Washing: Regularly vs. Rarely!!!!

[nuance7]

Hello Ladies

As I peruse (stalk) long haired ladies fotki's I have come to realize that it seems as if the longest haried ladies don't wash weekly. Some even go 2 to 3 weeks or longer. Ladies...if you don't wash weekly...please share your regimen and let us know how you keep your hair moisturized in between washings. Thanks so much

 

[chica_canella]

I don't have my fotki up yet but I can def. say, after washing my hair today that it isn't beneficial for most people to wash their hair daily.

1. It is at more risk for tangling unless you untangle in the shower.

2. you use more products because you have to moisturize more because you have washed all the products out of your hair.

 

[chica_canella]

Oh, and i have used a mixture so far consisting of Gold Care Free Curl, with water and African royale leave-in conditioner and just spray it on.

But i have a relaxer.

 

[PinkSkates]

I usually shampoo every 2 weeks. I keep my hair moisturized by applying Profectiv Mega Growth Anti-Breakage and sealing with Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I do this every 3 days. I like my hair to get a little dirty so to let my natural oils do their thing, because I don't use any topical growth agents.

 

[nuance7]

Ok...Ok...thanks pinkskates! Were you ever relaxed? Your hair is beautiful! Keep the answers coming ladies. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to stop washing weekly.

 

[Serenity_Peace]

I'm beginning to think that as hair gets longer, it is not preferable to wash weekly simply because it's harder to manage, too much manipulation, stripping of oils, etc. But this is simply speculation. I wonder if what works for one may not work for all, as there are certainly long-haired ladies who wash often. I think it may all depend on the structure of the hair and the state that it's in.

 

[Mahalialee4]

Right now I am washing at least once a week, sometimes every 4 days using Cathy Howse Challenge and wearing cornrows no extensions which I take down to wash. This is working really well for me. I use a "homemade Afro Detangler" which keeps my braids supple and works great to keep my hair moisturized after deep conditioning. I want to get to midback length from bra strap even, with this method. bonjour

 

[PinkSkates]

Originally posted by Nuance7:
Ok...Ok...thanks pinkskates! Were you ever relaxed? Your hair is beautiful! Keep the answers coming ladies. I'm trying to decide if I'm going to stop washing weekly.

Thank you. Yes I had my hair relaxed for a decade during the 90's.

 

[dreamer26]

I'm beginning to think that as hair gets longer, it is not preferable to wash weekly simply because it's harder to manage, too much manipulation, stripping of oils, etc. But this is simply speculation. I wonder if what works for one may not work for all, as there are certainly long-haired ladies who wash often. I think it may all depend on the structure of the hair and the state that it's in.

This is my thoughts. Before I came to this board I washed every 2 or 3 weeks because I was told we shouldn't wash our hair to much, but once I joined here and I started washing my hair every other day or everyday my hair started growing like crazy.

I think as you get the length you want you start protecting what you have by not washing and manipulating it so much.

I'm not BSL or APL so this is jmho.

 

[GeorginaSparks]

I'm beginning to think that as hair gets longer, it is not preferable to wash weekly simply because it's harder to manage, too much manipulation, stripping of oils, etc. But this is simply speculation. I wonder if what works for one may not work for all, as there are certainly long-haired ladies who wash often. I think it may all depend on the structure of the hair and the state that it's in.

ITA....i never had a problem with washing often when my hair was like neck length but now, its too much manipulation

 

[nuance7]

Thanks everyone...
Come on...some of our VERY long haired ladies who don't wash weekly please check in...

 

[Divine Inspiration]

Not sure what "VERY" long haired is for you, but I'm about 3" past brastrap (I may even by waistlength...I haven't done a length check since October ) and I wash my hair every 5-7 days. It's a must for me. My hair tangles and gets unruly when I go too long in between washes. I think if I were relaxed bone straight, I could go for 2 weeks since I did years ago. These days, my coils and curls need moisture and conditioning regularly. When my hair is straight, I can get away with washing every 10 days...anything more is a recipe for an unpleasant wash day.

 

[camellia]

I wash two or three times a week and my hair is tailbone length now. I deep condition after every shampoo for about an hour. I don't find it to be too much manipulation, and my scalp thanks me for it.

