It has almost been four days since I have last washed my hair. Yes, I do shower everyday and I am definitely not turning grunge—or maybe I am. I have been washed into the no wash lifestyle because of my own selfish love for my hair, but what girl doesn’t love her hair?

Many of you “shampoo everyday” types may find my lack of hair hygiene gross, but the truth is not washing your hair actually promotes healthier hair. A lot of women probably already know this but most of them are not ready to leave behind their daily shampoo routine for a greasy grunge look.

So why is it better to give up all of those sweet smelling products for the less appealing natural oils?

Shampooing daily removes the oils that help moisturize and protect the scalp. Without these oils, hair becomes dry and can break more easily. The same goes with processed or treated hair. Color will last longer without washing daily because the chemicals in shampoo and the minerals found in water can dull or strip away the color faster.

This does not mean that throwing away expensive bottles of shampoo is the only way to get beautiful hair. Shampooing can be good for hair but in moderation and if done right. Since most women probably do not want to start out with four days of unwashed hair, maybe try going every other day without washing first. Then after some time try every third day.

When actually washing hair, it is best to shampoo only at the scalp and let the soap run off to clean the ends. Conditioner should only be applied to the ends because when applied directly to the scalp, hair will become greasier. It is okay to rinse hair off in the shower without actually washing it (which I do often) to help remove sweat after a workout. Water rinses will not strip away the oils but sometimes the minerals in the water can dull hair.

There are many different products that can help keep your hair looking its best in between washes. Dry shampoo is a go to product that absorbs oils without having to wash them away, furthering damage to hair. Many different styling creams can also be useful to repel dirt and oil in between washes.

Home remedies may also offer some healthier, chemical free choices to hair cleaning that could readily be available from your kitchen. Check out a few recipes here and there that may work for your hair and save tons on fancy shampoos and conditioners. Remember: clean hair does not always mean healthy hair.