What if you stopped washing your hair for a year?

Washing your hair regularly is the basic hygiene advice we all know from childhood. But have you ever wondered what would happen if you stopped this lifelong ritual? Of course, not many people are willing to try it, but experts already have an idea of ​​how your hair would react to such a daring experiment.

Today the awesome.club tells you what would happen if you stopped washing your hair for a year.

If you decide to do this experiment, you should know that when you let your scalp take care of everything on its own, your hair follicles will start producing more fat just to make sure your hair is well hydrated. As a result, your hair will be greasy. If it is already oily, you can expect this effect in less than 5 days🇧🇷 But if you have curls, it might take a while up to 10 days to see a buildup of dirt and oil in the hair.

However, according to Dr. Angela Lamb, an experienced dermatologist, several weeks without washing your hair can lead to an improvement. There is a possibility that, on an oily and not so pleasant scalp, your hair will become healthy and shiny. Of course, it all depends on your hair type and the condition of your scalp.

After just over a month without shampoo, you would have to face another problem: the bad smell🇧🇷 At this point in the experiment, the hair starts to retain moisture, which generates bacteria that in turn produce a bad smell. In addition, it will be possible to notice a greater influence of pollution on unwashed hair and scalp. Dust, smoke and any other pollutant you can think of will feel right at home on oily hair. All of this will cause itching, irritation and increased discomfort.

Several months without washing your hair can cause not only an unpleasant appearance and a bad smell, but occasional pain, especially if you tie your hair in a ponytail, which irritates the nerve endings around your hair follicles. In addition, oily hair is much heavier than strands that are washed frequently, which further increases more pressure over these nerve endings. Therefore, the result is always the same: scalp pain and even frequent headaches.

As you approach the 6 or 8 month mark of experience, another problem can arise: ingrown hairs. And, as always, it’s all thanks to the buildup of dirt and oil in your hair. However, it’s not the only inconvenience that can appear after so long of your new shampoo-free lifestyle. What’s even scarier is that your hair can stop growing because of all the damage that dirt, oil and contaminants have caused.

Each case is different, but a year without rinsing your hair with water (or at least using a conditioner every now and then) can trap bacteria in your hair follicles and cause an infection known as folliculitis. Another possible “surprise” at the end of the experiment is a severe case of dandruff. In some, all these processes can start much earlier.

The “No Poo” movement encourages people to stop using shampoo for good. The chemicals that most shampoos contain can strip our hair of its natural oil, which really harms it. This is why “No Poo” supporters suggest washing your hair with more natural products, such as baking soda or simply water.

Sodium bicarbonate, for example, is extremely Effective in removing dirt, dust and oil from hair, leaving it shiny and clean. If you want to try this method, dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda in a glass of water until the sandy texture disappears. Then, simply apply it to your hair and gently massage your scalp.

Water can also work. The followers of “in the pit” suggest you have a month to see if your hair will adapt to this new cleaning technique. What you have to do is wash your hair with warm water and massage your scalp just like you would a shampoo. This will remove all the oil from your hair.🇧🇷 The defenders of “in the pit” they say you
should not stop the experiment if it doesn’t work the first few times. In this period your hair is still discovering this new method, and it needs some time to get used to it. According to proponents of “in the pit”, the first week without shampoo is the hardest, but everything gets easier with time.

What do you think? Would you dare to try it? Leave your opinion in the comments below.