I Have Not Washed My Hair in Two Months

And it looks better than it ever has.

Let me explain. I was getting my hair cut a few months ago, leafing through a book at the hairdresser's called Curly Girl. My hair is fairly curly, which I don't really mind -- and which for 30 years I have kept semi-straight with a blow-dryer. What I don't like is the frizz, which comes and goes depending on the weather, and which is always worst in high humidity; when Diane von Furstenberg entitled a chapter of her 1976 Book of Beauty: How to Become a More Attractive, Confident and Sensual Woman, "Brazil? With My Hair? Never!" I knew exactly what she meant, having my own annual losing battle-of-the-frizz on Martha's Vineyard, which, spectacular as it is, must admit to being a very bad hair island.

Anyway, Curly Girl advised that girls with curly hair should not use shampoo, ever; that the structure of our hair is such that the shampoo is absorbed, you can't properly rinse it out, and that it only makes it frizz. Instead, it advised you take a little conditioner, rub it into your scalp to loosen dirt and oils, rinse, and then condition as usual. Huh.

I tried it. Immediately, my hair behaved better. But the coup de grace to the frizz was a little jar of Dax Beeswax, which I'd had for a while but had not used. It's very thick and oily -- you can find it, for about $2.39, in the black hair care section of the supermarket or drug store -- and it smells fantastic. I put about a dime-size dab of it in my hand, rubbed it between my palms, and ran it through my hair. Then I blew dry my hair as usual, not all the way dry but enough to keep it in control.

Wow. Dare I say, my hair was lustrous? I kept doing it, all month. My husband complimented my hair, then again. He also said it smelled really good (just so you know, your head does not start to smell bad if you don't use shampoo). A month later, I went back to my hairdresser for a trim.

"Your hair's really healthy," she said, something no hairdresser has ever said.

But the real test was Martha's Vineyard, where I have been going with my mom every summer since age six, and not once, not for one bleeping day, has my hair ever looked anything but a proper wreck.

I kid you not, my hair looked great. It looked perfect. It never frizzed. Even if I didn't take the hairdryer to it, it just curled nicely, no wild woman bush. It is not an exaggeration to say, I feel liberated.

More good news: in January, we're going to Panama, whose climate is about the same as Brazil's. I'm not taking my hairdryer.

Comments

[blah]

That is great to hear your story....even I have a similar problem my hair goes so frizzy and wild that I have forgotten o grow my hair long.

[Angela]

You have opened up a whole new world for me.

[Robin]

That is so wonderful! People don't realize that shampoo contains horrible toxins that actually make your hair look bad! I have heard of people who totally gave up shampoo, like you, and their hair improved dramatically! I myself am not ready for this step, so I use organic 'poo instead! Great post though! Thanks.

[Jami]

My scalp gets so greasy so fast I think I'd rather have frizzy hair. I'm going to keep using shampoo.

[Jennifer]

I read that book and loved it. My hair was so beautiful without shampoo. Then chemo and now my hair is straight, so sad. My daughter has curls though and the book has a place of honour on her bookshelf.

[Alison Stahl]

I'm so glad to hear that you have tried the Curly Girl Method!! I have been doing it for about three years and I'll never go back! There is an online community of curly-haired guys and girls if you ever need product info or just information in general about your hair. It can be found at www.naturallycurly.com

Good luck!

[Becca]

Wow I have the same problem with my curly and often frizzy hair...I might have to try this! Thanks for the advice!

[Diana]

Definitely going to give this a try! My curly hair is always frizzy, even though its not tight curls... more big loose curls... think it will work?

[Alex]

I am so excited about this post...I have been having the WORST hair for MONTHS, very dry, frizzy, but I know I actually have great hair. I can't wait to stop washing it. Thank you for this post.

[Nancy Rommelmann]

We're having a brutal heatwave in Portland. Last night, stood under cool shower, got out, towel-dried hair and put a bit of Dax in it. Usually this morning, I would look a scary mess. Instead, my hair looks a little squiggly and cute. I'm totally sold.

As for comment that others would not dream of doing this b/c their hair gets too oily: of course! It's not for everyone, though I think shampooing less (or rather, more water-washing /less shampoo-washing) is probably a good idea for most.

[dgm]

Just chiming in to say that after reading this post last week I thought I'd give it a shot. My hair, left to its own devices, is somewhat curly (soft curls) unless it's really dry out, then it's flattish with waves.

Wow. Just wow. Within a day or two I could see a difference in the taming of the frizz and the softness of my hair, and the way the curls held up. My husband noticed immediately and complimented my hair.

To those who think their scalps are too oily for this, at least give it a try. I was worried my hair would look greasy but it doesn't at all.

Thank you, Nancy! I had heard about this method before but you convinced me to try it.

[Nancy Rommelmann]

dgm: I am so delighted! This has been my experience, as well. I get up in the morning and think, why does my hair look so good? I also don't ever brush my hair (haven't for 30 years), except in the shower when it's wet and full of conditioner. I think this helps, too.

[Helena Handbasket]

Totally with you Nancy. For about 6 weeks I have only used the Wen cleansing conditioner on my hair (it's available at QVC.com or tvsn.com.au) and my hair is miles shinier and less frizzy. Although my hair is not curly, it is coarse, thick and wavy. I now only use shampoo to rinse out my fortnightly hot-oil treatments. Apparently any inexpensive low/no silicone conditioner will do but I'm having very good results with Wen.

The trick is to use lots more than you think you need.... when you comb it through, the conditioner should gunk up your comb. Believe it or not, using too little can leave your hair feeling limp and greasy.

[Lauren]

i LOVED that book... i used to have super curly, fuzzy hair (i recently lost it all to chemotherapy) and after reading that book i only used shampoo once a week, if at all. only conditioning it made it SOOOO much softer and less fuzzy.

great advice.

[sherish]

Wow! Definately going to recommend this to my curly haired friends!

[Barbara Campbell]

As someone with very curly hair which is incredibly frizzy I have used conditioner for years as a way calm it down... will start the no shampoo experiment tomorrow... first time to site...just great

[quik silver clothing]

Hi,

I also have curly hair. So your advice is suitable for my hair. I like my hair style. So i think i will go for your advice.

[Bonnie]

I do conditioner only at times and have also used the No-Poo, which I like a lot. I've had my hair (think Bernadette Peters or Felicity) done at DevaShan but the *method* of drying with paper towels and carefully clipping and lots of gel was all a bit twee for me. And I see a lot of their followers with that soaked head look all day. Not to my taste, but I def think reducing/eliminating shampoo is great for curls.

Incidentally, I have a secret tip for drastically improving hair health and reducing breakage. This is especially good for chemically damaged hair or anyone who is trying to grow hair long:

Stop washing your hair (or even rinsing) in the shower. Wash (or rinse, or condition) the way you'd deal with lace lingerie: fill the sink with water and dilute in a little shampoo if you use any. Dunk head in. Refill the sink several times to rinse.

This was very common for decades. We all love our great water pressure so much these days, but the pounding of all that water really takes a toll on hair. Try it for a few weeks and you will see a huge difference.