This is a question people ask me all the time. It’s a great question and one that I’m more than happy to answer which is why I decided to devote a blog post to it.
First, a little bit about me and my hair wash history! I have a lot of hair, as you might have noticed. It wasn’t always as thick as it is now though. You may have heard me talk about my “hair story” in person at a public seminar or perhaps you read about it in my first book, Joyous Health.
Here’s the short version of the story…
In my early twenties, I had dry thin hair from nutritional deficiencies and hormonal imbalance . In fact, I had about half (no joke) the amount of hair on my head than I do now. I didn’t lose it in patches, so it wasn’t obvious to most people that I was losing my hair. I used a lot of hair care products to make it look thicker and I also used to dye my hair a variety of colours, regularly.
To make matters worse, I told my hair stylist to make me look like Jennifer Lopez (no joke) with her famous caramel highlights she had in the 1990’s, except she ended up bleaching my hair and it turned green! Yep, that was NO FUN! After a few failed attempts to fix the colour, my hair stylist and I decided it was best to dye it black to hide the mess she created. It was a terrible experience.\
Fast forward to today and contrary to what most people think, I do not dye my hair and I haven’t in over 15 years. The greys are slowly creeping in, so maybe in another decade, hair dye is something I will investigate, but not yet. The greys are a sign my body birthed a beautiful human which used up a shit ton of my minerals and now I’ve got the hair to prove it (at least that’s what I tell myself cause the greys didn’t start until Vienna was born!).
Anyhow, back then my hair was thin, it looked unhealthy and it was not great for my self-esteem which was mediocre at best.
When I changed my diet and my lifestyle, my hair changed too. It became thick, shiny and my scalp was no longer dry and flaky. However, it wasn’t until my mid-twenties that I started experimenting with going longer without washing it. I had a hunch that the more I washed it, the greasier it became. So I wondered if the opposite would be true and it is!
The more you wash your hair, the more oil your scalp will produce. Typically, the oil is produced in relation to how often you strip away those natural oils.
You see, your hair is shiniest when it’s dirty!
Of course, that’s providing it’s not full of hair product like hair spray and gel making your hair dull. But it’s shiny because that waxy oil is produced in the sebaceous glands just beneath the skin of your scalp. This oil lubricates the skin and helps provide a natural shine for your hair too. The oil secreted by these glands is truly the best natural moisturizer and hair shine, better than anything that money can buy!
Since this oil is a mix of triglycerides, cholesterol, squalene, wax esters and keratin, it’s not surprising that your diet greatly impacts the shine of your hair, especially consuming good fats like hormonally balancing omega-3 fatty acids.
On the flip side, if you eat too many refined carbohydrates and sugars, these get converted into triglycerides by the liver. This is why your hair may still be very greasy even if you are following the tips I'm about to share below. You may be eating too many bad fats and producing too much oil in the sebaceous glands.
Dry flaky scalp and dull dry hair is another common symptom in those with a poor diet, especially disordered eating. The sebum oil released onto our scalp essentially makes our hair waterproof because of the keratin (a key component of hair) which prohibits water from penetrating or breaking the strands of hair that have adequate sebum. Without this oil, your hair would have no protective barrier and can easily become very brittle, dry and break off easily.
The importance of eating healthy fats cannot be underestimated. If you don’t eat good fats, you don’t produce healthy oils to lubricate your skin and hair. If you eat many refined carbohydrates, sugars and bad fats, you may overproduce oils and have greasy hair.
Here’s the formula for a hair detox you can follow. This is for those of you who wash your hair every day:
Day 1: Wash your hair. Avoid or limit hair care products.
Day 2: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 3: Wash your hair. Avoid or limit hair care products.
Day 4: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 5: Wash your hair. Avoid or limit hair care products.
Day 6: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 7: Wash your hair twice. Avoid or limit hair care products.
Day 1: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 2: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 3: Wash hair twice to get it squeaky clean.
