Please don't shampoo your hair!

How many times per week do you wash your hair? This is a very important question for a stylist to ask her client. Once this question is answered we can gather answers to many other questions like how many products you use, how long you spend each day styling your hair, etc. I was once a wash-my-hair-everyday girl myself. And for those of you that still are- I am guessing you do not realize the damage potential in doing so. Depending on your hair texture and any chemical damage you may have, coupled with what type of product you are using, shampooing frequently can be the culprit to a lot of damage to your hair. This is especially important for those who are living in a dryer climate. Every time you shampoo, you are drying out the hair even more. Especially if you are not using a professional product. Anything you get off of a shelf in a drugstore or Wal-Mart is going to be more drying to your hair.

It is best to wash your hair as few times as possible, period. I know this is a hard transition for many people. I could see this being especially difficult for someone who is very active and sweats daily. Even just wetting the hair down versus shampooing is less damaging and can help more with having a "clean" feeling after exercising. In a dry climate like the mountains where I live, the goal is to shampoo once a week-twice at most. I know those of you who find this to be a new concept think I am crazy right now. Maybe it would help to think of it in baby steps. If you wash your hair every day now, start with trying every-other day. Then work up to every-third day. See for yourself just how long you can get up to. Over time, shampooing your hair less will lead to healthier hair. I promise!

A common problem you will run into is an over-active sebaceous gland. Or you might better understand this as having an " oily scalp" or "greasy hair". A girlfriend of mine in college coined the saying "My head is so greasy I could fry french fries in my hair!".(gross I know) The sebaceous gland is the oil gland of the skin connected to the hair follicle. It is the one responsible for creating oil on your scalp which is simply meant to keep it moisturized. And those of you who do wash your hair too often will have an over active sebaceous gland because your scalp has been trying to keep itself moisturized while all along you have been drying it out shampooing every day. If you have a more coarse hair texture, even an over-active sebaceous gland may not create that greasy look to your hair. But if your hair is of a finer texture you will be asking: "How could I possibly wash my hair only once a week when I've got that greasy look on day two of a shampoo?"

There are several professional companies who make products for this exact problem. First there are Dry shampoos. These are typically marketed to those who cannot bathe as regularly. (say if you are on bed rest) More and more companies are marketing powder products not as a shampoo-but more as a volumizing or thickening agent. Check out pure abundance by Aveda. Another one to check out is Hair Powder by Bumble and Bumble.

So you are more of a practical gal and don't want to spend $34 for a 4 oz. bottle of powder? I have a solution for you too! Try corn starch or baby powder. They are both almost the same thing, except you get more fragrance with baby powder. Just sprinkle small amounts throughout your oiliest, or root area and voila! You should get anywhere from 1-3 extra days between shampoos using one of these powders.Being the honest problem solver I am I will tell you the downfalls of these more old school products. If your hair is darker in color, it is going to give you a bit of a white look to the areas you apply it to depending on how much you use. Work it through with fingers or a brush as much as you can to get it to settle in. The Hair Powder by bumble and bumble comes in blonde, brunette, and red for those of you who can't get a round using a white powder. I guess that's what their charging for-the additive color? I have not examined the ingredients in the professional powders out there. But it is my personal opinion and assumption that corn starch is the familiar ingredient in all of these things.