Find out if washing your hair every day is good for your hair’s health and appearance in this informative article.We will tell you what factors influence the frequency of hygiene procedures.
There is no single answer to the question of how often you should wash your hair. Another question is, is it harmful to do it every day? Let’s find out with an expert.
Sebum production may vary slightly throughout life, depending on season, lifestyle, grooming, and other factors.
When your head gets dirty quickly, there is nothing wrong with washing your hair every day.
Another question is whether oily scalp is a manifestation of a disease, for example, seborrheic dermatitis (a skin disease caused by increased secretion of sebum).
Benefits of Washing Your Hair Every Day
Washing your hair is an important part of hair care. It helps remove dirt, oil, and styling product buildup from your scalp.
Most experts recommend washing your hair every two to three days, although it certainly depends on your hair type. Finer hair tends to get dirty faster and may require daily washing. Meanwhile, people with thick, curly hair can go much longer, about a week, without this procedure.
Among the advantages of daily hair washing: fresh skin and clean hair. This gives a person self-confidence and a good mood.
Clean hair is also easier to style, which can be important for people working in a field where appearance matters.
Disadvantages of daily hair washing
Frequent washing can disrupt the natural balance of the scalp, leading to overdrying. Shampoos, especially those with aggressive components, remove natural lipids, making hair brittle and lifeless.
The disadvantages of daily washing can be when a person uses the wrong care that does not correspond to his skin and hair type.
In addition, this procedure requires more shampoo and conditioner every day, which can lead to additional costs.
Often patients who are forced to wash their hair every day complain about the waste of personal time, water and care products.
How often should you wash your hair?
It is necessary to wash your hair as it gets dirty. Surely many have noticed that on different days, your locks get dirty at different rates – even if you use the same shampoo.
Hair gets dirty faster when you play sports, use styling products, comb your hair often, change your hairstyle during the day, touch your hair or scratch your head. It also happens with age and changes in hormone levels.
There is a common myth that hair can be “trained” to be washed less frequently if you walk around with dirty hair for a longer period of time. However, sebum production will remain as it is genetically determined. In addition, the proliferation of opportunistic flora in the nutrient medium of sebum can lead to the development of diseases.
What factors influence the frequency of washing?
How often you should wash your hair depends on a number of factors, including the following.
- An innate feature of sebum production, the condition of the scalp. All people have different levels of sebaceous gland activity. Some people have scalps that produce more sebum – they usually need to wash their hair more often to avoid sebum buildup and dandruff.
- Features of care. The composition of shampoos and conditioners significantly affects the condition of the hair and scalp. Shampoos with aggressive components dry out the hair, while more gentle formulas with moisturizing ingredients allow you to wash your hair less often.
- Lifestyle: Active people who sweat a lot may need to wash their hair frequently, daily or every other day, to keep their hair fresh and clean.
- Using styling products. Using gels, mousses, hairsprays and other products usually contributes to hair getting dirty quickly.
- Age. As you get older, your sebaceous gland activity and hair texture change. The frequency of washing your hair may decrease.
- Hairstyle. Thin and short hair usually requires daily washing. Meanwhile, people with long and curly hair require this procedure less often.
- Season, air temperature and weather. In warmer months and in high humidity conditions, hair tends to get dirty faster, so more frequent washing is required. In winter, when the air is dry, you can allow yourself to wash your hair less often to avoid overdrying your scalp. It is necessary to adapt the frequency of hair washing depending on the environment.
How to choose the right hair care products?
It is recommended to choose shampoo according to your scalp type.
So, for oily scalp, products with surfactants (surface-active substances) are well suited, as they dissolve sebum and wash the hair well.
For dry and sensitive skin, which is already not very oily, gentle sulfate-free shampoos for regular use are suitable.
For normal skin, it is acceptable to alternate different types of products or choose the most comfortable one.
To care for the length, it is useful to use conditioners, nourishing balms, masks, and leave-in products that smooth the hair, make combing easier, and protect against the effects of temperatures. Colored hair also requires special care.