Day 4: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 5: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 6: Wash hair twice to get it squeaky clean.
Day 7: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 1: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 2: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 3: Wash hair twice to get it squeaky clean.
Day 4: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 5: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 6: Use dry shampoo as needed.
Day 7: Wash hair twice to get it squeaky clean.
This can take several weeks up to a few months to get to a point where you are able to go more than one or two days without washing your hair.
I wash my hair 1-2x per week, or about every 5 days. In the summer it definitely gets greasier faster, but then I use more dry shampoo and put my hair up in a bun more often. Who am I kidding ... 90% of the time, my hair is in a bun because it's just easier!
- The conditioner you use to wash your hair could be weighing your hair down and making it greasy. Either try a lighter formula or use less of it. My Natural Volumizing Lavender Conditioner would make a great option here!
- If you really can’t stand your greasy hair, tie it back (if it's long) or wear a hat! You can make it through a couple of days. You need to do this so those sebaceous glands start to figure out they don’t need to produce as much oil.
- If you’ve followed my advice and you still have very greasy hair, then I would highly recommend looking at your diet. Do a 14-day food journal and assess how much sugar or refined carbohydrates you're eating. These foods should only be for special occasions or a truly occasional treat!
And I know you might be thinking, "This is great and all, but Joy, I go to the gym and my hair gets sweaty!" Well I have a solution for that too ... my DIY Dry Shampoo ! If you'd rather just buy dry shampoo, I also sell it in the shop! You can also watch a video of how to make it over here.
I realize that depending how much you sweat, the only solution may be to wash your hair, but if you can avoid it daily, it will go a long way and ultimately help you achieve the beautiful, shiny hair you've been looking for!
I hope you found this helpful and keep me updated on your hair care journey in the comments!
Joy xo
Yess! Always love reading posts on natural hair care :) is it best to brush hair more often? And how do you keep your hair for bedtime? Thanks!
ReplyHair brushing helps spread the sebum and prevent too much build up at the scalp. I recommend brushing your hair at least twice per day, when you wake up and when you go to bed. I always sleep with my hair in a bun or a pony at night because I hate having it touch my neck, it makes me hot and it makes my hubs itchy, haha! However, always wearing your hair tied back is not the best thing to do because it can make your hair more prone to breakage. So even though that's what I do, I'm not recommending you follow my advice on that front. :)
Soooo helpful and full on good info, thank you so much,will start the week plan right away ☺🌼 You are a walking proof that our good health is in our own hands and choices,everyday. Sending much love your way💚
ReplyHi Veny! I'm glad to hear you found this information useful. Thank you for your kind words. :) Have a joyous day!
Thanks for the hair tips! I’ve been following your advice for years and am down to washing my hair every 4 days ... the only reason being that it does get oily after 4 days and I find the DIY dry shampoo takes away my natural gloss and makes it look so dull looking. Otherwise I love the tips of my hair on day 4! I have strawberry blond hair, and use the DIY shampoo with arrowroot powder and cinnamon to get the right colour. Does dry shampoo have this dulling effect on everyone?
ReplyHi Ali!
I'm so happy to hear you've been following this advice. I know I did a youtube vid on this years ago, so you must be a long-time reader, thank you!
I personally just use the dry shampoo on my bangs and not everywhere. However, are you brushing it all out when you put it in? That may be adding to the dullness. I use a thick bristle brush to pull the dry shampoo out once I've put it in because you don't want it sitting in your hair. Hope that helps and makes sense!
Thanks Joy that makes sense! I’m probably not brushing it out sufficiently, and I am not using a thick bristle brush either.
Hope that helps!
Wonderful, my girl will really love what I have for her this time. You see, she’s kinda the type who’s upset with her hair and her outlooks. That aside, I do also think this is a nice idea to practice myself. I mean which guy doesn’t want either a fine hair or a beautiful beard. Hair basically gives beauty you know.
