Do you notice that you have to wash your hair more often as a natural?

[vtoodler]

Is it just me, or does anyone else notice that natural hair gets dirtier more often? And that you have to wash it more often?

Also, has anyone else noticed that your scalp tends to be itchier?

 

[SimJam]

well I washed my hair every week when relaxed as I do now BUT i do notice that my hair is literally dirtier, maybe because I use more butters now so more dust gets stuck to it.

also maybe the tight coils in my hair trap more dust and particles

 

[greenandchic]

I was never relaxed, but my hair was VERY heat trained. I washed it weekly or bi-weekly at the time and it was fine. Now I wash/cowash it every 3-4 days and it needs it! It could be because I work out often (when I was hit or miss before) or like SimJam said, it could be because all the butters and oils I use (when I rarely used anything before).

 

[AnotherLevel]

Definitely!... Well, it depends on how I'm wearing it. When I was relaxed, I washed once a week. Now if my hair is loose, I have to wash/cowash about every 4 days. If my hair is in a protective style, I can wait a week. My loose hair is definitely drier. Because of this, I use more product to moisturize and this leads to faster build up.

Sent from my SPH-D700 using SPH-D700

 

[manter26]

I cowash often (every 2-3 days) for moisture. There was a thread here about itchy scalps and someone mentioned it could be due to too much washing. Now after I cowash I make sure my roots are dry before I go to bed...whether that's by leaving it loose and shaking it every so often or using a blow-dryer with a concentrator on cool air. Dry scalp equals no more itchiness or soreness.

Eta: Just to make it clear my hair is not dirtier now that I'm natural. I had issues with itches and soreness, which I figured out was because my scalp was always damp. Just like if you sat in shallow cold water for a while, your body will start to wrinkle and itch, my scalp did that too. So I avoid prolonged dampness and make sure at least the 1st couple inches of my hair is dry. The length air dries on its own.

 

[BrookeLynn]

Yes, probably due to the fact that when I was relaxed I only used a tiny bit of moisturizer and some oil sheen here and there. Now my natural hair is constantly being re-wet, and conditioners, moisturizers, butters and oils added. So washing more frequently is a must.

 

[Nonie]

It's the opposite for me. When I was relaxed I used serum or some moisturizer so attracted dirt. Now I use nothing. I did start washing twice a week as a way to moisturize my hair when I started to transition, and just do it out of habit not because it's dirty. Besides the fact that I don't use any products, I wear headwraps a lot so that keeps my hair protected from environmental dirt too.

 

[LaughingOctopus]

I do. I used to be strict with my two week washing regimen. Now that i'm natural, and using more heavier product and doing more styles, I can wash up to 4 times in a two week period. However i'm getting accustomed to the idea of washing when needed instead of keeping a reggie. It's much easier for me that way.

 

[lilyofthenile]

I actually wash a whole lot less because my hair dried out A LOT when I shampooed in the past, even once a week.

So I shampoo once or twice a month. Cowash once or twice too. My hair doesn't get very dirty when I protective style because 1) I don't use a lot of products, 2) I don't live in a hot climate so I don't sweat a lot and 3) I don't exercise.

But when I was relaxed seven years ago, I didn't wash as often. So I guess I do now but less than what I did at the start of my journey.

 

[lacreolegurl]

I wash-n-go frequently, but for me, its more of a skin/acne issue right now. I will break out more if my hair isn't as clean as possible. If I wasn't struggling with that right now, I could probably go a week or so, especially as the weather gets colder.
When I was relaxed (or even now when my hair is straightened) I have to wash. I'm assuming it's the products I use, but my hair will trap odors and dirt. The less product I use the better. Last month, I started using Oscar Blandi dry shampoo when I want to prolong having to wash a blowout. It goes on clear. Last time I used it, I was able to go 9 days before rewashing. That's a record fir me.

 

[NappyNelle]

My natural hair is a whole cleaner than my relaxed hair ever was.

 

[ladykpnyc]

I washed just as much. My scalp hates any kind of buildup, so I could never go beyond a week or two without washing. I even co washed back then, before I actually knew what a cowash was

The only difference between then and now are the products I use. I'm more selective about what I put in my hair and I pay close attention to the ingredients. When I was relaxed, I wasn't as proactive.

