September 08, 2021

Is Dirty Hair The Secret To Healthy Hair?

Wash you talkin’ about?

As far back as we can remember, hair washing was one of the most tedious tasks we have had to endure. From sitting in the tub as infants with parents pouring water over our heads (they definitely got it in our eyes btw) to the learning that it’s really important to wash your conditioner out properly (or you’ll be left with a greaseball for days on end) and trying to work out when on earth to wash your hair when exercise and work became involved, there are a lot of moving parts when it comes to keep your hair clean and healthy.

Surprisingly, though, clean and healthy hair are not necessarily the same thing. Depending on your hair type and texture, over-washing your hair can be a big no-no, leading to dried out ends and excess oil production at your roots. But, like everything in beauty, there’s no hard and fast rule for how often everyone should be washing their hair. It all comes down to hair type. Here, celebrity hair stylist Brad Mullins, breaks down exactly how to perfect the art of hair washing.

Step One: Identify Your Hair Type

Starting off easy(-ish), before you can lock in your hair washing routine, it’s important to establish your hair type. We’re talking whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, coily, textured or afro as well as whether it’s fine, thick or coarse. “For someone with fine to medium density hair that falls on the straight or wavy side, it’s best not to wash it too often,” says Mullins. “I would say twice a week is optimum, but this can change depending on your activity and the time of the year.” 

For those who have curly, coily or afro hair, identifying your curl type will also play into how often you should wash your hair and with what products. “Generally speaking, for someone with textured, afro or curly hair, I would say washing once a week is plenty,” says Mullins. “But again, it depends on the individual. Some people can go two to three weeks between washes.” If your hair is currently in braids, every two weeks is generally recommended for a wash.

How long you can leave your hair without washing will also depend on your hair’s porosity level. Typically, those with afro, coily or curly hair have lower porosity strands, which means they don’t hold moisture too well and are therefore subject to drying out quickly. If this sounds like you, keeping washing to a minimum is optimal for healthy hair.

 

Step Two: Find Your Formulas

Once you’ve got your routine down pat, it’s time to find products that are actually going to deliver the results you’re after. Whether it’s frizz reduction, smoothing, hydration, volume or curl definition, finding a formula that is designed to do just that will leave you with endless good hair days (and, in turn, make you wash it less). But before you begin, a scalp reset is in order. We love Hair Rituel by Sisley’s Soothing Rebalance Shampoo for this as it will remove any build up (without stripping the scalp) so you can start your new routine on a clean slate. 

 

For our fine haired sisters who are looking to up the volume factor, Eleven Australia’s I Want Body Volume Shampoo and Conditioner is a great duo to inject some serious lift into your hair, while still keeping your strands hydrated. If smoothing and frizz reduction is for you, we can’t go past Olaplex’s No. 4 and No. 5 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Conditioner. And, if you fall on the curly or coily side of the spectrum, the Bread Beauty Supply Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser and Creamy Deep Conditioner are specifically designed to keep your curls moisturised, hydrated and nourished no matter how long it is between wash days.

 

Step Three: Look For The In-Between Fix

“If you want to keep your hair looking fresh between washes, dry shampoo is a no brainer,” says Mullins, whose favourite is the Pantene Never Tell Dry Shampoo. Keeping a dry shampoo on hand is also great for those of us who like to hit the gym before work, to keep your blow dry intact post-spin class. 

But if the shower-in-a-spray-can isn’t for you, do not fret! “Another tip is to experiment with accessories like clips or scrunchies during those in-between days,” says Mullins. “It’s a cute way to jazz up your hair and disguise it if it needs a wash.”

Step One: Identify Your Hair Type

Starting off easy(-ish), before you can lock in your hair washing routine, it’s important to establish your hair type. We’re talking whether your hair is straight, wavy, curly, coily, textured or afro as well as whether it’s fine, thick or coarse. “For someone with fine to medium density hair that falls on the straight or wavy side, it’s best not to wash it too often,” says Mullins. “I would say twice a week is optimum, but this can change depending on your activity and the time of the year.” 

For those who have curly, coily or afro hair, identifying your curl type will also play into how often you should wash your hair and with what products. “Generally speaking, for someone with textured, afro or curly hair, I would say washing once a week is plenty,” says Mullins. “But again, it depends on the individual. Some people can go two to three weeks between washes.” If your hair is currently in braids, every two weeks is generally recommended for a wash.

How long you can leave your hair without washing will also depend on your hair’s porosity level. Typically, those with afro, coily or curly hair have lower porosity strands, which means they don’t hold moisture too well and are therefore subject to drying out quickly. If this sounds like you, keeping washing to a minimum is optimal for healthy hair.

 

Step Two: Find Your Formulas

Once you’ve got your routine down pat, it’s time to find products that are actually going to deliver the results you’re after. Whether it’s frizz reduction, smoothing, hydration, volume or curl definition, finding a formula that is designed to do just that will leave you with endless good hair days (and, in turn, make you wash it less). But before you begin, a scalp reset is in order. We love Hair Rituel by Sisley’s Soothing Rebalance Shampoo for this as it will remove any build up (without stripping the scalp) so you can start your new routine on a clean slate. 

 

For our fine haired sisters who are looking to up the volume factor, Eleven Australia’s I Want Body Volume Shampoo and Conditioner is a great duo to inject some serious lift into your hair, while still keeping your strands hydrated. If smoothing and frizz reduction is for you, we can’t go past Olaplex’s No. 4 and No. 5 Bond Maintenance Shampoo and Conditioner. And, if you fall on the curly or coily side of the spectrum, the Bread Beauty Supply Gentle Milky Hair Cleanser and Creamy Deep Conditioner are specifically designed to keep your curls moisturised, hydrated and nourished no matter how long it is between wash days.

 

Step Three: Look For The In-Between Fix

“If you want to keep your hair looking fresh between washes, dry shampoo is a no brainer,” says Mullins, whose favourite is the Pantene Never Tell Dry Shampoo. Keeping a dry shampoo on hand is also great for those of us who like to hit the gym before work, to keep your blow dry intact post-spin class. 

But if the shower-in-a-spray-can isn’t for you, do not fret! “Another tip is to experiment with accessories like clips or scrunchies during those in-between days,” says Mullins. “It’s a cute way to jazz up your hair and disguise it if it needs a wash.”

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