The moisture I get from washing more frequently is well worth it. When it's hot out or I've been doing a lot of activities outdoors and getting sweaty then I co-wash every day.

 

[Crissi]

Im starting to think washing isn't for me, my hair does best when completely left alone...ima prolly only wash once a month now. YEAAA I SAID ONCE A MONTH LOL. Me and some Proline Sof n Sheen daily is cool...

 

[GeorginaSparks]

Yeah also, the thing is some people cant go without washing for a long time because of the moisture it gives like Camellia said. Someone like me, if i get to day 5 without washing, my hair becomes dry and no product will help...hence the CO washin.

An option is to CO wash a few times a week and then shampoo wash and detangle once a week or every 2 weeks so that will reduce manipulation. AM i making sense? LOL

 

[camellia]

I only detangle my hair while in the shower and using the force of the water to help separate the tangles and curls.

I never use a brush, the only comb I use has really widely spaced teeth, but I use my fingers more than anything.

 

[KiniKakes]

Not "very" long-haired yet............ but i wash/rollerset (at the salon) once a week.

 

[Cichelle]

I only detangle in the shower, with conditioner as camellia explained. I have to cowash frequently or my hair suffers, both in moisture and especially where tangles/knots are concerned. I can get away with every other day or three days a week but that is as far as I will go. I've learned the hard way over and over again.

Outside of detangling, I rarely use a comb or brush. I have my hair up in a protective styles daily, so I don't have a problem with too much manipulation.

 

[SVT]

Are you asking about relaxed hair?

I'm natural. I shampoo maybe once a month. I do daily conditioner washes most of the time.

 

[ashmack]

In the summer i wash about once a week and I co-wash about every 2 days. I wear braidouts most of the time and I do not feel like I'm manipulating too much because I just detangle in the shower and then braid my hair in about eight big braids while wet. Other than this, I use no heat and do not brush or comb in between washes.

 

[autumnbeauty29]

In the summer i wash about once a week and I co-wash about every 2 days. I wear braidouts most of the time and I do not feel like I'm manipulating too much because I just detangle in the shower and then braid my hair in about eight big braids while wet. Other than this, I use no heat and do not brush or comb in between washes.

This is what I am doing. I haven't noticed much growth so far but so far I am slowly cutting off the relaxed hair so that may be the reason why.

 

[STLCoverGirl]

Lately I have been washing every 3 weeks and rollersetting/flat ironing. After about the 4th day I wear bantu knots for the rest of the time. I use very little product in my hair, soo I don't have a lot of build up. This works very well for me, I was cw every 2 days, but I had a lot of knotting and I hate waiting for my hair to dry. My regimine changes all the time, in all honesty I don't really have one, I just do whatever my hair needs.

 

[caribeandiva]

hmm.. i noticed this too. I don't know how they do it because my scalp itches like crazy if i don't wash every 3 days.

 

[B_Phlyy]

I think that the length of the hair has more to do with it than anything. Longer hair is more prone to tangles, especially when wet. So I think longer hair ladies stretch out washes to reduce their chances of breakage from tangling.

 

[MochaSilk]

Sunbasque, thanks for making this thread... Lot of great information here. I was starting to wonder myself if I'm manipulating my hair too much these days.

OT, Divine Inspiration, your little puppup Seneca is too precious!!

 

[nelli711]

Not quite sure what you consider long, but I'm almost brastrap length and I have to wash my hair 2 times a week.

 

[Divine Inspiration]

OT, Divine Inspiration, your little puppup Seneca is too precious!!

Thanks!! She's a total sweetheart.

 

[foxy kc]

I wash my hair once a week, if I go any longer than that my hair gets really dry, starts shedding and breaking, and just acting real crazy

 

[FlawedBeauty]

i know im not one of the looong haired ladies yet but, i used to only wash like once a month and i think the build up was too much for my fine strands to handleand made em break easier. since joinin i wash like 4 - 5 times a week and DC like 2x a week and my hair loves me for it.

 

[shelli4018]

Great question.

I shampoo once a week followed by a deep conditioner. However, my hair gets super dry if I don't put water on it. So I CW twice a week too. I'm discovering that I NEED to condition my hair if I want to maintain a reasonable moisture level. Oil and grease don't cut it.