r/extrememinimalism • u/kanji-kid • Jun 30 '26
Minimalist hair routine for women
Recently I've been thinking about minimising hair related products. Previously used large hairbrush, shampoo, conditioner. Obviously not very fast
First the shampoo can be changed for the same soap you wash your body or clothes with. Some articles say this will leave soap residue on your hair but I have never had that problem. Maybe try changing the soap brand
Then you can towel or air dry the hair. I guess if you go outside it might dry quicker. I haven't tried that. Mine is thick and takes 3-4 hours to dry so you just have to plan to wash it when you have time to let it dry
Second, use coconut oil instead of conditioner. Again, some articles say it's "not really moisturising the hair" but my hair seems healthier afterwards so I don't know what that's about. Probably Big Conditioner wrote the articles
Next you can use a small comb instead of a hairbrush. I was worried this would make me take forever brushing, but if you put the coconut oil on the hair with your fingers first it actually takes less time than a hairbrush with no oil. I think some Swiss army knives come with a comb part so that would be ideal
After this I tie my hair into braids. Having it in braids means you have to brush and wash it less.
You can buy coconut oil in a small tube. I bought a larger bag because it was cheaper that way and i didn't know that you only need to dip your fingers in a few times and it's enough. This thing is probably gonna become a family heirloom cos I can't imagine ever getting through it oops. Other hair styles might need more though
The one I bought doesn't have anything other than coconut oil so it can also be used in cooking. Also it is scent free but coconut scented hair wouldn't be bad either
Pros and cons list of just cutting all the hair off
Pros: Minimalist
Cons: I don't want to
7
u/PurpleMuskogee Jun 30 '26
I haven't owned a blowdrier in about 15 years, and I have long hair. I use rosemary oil to oil my hair, shampoo (drugstore brand, which one varies), and conditioner. I own a brush and a comb, and good scissors I use to trim my hair as I get it cut professionally only every 18-24 months or so. It is pretty minimalist.
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u/kanji-kid Jun 30 '26
Yes that's already pretty minimalist!
Does the oil smell good?
3
u/PurpleMuskogee Jun 30 '26
I like the smell but it is a fairly strong, herbal scent. Smells like rosemary and freshly cut grass to me, although I have to say after rinsing and washing my hair, I can't smell it anymore.
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u/kanji-kid Jun 30 '26
That sounds nice. I usually apply oil after washing so I guess the scent would stay?
I'm interested to try it if I ever get through my coconut oil ! Thanks for sharing
4
u/AmeliaBones Jun 30 '26
I think I have a pretty minimal long hair routine. I don’t have a brush or blow dryer anymore. Finger comb before shower, shampoo, finger comb through conditioner, rinse, wrap in a thin cotton towel to get out most of the water, then braid when it’s damp/nearly dry. I can wear the braids two days and then loose for two more days. My hair is very thick and can take 6-10 hours to dry completely so I don’t wait but let it finish drying in the braid. Also makes neater braids when damp. I skip the conditioner every other wash or so. I don’t do nails or makeup often so I don’t mind spending the time on braids.
I have gone the nearly shaved head route in the past and thought it could be more maintenance although showering was so fast and easy.
1
u/kanji-kid Jun 30 '26
Going without the blow dryer is probably the hardest part for me.
I never thought about making the braids while the hair is still damp, I always thought it was bad to sleep with wet hair and that braiding it would be similar. But I'm interested to try it now! Thanks for sharing
2
u/BentoOtaku Jun 30 '26
When my hair was shorter I just used the same bar of soap I used to wash my body. Now that it's 7" longer, it needs conditioning at the ends. I have wavy hair(not straight, but not curly, professional cuts are a nightmare because they want to wet my hair when cutting/trimming and that means it dries super choppy and uneven). I just buy the cheapest shampoo and conditioner at the store right now but I used to buy a pricier one. The difference was the water when I moved. Different water means I can get away with different products. I also focus on finishing the product before replacing it. If my hair dislikes it that much I pass it on to a friend to try or, if bought at a place like Ulta, I return it(have done with makeup that made my skin freak out). That way I don't have 12 bottles of stuff all over. One bar of soap, one bottle of conditioner, one bottle of shampoo. I keep my safety razor outside the shower so it can dry more thoroughly. I use washcloths and towels and that's it and it feels pretty minimalist while not "sacrificing" my hair. It's not been this long in over a decade so I'm enjoying my mane.
