Interviewer: What is all this talk about you not washing your hair for months on end?
R0bert Pattins0n: People are scared of my hair. But it starts washing itself after about three weeks.
R0bert Pattins0n, by the way, is the male star of the new Twilight movie. For teens, he is the hunka-hunka-du-jour. He also has really crazy-looking hair, and it often doesn't look particulary clean.
But "washing itself"? What the heck?
It turns out this isn't merely the stoned-out ramblings of a starlet-boy. "Self-washing" is a state of hair.
Let me back up, because if I give you the short version of this, you'll just be disgusted and disbelieving. You need to hear everything.
Consider a cat, or a bunny, or a foofy Pomeranian dog. You don't wash your pet every day, right? They only get a bath every few months, and yet a cat's hair (or a bunny's, or a doggie's) always feels soft, clean and glossy and/or fluffy. Why is that? Why don't cats get greasy-hair days?
The answer is that a cat's oil glands, skin and hair have all evolved to keep the cat's fur clean and healthy with nothing more than water-based baths. In the wild, that's all a cat gets. The jungle just ain't got soap.
The thing that is really bizarre--and frankly hard-to-believe for us modern folks--is that human hair is the same way. Because we shampoo regularly, we strip off our natural oils and upset the body's balance. As a result, if we stop shampooing, our hair starts to look greasy and disgusting in a matter of days due to over-production of oil.
Here's where the "self-washing" thing comes in.
Apparently, if you stop using shampoo, but rinse your hair in warm water regularly (for example, every time you shower), then after about six weeks of suffering beneath your greasy, disgusting, smelly mop of hair, your system finally sorts itself out. Your natural balance of oils reasserts itself, and your hair starts looking clean and fluffy again. You've entered the "self-washing" phase.
Of course, your hair doesn't really wash itself. I suspect what happens is the hair shaft becomes so well-moisturized that it swells shut and becomes impervious to dirt. And since most dirt and all sweat-residue is water-soluable, a quick rinse is all that's required to swoosh the yucky-yuck off your impervious hair.
People who do this--and obviously you're only going to hear from those who think "self-washing" is groovy--report their hair is healthier, nicer-looking, and more manageable than it was when they washed it in shampoo, and that no one ever notices the difference, and that scalp problems and dandruff often disappear, and that they're happy to not be spending money on shampoo they don't need or sluicing unnecessary detergents into the environment.
Huh.
On one hand, this "self-washing" thing is fascinating to me because I'd never heard even a whisper about it before.
But on the other, behold R0bert Pattins0n's hair:
Ew. Is that hair gel, or...?
(Picture removed because its presence was doing crazy things to my hit rate, liek woah OMG.)
~~~~~~~
Has anyone here ever had "self-washing" hair, either intentionally or accidentally? If so, what did you think? Does this system actually work? Does it sorta work? Is the phenomenon of "self-washing" hair a sham, or is shampoo the real sham?
As an experiment, I tried just rinsing my hair instead of washing it last night, and then I brushed it heavily once it was dry (which you're supposed to do, to distribute the oils.)
My hair should look disgusting right now, but to be honest, it just doesn't. It's not crazy-flyaway like normal, which is nice, and although it has less luster, it doesn't look dirty at all. I'm truly surprised. El Husbando hasn't noticed anything either, which is great, because when I mentioned "self-washing" to him yesterday, he thought it sounded utterly revolting.
But yeah. I'm probably not going to continue this experiment beyond today.
**warily eyes R0bert Pattins0n's hair**
Edit 10/01/2009: Okay, I lied. I did go through with it. Read this post if you'd like to know what I thought of "self-washing" hair, as well as my best-discovered way of getting through the icky six-week transition stage.
25 comments:
Heya Liebe Oxyjen,
I have been on prolonged hiking/kayaking expeditions where this technique has been necessary...
Yes, it sorta works, but it is an issue when you are working out...
You need to water rinse your hair continuously to keep it looking nice when you are working out a lot... Some people use powdered arrowroot as a "dry shampoo". The powder helps absorb extra oil... I believe that arrowroot was used by Plains Indians in Western Canada...
