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Should you stop washing your hair like Gary Barlow? Gary Barlow's unwashed hair: Should you do the same?
(about 2 hours later)
Former Take That star Gary Barlow has revealed on Twitter that he has washed his hair for the first time in 14 years. Is this really a hair-raising fact or are there any benefits?Former Take That star Gary Barlow has revealed on Twitter that he has washed his hair for the first time in 14 years. Is this really a hair-raising fact or are there any benefits?
Way back in 2003 when Westlife and the Black Eyed Peas were in the charts and flip mobile phones were all the rage, Gary Barlow washed his hair for the last time.Way back in 2003 when Westlife and the Black Eyed Peas were in the charts and flip mobile phones were all the rage, Gary Barlow washed his hair for the last time.
That is, until this weekend, when Gary announced on Twitter that is was an "important day" as he had washed his short locks.That is, until this weekend, when Gary announced on Twitter that is was an "important day" as he had washed his short locks.
Cue jokes from people on social media - many of whom were surprised at the revelation from the Let It Shine judge.Cue jokes from people on social media - many of whom were surprised at the revelation from the Let It Shine judge.
So are there any advantages to not washing your hair?So are there any advantages to not washing your hair?
Patrick Graham, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, ditched the shampoo bottle 25 years ago after he heard that hair may be self-cleaning.Patrick Graham, from Stroud, Gloucestershire, ditched the shampoo bottle 25 years ago after he heard that hair may be self-cleaning.
"I had problems with dandruff, I couldn't get rid of it," the 60-year-old says."I had problems with dandruff, I couldn't get rid of it," the 60-year-old says.
"As soon as I stopped my hair was worse for about two weeks."As soon as I stopped my hair was worse for about two weeks.
"Pretty soon after that I started to feel clean and nice and now I've had no dandruff for 25 years... there is no smell, it is clean.""Pretty soon after that I started to feel clean and nice and now I've had no dandruff for 25 years... there is no smell, it is clean."
'More manageable''More manageable'
Kayleigh Thomas, who wrote about her experience of not using shampoo on her blog Blue jeans white tee, says she stopped using shampoo in March 2015 after seeing another woman on Snapchat who had done so for two years.Kayleigh Thomas, who wrote about her experience of not using shampoo on her blog Blue jeans white tee, says she stopped using shampoo in March 2015 after seeing another woman on Snapchat who had done so for two years.
"My hair's more manageable now and I don't feel like I need to tame it using heat tools, so it saves me time in the mornings," the 28-year-old from Milton Keynes says."My hair's more manageable now and I don't feel like I need to tame it using heat tools, so it saves me time in the mornings," the 28-year-old from Milton Keynes says.
She also says that a rash she had behind her ears cleared up as a result.She also says that a rash she had behind her ears cleared up as a result.
There have been other public figures to admit to not using any hair products.There have been other public figures to admit to not using any hair products.
Andrew Marr said in 2006 that he had given up washing his hair, which had been "a vast cost to my wallet and the environment".Andrew Marr said in 2006 that he had given up washing his hair, which had been "a vast cost to my wallet and the environment".
And former Conservative MP Matthew Parris spoke to BBC 5 live last year about not washing his hair for more than 20 years.And former Conservative MP Matthew Parris spoke to BBC 5 live last year about not washing his hair for more than 20 years.
"The hair got greasier and greasier and after about 10 days it stopped getting greasy," he said."The hair got greasier and greasier and after about 10 days it stopped getting greasy," he said.
But Mark Coray, former president of the National Hairdressers' Federation and owner of a salon in Cardiff, says there is no benefit to not washing your hair.But Mark Coray, former president of the National Hairdressers' Federation and owner of a salon in Cardiff, says there is no benefit to not washing your hair.
"Shampoo is not abrasive or harsh to the scalp," he says."Shampoo is not abrasive or harsh to the scalp," he says.
"The ingredients in shampoo help the hair to look lustrous."The ingredients in shampoo help the hair to look lustrous.
"The [hair's] oil may build up so it starts to look like it is shiny and lies in place more... but it will not self-clean.""The [hair's] oil may build up so it starts to look like it is shiny and lies in place more... but it will not self-clean."
'Greasy and flaky''Greasy and flaky'
And the Belgravia Centre in London, a hair loss clinic, recommends that people avoid the no shampoo - known as "No 'poo" - trend.And the Belgravia Centre in London, a hair loss clinic, recommends that people avoid the no shampoo - known as "No 'poo" - trend.
"Rinsing your hair is not going to be very effective after certain activities that make the scalp sweaty, such as exercising or using a sauna," it says."Rinsing your hair is not going to be very effective after certain activities that make the scalp sweaty, such as exercising or using a sauna," it says.
"Rinsing will also not remove bacteria or clean the excess oil from your scalp if you have greasy hair."Rinsing will also not remove bacteria or clean the excess oil from your scalp if you have greasy hair.
"Whilst it's understandable that you may wish to avoid harsh chemical ingredients in their shampoo, one thing the no 'poo movement seems to have overlooked is the number of good quality, chemical-free haircare products that are widely available.""Whilst it's understandable that you may wish to avoid harsh chemical ingredients in their shampoo, one thing the no 'poo movement seems to have overlooked is the number of good quality, chemical-free haircare products that are widely available."
Anabel Kingsley, a trichologist from the Philip Kingsley clinic in London, agrees that hair does not clean itself.Anabel Kingsley, a trichologist from the Philip Kingsley clinic in London, agrees that hair does not clean itself.
"Imagine if you didn't wash your face or underarms for a week - the same logic applies to your hair and scalp," she says."Imagine if you didn't wash your face or underarms for a week - the same logic applies to your hair and scalp," she says.
"They are likely to become coated in dirt, smelly, greasy and flaky. Build-up of yeasts and bacteria will also occur, especially as they thrive in oily environments.""They are likely to become coated in dirt, smelly, greasy and flaky. Build-up of yeasts and bacteria will also occur, especially as they thrive in oily environments."
She recommends shampooing at least every other day - leaving no more than three days between washes to keep the hair and scalp in good condition.She recommends shampooing at least every other day - leaving no more than three days between washes to keep the hair and scalp in good condition.