Have never tried this, but will. Thanks for the tip.

ML

I have no experience with dry shampoo, but I do know there are some awesome liquid waterless shampoos for those who are bedfast or cannot shower or wash their hair following surgeries, accidents, etc. And some are MUCH better than others.

When my mother was in an ICU unit for several days, they had a great one - much better than her nursing home had. I actually "hoarded" the bottle when leaving the hospital with her - her hair truly looked, smelled, and felt clean when using it. Her hair was a beautiful silver gray.

I've tried this with corn starch - works best if done the night before, since it's hard to get it brushed out enough if done the same day. DH says it makes me look like I'm going gray.

I've also tried this with cocoa powder. Since cocoa powder has fat in it, too, I didn't feel it was as absorbent. Plus, if I scratch my head with cornstarch, I might get a little white under my nails, nothing too noticeable. However, scratch my head with cocoa, and suddenly my fingertips look dirty. Cocoa is also worse if it gets on your clothes.

I recently read a tip for brunettes to dust powdered bronzer at their roots to absorb oil. I didn't have any on hand, but I had mineral powder to set my make-up in a tone that matches my skin. I just apply it with a big make-up brush and it blends in much better than either the cornstarch or cocoa powder. I also don't notice any excess on my scalp if I need to scratch my head, and DH doesn't seem to notice if I use this method.

(I think this is a practical issue...I have fine hair that looks dirty in a day or less....but I must admit, I feel like a dirty slob writing this!)

DD2 uses baby powder, but she puts in the the night before. Sleeps with it in her hair. Then blows out with dryer the next morning. She has found this works better than using in the mornings. She only wants to wash her hair every other day and this has worked for her.

I'm glad that works for you but I don't understand why you don't wash your hair every day if it needs it. I have very fine hair and washed it daily until I was about 40 and then it wasn't so greasy. Of course, if I sweat at all I still have to wash it.

Bumblebeez,

Daily hair washing is a pretty recent phenomenon, and seems to be a mostly American hang-up (disclaimer: I wish I could say I was well traveled, but I'm going by what I read). There are various reasons to cut back on washing hair.

Save time (my usual reason)

Save water (and energy to heat that water)

Reduce chemical exposure

Some hair styles work better on ''2nd day hair''

Gentler on your hair (less chemical, less damage while weak from being wet)

After a period of washing your hair less often, your head may produce less oil, resulting in less frequent need for washing (since you're not stripping the head of it's natural oils, it can stop overcompensating)

I'm sure there are other reasons, too. For a whole different culture shock, google ''no-poo''. ;)

LONG - WebMD: How often do you really need to shampoo?

Here is a link that might be useful: SHORT - Discovery Health: How often should you wash your hair?

Decades ago I used to use dry shampoos but never liked any a lot.

Unless one is unable to wash hair for medical reasons I don't find most of the reasons compelling enough to use dry shampoo. I save water by not having long showers, which also saves time. I use a liquid castile soap as body wash and shampoo as it has no noxious chemicals. I occasionally use the baking soda and apple cider vinegar method of cleaning my hair which does work well.

I got used to washing my hair daily when I was working and find it difficult to go more than 2 days without now. It's not a matter of need or should, it just feels better to have clean hair. I lived through the days when washing hair weekly was the norm and could never go back to that.

Anyone want to try this? ;-D SIX WEEKS!!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Should I stop washing my hair?

A local male hairstylist has super curly, coarse hair. He wrote an article for a local magazine that said if you go through the motions of washing your hair (fingers to scalp, rubbing motions) that you are stimulating oil production and by doing so, you can actually stop using shampoo/conditioner on a regular basis - unless your hair is actually dirty. He said it takes a couple of weeks, and yes your hair starts looking dirty (try it when you have the flu or something! lol) but that your scalp will stop producing all the extra oil and your hair will be healthier for it. The oils move down the hair, away from the scalp. A client of his tried it and she has long, thick hair. It's never looked healthier.