I note that I have never done this for six weeks.
Interestingly, when I did Legal Aid for some of the homeless, those that tried to wash themselves in public sinks, and did not use shampoo for cost reasons, or hand soap in their hair due to its harsh effects, frequently had fairly nice hair.
Of course some had hair that moved in a block as they moved...
Bussis,
Chris
PS It would be interesting to know how long it takes El Husbando to notice... ...and what his reaction is...
Chris: I'm afraid his reaction would utter horror and get-away-get-away-ew-how-could-you. I also don't really want to go through the yucky hair stage, particularly since I still have to stand in front of students for the next two weeks.
However, some people are lucky and their hair gets past the icky stage quickly. It's all down to body chemistry and the mineral content of the local water, I suspect. Maybe I'll be fortunate?
As I am down to very little hair remaining, should I try six weeks of self-washing head?
Okay, so that scared the crap out of me because the very first image that popped into my head was someone's hair beginning to wriggle and writhe against itself in a bathing frenzy.
Now that I've read your entire post and have had time to banish the offending image... as a Black woman, I am still scared and crapless. Oh, well.
That's pretty interesting, Jen!
PDJ: Ooh, yes--someone other than me can be the guinea pig! :-D
If you genuinely want to give it a try, the basics are: "wash" your hair in plain water regularly, brush it often with a proper bristle brush, and if you need to get smoke-or styling product out of it, "wash" it in conditioner first, then rinse it with water. Some people do wash it every few months to restore the luster; I suspect, by then, the hair is so healthy that stripping the oils once doesn't faze it.
Stephe: Well, his hair does look like it could get up to mischief all on its own, doesn't it? I pictured it literally washing itself also, the first time I read his interview quote.
From what I've read, this process works very well on curly hair, regardless of whether it's thick or fine. It apparently helps make the curls more manageable, and people specifically mention it in combination with dreadlocks, saying it keeps the dreads healthy so they don't break off under their own weight.
Do you think this would stop me going bald? :(
Conduit: Ah...I have heard people claim it helps stop balding, but given that balding is caused by testosterone levels (you're just too manly for your own good, Conduit), I doubt that claim is true.
It could maybe decrease the rate at which your hair falls out (because the scalp stays healthier), but it wouldn't alter the fact that those hairs which do fall out aren't growing back. :-(
You know, I didn't think of my cousin's husband until after I'd commented. He has some nice dreads down to his butt. I'll have to ask him again, but I could swear he doesn't use the "normal" shampoo... Rather, natural oils, coconut milk, and fresh eggs every now and then.
His hair is soft and smells great, but is quite strong.
That "self-washing" just got my brain all in a tizzy, I suppose. :)
Washing with a conditioner then rinsing sounds like something I just might try for the heck of it. (Using only water would dry my hair and scalp out so badly after a few times, my hair would literally go brittle enough to fall out. Urgh.)
I dunno. I like shampoo and product.
Don't think I got it in me.
Umn... no thank you...
I'm Sicilian... there's a reason they call us greasballs. If I went more than two days without washing my hair, it would look disgusting. I need to strip some of the oils.
The girl who cuts my hair told me about some kind of powder, no wash shampoo... saying I could use that every few days and then only need to wash my hair once a week... umn, no... not going to try it... my hair's actually pretty healthy, but I'd rather it be straw than nasty...
ick...
O.o
Thinks el-sister has lost it. :)
Interesting I can see where it could work but I think some people have naturally more oily hair than others. I guess it would come down to where you are from, and what 'nature' considers to be the right amount of oil in your hair. So where you evolved vs where you live could have a big impact.
You might be evolved for 150% the needed oil of where you live. and hence would have slick dripping oil rag on your head. Or you might have only 50% of the oils that you need for where you live and would quickly have brittle hair.
The only sure answer would be to try it. But then I would not want to live thought the few weeks of bad hair days. Hmm maybe the next time you have a 3 week vacation try it.
Thinking about this in the shower this morning I realized that I don't use shampoo on my beard, so I guess it is self washing.
