Dirty Messy Hair Challenge

Well guys, I made it 10 days without washing my hair. I probably could have survived longer, but I have a distaste for odd numbers, and wanted to end on a whole number. 

Here are the daily photos I promised:

Day 1: Leave in conditioner, blow dry, straighten.

Day 2: Touch-up straightening

Day 3: Touch-up straightening

Day 4: Bang Braid

Day 5: Light teasing, half-up pin back, straightened bangs--minimal hairspray

Day 6: Sock bun--minimal hairspray

Day 7: Upside down french braid (in the back) and sock bun--minimal hairspray

Day 8: No change from the previous day--I slept on it, and added a headband

Day 9: Full french braid--dry shampoo.

Day 10: Spin Pin bun

As you can see, I don't use a lot of hair product on a daily basis.  I've learned that when trying to make it a few days without washing your hair, less is more. 
If I scrunch my hair, it will last a little longer than when it's straight because I'm not able to run my fingers through it. BUT, because I can't run my fingers through it, I get frustrated at the tangles and give up sooner. 

Here are my tips for wearing your hair dirty (training your hair): 1.  Use minimal product.  A hairdresser once told me, if you think you have the conditioner out, wash it again.  If you don't get all of the shampoo and conditioner out of your hair, your hair will be nasty by the next day. Clean hair is a must! The only products I use when wearing my hair straight are leave in conditioner and hairspray (which I'll discuss in tip 3). I've tried anti-frizz stuff and heat protectants, but they all make my hair greasy.  
2.  Keep your hands out of your hair. I know this is difficult when you have side bangs, but you have to overcome the tenancy to mess with your hair. 
3.  A little hair spray goes a long ways. You don't need to be spraying your hair for like 5 minutes. Not only is that bad for your lungs, it's bad for your hair. A few spritzes here and there will suffice. 
4.  I've discovered that teasing your hair a little bit prolongs the time in between washing. I feel like it disperses the grease a little, and gives volume. I'm not a very good teaser--my thick, long hair never holds a tease, so I just do a little bit at the crown every now and then (specifically when wearing a half-updo).
5.  You must become a pro at ponytails/braids/buns. As you can see from the pictures, I can typically last a few days wearing my hair down, but then it starts going limp. That's where updos come into play. Get creative--the messier the better!
6.  Dry shampoo is your best friend. I can never get baby powder to work, so I stick with dry shampoo. Hold out on using it as long as you can, or it will start to cake up in your hair. Just spray it in, let it sit, then brush it out. You won't notice a difference until it dries, but it will make a huge difference.  I've tried a few different kinds, but my favorite is Salon Grafix. 

It might take you awhile to figure out what works for you (it's a trial and error process), but it is possible to train your hair to go a few days between washes.