How Long Can You Go Without Washing Your Hair? 5 Essential Tips

Wash. Dry. Repeat. 

It’s a cycle I try to avoid as MUCH as possible actually. Showers? Yes please! Washing my hair? Not so much.

I think it has more to do with the time it takes to wash, condition, comb out and then blow dry that makes it all seem so daunting. And growing up with curly, unruly hair, I’ve never been the girl that wanted to go home so she could “wash her hair.”

In fact, growing up, I would fight the hairbrush until my mom found a hairstylist who knew how to work with curly hair and could blow it out like magic… I would leave the salon with silky smooth hair and I’m pretty sure I would try and stretch it out to at least a week before washing. And that was before extending the life of your hair between washes was the popular thing to do. 

My feet would prance a with a light step and my twirls took on a life of their own with that “effortlessly” fluid shine. Until a couple of days would pass and then it would be all ponytails and braids to hide the grease (but at least it wasn’t a frizzy curl, my nemesis back in the day!). Before I knew about dry shampoo – and possibly before it even existed – baby powder was my go-to product for extending the life of my blow out… and to this day it still works great!

We all know it, a good hair day – and healthy, beautiful hair in general – gives us a little pep in our step and helps us to walk boldly. You know what I’m talking about too, that little bit of stride when hair is on point.

But as a busy mom I don’t have the time to do the wash, dry, repeat cycle daily (or even regularly!). How long can you go without washing your hair? How long does your hair last before that healthy bounce turns into something, well, less confidence-inducing?

To get those extra days between washes, it’s so important to use a product that really takes care of your scalp and gets it clean, as well as train your hair to last longer. The great thing is that both are doable and I’m sharing 5 essential tips to make it happen!

How Long Can You Go Without Washing Your Hair?

The Secret to Keep your Hair Clean Longer: Step 1

To get the most out of every wash, use a shampoo that really gets the job done. Not all shampoos are created equal and for a long time I would leave the shower with parts of my scalp still feeling greasy, which means I was already starting the whole wash, dry, repeat cycle with grease and build up. Not fun. 

From the first wash with the new Pantene Charcoal Collection Shampoo and Conditioner, my hair felt clean and fresh!

If it seems like activated charcoal is having a moment in the beauty world spotlight, with products from pore strips and masks to teeth whiteners and more all using it – you’re right on. Unlike skin, hair does not have a built in detoxification system, so to train your hair to go days between washing – with oils, styling products and dry shampoo building up – you need a product that can do some heavy lifting. And it’s time for our hair products to have some fun with activated charcoal too.

The charcoal system in the Pantene Charcoal Collection Shampoo and Conditioner includes a blend of pro-vitamin B5, activated charcoal, and antioxidants that works to detox hair by attracting impurities like a magnet. It all works together to reset the balance leaving the hair refreshed (and not feeling greasy!).

The Secret to Keep your Hair Clean Longer: Step 2

Now that our hair is refreshed and clean with body and shine, make sure you are only applying conditioner to the LOWER half of your hair. A good place to start is from the ears down. Don’t even come close to your roots! Your scalp will secrete its own oil that will work its way down the hair shaft – so we’ll let the body do its job and we’ll just condition the rest. 

I’ve been using Pantene Charcoal Collection’s Conditioner as well as the shampoo, and it’s Pantene’s first silicone-free conditioner that rinses out quickly leaving that still-clean feel for renewed fullness and shine.

The Secret to Keep your Hair Clean Longer: Step 3

Don’t touch it.

Honestly, there isn’t a whole lot to be said for this one, except that.

When your hair is dry, the more touching, running-fingers-through and messing with it that you do, the greasier (and dirtier) it will become, just from the oils on your hands alone. If you want a blow out to last a long time, keep the hair-touching to a minimum. 

The Secret to Keep your Hair Clean Longer: Step 4

Sleep with your hair up! I’ve mentioned it before, but I always wrap my hair up in a top knot or bun on top of my head before bed. When it comes to hair, the less friction the better… it will keep your hair healthy, and even provide a bit of body and curl when you wake up. Plus, with your hair up and out of the way, you’ll typically sweat less, leading to a longer-lasting clean.

The Secret to Keep your Hair Clean Longer: Step 5

When going three or more days without washing – scalp oils, styling products, dry shampoo and dirt build up. Sometimes this build up can result in hair gaining 4 percent of its own weight. FOUR PERCENT. Isn’t that crazy? Let’s not enhance that extra weight with too much product.

I find that adding much product after washing weighs hair down right away, leaving me with less body and fullness. Instead, I opt for a smaller amount of product and ALWAYS start applying at my ends, not at my roots. 

With dry shampoo – which I definitely use – I wait until about day three, or when I truly need it. Even then, I just apply it to the top and front areas of my hair, spray lightly and massage it in! I find that using it too early makes my hair feel weighed down and dirty too soon and my hair won’t last as long between washes. 

So tell me again, how long can you go without washing your hair? With a little training – both for you and your hair (because it will need some time to adjust and will slowly produce less oils the less you wash it) – a great shampoo, and these few tips, I’m sure you’ll be able to stretch it out a little longer.

For me, all of that just translates to more time to do the things I love… like play with our new kitten! And LESS time on the wash, dry, repeat cycle.

PS. I’ll share more about our new kitten and that CRAZY story soon.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pantene. The opinions and text are all mine.