Spinoff.. should we brag about how long we can go without washing our hair?

[levette]

Just wondering. From time to time, I may compliment another sistah about her hairdo. All to often I hear responses like....thanks... i haven't had my hair washed in 4 weeks, etc. And they tend to do this in front of white people. Why do we do this as a race? To prove that we can keep a hairstyle for so long without washing it. I find it a bit embarassing especially since I have learned about more frequent washing, co-washing, etc. Then they try to give you a referral to see their stylist so you can wear like them in the hard rollersets, fingerwaves, etc, and keep your hair preserved for weeks at a time.

 

[nappystorm]

 

[SimJam]

ummm no

and I cant relate ... even before hair boards I couldnt go 2 weeks without washing my hair


though Ive had 2 persons mention in casual conversations that they havnt washed their hair in over a month (I mentally checked out of the conversation at that point because I was wondering what madness was up in they hair)

 

[SuchaLady]

I dont think its so much about bragging. Obviously ,they are trying to express the ease of the hairstyle.

 

[Napp]

should be brag about how much we wash our hair?

i cowash every 2 hours! what gurl you dont! oooooh you nassssssssssy!

 

[Southern Belle]

Yeah, I think I know what you mean. In my line of work, I'm often the only Black person that works at a place at any given time. And in the office we leave the TV on CNN. So sometimes when a black person is being interviewed, and they're being "extra" with it, or speaking ebonics - I find myself secretly cringing. Then I immediately feel guilty for being ashamed of my race.

I constantly have to remind myself that just like I don't speak for all black people, all black people do not speak for ME. We are all individuals, and must stand (or fall) on our own merits - just like any other race.

So in short, don't accept responsibility or culpability for someone else's actions. They don't represent you. Only YOU can do that.

 

[Oasis]

should be brag about how much we wash our hair?

i cowash every 2 hours! what gurl you dont! oooooh you nassssssssssy!

i was about to say the same damn thing!

 

[LongLeggedLife]

I dont think the couple people you spoke with counts for 'doing anything as a race' LOL.
(never had that convo with anyone personally)

 

[PeaceFlow]

I heard white stylists saying it the other day. Well they had glue ins and said they hadn't washed for 3 weeks.

I don't know if its bragging per se when black people do it but it's quite a common practice so some have no problem admitting it. You wouldn't say "I haven't had a bath in 3 weeks" in everyday conversation so I don't see why talk about dirty hair tbh Usually it smells too lol.

 

[levette]

should be brag about how much we wash our hair?

i cowash every 2 hours! what gurl you dont! oooooh you nassssssssssy!

hilarious- i guess there are extremes on both sides of this discussion

 

[Whimsy]

I dunno...I think you gotta wash that scalp fairly often...how is your head not itching you like crazy when you let the dirt build up for so long?!
I don't care if it's said in front of white black or other ppl....It's kinda yuck either way. And a really odd response to a compliment. Why would the last time you washed be what comes up to say after someone says your hair looks nice? ::shrug::

unrelated Napp your bun is purty in your avatar.

 

[MariposaSexyGirl]

Well I wish that people would stop making it a black thing. I am black and I have never gone that long or even close without washing my hair.

 

[weaveadiva]

Well I wish that people would stop making it a black thing. I am black and I have never gone that long or even close without washing my hair.

in all fairness, black people are more likely to go that long without washing

i know we're special here and we're all high class and upper echelon...but i'm talking the average black person on the street

 

[levette]

Well it kinda stems from... i work with this awesome black lady who will tell everyone how long she has been wearing the hairstyle for weeks at a time. She holds the record for the longest spiral sets, buns, fingerwaves imo. She is proud that she can go weeks without washing her hair and still preserving her salon style. I have seen this all to often-- just saying

 

[CrueltyFree]

Why do we do what as a race? You spoke to one lady and she didn't wash her hair for 4 weeks. It's her scalp. Her or her scalp doesn't represent black people as a whole so...
GIFSoup
ya..

Should we brag about how often we wash our hair? I really don't think it matters.

But that's just how I feel about it.

 

[levette]

Well the black women who I am around tend not to wash their hair as frequently as memebers of this board. I hear them talk about getting their hair done every 2 weeks or longer and not washing in-between. This is no exaggeration. i don't want to sterotype all black women

 

[MariposaSexyGirl]

in all fairness, black people are more likely to go that long without washing

i know we're special here and we're all high class and upper echelon...but i'm talking the average black person on the street

Well before I joined this board I was an average black person off the street and washing my hair once a week. Since when has it become high class to simply wash ones hair? And why would that make one special?

 

[reeko43]

I don't think it matters. If a person can go two weeks without washing, their hair doesn't smell and isn't full of lint then why not? If you can't go a day without washing without looking like a greaseball and smelling like burnt bacon, then wash!

 

[kittikat24]

No we shouldn't.
Unless someone specifically asks how often I wash, I never mention it. I mention hair care (low mani styles, no heat etc.) because hair washing schedules are a personal preference.
I know a woman who doesn't wash her hair but a handful of times a year..can go months when her hairs in a straight style.
In the grand scheme, ppl have their own ways of washing...I leave that subject alone IRL.