ReplyJoy, this is a great post! I only wash my hair once per week and have been doing this for years! I have super thick, super curly hair, and since curly hair is already dry, washing it more often strips those natural oils away and causes it to frizz like crazy. I also do not towel-dry my hair (just squeeze it out after washing), and always let it air-dry to avoid damage from heat styling tools. I would recommend these tips to all my curly-haired girls out there ;) I also just wanted to say that I've been following your blog for 3 years now, ever since I heard you speak at a conference and bought your first book on the spot. You do amazing work, and you're so inspiring! Keep it up :)
ReplyHi Natalie!
Sounds like you have beautiful hair and you're doing everything right :) Those are great tips!! Blow drying really dries out your hair, so those are awesome ideas for the curly haired gals.
I'm so glad I had the chance to speak at a conference you attended! Thanks for letting me know and your encouragement. I really appreciate it!
Joy
This is a great post. I recently made the decision to stop dyeing my hair after years of experimenting with every colour under the rainbow. I am also growing out a pixie cut so product is a hard thing to cut out at the moment. Do you have any advice for going natural for those of us with short hair? Thanks! Rebecca
ReplyThere are a ton of amazing hair product brands at the health food store. The best thing to do it try some out and see what your faves are. John Masters Organics has green (toxin-free) styling products. You may also want to check online to see if you can get sample size bottles. Another great option is The Detox Market. They are online and have a store in Toronto. Hope that helps!
Great info thanks!
Hi Joy! I'm going to definitely be following this plan so I don't have to wash my hair so often! Just wondering if your Diy dry shampoo is the one you always use yourself or if there are other natural ones you would recommend?
ReplyYears ago I used a natural dry shampoo called "skinny" (terrible name!) but I believe that's what it was called. However the homemade version is truly the best! Most cost effective, works and it smells really good :)
Does the same apply to women with PCOS? I deal with hair loss and very thin hair as a result, which I’m working hard at through nutrition, but I can’t imagine being able to go more than 2 days without washing. I’ve also heard that if you have PCOS, letting your hair get too greasy can actually make hair loss worse? Not sure how true this is!
ReplyHi Sheena, I'm not sure if letting your hair get too greasy when you have PCOS is an issue with hair loss or not. I've not heard that before, but that doesn't mean it's not true. I would suggest to try dry shampoo on day 2 and see if that gives you an extra day before you wash. Did you see my recent article from a guest blogger nutritionist write about PCOS? https://www.joyoushealth.com/27236-blog-guest-post-5-ways-diet-and-lifestyle-can-reduce-pcos-symptoms Hope that helps you!
On days that I should not wash my hair, is it acceptable to get it wet in the shower but not shampoo it? As a runner, I have to at least rince my hair after a run outside (especially in the summer heat and humidity). Thanks for the great post! I made “your” dry shampoo your recipe and it works well!
ReplyHi Manon, yes for sure! It's really the shampoo that is the most drying. Of course hot water does strip some of the natural oils of your hair and your skin too, but it's less than a shampoo.
Hope that helps!
Joy
I have wavy course hair. I use a no-poo 'shampoo' and have found I can go 5 days or so without cleansing. I do get it wet and add some light conditioner most days and find my hair so much healthier than it was when I was washing all the time. I'm also a runner and just feel icky without getting it wet after I have been sweaty.
Hi Joy! Can't wait to try the DIY dry shampoo! Wow...five days, it's okay to wash my hair that much less often, huh? Is there an advantage to brushing my hair versus combing? I blowdry my hair every time I end up washing my hair late, even though I know it's bad. Is it true that sleeping with wet hair is bad or promotes headaches? Or is that some urban legend?
ReplyHi Helen!
I've never heard that sleeping with wet hair is bad or promotes headaches. I would actually think the opposite that NOT blow drying your hair and going to bed with damp hair is better for your hair as a blow dryer is very drying. Try going longer and see how it feels! Then you'll know :)
I have really enjoyed all the joyous blogs, but unfortunately today my experience was different. I was really very shocked to come across a swear word and I’m sorry to say that I was very disappointed.
