I have to wash my long, thick, wavy hair everyday. If I wash my hair before bed I wake up and it looks dirty. I don't use any products or even blowdry. I just shampoo everyday and condition when it gets a little dry on the ends. I've also gone longer periods without washing my hair and it never levels out. I just get greasier and greasier its disgusting lol!

If I don't wash my hair everyday it looks oily and weighed down and I can't do anything with it. Any suggestions?

all I can say is I love the smell of my wifes hair after she washes it .........and I think its nasty to go without washing your hair ...yukkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk

But do you still condition everyday?

When I was 13-30 I had to wash daily or wear a scarf to hide the oily hair. 30 to 50 I'd wash every 2 or 3 days. Now I'm nearly 52, I can look good going 4 days, but I must lather twice to make my scalp feel good. Over 4 days and my scalp actually hurts. I live in a subtropical area and when it's humid I don't need facial moisturizer, even at nearly 52. Good thing is I'm also not wrinkly. People with drier skin and/or in drier climates could probably go a week between shampoos at my age. (caucasian)

Sooo right on! I take a bath daily! But wash my hair every 4-5 days.
I have full thick long blonde hair (colored) and even on day 5 I am told how healthy and beautiful my hair looks.(even on day 5!!) Unless you have really oily hair, washing everyday is just a waste of money.

If ya don't wash your hair every day....your scalp becomes too oily which causes DANDRUFF. Also....try using a shampoo with no SULFATES. ( the sqeeky sound your hair makes after washing.) "TERAX" has no sulfates. ($20) Rite Aide sells "REAL SOLUTIONS" (no sulfates) doe $5.99 Good luck folks.

my fav topic.. I miss Ft Huchuca,AZ near 0 humidity year round. I'd wash my hair straighten it, and it would last a week. Born, raised in NJ, washed my hair evey few days and thankfuly the fro was in style. I couldnt brush it cause i would look like that Simpson's character, Marge's sister. Last in TX, it was back to washing every few days, mainly only when it got dirty in work, and on the weekends, i didnt wash it. No in Iraq, if I go more than two days, my scalp is scaley and disgusting. I thought I had something wrong, like stress or something. Here, it must be the water.

The factors are, not only your hair, but what product you use, and how you style it, and where you live (water/humidity).

I wouldnt worry about someone else thinking your disgusting of how you hygene, as long as you take care of yourself.

Now if they can smell you from a few feet away, you may want to take that into consideration.

I've got baby-fine hair, and unless I'm sweaty, or have been in the ocean or the lake, I wash my hair every 3 to 4 days. My hair looks better than it did when I was washing it every day, and everyone asks how I get my hair to looking as good as it does. LOL, and when you tell them the truth, a lot of people gross out! I

I've been a hair stylist for over 30 years...if YOU have seen as many different types of hair (even a tiny fraction) as I have worked on/with...you have to know that there ARE some that look fine or better without shampooing every day. But, nothing a little corrective conditioner (perhaps a leave-in type) wouldn't give the same affect of. Bottom line is how clean you want to be.

I have fine short dyed red hair and I find that washing every two to three days gives my hair better body and, of course, the color last longer. Unless you really work in a coal mine or in a real dirty environment, I think your hair does not get that dirty and it's better for the scalp especially when its dry to hold off Brighton Red

@Gina & Swives, You said if you don't wash your hair every day it feels greasy & wieghted down & asked if you still condition every day?

I've got naturally thick, long (to the middle of my back) naturally black silky black hair (that I have on & off chemically treated, I used to add temporary highlights, I was a rebellious teen & would add outrageous hues, yet it never turned to straw, no matter how blonde I tried to lift it. It also didn't break because I NEVER tried to go platinum-I knew better!)

Anyway-it's all back to my natural blue/black. EVERY Salon Stylist has asked me what the secret to my routine is. As if it's some Ancient secret.

And no it's not. Unless I've Gardened or done something that's heavily Manually Labor intensive. I intentionally choose to wash my hair once a week. My routine is to use Head & Shoulders ONLY on my scalp. Then I rinse it out & I use something like Pantene on my 'hair'-not my Scalp.

I proceed to use a Conditioner on my Hair (again NOT my Scalp).

Then I usually use a flat iron (that I can use on wet hair-the steam helps dry it. If I had short hair, I'd just let it air dry. Or I'd use an ionic blow dryer if I 'had' to.)

I don't use any styling products. I'm not big on hairspray, mousse or things like that. I'm allergic to so many things, so I stopped trying to use them when I was much younger. Not to mention the alcohol content in them usually dried my hair out.

Hope that helped someone. Like I said, I've always recieved compliments on my hair.

Hey-I'm an esthetician-and I have some experience with this. :)

Here's the deal. Just because you have flakes does not mean you have dandruff. Dandruff is actually a fungal problem and should only ever be treated by a doctor.

What Im guessing is happening with you(guessing because I don't know for sure without looking at your scalp) is that your scalp is reacting to the change in routine. You have been washing your hair every day and suddenly stop-your scalp is going to do one of two things. It's either going to keep producing oils, possibly even start over producing- and you will get a gross flaky build-up, or since you aren't washing it, its slowing down on producing oils(yes your scalp is smart) but its slowing down too much and your scalp is drying out.

The best way to tell the difference is to go off of what kind of flakes and build up you have. If it's an oily buildup that isnt itchy feeling and that stays on your scalp then thats an overproduction of oils,

if its a dry itchy tight feeling and you are noticing the flakes on your shoulders and pillow, then its most likely an underproduction of oils.

If it's neither of those-but more scaly and yellowish(i know thats gross) then THAT might be dandruff-head to the doctor!

otherwise You should look for PROFESSIONAL(meaning go to a salon to get it) hair care products designed for your specific problem.
I hope this was at least somewhat helpful-you can always just stop in at a local salon and have a stylist take a look at your scalp-they are all trained and licensed in scalp issues.
When I have scalp problems my number one go-to is Paul Mitchell Tea Tree shampoo and conditioner-its very affordable and will almost always balance your scalp out in no time.
Last but not least, if you try the tea tree (or something similar) for a month and dont notice a difference then remember, your scalp is skin-you can always make an appointment with a dermatologist-they will know exactly whats up

Good Luck!

Paul Mitchell has a great shampoo and conditioner called Tea Tree. It would help a lot with that. After using it you may be able to go back to only washing your hair a few days a week.

Neutrogena T-Gel is exceptional. If you have stuff on your face too it may be also in your hair. I use Cortizol(sp)-10 with aloe on my face and it clears up dermatitis stuff and put on edge of my hair line. I also use Cetaphil moisturizer and it all works. But the Neutrogena was the best and after 2-3 washes (in 2-3 days) it will clear and then it's just maintenance plus drink water, water, water.

I am a hairdresser for thirty years. First get rid of the H+S! Go to a salon and tell them your story. Then buy the products and don't overuse them... a little goes a long way.

Use Nizoral. Best dandruff shampoo out there. You can buy it at walmart.

As a Licenced /Owner /operater, First thing is throw out that Head and Shoulders!!! In Beauty school We are taught the different ph of hair/shampoo, and head and shoulders is strong enough to clean your CARPET, so Please STOP using it on your HAIR, it will strip your hair color.