Talk about it Tuesday- DIRTY HAIR! (Yes, its a good thing!)

Every Tuesday, I’m going to pick a topic to really “dive into”. Something that we’ve all always wondered about, but maybe have been too shy or embarrassed to ask about! Sometimes, I may research on my own, sometimes I will interview a professional. However it needs to be done, I will find answers to our questions!

If you have a topic or question that you want me to feature on “Talk about it Tuesday”, you can reach out on social media or email me at lindsey@thewildernieuwland.com. I will keep your topic anonymous, pass zero judgement, and there are NEVER any stupid questions

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Today, I’m going to be talking about the wonderful world of DIRTY HAIR! Yes, I said wonderful! Hopefully, I’m about to change your life and give you back some extra time…which is something we’re all looking for!

As a stylist, over washing is the number one thing I see that causes unnecessary damage and color fade on clients hair! I am always preaching to my clients to stop wasing everyday! Even going to an every-other-day schedule can make a huge difference in hair health.

Let me tell you a secret. I only wash my hair once a week. Yep. Every seven days. You might think that's gross, but I think it’s a key to living your best life! My hair is healthier and I get to sleep later. Um… win-win!

There are a few tricks that I want to share with you to help stretch your washes…yes, even you…woman who looks like she slept with her head in a deep fryer!

First, its important to understand that your scalp is “trainable”. Often, people have to wash their hair everyday because they wash their hair everyday. It’s a vicious cycle, but you can break it! Shampoos can really strip your scalp of ALL oil…even the good and healthy kind. When you shampoo and remove those oils daily, your scalp starts to freak out and over produce oil…thus creating the need to wash again the following day. I didn't just wake up one day and decide to not wash my hair for a week. I started doing every other day, then as my scalp adjusted I would try to go an extra day. Before long, it was out to a week and honestly, my hair started growing like crazy!

Here are the ways that I recommend (and use personally) to get your washes to last and keep your hair looking good!

1.) Use good shampoo and conditioner!

Sulfate and paraben free are a great place to start. These ingredients are unnecessarily harsh on hair and increase overproduction of oil.
Avoid shampoo/conditioner that is marketed as hydrating or “for dry, brittle hair”. Our purpose is to eliminate excess oil and moisture, so these types of products aren't what we want! I think these products also have a tendency to sort of melt on your hair after a day or two…which can make your hair look oily even when its not. I always use volumizing shampoo/conditioner, which is typically lighter and keeps your hair from being limp or weighed down.
If you really feel your hair needs extra moisture, use a volumizing shampoo and the moisturizing conditioner.

2.) Wash and condition properly!

Sometimes you have to wash twice. Especially when you’re getting good at going several days without washing. If your shampoo doesn’t lather up well, then rinse and scrub again.
Really take your time! Scrub your scalp really well, because shampoo alone doesn't clean your hair! It also takes the physical manipulation to break down the oil and product. Rinse, rinse, then rinse again - it’s important to make sure you really get all the shampoo out, you want your hair to be good and squeaky clean.
Don't put conditioner near your roots! Again, we’re trying to get clean, lightweight hair so putting that thick, goopy conditioner near the scalp is not going to help! Besides, there is nothing that is as good for your hair as what your scalp produces to nourish it. Mid-length to ends it all you need!

3.) Style it to last!

Put as little product on your roots as possible. I always use a volumizing spray mousse and I try not to go too crazy with the amount. On the mid-length to ends, you can pretty much use whatever you need to!
Blow dry for high volume! Directing your hair away from your scalp can be the difference of going 2 days between washes and making it 5. When I don't want to take the time to use a round brush, I rough dry until it’s about 80% dry and then I put a few Velcro rollers in at the top!
When my hair is totally dry, I do a little bit of backcombing in the areas that tend to fall flat and get oily fastest. For me, this is at the crown. I think my hair would continue to part all the way down the back of my head…especially when its dirty…so this is a preventive move to keep that from happening.

4.) Maintainence

Dry Shampoo is your new best friend! The important thing here is finding the one that works best for you! My go-to is the Batiste for brunettes, because I can use as much as I want and my hair doesn't look chalky. Good news, most drugstore brands now offer a dry shampoo, so you won’t break the bank while you’re looking for your fav. *Pro tip- spray your dry shampoo in at night and let it work while you sleep!*
Sleep with your hair up, if its long enough. I have been a big fan of the “Pineapple” for years. I love using a worn out hair tie, or the ties that look like old phone cords…that way I have very minimal creasing in my hair in the morning. If I do have a bit of a crease, I either wait about 10-15 minutes for it to fall out a bit, or I flip my head upside down and hit the roots of my hair with a hot blow-dryer for a few seconds. It’s amazing how that little blast of heat can really revive your style!
For those of you that exercise and sweat…dry your sweat into your hair. Sounds really weird and counter-productive…but what do you think sea salt spray is? It’s essentially sweat in a bottle.
When all else fails, try a half-up style, a messy bun or a hat! There are so many ways to style your hair around washing it…you've just got to be willing to try!

Comment below if you’re going to be trying some of these tips!

*All photos today were courtesy of my beautiful friend Jami at Magnolia Lane Phoography…I apologize that I obviously can’t smile while doing my hair!