Table of Contents
- Is It Okay To Wash Your Hair Everyday?
- How Often Is Healthiest To Wash Your Hair?
- Factors That Influence How Often You Should Wash Your Hair
- What Factors Can Affect How Often You Wash Your Hair?
- What Can A Damaged Scalp Cause?
- How To Correctly Wash Your Hair?
- Conclusion
How often should you wash your hair? It’s the age-old question that many of us ask every time.
Each time, we hear someone teaching how to clean their hair and attributing shine to such an amount of washing.
But what is the correct answer? How can we keep our hair healthy and robust without stripping it of its natural oils?
It depends on your hair type and texture—and how oily it gets—but on average, most hair stays clean for about three days. Can liquid soap be used to wash hair?
In this blog post, I will show you the factors influencing how often you should wash your hair and tips on keeping your hair healthy and beautiful.
Let’s start!
Is It Okay To Wash Your Hair Everyday?
Someone has told you that shampoo in your hair every day is terrible for your hair.
False, the more often you can shampoo the scalp, the better for the health of your hair.
Of course, not all hair types tolerate daily shampooing; some hair types are more prone to dryness and breakage frequency.
So adjust the frequency to what your hair type will tolerate. Personally, I shampoo my scalp every single day—emphasis on scalp.
The act of shampooing is meant to cleanse the scalp of that oily build-up that can generate a lot of inflammation, and it’s a hospitable environment for that little yeast ‘Malassezia.’
And that little yeast, which is unfamiliar, is part of everybody’s skin flora.
If it gets too comfortable, that little yeast can lead to a lot of inflammation, which causes dandruff and can contribute to hair loss.
Depending on your hair type, daily if you can, it’s vital that I have a shampoo that meets the needs of my hair, and that changes depending on the weather and the length.
I adore Function Of Beauty products because I’ve been using their shampoo and conditioner for over a year.
It’s made a massive difference in my hair health and the health of my scalp, and I like it because you can fully customize it to meet the needs of your hair type.
It’s effortless. All you have to do is go in and take a short quiz outlining your hair type and specific hair goals.
And then, you can customize your shampoo and conditioner to be a specific color. I always use dye-free, and then you can choose your scent and the strength of your smell.
I prefer free fragrance, so I don’t get any scent, which is another thing I love.
How Often Is Healthiest To Wash Your Hair?
So I’m going to give you my input and my advice. As a hairstylist for many years, wash your hair as needed.
And as an individual, if you usually have dirty hair, or you’re working a job or playing sports or in school, whatever it is that you’re doing, that’s causing your hair to get dirty and oily.
Wash your hair as often as possible. It’s not going to make your hair fall out. It’s not going to damage your hair. It’s not going to be the end of the world.
But shampooing and conditioning your hair has never caused any significant issues because they don’t contain any ingredient that causes hair loss or growth.
And I’ve even asked people and seen it firsthand. What does your hair seem to be like? Why is it growing so much quicker than usual? Or I’m noticing something going on here.
And they’ve told me, you know, I’m washing my hair every couple of days or every two to three days or am washing my hair daily.
That moisturizes the scalp with natural oils and makes the hair grow faster. That’s what I’ve seen.
Now, if you wash your hair too often and don’t use the suitable shampoos or the right products, that could dry your scalp out.
Because you’re stripping the hair on your scalp of its natural oils, it may be the cause of a dry scalp, or you may start to see some dandruff or flaking things like that.
Active shampooing is beneficial for hair growth, And if you are dealing with a loss or shedding, ensure you wash your hair as frequently as your hair type can tolerate.
Some shampoos have ingredients like ketoconazole and zinc pyrithion, which calm down inflammation but don’t grow the hair or affect your hair cycle.
Factors That Influence How Often You Should Wash Your Hair
According to a 2019 review of studies, scientists use varying classification systems to describe the type of hair a person has.
How much oil your scalp produces depends on your age, genetics, sex, and hormones.
The oil glands are under the control of the androgens (male sex hormones).
During puberty, we have this increase in hormones, and therefore, the sebaceous glands can enlarge. It’s one reason why people get acne as teenagers.
Children may have an oily scalp during puberty, so washing their hair more frequently may be helpful.
