When you're too lazy to shampoo every day, here's how to keep your hair looking fresh

Let’s face it, we have all been guilty of skipping a shampoo every now and then. And for some women, this “hack” has been so efficient at saving time that they only give their hair a good shampoo every other day – or even just once or twice a week.

But even though Google is filled with articles that wax lyrical about how it can be beneficial to wash your hair less frequently, hair experts in Singapore say you should think twice about doing so in our hot and humid Little Red Dot.

“Many of these articles are written by authors living in non-tropical countries. Thus, it is not entirely applicable to people living in a hot and humid climate like ours, where we perspire daily and our sebum production is more active,” said Charles Chong, associate director of Chez Vous Hair Salon.

This is why hair gurus strongly encourage people who tend to have oily scalps or are prone to perspiring to wash their hair daily using a shampoo suitable for their hair type.

That said, those who have severely damaged, bleached or dyed hair in trendy shades like grey, pastel tones or pink or sensitised, dry and dehydrated scalps may find it beneficial to shampoo their hair less frequently to avoid further damaging their hair.

In such cases – or if you simply are just feeling lazy once in a while – here is what you can do to revive your locks, even when you skip a day or two of shampooing.

As they say, prevention is better than cure. So right after towel drying your freshly washed hair, apply a scalp serum or tonic that can help keep greasiness or scalp odour under control, especially if you need to go longer in between washes.

For instance, Shiseido Professional’s Sublimic Fuente Forte Purifying Beauty Spa scalp serum (S$66.43 for 125ml) helps to absorb excess sebum that will turn your hair greasy. You can also apply a protective serum like the brand’s Wonder Shield, which forms a protective film to shield your tresses from external stressors like humidity and dust.

“While this does not replace proper cleansing by shampooing, it can help keep hair smelling relatively fresh by preventing absorption of odours from the surrounding environment,” said Tien Goh, Shiseido Professional’s education manager.

Some Internet hacks recommend dusting talcum powder, cornstarch or flour onto day-old hair to absorb excess grease. Don’t do that because these are not formulated to be used on your hair and skin. If you are unlucky, your skin might react badly, leaving you feeling uncomfortable and itchy until you finally wash it all away. Or, if you are not conscientious about brushing away all the powder or flour, you might end up walking around with unsightly white specks in your hair.

With dry shampoos available at all price points these days, there is no excuse not to have a canister handy especially if you are prone to skipping your shampoos. Simply spray on the product, then leave it to set for a few minutes before brushing your hair out.

Chong suggested using Oribe’s Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (S$89 for 286ml). “It instantly absorbs build-up and oil without leaving behind visible white powders that are prominent in many dry shampoos. Also, it smells really good,” he said.