ReplyHi Veronica,
Hopefully you still found the information useful!
Joy
How do you style your hair without adding hair care products? What happens when you have an issue with frizzy hair?
ReplyI use coconut oil and sometimes I smooth it out with a big round bristle brush and the hair dryer. I've got more tips here in my video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q6myxMG6Q_k
I've been doing "week 2" for over a year now and I find that my hair has become much less oily in between shampoos. The diy dry shampoo that you've created is wonderful! I put in a few drops of peppermint essential oil and it smells just like chocolate mint. Divine! Thanks for this valuable post. :)
ReplyHi Lisa, glad to hear it's going well for you!
This sounds completely strange to me 😂 Hmm, I don't think I'm gonna try for it but I would like to read other's experiences about this program :) - Natalie Ellis
ReplyHaha, fair enough :) You should join the Natural Haircare Challenge, maybe that will inspire you! https://hi.joyoushealth.com/natural-hair-care-challenge/
Hi joy I have ezcema and my scalp is often dry. If I don’t wash my hair at least every other day my scalp gets so itchy! Is there an oil you recommend for my dry scalp? I’ve tried putting coconut oil onto my scalp at night before I go to bed but I wake up with my scalp being even flakier. Any suggestions?
ReplyWhat’s dry shampoo. I wash my hair one a week
ReplyIt's a shampoo powder you use on dry hair that soaks up the grease and gives your hair great volume. Try my super easy recipe! https://www.joyoushealth.com/25387-blog-how-to-make-natural-dry-shampoo
Hi...I've gotten to the point that I only need to wash my hair every 4-5 days without being greasy or needing dry shampoo (which is amazing...thanks for the tips!), but despite this I'm finding after the first day or two that my hair just looks BLAH! My hair isn't naturally curly or straight, so it ends up just looking messy and I resort to pony tails most days. Do you have any suggestions for styling several days post-wash?
ReplyHey Amanda, You'll find that your hair will change as the days go on so from a styling perspective, that could change depending on the day. Sometimes we like to rock a cute little top knot bun or even if the front strands of your hair are getting greasy, you can twirl the two pieces at the front back and pin them, kind of like bo-ho style and then curl your hair. There are some styling tips in Week 4 of the Natural Hair Care Challenge :) Rachel - Joyous Health Team
What other ideas do you have for greasy days for medium length hair. Buns not possible and can't wear a hat to work! Thx! Also I currently have captain blackenship, urban barn and morroco method dry shampoos. Are they ok? I tried the diy recipe but didn't like smelling like chocolate! Thx again!
ReplyHey Mary, Have you done the Natural Hair Care Challenge? There are a ton of ideas for combatting greasy hair in there. You can join for free over here and it starts every Sunday: https://hi.joyoushealth.com/natural-hair-care-challenge/. As for the Dry Shampoo, I'm not overly familiar with those brands but I've used the store-bought brand Rahua and it was quite nice! I hope that helps :) Rachel - Joyous Health Team
Love this! When I first washed my hair less I had to pier through the greasy stage. BUT fullness and frizz could also be water related! Our last home my hair suddenly was an awful, frizzy, dull mess. Once I moved (now well water) my hair became shiny and more manageable! Turns out the other house had hard water, leaving mineral deposits on my hair! Side note I hope you’ll consider another scent like orange for your shampoo.... I despise lavender!!
ReplyIt's so true, the type of water can make a really big difference on your hair. I remember how much softer my hair was when my parents lived out in the country with the softened water. However, it never felt really clean. I don't mind the Toronto water for washing my hair. Sorry to hear you don't like lavendar. It's scented with organic essential oils so it's not overpowering and your hair doesn't smell after using it because there are no phthalates which adhere scent to your hair.