So following the advice from of the ladies here, I decided to cut down on the number of days I wash my hair.  As background information, I use what I have left of Herbal Essences' old line of shampoo, same with my conditioner.  My hair just barely brushes my shoulders, and is mostly fine, and thin.  Usually I use a very small amount of shampoo, and mix it with water before applying to only the roots, but for this experiment, I used even less, maybe a few drops.  When I conditioned, I conditioned only the ends, and then put on a shower cap for the remainder of my shower, then rinsed in cool water at the end.  Currently I neither oil nor clarify.

Sunday night, I shampooed and conditioned.
Monday night, I only conditioned the ends.
Tuesday night, shampoo and condition.
Wednesday night, conditioned ends only.
Thursday night, shampoo and condition.
Friday night, condition ends.
Saturday night, shampoo and condition.


Starting Tuesday, my hair looked slightly greasy all day, even after I had shampooed and conditioned.  I realize that it should take a while for my hair to get used to this, but for how long should I continue my experiment?  Is a week long enough?  This evening I went to dinner with my boyfriend and his parents, and I had to shampoo and condition beforehand, using my usual amount of shampoo and conditioning all my hair, even though I had shampooed and conditioned last night.  I hated to break my experiment after only one week, but my hair just didn't look clean. :P  My hair looked and felt so clean and soft that it makes me wonder if shampooing and conditioning everyday is simply what my hair needs.  I do plan to try at least once more and I sure would appreciate any suggestions or advice.

I starteD COing three months ago. The first month, my scalp was greasy, but my eventually got used to it. My advice is to try it a little longer so your hair can adjust. And if it doesnt, do what you think is best for your hair. HTH  :)

Sexywitch, between shampoos, are/were you doing CO daily?

I usually suggest adding just 1 day between shampooing for a month.  Then add another day, for a month, etc.  This gives your head/scalp a chance to adjust to the change in routine, but typically does not cause you to start walking around looking like a grease ball.  

If a special occasion comes up, go ahead and shampoo - it is not the end of the world if you are off the schedule every now and then.  

Hang in there - it will work!

hairapparent wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2006 at 8:35pm:

Sexywitch, between shampoos, are/were you doing CO daily?

CO means condition only. I dont shampoo at all. Right now I CO twice a week. Well actually one day is a deep treatment, but I still dont shampoo on that day. I usually clarify with a tiny amount of lemon juice mixed with about 1 1/2 c of water.

bikerbraid wrote on Oct 23^rd, 2006 at 8:40pm:

I usually suggest adding just 1 day between shampooing for a month.  Then add another day, for a month, etc.  This gives your head/scalp a chance to adjust to the change in routine, but typically does not cause you to start walking around looking like a grease ball.   If a special occasion comes up, go ahead and shampoo - it is not the end of the world if you are off the schedule every now and then.   Hang in there - it will work!

Bikerbraid,
Thanks for "clarifying" (lol) this for me.  I had also tried to cut down to once a week, all at once.  I can go every other day now and next month try skipping 2 days, etc.  Do most people CO daily in between shampoos or do you just try to only wet  your hair down once or twice a week when you shampoo, or CO or whatever your method of cleaning is?  

Any input would be very much appreciated!


SF

I usually just do a water rinse between shampoos, but if I feel my hair has taken some abuse or is getting dry, I will use conditioner on it.  My hair does not require water every day to look nice.  I'm sooo lucky!

My hair hates shampoo or water only.  I CO or SMT once a week (or longer - grin).  I went from shampooing daily to CWCing every couple of days, to COing the way I do now.  

Thanks for the advice and engouragement, everyone.  :)

I'm continuing the every other day shampoo, as suggested, and hopefully soon I'll be seeing great results.

Thanks!

Grrbanzo

I have been using Aveda Madder Root shampoo and Rosemary mint conditioner for about 8 years. I've tried switching shampoos a few times, but always end up giving them to my husband and going back to Aveda. Here in southern California the dry air and harsh water can do a number on hair. In the summer I wash as needed, depending on the activities of the day. Normally in summer that means 2/3 times a week. Shampoo and condition (shampoo on the hair close to the scalp, conditioner on the bottom 2/3s). Now in winter I shampoo and condition on a more regular basis. With the Santa Ana winds and our humidity in the 7-15% range this past week, I've only washed my hair once and left the conditioner on for a bit longer. Once a week is usually it until the end of February when it starts warming up again. This morning I went outside to let it dry. Between the wind and low humidity, it took about 20 minutes! after towel drying first. that's pretty fast for my hair. I've had days where I will wash and then braid it in the morning, then take it out the next morning and it is still damp. I never use a blow dryer or hairsprays/gels etc. http://www.longlocks.com/yabbfiles/Templates/Forum/default/cool.gif
DonnaG

Personally I can't stand not washing my hair everyday, and growing up in a family full of hairdressers and my grandmother owning a salon and a cosmetology school I always had the knowledge I needed to pamper my hair. Usually if you are having grease problems with your hair, and you condition, your conditioner is too strong. you need to find a milder less creamy more watery type conditioner. If you are having grease problems and do not condition, you need a harsher shampoo that will strip your scalp of the oils it has produced. Sometimes if I feel my scalp has become too oily I use regular bath soap to cleanse the oils off.  I have hair down past my bottom and always have. In highscool my good friend abbey also had hair as long as mine but much thinner. She always asked me what I did that made my hair so much thicker, but the only thing i could contribute the thickness of my hair to was my mother's constant nagging about my brushing technique. I can still hear her yelling "start at the bottom and work your way up! can't you hear your hair breaking? do you want to be bald when you get old? your making your hairline receed! look at all the broken hirs around your face!" I hated the lecture, but she was right, and my hair has always been nice because of her.
so in short I like to wash everyday in a mild shampoo, only condition (with a light conditioner) when dry and brush throughly to distribute the natural oils that my scalp makes to hydrate my hair naturally. Right now pantene clear is working for me, this is my longest shampoo run ever!

Your mother gave you great advice.  If washing daily works for your hair, that's good.  You are right, the key is the right combination of shampoo and conditioner.

(oh, and...... Welcome!)

Fro me washing twice a week is good. It took a while for my scalp to get use to it.  Every once and a while I do CO for one of the washes.  I cannot just rinse my hair with water as it goes all dry and crazy.  Sometimes I am able to go with only one wash a week.  I hope to extend it to that soon. :)