The trend of refusing to wash your hair – what is the essence and why people do not wash their hair

The practice of not washing hair as much—or at all—is becoming more and more common. It may come as a surprise, but an increasing number of people are accepting it as a regular part of their personal care regimen. This movement is based on the theory that excessive washing can deplete the scalp of its natural oils, causing irritation and dryness.

Supporters of this trend contend that the scalp can restore its natural equilibrium by washing it less frequently. They contend that hair gets healthier, shinier, and less dependent on products with time. There is a move in the direction of hair care that is more natural.

Individuals who adhere to this practice frequently use alternative techniques, like brushing, rinsing with water alone, and using dry shampoos, to keep their hair fresh and clean. This trend calls into question what is actually required for healthy hair and challenges conventional wisdom on hygiene.

Refusing to wash your hair: pros and cons

Prior to 1800, hair washes were done once a month. This was sufficient to keep things hygienic. The first shampoo was developed, and washing frequency rose. Washing your hair once every two weeks is now advised. Eventually, the process increased in frequency to 1-2 times per week, and now washing hair every day is standard.

The concept behind the "poo" trend—an acronym for "no shampoo" in English—is to reduce exposure to contemporary shampoos, which damage hair even in cases where their formula is gentle. The movement’s supporters believe that curls will look better if you use gentler products like baking soda or apple cider vinegar in place of shampoo, or if you just use clean water.

The benefits of not frequently washing your hair include:

• Contribution to the health of the body. Some of the ingredients in shampoos – diethyl phthalate, sulfates and parabens have a negative effect on the body and can cause consequences – from mild irritation of the scalp to internal problems. Reducing the frequency of use reduces these risks.
• Saving time. If you wash your hair less often, say 1-2 times a week or a month, a girl can save several hours of time. The same amount is saved on drying and styling.
• Saving water. Society is moving towards conscious consumption. By giving up frequent hair washing, you will contribute to the movement by saving several tons of water per year.
• Improving the quality of hair and scalp. Proponents of rare washing and those who have completely abandoned it, assure that hair becomes shinier and softer over time, and the scalp finally stops being irritated. The effect is especially noticeable on dry, brittle and curly hair.

However, take your time discarding shampoo and conditioner cans. The trend’s drawbacks include potential side effects for girls who choose to go extended periods without washing their hair.

Experts from the medical publication Healthline state that either infrequent cleansing or outright rejection of it can result in:

• Slow hair growth. This is facilitated by accumulated dirt, care products and styling products that clog the pores of the scalp and prevent the follicles from fully producing new hair.
• Unpleasant odor. Sebum mixed with external dirt settles on the hair and skin, gradually decomposing.
• Dandruff. Accumulation of fat on the scalp often leads to dandruff.
• Itching. The appearance of itching is explained by the decomposition of skin cells. If dead cells are not removed in time, they cause a constant desire to scratch your head.

Experts agree that you should adjust the frequency of washing according to the type, characteristics, and makeup of your scalp. Reducing the frequency of showers will help preserve the color of the dye longer, improve the condition of your hair, and lower the risks.

If not, you shouldn’t follow the fad and skip weeks or months of hair washing. There won’t be any advantages, and the damage could be real, ranging from minor irritations like itching to uncomfortable feelings like ingrown hairs and dandruff.

The NAILS editors do not advocate for skipping hair washes or endorsing the "poo!" trend in this content. We only discuss the trend itself, its nature, the opinions of experts, and the motivations behind the attempts of many to wash their hair less frequently. Make sure to see a trichologist before making any big changes to your hair care regimen!

3 approaches to refusing to wash your hair

The preceding section may have given you some idea of the trend’s lack of a distinct manifestation. The important thing is that an individual who supports the movement starts to believe the controversial claim that synthetic shampoos damage hair and makes his own decisions about whether to stop washing his hair completely, cut down on how often he washes it, or use other cleaning techniques.

The no "poo trend can be adopted in a number of ways:

• Complete refusal to wash;
• Reducing the frequency of washing your hair;
• Washing with clean water without the use of shampoo;
• Washing with soda or apple cider vinegar.

Extreme sports enthusiasts have the option to completely reject any cleaning because our hair is constantly exposed to dust, styling products, and pollutants from factories and automobile exhaust.

