Sometimes You Do What You Have To Do

I’ve been reading articles and topic threads for a long time, and the consensus seems to be that it’s optimal to stretch out the time between washing one’s hair to as long as possible.  Some long-haired people go four, five days, or even a full week or more between washings.

Some of these people do rinse their hair with water only every few days.  This is not for me.

While I do try to do the best I can for my hair, I’ve only been able to go from daily washing to every other day.

I did wash daily for years, and it took a bit of adjustment to go every second day, but I can’t seem to go beyond that.  On Day 3 after wash day, I can only go without washing if I know I won’t be going anywhere.

I do know that many women my age have less production of the sebaceous glands in their skin in general and on their scalp. I am not one of those women.  My facial skin still produces a lot of oil, and so does my scalp. Even trying to brush my hair with a boar bristle brush, as is often suggested, is not enough to prevent my scalp hair and beyond from looking very oily by the third day after a wash.

Additionally, with my hair so fine and straight, there is no hairstyle, updo or braid that can hide that. I don’t see any practical way around this.

So I do wash my hair every other day. I have changed my habits, such as using conditioner to wash my hair, and I’ve made a lot of other changes in the handling of my hair, but I really don’t see a time in the near future in which I will be able to go regularly for more than two days between washes.

I don’t let it bother me.  I have to do what works for me and what is practical in my life. Sometimes that just means not following the best advice.

So it’s good to remember that while there’s a world of hair care advice out there, sometimes you just have to find your own way, and be good with that.