Second day hair can sometimes feel a bit like wearing that top you took out the laundry basket and thought you could get another couple of wears out of. It doesn’t quite feel right, look right and you’re convinced everyone has noticed it. Washing your hair less is nothing to be ashamed of - in fact minimising your daily washes will help save water (not to mention time) and can actually have a positive effect on your hair, preventing dryness and breakages and reducing oiliness.

However, sometimes second day hair just doesn’t have the bounce, shine and manageable style of a freshly-washed ’do. How can you recreate the look and feel of a first day wash when you’re a couple of days in? We’re here to help!

Treating your hair to a daily shampoo can have the potential to imbalance the hair’s natural oil production, and in some cases strip colour from the hair quicker. For starters, using a sulphate-free shampoo can help as it’s more gentle and less stripping to the hair and scalp, causing the body to balance sebum (aka oil) levels in the hair that a sulphate based shampoo can disturb. For finer greasy hair types we recommend Organic Colour Systems Power Build for its strengthening and colour retention qualities. However, it goes without saying that shampooing less as a whole can be a good thing for all hair types - plus, who wouldn’t appreciate the extra shower time saved?

Choosing to wash your hair less can sometimes mean having to deal with some initial greasiness whilst your scalp adjusts to your new routine. You’ll also have to deal with issues caused by sleeping on your hair overnight such as kinks or frizz. You may like to invest in a good dry shampoo to tie you over, and if you are the type of person who wakes up in the morning with your hair sticking up all over the place, a little drop of serum and a good brush can go a long way - on brushed hair apply with your fingers through midlengths and ends, twirl pieces of the hair back into place. If you have curls or a strong wave that does not take well to brushing you may like to ‘mist’ your ends with some water from a spray bottle to allow your curls to re-form by twizzling with your fingers.

With help from Glasshouse Creative Director Mia, we’ve put together a guide on dealing with everything from oily fringes to flattened curls to help you switch up your routine, preserve water and maintain a healthy head of hair

For greasy hair:

Washing your hair less will actually decrease the greasiness of your hair over time, as the natural oils that your scalp produces will balance out. Though the second-day grease may not disappear immediately, Mia suggests using a dry shampoo as prevention rather than a quick fix.

“If you suffer from greasy hair a lot, try applying some dry shampoo to the roots of your hair after its been washed and dried. This allows the dry shampoo to absorb the excess oil as it appears, rather than sitting on top.” As an additional measure, try to keep your hands off your hair during the day, to avoid transferring oil and dirt onto your hair.

For oily fringes:

Those with fringes will know that even when the rest of your hair is cooperating without hassle, your fringe usually needs attention. An oily fringe is often caused by excessive touching or rearranging throughout the day, as well as oil transferred from your forehead. Fellow fringe girl Mia has a top tip. “I will often simply tie my hair back and wash my fringe in the sink on the second day. I just get a little shampoo on the fringe and hairline, leaving the rest untouched.”

For frizzy curls:

Whilst you toss and turn overnight your hair will be rubbing against your pillow, disturbing any neatly formed curls from yesterday. Mia recommends giving your hair just a little touch up the next day to reform your curls. “In the morning, spray a little water onto the hair with a clean spray bottle and run some anti frizz oil through the hair, twisting any loose curls with your fingers.”

Your hair may also be frizzy due to the friction caused by your cotton pillowcase. Though soft and comfortable, cotton can potentially catch the hair more whilst you sleep. Instead, try opting for a silk pillowcase, which allows the hair to lie flat and glide against the fabric, causing less damage. Alternatively, try a pillowcase made from bamboo as a vegan option.

For kinks:

However lose your bedtime ponytail or bun is, you will often end up with some kinks in your hair the next day. Mia suggests trying a braided style instead to avoid having to re-style your hair the next day. “Loosely braiding your hair to one side helps to avoid kinks as there is no hair elastic towards the top of the hair. This also helps to protect your hair from any friction caused by your pillowcase and will leave you with a soft wave in the morning.”

Next time you think your hair is due a shampoo, try out some of our tips and see if you can go an extra day without washing to improve your hair’s health.

Featured image: Backstage hair at Clements Ribeiro, Fall 2011

Words: Phoebe Grace Ede