5 Tips for Stretching Your Hair Between Washes

Welcome to the natural care journey! Maybe you’re new to a shampoo bar, or maybe you just want to try and train your scalp to need less washing… but you are wanting to stretch the time between washes! This is a process!

No one product is going to instantly change your scalp behavior (where your hair comes from…) or magically heal your damaged hair cuticles. but here are some things you can do to help your hair with this process (let’s say it again-- process)!

5 Tips for Stretching Your Hair Between Wash Day

1. Use cleansing products with no harsh detergent. Hello shampoo bars! Ours are free of SLS, which is the most common harsh detergent found in shampoos. SLS irritates the scalp and strips the hair of its natural oils, which then causes the scalp to overproduce oil to balance it out. Also look for shampoos without parabens and phthalates. These plastic derivatives not only coat the hair cuticle but also the scalp…which again, messes with the hair’s natural oil production.
   
   
2. Use dry shampoo to stretch a couple days before needing to wash it. An aerosol free dry shampoo that has good ingredients (like our Grapefruit and Lavender Dry Shampoo) will absorb excess oils from the scalp and volumize the hair. I love using it on my hairline to add volume when I wear it down. I also like using it when I braid my hair. It even works for a hair refresh after working out. The trick is to spray is on the scalp and massage it in and let it sit. Then you can massage the scalp a little more and style away! This product has helped me stretch my hair several days!
   
   
3. Try different styles with your hair. Look for styles that get your hair away from your face without you needing to touch it a lot. Touching our hair is a big way we transfer oils. Braids are one of my go to looks - whether its all my hair in a braid or just the front part. Thisis one of my favorite pinterest boards with lots great styles! 
   
   
4. Use a clarifying rinse when you wash it and skip conditioning. Sounds counter intuitive, but it has certainly helped me stretch out my hair wash days! Here is a link to our simple apple cider vinegar rinsewhich we use for clarifying.
   
   
5. Stretch it only 1-2 days at a time. Only have your really dirty hair for one day and then cleanse it. But remember to do so with a gentle cleanser! No harsh detergent.

Cheers to the natural hair care journey!