But I guess some shampoo runs the beard, but it isn't scrubbed in.. but facial hair is kinda coarse anyway, so it is a little hard to tell if it is smooth and silky :)
So No more Shampoo, Demand the real stuff :)
I'm afraid that while I do think this idea has some merit, it doesn't do much for styling my hair. As I keep it short and also use a CPAP machine to keep me breathing at night, I have the most heinous bed hair in the morning and just plain water doesn't tame it. I need to wash it every couple of days so it's not sticking out all over the place.
And I can't help but think about people with itchy scalp or dandruff problems and the self-washing hair thing. Just ick, yannow?
AHAHAH! Now, I never expected to learn *this* today! But I love the perfume in shampoo.
:-)
Betsy: I tend to be lazy about my hair, so this does appeal to me. But yeah; I can't see anyone who takes delight in their hair--and all they can do with it--thinking this was a good idea.
Merry: Like my brother Sarf says, it must make a huge difference what your genetic background is. Definitely this is a case of: "Your mileage may vary."
Sarf: That's an interesting point; it's not a safe bet anymore to suppose a person's ancestors lived the same place they currently do.
As for "demand the real thing", I noted some people who are into this "self-washing hair" thing shorten it to "no 'poo". Which is amusing, because then people like me, who haven't ever heard of this before, think, "But people never put poo in their hair..."
Writtenwyrdd: I can see that being a serious issue with unruly short hair. Whenever I've got a stray lock that insists on pointing directly at the North Star, the only way I've found to control it is by drowning.
Chris Eldin: I think I'd miss that too. I've read that washing machines get clothing equally clean irrespective of whether or not you use laundry soap. However, I like the smell of clean clothes--which is really the smell of the soap. Thus, I don't want to try washing clothes without, even though it would be better for the environment.
I would buy the part about natural oils, healthy hair, etc. But what about putting in product? How does hair self-wash that?
Plus, wouldn't the hair be somewhat, um, pungent? When I'm sick a few days, the smell of my hair gets to me, driving me headlong into the steamy shower!
It works. An easier way to ease into it, is to go 2 days without washing, then go to 3 etc... to ease into without the grease.
It helps a lot with hair breakage and hair falling out. Also I have noticed my hair started growing really fast. I am not going to go without washing, I don't think, but right now I am going about 2 weeks
Also, you can spray perfume on a hair brush and then brush it though your hair if you want perfumed hair.
Mom in Scrubs: They suggest "washing" with conditioner if you use hair product. The rinsing won't take it out.
My hair tends to get a bit whiff if I don't wash it for a few days, but the one time I tried this, the rinsing seemed to control that problem.
Anonymous: Thanks! It's great to have someone who has actually tried this step in to say what works. I had kinda wondered if a person could ease into this slowly and avoid the icky stage of things.
would it work if i just wash my hair once a week instead of 6 weeks?
i don't think i can survive 6 weeks....
Anonymous Dec 14: If you're doing it according to the "recipe", then you're only supposed to wash your hair in clear water, and that's forever--the people who do this never use shampoo again.
However, I started doing something that really works nicely: I wash my hair in plain water first. Then I wash it with conditioner, and rinse that out really well. And my hair turns out really clean and nice looking! I've been doing this for about two weeks now, and I'm really happy with it.
If you think about it, the water gets rid of everything that is water-soluble (like sweat), and the conditioner takes out everything oil-based (like your hair's natural oils), and that's all there is! You don't need shampoo to get your hair clean, just water and conditioner.
Actually, cats lick themselves constantly to keep clean and avoid tangles.
Anonymous Dec 16: Yes, licking = water-only, no-soap bath. :-)
THis might be somthing interestig to try, Exceppt my boyfriend is a smoker and when I et home from his house the smell drives me up the wall and I have to actually use shampoo to get the smell out.
However I noticed that my new shampoo (after coming home after all day in smoke) makes my hair slightly like weed smoke so maybe the non wash is a good idea :)
Maygan: Hee! That could get you into trouble, though.
Using conditioner instead of shampoo does work, however. I've actually been trying it, and will probably write up a new post about it next Sunday.
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