When I was younger, I could go a week w/o washing my hair with shampoo. That didn't mean I didn't get it wet on other days. Just meant I didn't get sweaty or dirty.

I wash mine every other day. Daily if it needs it due to heat, etc. I could actually get by with every three days.

DD2s hair look healthier now that she is not washing it daily (uses the baby powder at night), but due to her oily skin she has to wash it every other day.

Yes but ...the odors hair collects , unless one lives in the country. Also, my granddaughter's allergist Reccommend washing, or rinsing her hair every night to remove pollens, etc.
Allison, a thousand years ago, in jr.high, I used baby powder! Being young, hair got oily quickly. Had not thought of that...or needed it. :>( ..in years!
Brumble and Brumble makes a colored spray, powdery root cover up((shampoo, too ?). I love it for postponing coloring my hair. Also works well to add depth to thin hair and give a thicker appearance. It is pricy at $30, but lasts a long time.

Why not just wear a hat on the second or third day?

I guess I understand the principle of talcum powder-based dry "shampoo" for oily hair, but honestly---putting food in oily hair to clean it is an oxymoron, if nothing else. I wouldn't like to see the pillow case the next day, either.

I don't get it either. If I spent all that time with the dry shampoo (cocoa, etc.) I'd just as soon spend that time washing my hair. My hair is thick and wavy but to me it looks and I FEEL best when it's washed daily, occasionally I go every other day. Honestly, one of the best features of my dark hair is the shine, and missing a day of washing reduces that shine. Washing daily doesn't need to use alot of chemicals or damaging treatment of your hair.

tina

Washing hair daily is not recommended for normal to dry hair. In the summer there are times I have to wash it daily, depending if I spent time outdoors.

In the winter I can go all week and not wash and it doesn't start to look (or smell) dirty until about the 6th day. It could be because when I'm home, my hair is always in a ponytail.

I've used dry shampoo a couple of times but I didn't know to leave it in for a while, will do that next time! lol

One trick I learned which really works, is only put a tad of creme rinse on the bottom half of hair only, rinse with warm/hot water to get a lot of it out, then do a final overall rinse with the coldest water you can stand. The cold water closes those pours for a bit longer to prevent an oily scalp.

Hair tips from Womens' Health magazine--- it is a myth that daily shampooing damages hair....

"Washing every day can be bad for your hair."
MOSTLY MYTH "Daily washing is safe and healthy," says Mort Westman, the cosmetics chemist. If you have oily hair, it's fine to suds up every day--but even oily types should use a gentle formula..."

Just one of many hair myths, apparently. See link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hair Myths

Hair tips from Womens' Health magazine--- it is a myth that daily shampooing damages hair....

"Washing every day can be bad for your hair."
MOSTLY MYTH "Daily washing is safe and healthy," says Mort Westman, the cosmetics chemist. If you have oily hair, it's fine to suds up every day--but even oily types should use a gentle formula..."

Just one of many hair myths, apparently. See link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Hair Myths

Thanks Kswl - I've washed mine almost daily for years and my hair is in good condition, other than being a bit naturally dry. To me, it's kind of like bathing, just something I do daily. While I can skip a day, I cannot imagine going several days or a week without washing my hair. It's the "feel" of it if nothing else LOL. This time of year, there is absolutely no way. I'm outdoors every day and in this heat, no way I'm skipping washing my hair.

tina

My first thought about the cocoa powder was ewww. Can imagine it would make quite a mess and it just seems odd to me.

I would LOVE to wash my hair daily and would if it was the easy care kind. Love the way it looks and feels (and smells!) freshly washed but my hair takes time and work and I've never been happy with allowing it to 'do it's thing'. My hair is super thick and below my shoulders so I get HOT when I work out even with it pulled up. In the winter because the gym is cooler I can get by shampooing 2 x/week - most weeks. But in summer between the gym, the garden, the dog walks .... just daily activities in the heat will make my head hot/sweaty and I shampoo every other day.

I do admit I find most grooming- from showering, hairwashing, lotion, pedicures, skin care- boring and tedious. But I do it anyway!