12.12.2011

How to train your dragon. Or your hair.

Training boyfriends - totally experienced; training fire-breathing scaly creatures - inexperienced; training my hair - somewhat experienced.

I once did a lot of research on the best way to go about 'training' your hair. I studied the benefits, made positive/negative lists and evaluated the long-term benefits...

Eh who am I kidding. i started 'training' my hair a handful of years ago because I was plain lazy. That 36 minutes it takes to wash and dry my hair was deemed more suitable for shuteye so I started skipping a day. Day 2 was dedicated to ponytails, messy buns or hats.The thing is, when you're in college and you have an 8am class every day sometimes days become a blur and day 3 rolls around and you decide you actually can rock a Bo'Sox hat pretty well. And then that cycle starts repeating.

In all honesty, it's gross. Training your hair... in the beginning. It will be that shiny, piecey look. That's why you tease and hairspray and pull it back. But after a while your oil glands realize they don't NEED to produce so much oil to keep your hair healthy. And they chill out... and after a lil while you notice you don't get that dirtykid hair until day 3 or day 4.

Let's note that I don't work out or anything, I don't kick it with smokers, I don't typically douse my hair in product...  so my hair isn't getting any 'dirt' from sweat or any other external forces.

Constantly washing your hair strips it of it's own natural oils and other jazz that protects it and keeps it healthy.  Therefore your hair will produce more oil to help make up for the absence. High school econ, people. Supply and demand.

I'm no expert, there's tons of articles in magazines about it. Do a bit of google research.  It may or may not be legit... but it works for me. I typically wash my hair every 2 or 3 days. Nowadays I just curl it on day 2 or 3.It takes a while though. My whole 'training trend' started years and years ago. Don't expect it to instantly adapt in a few weeks.


(That right there... that is 3rd day hair. It holds curl SO much better)



Do you have your hair 'trained'? Cheers to all the fellow Linus' out there... rock that dust cloud with pride.
Photobucket

26 comments:

Jennifer said...

I wish I could train my hair to be less frizzy. I hate it lol. I do wash my hair every 2-3 days though unless I add product in it to keep my natural curl.

Anonymous said...

I'm with you...I wash my hair every 3-4 days. I do not put any product in it so I think that helps! And just like you, usually days 2 and 3 are curl days and day 4 is a ponytail day before it gets washed!!

Ashley @ The Sweet Life said...

I do the same thing...washing my hair every couple of days. Usually 2 but sometimes 3. If I washed my hair everyday it would be a total frizzball. Mostly because it's used to being washed every couple of days. I love day 2 hair...it's sooo manageable and I can get good curls out of it without using much product or hairspray.

Unknown said...

My hair training came about through laziness as well. It's worked out nicely...and I use product. And sometimes I workout. The trick is using a little more product that second, post-workout day to take care of the limp look. Letting my hair dry after the workout also alleviates the "scent" that can plague the rest of the bod. May sound gross, but I assure you that I'm extra sensitive to smells, so there are some post-workouts that require a wash.

Best thing ever to happen to my sleep cycle. Ever.

Mateya said...

I wish I could do this, but I workout almost every day, so I just think that's gross.

Heather said...

I can't stand to skip a hair wash! I know I'm weird, but it just ruins my day, haha...

PCM said...

You are adorable. I wash my hair every other day due to my gym schedule. Like yourself, i find it the best to work with on day 2.

Amanda said...

I can totally agree with this. Although, I go through phases of training my hair. And unfortunately, I can't go more than 2-3 days without washing because I have very straight hair, plus I workout on the regular, so it would be gross if I didn't wash it. P.S. still loving the new design!

Carolyn said...

BAHAHAHAHA! I totally trained my hair a LONG time ago. Day 3 today. :)

Anonymous said...

Love this - I do the same thing! I'm on day three of not washing my hair and it looks just fine! I have thick hair as it is so I've always been able to go a little while without washing it! I just spray some refreshing mist on it by Tresemme to make it smell fantastic :)

Alana Christine said...

My hair is trained too! I usually go about 3 days without washing it. It's super long and thick, so if I had to wash it every day, it would have been cut off years ago!


http://lanachristine.blogspot.com

Whit said...

yes yes yes! i knew i was normal. my boyfriend is a fanatic about showering and thinks it's nasty that i don't wash my hair for three days. :) can't believe that is third day old hair though! my hair isn't quite that trained!

EZsx5 said...

Not only is my hair "trained" for 2-3 day washes, but I NEVER NEVER NEVER blow dry or use product other than hairspray. My hair is so healthy because of it! I'm a wash before bed kind of girl. I straighten in the morning and touch up the other days I don't wash. I can get ready in 20 minutes - I likes my sleep!

Michelle (michabella) said...

Dry Shampoo is my best friend.

Go shower, puhlease. I can smell you from here.

KRISTIN said...

We've talked about this...but again, people think I'm nuts for only washing my hair 3 times a week. And yet they always want to know what I do to make it look so good...HELLO!

Chelsea @ two twenty one said...

Thanks, now I have a fancy way of telling people why I wash my hair every 2-3 days. Hah! I have curly hair, so I've never been a daily hair washer.

Emily said...

i need to train my hair!! I just cant bring myself to not wash it everyday, ill deal with the consequences of having to put heat products in it everyday haha. the ocassional bun does occur so i dont have to do as much heat damage in one day

krystal said...

SERIOUSLY - thank you! :) I wash every 2-3 days and people think I'm dirtastic. I'm not. My hair is fine peeps!

Meanwhile Back At The Ranch said...

I wish I could get away with less frequent washings. I think I'm just compulsive about being clean and smelling good that I'd cry if I had to not shower daily. I tried going every other day back in high school but I felt the pony tail or bun was doing more damage to my ends. I do work in added time in my morning routine to shower, style, ect. and I'm not losing any sleep. I've got my styling routine down, but I do imagine some of my styles would hold better if my hair was "dirty." Chelsea, you said your mom was a hair stylist, what does she recommend?

Mallory said...

If I had the patience to try this, I would be in heaven. I hate hate hate the feeling of greasy hair so I usually end up washing mine at least every other day or even everyday:(

Anonymous said...

I'm a dirty hair girl too! I go 3 days before washing. I'll do dry shampoo, but I love the curl that I get when it's dirty!!

Mrs. H said...

I go several days as well...that is if I don't workout. If i workout then i have to wash. I usually choose to not wash my hair instead of work out! ha ha

tara said...

call me crazy, but i just absolutely have to wash my hair every day or i feel filthy.

Sara Louise said...

Yep, my hair is pretty trained these days. I only wash it 2-3 times a week because it takes me SO long to get it to look how I want it to (from tight corkscrew curls to big loose bouncy ones) that I just don't have the time to do it every day. And even if I had the time, wouldn't want to. There's loads of other things i'd rather be doing than playing with my hair. Blah.

Marian said...

I'm a fashion fail when it comes to hair...especially with the long beast that I'm sporting. I probably should do more with it...but never do. I'm lucky if I brush it:)

Adrian {Happy girl} said...

Yes, thanks you for extolling the virtues of not washing every day! Your hair thanks you too! I wash every 3-4 days out of laziness. I use all sorts of products the first day. I tend to work out a few times between washes, so I blow dry the sweat out, then use dry shampoo spray to absorb any excess oil and smell. Works pretty well!