However, there are legitimate and reasonably safe alternatives, such as cutting back on the number of washes, switching to more gentle cleaning techniques, or washing in between with shampoo and clean water.

Reducing the frequency of washing

The goal is to cut down on the frequency of hair washing—first to one or two per week, then to just one every one or two months—and to stop washing your hair every day.

What it gives: accumulated sebum is retained by hair, shielding it from damage and keeping it from drying out. The plan suggests occasionally washing with shampoo, which enables you to "dump" accumulated dirt on a regular basis.

Cons: The hair may look messy and smell bad during the intervals between washings.

Washing hair with clean water

Here, the importance of washing is stressed rather than how often it should be done. Girls use just clean warm water, no shampoo or conditioner as is customary. The girl makes her own decisions about how often to wash her hair.

What it gives: Sweat and dust particles are removed from the scalp and hair, but sebum is left behind and cannot be removed with warm water. Consequently, the scalp and hair are revitalized without losing their protective sebum lubrication.

Cons: Hair appears stale even 1-2–3 months after fully rejecting a thorough cleansing. Sebum production naturally declines with time, but using this technique won’t give you the opulent curls seen in shampoo advertisements.

Washing with alternative products

This plan advocates for sticking to traditional cosmetics instead of denying the importance of cleaning the scalp. The most common substitutes for shampooing hair are baking soda and apple cider vinegar.

When combined with water to form a paste, baking soda serves as a cleanser, aiding in the removal of extra fat and outside impurities. Conditioner can be substituted with 1 to 5 parts apple cider vinegar diluted with water. Hair is shiny and easier to comb when vinegar is used.

What it gives: hair is cleaned gently, kept from drying out, and is not subjected to the effects of synthetic components. They also don’t appear oily because soda cleans up easily.

Cons: Soda gives the hair nothing in return while eliminating dirt. In other words, you deprive the hair of its natural sebum while leaving it completely devoid of moisture. The curls may become dry and brittle due to the lack of moisture.

As every method has pros and cons, there is no one perfect plan that works for everyone. Select the option that seems the most reasonable and try applying it to your hair. You won’t be able to determine whether this trend is right for you or not until the experiment is finished and you have shampoo on hand.

How to switch to washing your hair less often

Whichever plan you prefer, experts suggest modifying your hair washing schedule gradually and keeping a close eye on the health of your scalp and hair.

Step by step is what dermatologist Angela Lamb suggests.

Dermatologist Angela Lamb

1. Try going without washing for 3-4 days – this will help you understand whether your hair is ready for experiments.
2. Assess the condition of your hair. If your hair has simply become greasy – you can continue.
3. If after 3-4 days or longer, your scalp becomes red or itchy – it"s time to wash your hair.

Try not washing your hair for five to seven days the next time. The amount of time between washes gets longer over time, but you should always pay attention to the state of your hair and scalp.

Remember that it’s normal for your hair to initially appear oily and disheveled. The sebaceous glands eventually "retrain" themselves to stop producing fats when it’s not absolutely necessary. Several sources state that the body needs two to six weeks to adjust.

In between washes, use a natural bristle hairbrush. Sebum will be more evenly distributed throughout the hair shafts thanks to the bristles. This will moisturize, protect, and lessen the oiliness of the hair’s roots throughout its whole length.

Stars who do not wash their hair often

Do you believe that the movement opposing frequent washing and shampooing is a unique and local phenomenon? We hurry to put you off. Women all across the world, including celebrities, use this technique.

Kim Kardashian

Kim promises that infrequent washing is the key to her thick hair. The celebrity did not dare give up shampoo entirely, but she is also against doing laundry every day. The model claims that by washing her hair twice a week, she prevents it from drying out. She puts moisturizing masks on her hair to keep it looking beautiful.

Kim also discusses how she conceals stale threads. She wears her hair loose the day after washing it, then curls it. She then tries different hairstyles for dirty hair, like braids, a sleek ponytail, and buns, on every other day.

