My hair is 1.35 meters long – a wash day lasts 24 hours
PLANNING AHEAD is crucial for a woman’s wash day after growing out her lustrous, knee-length hair.
Zelda shared the products and steps she takes to keep her 4-foot-8 locks clean.
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Zelda, from Savannah, Georgia, shares ASMR content about her with over 46,000 subscribers on YouTube.
The 23-year-old is trying to grow her hair down to the ground.
Speaking to The US Sun, she revealed the method she swears by for clean, healthy hair.
Zelda admitted that she is very ‘specific’ about the products she uses and has to plan her wash day in advance.
Her routine can last up to 24 hours, with every step perfectly planned.
“I’ve slowly increased the frequency of washing my hair so that now I only wash it about once a week,” she said.
She brushes and detangles her hair the night before and about an hour before she washes the next day, she applies penetrating oils. Her favorite oil is coconut oil.
“The oil fills the gaps in the hair shaft, where the hydrophobic moisture blocks excess water from entering the hair shaft,” she said.
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“Too much water absorption can lead to hygral fatigue, so it is important to coat your hair with oil before washing it.
While the oil is soaking in, she mixes her favorite shampoos and conditioners in two bowls, giving her hair multiple benefits—and saving her time.
The oil must be left on for at least an hour before she can wash her hair with shampoo and conditioner as usual.
What is hygral fatigue?
According to the U.S. National Institutes of Health (UNCHR), hygral fatigue occurs when excessive humidity causes hair follicles to swell. Healthline,
The damage can be seen in tangles, breakage, lint and dullness.
Hygral fatigue is not reversible, so the only option is to wait for healthy hair to grow.
Zelda then applies a nourishing mask and leaves it on for 90 minutes. Then wear a shower cap.
“For other people this might be too long, but for my hair it works,” she said.
“In the meantime, I enjoy sitting in the bath for 90 minutes.
I occasionally use dry shampoo and arrowroot powder to absorb some of the oil.
“I’m going to give my scalp one more quick shampoo to make sure there’s no oil left, but that’s about it.
“I rinse and dry as usual. It takes a few hours to air dry.”
WHY WASH LESS?
Zelda admitted that the method she uses to keep her hair clean between washes isn’t backed by science.
“It’s a much-discussed topic, but the idea of ’reactive seborrhea’ actually worked for me,” she said.
“The idea is that the less often you wash your hair, the more your scalp becomes accustomed to it and therefore produces less oil.
“When I was young, I started increasing my hair washing frequency to every other day.
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“Then I tried it every third day, every fourth day, and so on.
“Eventually, after about 7 to 10 days, I reached my natural limit and stuck to that washing schedule.”
KEEP CLEAN
She occasionally uses dry shampoo and arrowroot powder in her routine to extend wash days, as this helps absorb oil.
“Cotton fabrics, such as pillowcases or headscarves, can also help absorb excess oil,” she said.
“Finally, boar bristle brushes have been used for centuries to remove dirt from hair and leave it with a healthy shine, without the use of water.”
Zelda previously told The US Sun that she won’t cut her hair for the next six years.
In August 2023, her video was viewed over 10 million times when she decided to cut off a few inches of her hair.
She said everyone should use the “find and destroy” method to remove split ends instead of getting regular trims.
Her search for split ends takes 10 minutes every week.
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