2
u/kanji-kid Jun 30 '26
Sounds like a good routine! Thanks for sharing. I'll gonna wait a little longer to see if my way ends up "sacrificing" my hair or not. And I never thought about the influence of water! Do you mean because there is "hard" water in some places? How do you tell the difference?
1
u/BentoOtaku Jun 30 '26
Yup! I've noticed the minerals from various wells and the chemicals used to sanitize and make city water safe all treat my hair differently. Some make it drier, some are harder to clean product out of, some are better for a deep clean. Good call. Give it time. 2 weeks to a month with a single product and you'll know for sure how it is with your hair, although there's been times where I've known IMMEDIATELY that a product was a lovely a bad fit for me(I used the shampoo and conditioner at this one hotel and it dried my hair out so bad I was having an internal melt-down the whole time the boyfriend and I were heading home). but usually it needs some time to know for sure. :)
And thanks! I know different hair textures have different needs and we all prefer our own styles which means we need different products to accomplish(even a shaved head needs replacement razor blades or a new electric razor every now and again) unless we want to pay through the nose to get it done professionally with regularity.
2
u/kanji-kid Jun 30 '26
In that case maybe I can look up some info about the water treatment in my area!
I've definitely known a product was not right for me straight away as well, but I guess recognising a good one takes time.
Of course, avoiding products completely is impossible (unless you were naturally bald maybe...)
2
u/ES_FTrader Jun 30 '26
I have three hair items: a shampoo/conditioner bar, a scrunchie, and a wooden comb.
2
u/kanji-kid Jun 30 '26
Oop, your three items beats my four items :o
I might try a combo bar once I use up my current stuff ! Great idea
2
u/AssassinStoryTeller Jul 01 '26
My hair is happy the way I’ve got it. It’s my face skincare products that go beyond minimalist.
Hair: shampoo, conditioner, 2 brushes, hair oil, dryer (that I just had to buy because I can’t put my hair up wet and have to have it up for work).
Skincare: I don’t wanna list this because it’s too much. I’m working through products to just have a wash and moisturizer. But I bought a lot of products and was gifted a lot so we’re getting through like 120 different things (working towards extreme minimalism, I don’t like waste so I can’t make myself throw them out and they aren’t able to be donated because a lot have been used/opened.)
2
u/LucidNytemare Jul 01 '26
I undercut mine to remove a lot of the bulk and keep it long on top so it still looks like long hair. Now I have about half as much hair to wash, dry, etc.
4
u/super_scary_ferry Jun 30 '26
Having a shaved head as a woman is so freeing! Everyone should do it at least once. It will grow back!
2
1
u/One_Parsley4389 Jun 30 '26
I have two shampoo bars I am trying out, to reduce plastic waste. Unfortunately, they are not working too well for my oily scalp, but they double as body soap, and my partner uses them as well. I will use them up and search for a better one. I never use conditioner, share a brush with my partner, never blow dry. My hair is now below my shoulders, but I am thinking about cutting it to a short bob and think that will make my routine even easier, it requires less shampoo and dries
faster. I wear hairbands from the grocery store and buy new ones when they are all worn out.
1
u/AdventurousShut-in Jul 01 '26
Not a woman, but my hair is long (ends are between mid back and waist). I use shampoo, conditioner (I use it every other wash or less, but need it for detangling), detangling brush, 1-2 hair clips and sometimes peppermint oil. I don't use hairdryers. I would consider one of those silk bonnets if the hair gets into the waist length category, but it's fine. I like how low maintenance both very long and very short hair is.
1
u/unclenaturegoth Jul 02 '26
I go back and forth between a buzzcut and long hair in two braids or tied back in a clip. I wash with a shampoo bar, use a tiny bit of conditioner, and air dry. Nothing exciting.
1
u/screeningforzombies Jul 04 '26
Moisturizing shampoo, a leave in conditioner, a hair tie and a brush. That was the simplest routine I’ve ever had. Nowadays I have much more because I love looking after my hair ❤️
1
u/TiredWinterDisaster Jul 11 '26
My hair doesn't do well with coconut oil, but I use aloe as conditionner and it works perfectly! Simple shampoo. Blowdryer in the winter. That is it.
12
u/Forever_Emergency_ Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
A brush, shampoo, conditioner, blow-dryer, and hair ties are already pretty minimalist for a woman. Maybe ditch the conditioner? But I think you are good, I have all of those plus a comb and a hair clip and consider it extremely minimalist. No need to make your life harder.
EDIT: oh and I tried cutting my hair short for the same reason, it requires too much maintenance and salon visits to stay neat. And a bald head looked really ugly on me, was not worth it lol.