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How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

In which shampoo (kind of) becomes a thing of the past.

Hair
How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
It's ironic how that while beauty trends fluctuate faster than our feelings towards gluten; it's occasionally the mainstays that fall by the wayside. We’ve mastered the whole Cara brow thing, can kontour like a Kardashian, and have tested just about every product from London to Seoul. But when it comes to the ABCs of beauty, like, uh, washing our face and hair, we sometimes get lost in the world of YouTube-black-hole-beauty-routines and fall short with proper technique.

After all, washing your hair is the beauty world equivalent of tying your shoes—it’s something we’ve done routinely our entire lives without ever giving it too much thought. Well, save for that period where we exclusively wore those seriously awesome curly elastic shoelaces and felt like the coolest twelve-year-old around. Anyone? We digress. Whether we're washing our hair everyday or opting for the roll out of bed, spray on some dry shampoo and call it a shower by association routine, we never quite seem to end up with that ‘au natural’ Beyoncé-pre-and-post-baby-bangs hair of our dreams.
So in an attempt to aid our hair game from the soapy suds stage onwards, we turned to some of our favorite hairstylists—Ted Gibson, Syd Hayes, Harry Josh and Serge Normant—to find out how we should really be washing our hair. From the best dry conditioners (yeah, apparently those exist), to sulfate-laden shampoos, the boys broke down the dos and don’ts of a salon-grade wash. Because let’s be real, not even those Phillip Lim shearling loafers we’ve been lusting after beat those hairdresser head massages...

— Naomi Nachmani

Serge Normant

Gisele Bündchen, Blake Lively & Sarah Jessica Parker's mane man.




"Washing your hair depends on your lifestyle, your workout routine, and how fast your hair gets dirty, etc. In today’s world, people generally wash their hair daily or every other day. To keep your hair looking clean a dry shampoo—powder-based—will always do the job. Combine it with a dry conditioner to restore hair’s natural shine.

Product recommendations: Serge Normant Dream Big Instant Volumizing Spray (" a great alternative to a power-based dry shampoo"), Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Shampoo ("If hair is really oily at the roots"), Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Conditioner with Nourishing Argan Oil ("if frizz is a problem in between washes").

When you wash your hair often, remember to be gentle. Don’t wash it like a pair of socks!  The best types of shampoos are sulfate-free. Sulfate-free shampoos are gentle and will help to maintain color for color-treated hair. Use conditioners that are super moisturizing that contain nourishing oils. For those who worry that deep conditioners may weigh down hair, just focus on the parts that need the most care and avoid the roots."

Product recommendations:Serge Normant Meta Silk Shampoo ("sulfate-free"), Serge Normant Meta Velour Conditioner ("with oils of coconut and jojoba").

Syd Hayes

Cara Delevingne, Edie Campbell, Damien Hirst & Phoebe Philo's mane man.




"[This is] one of the most sought after questions I get asked. [For] me personally, [it's] not that often—guys I generally find can last longer [than] with short hair on women. A slightly matte texture in their hair is often better than freshly washed squeaky clean hair.
My recommendation generally for women would be twice a week; this however, can vary depending on the person’s scalp and hair type. Keep it fresh throughout the week and by using my all-time Favourite Batiste Dry Shampoo!

Product recommendations: L'Oreal Paris Elvive Extraordinary Oil Shampoo, Conditioner and Masque.

"We all love facials so why not treat your hair and have a haircial by using the masque as a pre-treatment before you shampoo?"

Ted Gibson

Anne Hathaway, Lupita Nyong'o & Angelina Jolie's mane man.




"I tell all of my Gibson girls that they should NEVER wash their hair everyday! Day old hair holds a style so much better than freshly shampooed hair. Plus, you can actually make your scalp more oily by over-shampooing as your glands will fight to replace the oil you just washed out of your hair. The number of times you shampoo really depends on how oily your hair gets, so I advise my girls to leave at least one or two days in between washes. Also, when you are shampooing, make sure that you are concentrating on the roots and not the ends. This is the biggest mistake that my girls make! Your hair gets oily at the root so this is where you need to concentrate. It's cold outside for most people right now, so shampoos and conditioners that bring moisture to the hair are best.

Product recommendation: Baby powder.

"To stay Gibson girl gorgeous in between shampoos, my secret trick is… baby powder! No need to purchase an expensive dry shampoo. A little baby powder at your roots will soak up oil and even give you some lift and texture!"

Harry Josh

Gwyneth Paltrow, Miranda Kerr & Christy Turlington's mane man.




"[I wash my hair] 5 time a week? I feel like you should not wash your hair sometimes. I don't know—not, like, in a dirty way. When you shampoo, really massage your scalp. It will stimulate blood flow and help keep your hair healthy and growing as well as really get you clean. Rinse and wring moisture out of hair. Do you feel like you’re always running out of conditioner way before your shampoo? You’re probably using too much conditioner. Instead of using a ton, try applying ½ - ¾ of what you typically use and applying it to wet (while you’re in the shower, obviously) hair, but get rid of excess moisture so the conditioner doesn’t drip right off. Then let it sit for a few minutes while you soap, shave, or do whatever it is that you do!

"Try not to wash your hair every day—instead, go every other day, or even more if you can. It’s dependent on your hair texture and thickness. I know some girls who could go five days. Touch up your hair with dry shampoo if you need do—spritz it at the roots and brush it out to evenly disperse the product. It will also help add extra hold when styling."

Product recommendations:John Frieda's Frizz-Ease Smooth Start Shampoo & Conditioner

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