On the flip side, women after menopause have a decrease in androgens, which leads to less oil production. With time, men have less active glands, too.
One of the main reasons why we wash our hair is to remove the excess oil (or sebum) that our scalp produces.
Sebum is essential for moisturizing and protecting our hair, but too much can make it look greasy and limp.
The amount of oil your scalp produces also varies from person to person.
Hair Type
Another factor that affects how often you should wash your hair is your hair type. This includes the texture, length, and condition of your hair.
Different hair types have different needs when washing and caring for them.
Straight and wavy hair tends to have oilier roots.
This is because the hair bulb is more open, so there is greater output from the sebaceous glands, so they usually need to wash their hair more often during the week.
For straight and thin hair, you may need to wash your hair more frequently, such as every day or every other day.
What Factors Can Affect How Often You Wash Your Hair?
Curly and frizzy hair is naturally finer and less oily. Therefore, daily washing should be avoided to maintain the hair’s natural hydration –
It is worth remembering that wetting your hair and reapplying conditioner or finisher without washing it is also not healthy.
As a result, people with curly or wavy hair may need to wash their hair less frequently, such as every two to three days or even once a week.
You may also want to use a conditioner or leave-in conditioner to keep your curls hydrated and defined.
Thick and coarse hair is more resilient and less prone to damage than fine hair, but it can also be more challenging to manage and style.
Those with thicker or curlier hair should not wash their hair daily, as this can dry out the hair and damage its health.
These hair types can go longer without looking greasy, so you may only need to wash your hair every three to four days or even once every two weeks.
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends that Black people wash their hair once every 1-2 weeks.
Chemically treated hair:
Chemically treated hair is hair that has been dyed, bleached, permed, or relaxed.
This type of hair is usually more fragile and prone to damage than natural hair because the chemical processes alter the structure and integrity of the hair.
If you have chemically treated hair, you may need to wash your hair less frequently, such as once or twice a week.
It is also essential to use a gentle shampoo and conditioner specially formulated for your hair type and color.
This will help to protect your hair from further damage and keep it looking its best.
Colored hair can be washed every day with specific products.
Those who color their hair with permanent or temporary dyes can wash their locks every day, depending on the texture of the hair.
The important thing is to use specific products so that constant washing does not fade the color,
or opt for shampoo and conditioner lines for chemically damaged hair, which contain components such as ceramides, which rebuild the hair fiber.
What Can A Damaged Scalp Cause?
According to Dr. Silvia, several diseases attack the scalp. The most common is seborrheic dermatitis, ‘dandruff.’
The possible causes for the formation of dandruff are diverse, such as stress, hot water when washing, the use of alcoholic beverages, and hormonal changes, all of which trigger excess local oil, which makes the hair oilier.
If you are not predisposed to an oily scalp or if it does not feel dirty, do not wash it; this way, you maintain the hydration from the scalp to the hair.
How To Correctly Wash Your Hair?
According to some experts, the best way to wash your hair is to use warm water to cleanse it with a shampoo that suits your hair type and then use cold water to rinse it.
This is because warm water helps open the hair cuticles and remove dirt and oil, while cold water helps close the cuticles and lock in moisture and shine.
It is also essential to note that on your wash day, detangle your hair before you shampoo; it reduces breakage associated with brushing wet hair.
When applying your shampoo, focus on the scalp and massage it well before rinsing off, and avoid lathering the ends.
Some of the benefits of rinsing your hair with cold water are:
- It preserves the natural oils of your hair and scalp, which prevent dryness and breakage.
- It reduces frizz and swelling of the hair shaft, which can cause damage and split ends.
- It creates a smooth and shiny texture for your hair, making it look healthy and vibrant.
However, more than washing your hair with cold water alone is required to clean it effectively, especially if your hair is very dirty or oily.
You also need to use a conditioner to moisturize and nourish your hair and apply mid-length to ends; avoid applying conditioners to the scalp.
Conclusion
With the above information, you now know that how often you should wash your hair is not a one-size-fits-all answer.
It depends on various factors, such as your hair type, your scalp condition, your lifestyle, and your personal preference.
The key is to find the right balance for your hair and scalp and follow some basic tips to keep your hair healthy and beautiful.
Remember, your hair is unique and beautiful, and you should treat it with care and love.
