A few months back, my hair was left crispy, damaged, and discolored from a bad highlight job. See the image below.

This began my hair rehab journey.

As part of trying to repair my overprocessed hair, I started experimenting with washing my hair less often. I was nervous my hair was going to look super greasy, but I took a gradual approach and learned a lot along the way.

The Experiment: What I Did

Normally, I wash my hair every three days. I have thick, wavy hair, so it usually holds up pretty well without daily washing. I wanted to see what would happen if I stretched it to washing my hair once a week and whether my natural oils would help keep my hair healthier.

The plan was simple: add one extra day between washes each week until I made it to seven days. I’m glad I took this approach because it gave my hair some time to adjust to the new schedule.

On wash day, I’ve been using Arey Grey’s shampoo and conditioner. They’re non-toxic and safe for color-treated hair. I don’t use dry shampoo because I’ve always found it makes my hair feel greasier. I’ve also been experimenting with a few hair serums as part of my hair rehab routine.

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, I could wear my hair down as usual. By Thursday, it was looking a little flat but not overly greasy. A braid did the trick. By Friday and Saturday, I was officially in top-knot territory. By Sunday, I was running to the shower.

The Results: What Changed

Hair Health

It turns out less really was more.

After that wash, my hair felt incredible. I blow-dried it as usual, and it was so soft, including my grays. My natural volume had returned, and somehow my overprocessed hair looked healthier despite using heat on it.

Fewer washes also meant less blow-drying and styling, which definitely doesn’t hurt.

Scalp Condition

By day six, my scalp was starting to feel a little gross. Thankfully, everything went back to normal after washing.

Throughout the experiment, I didn’t experience any major irritation or scalp issues.

Time Saved

This probably isn’t surprising, but washing my hair less often saved me a ton of time.

I gained hours back by not having to wash, condition, detangle, and blow-dry my hair every few days. Considering the whole process takes at least 20 minutes, it really adds up.

Surprises

I was most surprised by how my hair adjusted.

Each week, it became oily more slowly, making it easier to add another day between washes.

I also let my hair air dry one day without any product, and it actually looked good. My curls had definition and very little frizz, which never happens.

Lessons Learned: What Worked and What Didn’t

I saw a huge benefit from washing my hair less often, but once a week might be a stretch for me.

It’s possible I needed more time to adjust, but by day six I wasn’t feeling great. These days, I’ve settled into washing every five days (sometimes six), and that seems to be my sweet spot.

I’ve also started double washing my hair when I do shampoo. It helps remove excess oil and leaves my hair feeling extra clean after several days without washing.

If you’re thinking about extending the time between washes, my biggest piece of advice is to add one day at a time. Taking a gradual approach made the whole process much easier and was a complete game-changer for me.