Hair

The ultimate guide to second-day hair

Find out how to make the most of second-day hair with expert tips for keeping it looking fresh and never dull.

by : Natalie Bahadur- Feb 5th, 2013

We’ve all been there. You know … when you’ve had a long day at work and you’re exhausted. You’ve got things to do and places to go and washing your hair is one thing you wish you could just tick off your to-do list. Well, first things first: Consider if you actually need to wash your hair (again!) tonight. Many of us over wash our hair thinking that we’re keeping it squeaky clean, without realizing the damage we’re doing. We checked in with Xuan Do, hairstylist at Concepts Day Spa and Salon in Toronto to find out why washing your hair every day is a bad idea and how to make the most of second-day hair. Just think of all the things you can do with that found free time!

Daily hair washing: Why it’s not a good idea

If you’re guilty of overwashing your luscious locks, stop! According to Do, washing your hair every day strips it of natural oils that can benefit the hair. “Excessive washing can irritate the scalp causing dryness, or it can do the opposite by sending your body into overdrive and cause it to produce excess oil, leaving your hair looking greasy,” she says. Greasy hair? No, thanks. Do says that to prevent this, it’s important to use the right type of shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. Not sure? Check with your hair stylist for advice.

How often should you wash your hair?

“Depending on your hair type, every other day is the norm,” says Do. “If you have thick hair or lots of it, you should be able to get away with washing it every three to four days.

Read on to the next page for tips on how to style second-day hair…

Second-day hair: Hair styles to try

Second-day hair behaves differently than hair does on the day it’s washed. By the second or even third day, hair is less voluminous and definitely has more oils in it. So before you go out, try a hairstyle that will both hide any greasiness and give your hair more body. Do recommends trying a sock bun or a side braid. Here, she explains how to get the look:

The sock bun

Cut out the tip (toe area) off a sock and roll it into a donut. Tie your hair into a ponytail, high or low depending on where you want the bun to sit. Loop the sock at the tip of the ponytail and start rolling the sock down. As you roll the sock down the hair, make sure the hair is covering the sock evenly. When you get down to the base, pin any ends sticking out with booby pins. This will create an easy and polished style that will hold well with second-day hair.

Side braid

Start braiding from one side of the head to the other, just above your ear and keeping it close to the hairline. This keeps the day-old hair off the face while creating the look of a headband. Keep the rest of the hair down or opt for the side ponytail with the ends slightly curled.

4 tricks for making second-day hair look fresh

It’s all well and good to recommend not washing your hair every day but what do you do when it starts to look, you know, not-so-fresh? Do says there are lots of ways to prevent day-old hair from looking like day-old hair.

1. Comb the hair from root to tip to distribute the natural oils from the scalp to the hair strands. Then, tease the roots to create volume while keeping the ends tamed.

2. For curly hair, mist in some water or a leave-in conditioner, then scrunch to revitalize the curls

3. Spray the roots with a dry shampoo and pull the hair back, either with a cute hairband or ponytail.

4. Lightly baby powder the roots to absorb excess oils as a DIY dry shampoo.