Adele

Adele, a singer, has amazing, glossy hair. She acknowledges that the reason her hair looks so beautiful is because she doesn’t use shampoo. She once succeeded in holding out for two months.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Gwyneth is an advocate of leading a healthy life. She exercises, maintains a healthy diet, and opposes the use of harmful shampoos. The woman uses mild shampoos without sulfates in addition to more conventional washing techniques like baking soda.

Jennifer Aniston

All of the girls dreamed of having thick, manageable, and voluminous hair like Aniston’s after the premiere of the television show "Friends," in which she played a major role. The actress says she makes an effort to use shampoo less frequently, which helps her to keep her hair in good condition. The girl has already started washing her hair every three days even though she hasn’t yet reached the two-month breaks.

Mila Kunis

Grace Mila Kunis’s talents don’t end with hair. The actress and her spouse acknowledged in an August 2021 interview that they don’t take daily showers and that they don’t teach their kids to either. Every day, Mila Kunis washes her face to remove the salt and keeps an eye on her personal hygiene. She makes an effort to wash her hair and body less frequently with her spouse.

Ashley Kutcher and Mila Kunis

Cindy Crawford

Cindy says washing her hair two or three times a week is the key to her gorgeous hair. Crawford stopped washing his hair every day a long time ago. This was more of a practical decision than an ethical one, as you could style your hair and forget about it for a few days.

Brad Pitt

The trend is also backed by men. For example, Brad Pitt uses baby wipes to help him stay clean and take fewer showers. Head, based on his own admissions, but he also rarely washes his hair.

Questions

How can you hide the fact that your head is dirty from sight?

Pulling your hair up into a bun or ponytail is the simplest option. This will help to hide untidy hair and improve the overall appearance of the image. Your hair can be quickly styled with the use of dry shampoo.

The combination of factors known as the "dirty hair effect" emerged following the consolidation of the dirty hair trend in 2015–2016. The primary idea was that it is okay to go out in public with dirty hair, so it is only tangentially related to the discussion of not washing your hair.

Celebrities like Kate Hudson, Kim Kardashian, Cara Delevingne, and others demonstrated this. They braved the media with unwashed hair and shamelessly posed for pictures.

What neat hairstyles can you do with dirty hair?

Apart from the aforementioned ponytail or bun, experiment with creating the illusion of damp hair, create one or two haphazard braids, and incorporate large accessories like a scarf, voluminous hairpins, or a wide headband.

What would happen if you skipped six months of hair washing?

Everything is dependent upon the unique features of the body, hair, and scalp. Someone will experience thinning hair shafts, ingrown hairs, clogged pores, and excessive hair loss. Someone else will notice that the hair has started to self-cleanse and is starting to look better.

Given the environment we live in—which includes various fumes, styling products, and industrial emissions—the second option seems more likely. They completely refuse to let us wash, and they won’t let us enjoy unity with the body.

It’s unclear if there is a trend toward less frequent or nonexistent washing. In your opinion, is it worthwhile to wash your hair as infrequently as possible?

Everything about shampooing—a unique project from the NAILS editors

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The "no-poo" movement, which advocates for hair care practices that are less chemically dependent and more natural, is becoming more and more popular. Proponents of this method say that by avoiding conventional shampoos and letting the scalp balance its natural oils, hair will become healthier and less damaged. Many people follow this trend in order to support a more sustainable lifestyle and stay away from the harsh ingredients found in commercial products.

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Topic	Description
The trend	Some people are choosing to wash their hair less often or not at all, believing it leads to healthier hair.
Essence	They argue that frequent washing strips the hair of natural oils, making it drier and more prone to damage.
Why	Supporters say that over time, hair adjusts, becoming less oily and more balanced without frequent washing.

People are obviously looking for different ways to take care of their hair and scalp as the trend of not washing their hair becomes more and more popular. Many people are experimenting with how their hair reacts naturally by using less or no shampoo, and they frequently discover that their hair becomes healthier and less dependent on products.

This method is based on the theory that excessive washing can deplete the hair of its natural oils, causing it to become dry and irritated. Some people have reported feeling more balanced and in control of their hair after taking a break from frequent washing.

This trend isn’t suitable for everyone, though. The choice to forgo washing is very personal and is influenced by lifestyle choices, hair types, and personal preferences. If you’re inquisitive, you can try extending the time between washes to see if this works better for your hair.

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