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I utterly loathe washing my hair. It seems like it’s such a process, even though it really doesn’t take that long. And I have to get up earlier in the mornings on wash days. Ugh. Don’t we all need more sleep??? Anyways, I’m thankful I only have to wash my hair once every 5 days. Yes, you read that right. . .I only wash my hair every 5 days (sometimes 4 days if needed). And I tend to get compliments whether it’s Day 1, Day 5, or somewhere in-between. Would you know I went 4 to 5 days between washings if I wouldn’t have told you? And some days, my hair looks even better towards the end of the cycle than it did at the beginning. So what’s my secret???
Let’s talk first about my hair. I have lots of hair, but it’s fine. It used to be more on the straight side with a very slight wave until I was pregnant with Kane. After that, it has a lot more wave to it. The upside to this is that I usually curl my hair on Day 1 and it will last until Day 3 or 4 without needing touch-ups:) It is a little more on the dry side, but not fried or anything. I also color my hair, so I try to keep that in mind when selecting hair products. I tend to put some dark color in my hair, which I’ve read is less damaging then lightening your color.
I originally started seeing how long I could go without washing my hair when I was in undergrad. At first it was 3 days. Then 3 days stretched to 4 sometime in law school. And then, at some point in the last 8 months, 4 days s t r e t c h e d to 5 days!!! There were two reasons why I did this. One was to save on time in the mornings, and two was to cut down on heat being applied to my hair through blow drying and styling.
Here’s a look at my 5 Day Hair routine, from the products I use to how I style my hair. I can’t guarantee that these products/steps will allow you to go 5 days between washings. . .this is just my routine that I’ve found works for my own hair.
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| Product sizes are different than they appear above. Sizing here is just for aesthetic purposes. |
My 5 Day Hair Arsenal aka Products I Use
Washing:
– L’Oreal EverPure Volume Shampoo and Conditioner. These are sulfate free, so they’re great for colored hair!!! I condition my hair each time I wash it, from mid-shaft down.
– John Frieda Luxurious Volume 7-Day Volume In-Shower Treatment. I got this in a Target Beauty Box and I love it! You use it every 2 or 3 washes (not each time you wash your hair) after washing and conditioning your hair. I saw a noticeable difference in volume from the first day I used it.
Drying:
– Heat protectant. My go-to has been discontinued, so I’ll probably pick up an old favorite, the Tresemme Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray. I like to use this to minimize damage to my hair. It’s Step 1 on this process and I spray it all over my hair, then finger comb through.
– Aquage Uplifting Foam. This is Step 2 and my volume go to. I spray it in sections along the top of my head. Check out this video from The Small Things Blog for a demonstration on how to apply.
– Blow dry cream or treatment. This is the 3rd and final product I put on my hair. I’ve used quite a few creams, and don’t really have a favorite, but something along the lines of this or this on the low-end, or this or this on the high-end. I like to use something this won’t weigh down my hair, and I don’t use a ton of it. . .I have long hair and maybe use a dallop the size of a nickel to rub through my hair. DO NOT use anything that is an oil or serum. . .this will make your hair more oily and you’ll have to wash it more frequently.
Styling:
– Repeat heat protectant spray. Yes, again.
– Sally Beauty Supply Generic Value Products Super Spray (noted on bottle to “compare to Paul Mitchell Freeze and Shine Super Spray”). This is some powerful stuff. I spray this over each section of curls as I finish them.
– Sally Beauty Supply Generic Value Products Volumizing Spray (noted on bottle to “compare to Kenra Volume Spray”). This is also some pretty powerful stuff. I use this once on done curling my whole head of hair to give it a LIGHT once-over.
– Batiste Dry Shampoo (not pictured–fail on my part). I use this towards the end of the 5 Day Hair cycle (see below).
My 5 Day Hair Daily Routine
Day 1: I wash my hair, dry it, and sometimes curl or straighten it. I’ve followed The Small Things Blog tutorial on how to curl hair for years. Seriously. It’s almost no-fail!!! Tonight, and every night hereafter, I’ll wear my hair in a high ponytail secured by a flat elastic to maintain my style and a little bit of volume without creasing my hair.
Day 2: If I didn’t curl my hair on Day 1, then I do it on Day 2. Otherwise, I just re-tease everything and smooth it in place.
Day 3: Maintain. Re-tease and smooth in place.
Day 4: Touch-up top layer of curls if needed. Maybe a light shot of dry shampoo.
Day 5: Dry shampoo, re-tease, and smooth.
It’s important to note that I don’t use hair spray or freeze spray every day. The more product you use, the dirtier your hair will be, and the sooner you’ll have to wash it. I do not apply anything liberally. . .less is more! This is the same reason I don’t use dry shampoo every day after Day 1. Dry shampoo leaves your hair feeling ugh after you use it heavily.
I hope these tips help you to extend time between hair washings. At the end of the day, you really have to do a trial and error process to find out what works best for your hair. Every one is different. Good luck!!!
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Linking up with Garay Treasures for Bloggers Who Inspire Me and the ladies over at Tuesday Talk.
