How To Go A Week Without Washing Your Hair

It’s time to get vulnerable.

When was the last time you washed your hair? Do you faithfully shampoo & condition each night before bed? Or are you held together by dry shampoo and a prayer? 

Washing your hair every several days (or even just once a week) is actually enough to keep it healthy and clean. In fact, over-washing removes the healthy oils from your scalp, which can leave your skin dry and irritated and cause your hair to look tired and lifeless.

We’re definitely not telling you to stop showering, but we are saying that oily hair can be your friend! One of our salon owners, Kenna Ehman, put together a hair plan to help you make it a week without washing. 

Remember: good things take time! If you’ve washed your hair every day forever, it will take a few weeks for your scalp’s oil production to normalize. You may feel a little oily in the process, but it’s worth the wait!

Follow the steps for each day until you can’t take it anymore and need to wash, and then try to add an extra day before your next wash cycle! 

First things first – let’s talk product. Using the right product (and the right amount!) is super important in extending the life (and comfort) of your hair. Here’s a few products we recommend:

Day 1 & 2 Hair

Step 1: Wash (x2)

Start the week squeaky clean. If you’re prone to dry scalp, dandruff, or irritated scalp, it’s very important that when you shampoo your hair, you always shampoo twice, and that one of those times you use a clarifying shampoo

Tip: We recommend using the SOLU Sea Salt Scrub Cleanser as your clarifying shampoo to get all the buildup out! 

Step 2: Dry

Damp dry your hair and follow up with the OI All In One Milk to help reduce frizz, fight humidity, and leave a little moisture in your hair. Brush your hair with a comb and proceed to blow-drying, diffusing, or air drying! 

Tip: Be sure to fluff dry your roots even if you air dry the rest to give extra lift and keep wet hair off your scalp. This will help with dandruff too!

Step 3: Add Dry Shampoo

Whether you blow-dry, diffuse, or air dry your hair, you should always spritz a little Hair Refresher at your roots. As your hair starts to produce oils, Hair Refresher will absorb it and make your style last longer. It also takes away that “clean, slick hair” feeling and adds a little grit. (You can thank us later…)

Tip: Using Hair Refresher at night and brushing it out in the morning usually works best because it allows the longest time to absorb oils.

Tip: Silk pillowcases help to reduce frizz and keep your hair smooth – especially for those with wavy to curly hair.

Following these steps, you should be able to get a good two days of wearing your hair down.

Now go rock that fresh, clean, day one/two hair!

Day 3 & 4 Hair

By day three or four, your hair is probably starting to get a little bit of oil at the roots and you may have lost some of the volume you had on day one and two. On days like these, we love styling with a half pony or top knot!

Step 1: Volume Boost

Start off by using a pump of This Is A Volume Boosting Mousse to help amplify your wave and turn up the volume.

Step 2: Style

Segment off your hair with a clean section from your temples back to the crown, in a U shape. Use a small elastic to secure it and then add a scrunchie or ribbon to give it some sass!

Tip: You can tease a little if you want to add more texture to your bun!

Step 3: Dry Shampoo, Duh!

Finish the look off with a few quick sprays of Hair Refresher where the part is, let it sit for five minutes, and then comb it out. Viola! Good as new!

Day 5 & 6 Hair

Ok so by now, your hair is just crunchy and dirty. No more wearing it down. And let’s be honest, it probably smells a bit too, right? A low, messy bun will do the trick!

If we haven’t convinced you to ditch your regular dry shampoo and switch to Davines’ Hair Refresher yet, here’s why you should: Hair Refresher is one of the only dry shampoo products on the market that has deodorizer in it instead of perfume. Think about it this way – you wouldn’t go to the gym and put perfume on but no deodorant, right? This. Is. The. Same. And great news – Hair Refresher is also water-soluble, so you don’t have to worry about buildup and clogged pores from using too much. Basically, this product is your best friend.

Step 1: Prep & Style

To style, take the top of your hair and tease it a bit. Add a little Hair Refresher and This Is A Texturizing Dust for volume, bring it back into a messy low bun and secure with a hair tie or scrunchie.

Step 2: Soften It Up

Pull out a few small pieces around your face, curl them to add some softness, and then go about your day! Easy as that!

Tip: Ask your stylist to cut a few pieces to frame your face that hit about chin level so you have a little spice when wearing your hair up on dirty days.

Day 7 Hair (Final Day)

Ok so, at this point there’s only 2 options – you can either pull it all back or throw on a hat. Ponytail it is! A sleek pony with lots of volume in the tail is totally in, anyways. Rock it!

Step 1: Smooth & Secure

Start by flipping your head over and using your fingers to get all the knots out. Next you can use a brush to smooth the base and secure your hair band. Finish it off with a few sprays of This Is A Dry Texturizer to really fluff up the ponytail and give it some messy love.

We love Davines’ This Is A Dry Texturizer because it’s a cross between dry shampoo and hairspray. You get the hold of a light hairspray with the grit of a dry shampoo. It’s our favorite first and last day hair friend!

Tip: It’s important you never sleep with your hair up because it will break from moving around in the elastic. You can braid it loosely or just wear it down.

There you go! You’ve officially mastered the art of the 7-day hair. We’re very proud, and your hair is definitely going to thank you!