Stop washing your hair.

So frequently anyway. If you told baby ballerina Dagny this years ago, she would have laughed. Sometimes frequent washing is necessary, but trying to decrease washes will do your hair a world of good. Would you wash your favorite silk blouse everyday with hot water and chemicals? Probably not.

Washing your hair every day (or more) will dry out your hair. Not only are are you stripping your hair of its natural oils, but mechanical damage due to scrubbing and drying with a towel will cause wear and tear over time. Also, the hair shaft is particularly vulnerable when it is saturated with water. Not to mention, you may end up having to heat style your hair more often, which leads to damage.

So how often should you wash your hair?

Ideally, 2-3 times a week. This will vary depending on your hair texture, level of physical activity, and the climate. Your scalp produces oils to nourish the hair. If the oil is continuously stripped away by harsh shampoo, your scalp will kick into overdrive to replace the oil. If you wash your hair everyday, try washing it every other day. After a while (be patient!) your scalp will realize it is not being stripped anymore and will produce less oil.

How to wash:

Try to use warm to cool water
Gently massage your scalp with the pads of the fingers, concentrating the shampoo at the scalp. If you don’t have any other product buildup in your hair, just let the shampoo run down when rinsing, instead of scrubbing the ends with the shampoo too. This will prevent the ends from over drying.
Once every week or two weeks mix 1-4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar (preferably unfiltered) with 8 ounces of water. After shampooing, pour the mixture over your scalp and let sit for a few minutes. This will remove buildup, increase shine, and stimulate hair growth.
Do not apply conditioner to the scalp. Use it a few inches away from the root.
Never roughly dry your hair. Gently squeeze your hair with the towel. Using an old cotton t-shirt is a great way to reduce friction from drying.

Which shampoo should you use?

Try to avoid shampoos with sulfates, parables, and other harsh chemicals
Shampoo does NOT need to be expensive. Do not buy into pretty packaging with cheap ingredients.
Be sure to use a shampoo suited to your hair type. Using a very moisturizing shampoo on fine hair will result in weighed down, oily hair; etc.

Which shampoos do I use?

I rotate my shampoos depending on if I oiled my hair or not. Shampoo bars are great for those who do not use many products. They don’t quite get all of the coconut oil out after a heavy oiling day though. Natural shampoos bars are chemical free, gentle, portable, and last for a long time. Some “traditional” liquid shampoos I use are the African Black Soap Shampoo from Shea Moisture, and the Argan Hydrating Volume Moisture Shampoo by Deep Steep. As stated in the name, the Deep Steep shampoo is moisturizing and looks like conditioner. I follow up with the corresponding conditioner from the line. The Shea Moisture shampoo is clarifying without over-stripping my hair. All of these shampoos are under $12. I usually get my Shea Moisture products when Duane Reade has a 3 for 2 deal. Deep Steep occasionally goes on sale in Whole Foods. I buy my shampoo bars from Chagrin Valley, a family owned bath and body company. I have never gone wrong with any of their products. They provide a lot of information on their website if you are interested in shampoo bars!