Train your scalp to wash less frequently
Within the last year I went from shampooing daily to C/O washing about twice a week (shampoo every six to eight weeks).
The following points helped me achieve this:
- Henna. Within the first week or two after using henna I found
that I could go for an extra day between shampoos. I always went back
to washing as usual after a while, but more out of a habit than because
I really needed to. At some point I just didn't and it worked.
It seems to me as if the henna coating works a bit like a corn starch
dry shampoo, absorbing excess sebum. While it washes out bit by bit the
scalp has time to adjust to less frequent washing.
I actually found henna to be the most important step - it was always
after a treatment that I felt comportable skipping an extra day and
then continue this way.
- Rinsing. Whenever I felt like wearing my hair down and have it
look especially good between wash days, I thoroughly rinsed with warm
water, conditioned with my favourite conditioner, rinse again and let
air dry. Doesn't look quite like freshly washed, but definitely good
enough most of the time. Currenly I don't rinse in between wash days
anymore, but that's mainly because I rarely wear my hair down anymore.
- C/O instead of shampooing. My scalp calmed down and produced less oil
once I stopped using shampoo most of the time. Makes sense to me that
skin that's being stripped from natural oils all the time tries to
protect itself. I was always wondering why my scalp seemed to be the
only part of my skin that was even remotely oily, when all other skin
on my body was sensitive and dry. Then in occurred to me that I'd never
wash any part of my body with anything as harsh as regular shampoo. I
even have to wash my hair bent at the waist because I get a rash and
painfully dry skin on my back if I shampoo standig straight.
- Brushing at night with a boar bristle brush. The brush distributes the natural
sebum from the roots through the hair, making it slightly greasy - just
the right amount of oil to be absorbed over night and look good in the
morning.
- Learning to love the look of updos. Especially since I mastered
the hair stick/fork bun and all those french twist variations I'm finding myself looking forward to non-wash days,
because that means I can wear my hair up all day. Updos don't hold well
when my hair is freshly washed, plus I don't want to bun or braid damp
because I don't like the massive waves that creates.
- I recently added scalp
massages with Rosemary essential oil (EO) to my routine, which also
works great in delaying the greasis. I notice a definite decrease in
scalp oiliness every time I do that. I C/O wash, rinse, cover length
and ends with moisturizing conditioner. Then cover finger tips with a
drop or two EO straight from the bottle, massage my scalp from nape to
crown, take another drop, massage rest of scalp. Then I rinse the EO
off together with the conditioner. I do the rosemary scalp
massage once a week.
If you want to try this, make sure you are not sensitive to undiluted
rosemary EO. This is strong stuff! If you are, try to add a few drops
to a vinegar/herbal rinse instead. I found the EO to be drying on the length
and ends (my hair as such doesn't like a lot of oil), so I prefer to use it on the scalp only.
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