A question SO many wavy friends ask goes something like…. “I have to wash my hair everyday, how do I stop looking greasy?” so I’m going to try my best to answer this for you!
I go 4-5 days between washes, but CAN make it over a week if I really want. Wondering about working out? We’ll address that too!
Tip 1: cleanse well....twice!
In my hair routine, I mention that I often wash my hair twice. It’s important to make sure that all excess product is out of your hair. So be sure you’re really scrubbing around your scalp with your fingertips. This
Tip 2: don't condition above your cheeks
You might see wavy or curly hair tutorials that condition their hair everywhere, but if you have oily scalp problems, be sure NOT to condition anywhere near your scalp. Your head/scalp will produce the oil on its own, and you can better focus the product into the lengths if your hair. I’ve never had short hair that is above my chin, so if you do and can chime in tips, please comment below this post.
Tip 3: Use Less Hair Product
Less product = Less buildup. This might blow your mind, but I think many wavies use WAY TOO MUCH product. I rarely use gels or curl creams. A lightweight curl enhancer and mousse are by far the most effective stylers in my hair. When I see wavies with fine or medium thick hair doing a leave-in conditioner, then gel cast I often think, “of course you have to wash daily!” Less.Is.More. And also, similar to tip 2, try to not use them directly on your scalp.
Tip 4: Establish a good refresh routine
Refreshing your hair does not need to be complicated or involved. My 2-minute refresh takes minimal time and uses minimal product. Again, less is more!
Tip 5: Ditch the Dry Shampoo
Dry shampoo is pitched as this miracle product. In the last several years, it went from being a total novelty to its own dedicated area within hair care aisles. But the secret? Dry shampoo is product. It builds up on the build up that’s there, and in my experience, might extend your hair by a day, but it’ll make the next washing experience awful and/or cause you to need harsher shampoos. Dry shampoo can be a helpful tool, but your goal should be to not need it unless a desperate emergency. Use less each week until you forget where that bottle even is.
Tip 6: Braid, Bun, Headband, or Hat
Test out hairstyles to use on your greasy days. These tips are not an overnight fix (I wish!). There is an adjustment period. So if you find yourself at home for a few weeks…..that’s a great time to give it a go. I was “lucky” enough to work in a job that required a hard hat regularly. So I knew I could cover the grease if needed. But within the office, I’d find ways to make my hair less noticeable. For example, twisting back sections of my hair to keep them our of my face also helped. Or a bun. Wearing a headband would also disguise the grease. You could always wear a hat. There are even hats that say “bad hair day” which is funny and cute because it’s true!
Tip 7: Clarify Regularly
Clarify regularly…..but not all the time. For me, it’s about every 5th wash. This also depends on how hard your water is, your specific hair texture and more. Maybe start with 3x month and go from there. If you clarify weekly (or even more often) you risk over-cleansing and thus causing your scalp to produce too much oil…which makes the whole cycle worse. The goal is to make the cycle go in the other direction…..gentle cleansing means less stripping natural oil, so your scalp doesn’t need to produce as much.
p.s. your clarifying wash does NOT need to have sulfates in it. I’ve used several low-poos for clarifying. Again, this helps keep things gentle on your scalp. My favorite clarifying shampoo even has tea tree and sage for that slightly tingly “clean” feeling. Another option is to do an apple cider vinegar rinse (ACV rinse) and I’ve detailed that too!
What About Working Out?
Workouts can make your hair care more complicated. I even wrote a post about how my hair made me unhealthy. There was a time where good hair was more important to me than physical fitness. But I’ve been able to adjust, and here’s how. I schedule my hair washing around my workout schedule. Yep. And while that sounds intense, it’s really just establishing a routine. Once you’ve got it set up, it becomes second nature.
Example Workout/Hair Wash Schedule: ….Day 1 hair: Low impact workout such as yoga/pilates/barre and then LISS (low intensity steady state cardio – for me that’s jogging, incline walking, or stair-master low intensity). Day 2 hair: Weight training. Day 3: HIIT or hard cardio then wash hair.
Now I still sweat on days 1 and 2 for sure. So on those days, I put my hair into a bun in the shower, then rinse the edges of my hair. I only go about an inch or two in. This removes the sweat from most of my scalp, but doesn’t make me do a full hair routine. Then I’d go in with my normal 2 minute refresh routine. (or if it’s day 1, my normal hair care routine). If you’d like a fully in-depth post, let me know!
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