 

[discodumpling]

No. I usually kept a short cut and liked to wash it daily...with SHAMPOO
I would wash and wrap and let my wrap down when I got to my destination...it was so short (at times) I could air dry in about an hour.

 

[faithVA]

Not really. When I was relaxed I shampooed every week or every two weeks depending on whether I was going to the salon. Now I wash every week mostly because my style only lasts for a week. But I have gone two weeks.

I do use more oils and products on my hair now that I am natural so washing after a week is preferable to every two weeks.

 

[vtoodler]

Why do you use more butters and oils more as a natural?

 

[faithVA]

Why do you use more butters and oils more as a natural?

I moisture and seal my hair daily especially in the winter. So after moisturizing I apply and oil and then a butter to seal. The combination of oils and butters keeps my hair soft and moisturized and helps me retain my ends.

I may have used an oil and a creme moisturizer when I was relaxed. But it probably was 1x a week or closer to the time of my next touch up.

 

[LaFemmeNaturelle]

I actually wash my hair less. When I was relaxed, I washed 3 times a week. Now, due to time constraints, I wash once a week, sometimes less. My hair does not get dirtier either but I don't really apply anything throughout the week except HS14N1.

 

[30something]

My hair is 'cleaner' now natural than as relaxed. When I was relaxed I was moisturizing and seal everyday with HE LTR leave and sometimes CHI Keratin mist and an oil. Now I rarely moisturize or put anything at all during the week besides if I'm redoing a style.. I usually just add some conditioner to a water bottle to wet my hair to re-style and that is usually just a few times a month. I also do not co wash (never really cleaned my hair)anymore.. I just do not like build up in my hair...I have a little conspiracy in my head that the more junk I have in my hair the more breakage I get. I shampoo the same amount of times just avoid piling on product.

 

[LoveisYou]

yes, because I have a twa and I cowash 3-4 times a week.

 

[SheenaVee]

Not really. I used to wash my hair daily when my hair was shorter, but that was only for styling purposes. I don't use moisturisers, oils or butters in my hair so my hair doesn't attract dirt in that way. I only tend to get conditioner buildup.

 

[yorkpatties]

I washed 1x a week when I was relaxed, now that I am transitioning I have to wash/cowash every 2 days or I lose my mind. I get itchy. Also, I wear wigs to work and my scalp doesn't get to breathe as often as it's accustomed to.

 

[Ladybelle]

Not neccessarily, but I have noticed that my natural hair does love water. When she starts acting up, just give her a good cowash or dc & she's all good again. lol!

 

[**SaSSy**]

Nope, it's actually less. My moisture levels are better too to the point I don't need a lot of moisturizers

 

[Kneechay]

yep and I think it's because of all the oils and butters I use to style and to keep my hair moisturized.

I also lightweight think its because just the more frequent washing has 'spoiled' my scalp and now it reacts to not being washed as frequently as it would like. I hope that makes sense.

I think back when I had a relaxer, my hair was used to the infrequent washing.

 

[silenttullip]

cosigning I agree

I washed just as much. My scalp hates any kind of buildup, so I could never go beyond a week or two without washing. I even co washed back then, before I actually knew what a cowash was

The only difference between then and now are the products I use. I'm more selective about what I put in my hair and I pay close attention to the ingredients. When I was relaxed, I wasn't as proactive.

 

[PatTodd]

Hmm. Never noticed that. I actually find my hair and scalp stay very "clean". I wash once every week to two weeks, depending on whether it's warm weather or not. I usually wash it because it gets dry and I want to wet it to detangle and restyle it.

I don't use very many butters right now, just my gel/oil mix.

 

[Mis007]

Yes I have to wash mine more often due to attracting odours more (cooking smells, smokey envioronment etc).

 

[LongLeggedLife]

No, its quite the opposite.

 

[ms-gg]

Nope. I wash it less now out of convenience. When I was relaxed, I use to wash my hair once a week, mainly because I used too many oily products on my hair....

 

[Uniqzoe]

I'm not sure if I actually "need" to wash it more now that I'm natural or if I just pay more attention to my hair. I also use more products now that I'm natural than I did when I was relaxed.