While many people in the United States now wash their hair on a near-daily basis, there
are others who've joined the "No Poo" movement and given up shampoo entirely.
Is that a good idea?
Well, here's what could happen when you give up on washing your hair.
One of the benefits of skipping daily shampoo sessions is the return of nourished hair.
While you may think conditioner is the best thing you can use to prevent dry hair, our
scalps are actually pretty proficient at doing that all on their own.
The body naturally produces oils, and while those oils are responsible for making our
hair feel greasy in between washes, it's also what naturally hydrates our hair.
When shampooing your hair, you may be cleansing it, but you're also stripping your scalp of
those valuable oils and ultimately, what it needs to make your hair shiny.
And, really, who doesn't love shiny hair?
Unfortunately, your scalp is not exactly great at evenly distributing oil, which is why the
tips of your hair can look dry while your roots will look mighty greasy when you skip
a wash or few.
If you decide to give the "No Poo" movement a go, you may just experience a total hair
breakthrough.
Once you're several weeks in, your hair may start adjusting to infrequent washings and,
instead of being a greasy mess, will start to look incredibly healthy.
Sounds unlikely?
Take it from Dr. Angela Lamb, a board-certified dermatologist with Mount Sinai Hospital in
New York, who told USA Today, quote, "Certainly there is some truth to that."
However, a lot of the results you will, or will not, experience comes down to what type
of hair you're working with.
Lamb says that women with fine hair or those with naturally less oily locks usually have
more success when going shampoo-free.
Curlier hair, too, can often survive — and thrive — without frequent shampooing.
If you're not sure if your hair could handle weeks without washing, Lamb suggests trying
three to four days to start.
If your hair feels greasy, you've got the all clear to proceed.
If you develop redness or itchy scales on your scalp, though, it's time to suds up,
as that's your scalp's way of asking for a wash.
"The only thing that I can’t figure out, is what the heck is going on with your hair."
Just because you've chosen not to use shampoo doesn't mean you have to give up all of your
styling products, right?
Well, you may want to consider, at the very least, cutting back, because styling creams
and other products tend to stay on your scalp if you don't use shampoo to get rid of them.
When that happens, the residue can become visible and your hair could even start looking
a bit lackluster.
This all happens pretty quickly, too.
In just a few days of not washing your hair, you may experience some scalp inflammation.
Yikes!
And here's the bad news: if your scalp experiences these issues, there may not be much else you
can do but give in and use shampoo.
This is arguably the grossest part of the shampooless trend, but it would be remiss
to exclude it: Your hair may start to smell pretty funky when you stop washing it.
Dr. Lamb told USA Today that while not everyone who skips washing their hair will develop
a foul odor, those who do may have to endure smelling like sour milk — seriously.
According to Lamb, hair traps moisture, which in turn collects bacteria.
In just about a week, you may get a tinge of a mildew scent or, worse, a sour smell
emanating from the top of your head.
A lot of the science behind the stench has to do with your lifestyle.
If you do regular, hard-core workouts, for example, you're not going to be able to go
months without washing your hair.
Just think of your coworkers!
"I cannot believe a pipe burst and left that there.”
“That’s no burst pipe.”
“How do you know that, what is it then?”
“Hey guys, somebody making soup?"
If your hair smells like a dirty washcloth, there's probably no convincing you of the
benefits of going without shampoo.
Conversely, if you're one of the lucky ones with a scent-free, shampoo-free mane, you'll
be happy to know that your hair color will last a whole lot longer than the color of
those who do wash their hair.
Will Francis, a colorist at the Sally Hershberger Downtown salon in New York City, told Prevention:
"Hair color is like clothes: The more you wash them, the more worn out and faded they
become.
It's the same for your hair — the less you wash it, the more vibrant it will be."
So, is the cleansing effect of your shampoo to blame for the dulling of your dye?
According to Francis, it's really not so much the shampoo as it is the water that causes
fading.
Protecting your hair from water, even if you don't use shampoo, can be difficult though.
Rinsing with cold or lukewarm water as opposed to hot is your best bet for long-lasting color.
When you have a cold, you experience a stuffy nose and all of the annoying symptoms that
come with congestion.
Much the same, your scalp can get congested, but it's not from anything viral.
According to Jenna Mast, a hairstylist in New York City, the overuse of hair products,
combined with not washing them away with shampoo, can lead to buildup or, as she explained,
quote, "a congested scalp."
When your scalp is dealing with too much of that buildup, hair loss can occur.
Although you're not exactly going to go bald — phew — it should serve as a clear message
to cleanse your hair or, at the very least, take a break from hair products.
Dr. Lamb concurred, explaining to USA Today that this buildup can also be responsible
for causing damage to your hair and even impeding its growth.
And that's an important thing to know before you give going shampoo-free a try.
Check out one of our newest videos right here!
Plus, even more List videos about your favorite stuff are coming soon.
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell so you don't miss a single one.