a wig."
"oh, sug (as in: sugar), I'm so sorry!" *awkwardly walks away*

a few minutes later, she took off the wig, showing us that she had shaved her head into a semi-mohawk. the wig was just for work.

I should get her a card that says "I'm sorry that *blank*" and I'll fill in the blank with "I thought you had lost your hair due to Disease or Chemo."

but yes. Today I overslept and didn't get a chance to shower, and my hair is pretty gross.

The funny part: yesterday while reading this thread, I thought "gee, people oversleep and can't shower? I've never overslept -that- much!"

[V-Adore]

I have certainly not showered due to oversleeping in the past. Honestly, washing my hair more is one of my resolutions as I begin graduate school; I'm currently an every-other-day washer, but I hope that every day might make things better. Conditioner may also be indicated, as some of my teenage oily-hair issues seem to be working themselves out.

[CortJstr]

I haven't skipped showering entirely due to over-sleep since college. Although I do occasionally hop in, hit the problem areas with soap, wet my hair enough to comb it, and get the hell out.

[side_show]

After proudly stating that I wash my hair every day here, I then went without washing it Saturday and Sunday, having last washed it on Friday.  But it's been so greasy that I've simply worn a hat out everywhere I've gone.  But today ends it! 

[misterqueue]

After proudly stating that I wash my hair every day here, I then went without washing it Saturday and Sunday, having last washed it on Friday.  But it's been so greasy that I've simply worn a hat out everywhere I've gone.  But today ends it! 

Wear a hat! Don't forget to wear a hat!

[side_show]

Lovely.

[Turbo Ninja]

You might also try switching up your shampoos.  I use Head & Shoulders in tandem with American Crew.  H&S takes care of the harsh cleaning two or three times a week and the AC provides a balancing gentler, more nourishing clean.  The results are less frizzy and puffy than if I used just H&S or AC exclusively.   I've also decided that boutique hair products are better than megamart brands.

I only use conditioner if I'm planning on using "product" such as pomade to style my hairdo (this only happens once or twice a month).