I have been thinking about extending my wash routine to every four days instead of three. I would like to wash less frequently for a lot of reasons, better for my hair, less hassle. Has anyone succesfully re-trained their hair in this way? I know that I would have a breaking in period when it was bad, but how long would I expect to wait until my scalp settles down? For that matter, how would I know if it just won't work for me to wait longer between washes?

I know AnaisSatin has done this...you can check her detailed method in the link in her siggy. She is working toward a certain amount of days (maybe 11...I can't remember at the moment). But she has been doing this very gradually I think...

I really don't think just anybody can pull this off successfully, but it is probably worth a try! I've noticed how some do scalp-only washes to protect the length but keep the scalp happy. You may want to look into that route.

I've been wanting to do the same thing. There are a lot of people who go for longer than 4 days here and I'm lucky if I can go every other day.

I have been busy with this recently, also from 3 days to 4 or 5 days, but I can't say I have succeeded in that really, I just walk around with really greasy hair. I am intending to go back on scalpwashing instead, because I haven't found a way yet to do it too, though I would like to do more days without washing as well.

I just wrote in my journal today that I'm going to try to extend my washing day from every two days to every three days. I'm not doing anything other than just ... doing it, I guess. I'm on third-day hair today and I'm (hopefully) disguising it in double braids. I hope that over time my hair will adjust. I think it'll take it a long time to do so, though. Going to every second day took quite a while for me and getting used to wearing a confining style was new for me too, since I much prefer to wear my hair down.

Overall I think it'll make life simpler if I can do this, so it'll be worth the effort.

You say you're on a 3 day wash cycle already. How is your hair on day 3? Is it "egads, I must wash my hair" or is it "eh, I guess it's time to wash"?

If your hair is reasonably happy at the end of a 3 day routine, then it should not be a big deal to stretch to a 4 day routine. Even if you change nothing else, days 1 through 3 will be the same as they are now, you'd just be finding out how your hair reacts on day 4.

You say you're on a 3 day wash cycle already. How is your hair on day 3? Is it "egads, I must wash my hair" or is it "eh, I guess it's time to wash"?

If your hair is reasonably happy at the end of a 3 day routine, then it should not be a big deal to stretch to a 4 day routine. Even if you change nothing else, days 1 through 3 will be the same as they are now, you'd just be finding out how your hair reacts on day 4.

Hmmm, I am more of the "I guess I should wash my hair today," and I actually sometimes end up waiting until the fourth day anyway, just because I don't have time. So waiting another day shouldn't be a big deal.

I will just start always waiting another day, and see what happens. If it is really bad, I can just wear a scarf a lot! Thanks all!

I've successfully changed from every other day to twice a week. I can wash my hair every fourth day (except right now- the weather is too hot and I'm sweating to death). I'm going to try to eventually extend the interval to once a week...but it will probably take time.

What I've learned so far...

1) Changing shampoo/routine might help. I got an "extra day" when I changed to my current SBV routine. For someone else, of course, something else might have the same effect.

2) You need to extend one day at time. The adjusting period eg. from 2 to 3 days or from 3 to 4 days might take weeks, even months, but you just need to be patient. Once your scalp has adjusted, you can continue and add one more day.

3) There will be setbacks. Illness, weather, sweating, special occassion...patience is needed, because sooner or later, you will probably have to give up from strict schedule and wash too early. Even repeatedly. However, if your scalp has adjusted to longer washing interval, a few washes too early won't cause long term trouble.

4)On "extend day" (this is the day when your hair starts to look visibly dirty but you will just have to live with it), leave the hair alone as much as possible. If you comb it a lot, change styles etc...everything will spread the sebum and will make the hair look even more dirty. Choose one updo or braided style (these hide greasiness wonderfully!) and stick with it.