The main concern among anti-pooers is that it leaves the hair and scalp feeling oily. Sure, nixing shampoo from your routine may initially leave your hair looking and feeling greasy, but if the method is done correctly, it can balance out how much oil your scalp produces in the long run.
Contrary to the claims of the ``no poo'' movement, you will not produce less oil on your scalp if you stop shampooing. You produce how much you produce based on your body's own personal chemistry.
Washing it with water only will actually make it produce less oil over time. The less often you wash your hair with anything, the less often your scalp will need to produce oils to make up for lost oils. Stripping your hair with shampoo causes your scalp to freak out and produce more oils to get back to normal.
But before you give it a try, some warnings: Although it didn't happen to me, forgoing cleansing can cause some side effects like dandruff, an overly-sensitive scalp, and even hair loss (things that are reversible and often related to the hair's need to regain balance after giving up shampoo).
But this is general maintenance, and the longer you go without washing your hair, the more oil is built up on your scalp. And when more oil gets built up on your scalp, other things get stuck to that oil, such as dead skin cells, sweat, dirt, and any products that you may be using, causing your scalp to be itchy.
Excessive washing
Over-washing can make your hair look greasy because it strips the hair of its natural oils. This loss of natural oils causes the body to overcompensate by producing more sebum. Over-conditioning can also lead to greasy hair because it weighs down the hair and this in turn increases oil production.
Generally, he says, the range is somewhere between once a day and once a week. “If you have very fine or thin hair, you may need to wash more often, while those with thick or curly hair may need to wash less often,” says Dr Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a double board certified dermatologist and hair health expert.
You should only go a week without washing your hair if you have dry, thick, and/or coily hair—not because you can't stretch your wash-day out even longer, but because you really shouldn't if you're trying to prevent breakage, dryness, and irritation.
Just Water Method
By wetting your hair you're still technically washing it, but you're avoiding exposure to potentially dehydrating ingredients like sulfates. A good time to use the “just water” method is when it's the end of the day and your hair is looking like a bit of a mess.
Lifestyle & diet changes to fix oily hair
In general, cutting out greasy foods and increasing your intake of fruit and vegetables, as well as drinking plenty of water every day will help your hair to improve the general condition of hair, skin and nails.
Product Buildup: Without proper cleansing, daily wetting can cause styling products and environmental pollutants to accumulate on the hair and scalp, leading to a dull and lifeless appearance.
Washing the hair is a lot like washing skin. Water can remove most visible dirt and debris, but might not eliminate odors or oily deposits. Shampoo helps water remove dirt, debris, and odors, such as smoke or sweat effectively. Shampoos can also remove oil.
While your locks may not smell “bad,” so to speak, when using the water-only technique, they likely won't have that alluring fragrance you've come to expect after washing with products. Consider picking up a refreshing dry shampoo or a hair perfume if you want to enhance your hair's scent.
Washing your hair is important to get rid of excess oils, as well as dirt and product build-up. Warm water helps to soften the grease, but it doesn't wash it away on its own. You need to use a shampoo to properly clean your hair and scalp.
"The scalp tends to compensate for the oil removed with shampoo by producing more sebum. Initially, without shampoo, there is excessive sebum production and the hair and scalp will feel greasier than normal," he explains.
Your scalp has natural oils that help nourish the hair, Yadav says. She says that while shampoo is meant to remove dirt, sweat, grime, and oil from the hair and scalp, overusing it—or even using it regularly—can strip these natural oils, leaving your hair and scalp dry and flaky.
As a general rule of thumb, natural black hair should be washed every 7-10 days to remove dead skin cells and product buildup — every 4-5 days for those who are extra active, whether sports or job-related. Just because natural black hair isn't washed daily doesn't mean conditioning should fall by the wayside.
Bottom line: Washing your hair less frequently puts less stress on it, which helps keep it strong and healthy. You'll also use less product in the long run, saving you time and money.
Hair washing without commercial shampoo, sometimes called no poo, includes water-only hair washing or hair washing with non-commercial products, such as baking soda and vinegar. Advocates argue that commercial shampoo is an unnecessary expense and may contain harmful ingredients.
While there is no ideal frequency, experts suggest that showering several times per week is plenty for most people (unless you are grimy, sweaty, or have other reasons to shower more often). Short showers (lasting three or four minutes) with a focus on the armpits and groin may suffice.