 

[lovegymnasts]

Well before I joined this board I was an average black person off the street and washing my hair once a week. Since when has it become high class to simply wash ones hair? And why would that make one special?

I also grew up washing my hair once a week. It was not an option to not wash my hair.

 

[ms-gg]

Every 2-3 weeks for me. Ain't ashamed of it either.

 

[PennyK]

Well tbh, I was one of those people who only washed my hair once a month or every two months, (before my hair forum days). But in my defense it was due to me not knowing how to properly take care of my hair. I was told that black people don't produce as much oil in their scalp as white people do (which is somewhat true) and so if I washed my hair too often it would dry my scalp and my hair would fall out. And growing up, I believed that. I know better now.

These people who brag about it though... you should just keep stuff like that to yourself

 

[CrueltyFree]

How can someone be boastful/prideful/brag-a-docious about not washing their hair? That I don't get. Even if someone came to me unsolicited and told me that they only wash their hair once a year or whatever, I wouldn't interpret that as bragging. I would just be like ok.lol I just see it as someone saying what they do or don't do. I don't go back and say "Oh they were bragging".

I don't think hygeine, or lack thereof, is anything to brag about.

 

[Nonie]

PennyK, I don't think it's that we don't produce as much sebum as white folks that makes our hair dry or not get greasy. It's that our hair which happens to be curly or kinky instead of straight prevents sebum from spreading to the ends of the strands. What's more, with hair that stands up rather than hangs, this makes sebum distribution to ends of strands even more difficult.

 

[EllePixie]

Before I started my HHJ, I washed my hair twice a week, and the ladies I knew in college (I say college b/c I lived with them) all washed their hair at least once a week. If your hair/scalp doesn't stink, I see nothing wrong with not washing your hair for a longer period of time (even though when you just think about it at first notion it's like hmmm), but I'm not sure how this became representative of our entire race?

Anyway, if this is true, I'm not sure why it's not okay to mention this around white people? Like if I washed my hair once a month, and someone asked me, and a white person was there...I'd tell them. Why do we care how we look to white people? The OP specifically stated white people being around...either it's embarrassing, or it's not, regardless of who is around.

 

[itsjusthair88]

Hmm...it takes my hair a billion years to air dry; I don't use heat and because of the awkward length I'm at, I have to have my hair in some sort of style, so washing my hair 9 times a week isn't feasible...

However, I understand where you're coming from OP...but in all honesty, I say what I want in front of who I want, and it's the person (who they are, their status, if it's my boss, etc) that puts my sensor on...not their race.

 

[PennyK]

@PennyK, I don't think it's that we don't produce as much sebum as white folks that makes our hair dry or not get greasy. It's that our hair which happens to be curly or kinky instead of straight prevents sebum from spreading to the ends of the strands. What's more, with hair that stands up rather than hangs, this makes sebum distribution to ends of strands even more difficult.

Ha ha yeah that's what I meant thanks for clarifying

 

[SND411]

Yes, because we should dot our I's, cross our T's, and put on an act around nonblacks. (sarcasm)

 

[keepithealthy]

Every 2-3 weeks for me. Ain't ashamed of it either.

When my hair is in twists, braids or flat ironed I do the same thing. My hair doesn't stink and doesn't get oily. I only cowash frequently in the summer.

Well tbh, I was one of those people who only washed my hair once a month or every two months, (before my hair forum days). But in my defense it was due to me not knowing how to properly take care of my hair. I was told that black people don't produce as much oil in their scalp as white people do (which is somewhat true) and so if I washed my hair too often it would dry my scalp and my hair would fall out. And growing up, I believed that. I know better now.

These people who brag about it though... you should just keep stuff like that to yourself

Before finding hair boards I washed my hair 1x a month. The only time water touched my hair was when it was getting relaxed or it was a special occasion. My hair did ok in that state and was around apl or longer. My hair didn't stink then either. But, I don't really sweat in my scalp, didn't use a lot of products on my hair and mostly kept it in a pony tail or bun due to laziness. I also grew up believing that water would dry my hair out and strip my perm.

Before I started my HHJ, I washed my hair twice a week, and the ladies I knew in college (I say college b/c I lived with them) all washed their hair at least once a week. If your hair/scalp doesn't stink, I see nothing wrong with not washing your hair for a longer period of time (even though when you just think about it at first notion it's like hmmm), but I'm not sure how this became representative of our entire race?

Anyway, if this is true, I'm not sure why it's not okay to mention this around white people? Like if I washed my hair once a month, and someone asked me, and a white person was there...I'd tell them. Why do we care how we look to white people? The OP specifically stated white people being around...either it's embarrassing, or it's not, regardless of who is around.

Good point Elle

I personally do not go around telling people how long I've washed or not washed my hair. If someone asked I would tell them regardless of whether white people where there or not. I would also explain to them that it is not necessary for me to wash my hair that frequently.

 

[Pharmgirl247]

I wash my hair everyday or every 2 days and I'm natural. I'm a type 4 as well and people have looked down on me for it. I think you have to do what is best for you! Different strokes for different folks.