HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HAIR? NOT AS OFTEN AS YOU THINK!

 THE SECRET OF SECOND-DAY HAIR: SKIP THE SHAMPOO AND LOOK BETTER THAN EVER.

A bunch of  celebrities recently confessed that they don’t shower every day. Among them:  Ashton Kutcher, who said he washes  only his armpits and crotch; Jake Gyllenhaal who told Vanity Fair that he finds bathing to “be less necessary”; and Coco Austin, who admitted to showering only “when I’m feeling icky.”  As controversial as those habits seem to be, lots of people can get behind the idea of less frequent hair washing. Besides saving time and trouble, experts agree that it’s better for your hair – not to mention the earth. Daily washing not only uses gallons of water; it strips hair of  sebum, a natural lubricant,  and makes your scalp work harder to produce more. What’s more, as you age your hair becomes drier and more  brittle. And if you color your hair, frequent shampooing can strip the color out.

If you have been washing your hair daily, you will need a transition period of about two weeks for your scalp to stop overproducing sebum and adjust to less frequent washing. Once you’re on your new schedule, you’ll find that second day hair can look better than the freshly shampooed alternative.  By day two, your hair has a more lived in look, the style has relaxed, the products you used have settled in, and your hair has soaked in its natural oils. It now has the perfect texture for updos, braids  and ponytails.

There are a few secrets to flawless second (and third and fourth) day hair.

   • Protect your hair in the shower with a shower cap like this one that locks out moisture.

   • Avoid piling on styling products that will cause buildup. Instead Use a dry shampoo like this one that will preserve your style and absorb the grease.

   • Stay away from heating tools that can damage second day hair or make it appear greasy. If you must use a heating tool, choose a low setting and use only where necessary.

As an alternative, you can ditch the shower cap,  wet second day hair in the shower and let it air dry. Water  does not cause dryness or damage. If your hair is very curly,  use conditioner in the shower to add more moisture. This process is called cowashing.

Now that second day hair has become your best hair ever,  you only have to figure out what to do with all the extra time you save.