Hair damage, pollution, and a need to look your best may lead you to consider washing your hair now and then. But, do you know using shampoo too often can be detrimental for hair? You need to track how often you should shampoo your hair apart from using other styling products for optimum hair health. In this article, we will be answering some of the most lingering questions about shampooing your hair. So, read on!
Is It Okay to Wash Your Hair Every day?
Over-shampooing in comparison to not-shampooing may also prove detrimental to hair health. While the wet hair look may be IN these days, no one desires greasy flatness.
Your scalp produces natural oils that keep it well hydrated and keep the follicles moisturized. But what about the dirt? The longer you go without shampooing your hair, the more detrimental it becomes for hair health. Washing your hair bids well for its health, but shampooing it only becomes necessary as the grime gets out of control.
So if you’re doing a lot of dirty outdoor work, washing your hair every day is fine. But, if you stay indoors mostly, consider washing your hair only when there’s itching, dirt, or your scalp becomes visibly oily.
What happens if you don’t wash your hair?
If you don’t wash your hair, Sebum accumulation in hair continues to keep up with the lost hydration. It accumulates and gives a greasy, weighed-down, flat aesthetic. As time passes, the amount of oxidized free fatty acids increases, which prove to be irritating for the scalp and starts the itch due to increased sensitivity. It also gives rise to hair odor. Prolong periods of not washing your hair damage the follicles and impede hair growth.
Frequency of Hair Wash in Contrast to Shampoo Wash
Washing your hair is not the same as shampooing it. A higher wash frequency proves beneficial for a good hair care regimen. However, using shampoo to clean your hair is advised to suit your hair type and needs. People who report lower wash frequencies are exposed to higher instances of dandruff, Seborrheic dermatitis, and Psoriasis, all related to augmented sebum and dirt build-up.
Who should shampoo their hair daily?
- People who live in humid environments face increased levels of sebum accumulation. Now top it off with a job that requires you to get exposed to the raw outdoors. Your scalp then needs help getting rid of dirt, products, and oil build-up on alternative days, if not daily.
- Individuals who sweat more or exercise more also face the same issues.
- Folks who love to style their hair with a top-notch blow-dry need to ensure they do so on clean hair. You do not want to fry your hair in scalp oil.
- Lastly, people with fine hair face similar problems, as accumulation between hair follicles tends to rapidly grease hair.
Who can shampoo less, if not often?
Individuals who have curly, thick, or voluminous hair do not need to worry about shampooing very often. A daily wash is more than enough to keep their tone and volume without scrubbing with other shampoos. They can look fine washing hair once a week with shampoo and still look fresh. However, it also depends on their hair type and how often they stay outdoors.
Shampooing less – The real reason behind it
A frequently asked question, ‘Is shampoo bad for your hair?’ often gets asked about shampooing less and its benefits. This is a general concern of people who have damaged, dry, coarse hair, who worry or face hair loss.
Specific components like sulfates and parabens end up stripping off too much of the oil and moisture, which could have proved to be essential for your hair’s health. Chemical ingredients ending with ‘-eth’ tend to excessively dry out the essential lipid components and make the scalp sensitive. Repetitive use can also be carcinogenic in the long run, as whatever you apply does get diffused in the scalp. However, it is a controversial topic in the derma industry as you do need sulfates to combat oil build-up.
How do I return the lost moisture?
Simply use a conditioner. To keep your hair healthy and clean, you need to have a conditioner to back up your shampoo. Shampoo and conditioner go hand in hand as they help maintain moisture and hydration, especially for individuals having dry, coarse hair.
How often should I condition my hair?
Well, in contrast to shampooing daily, many people find it helpful to condition and wash their hair on a daily basis. It helps lock moisture and tone without introducing shampoo’s surfactants to clean out the daily grime.
What to do with oily hair?
If your scalp tends to produce excess oil, dry shampoos might be the solution you need. Dry shampoos are great at making a no-wash day possible in your busy routine. Powder dry shampoos are great at soaking up extra oil and giving a much-needed lift in the roots.
People who have the issue of excessive oil production can rinse their hair two times with their shampoo instead of going over it once. It takes away all the excess oil and leaves you fresh and free for many days.
Which Shampoo is Best Suited for Me?
It’s all dependent on your hair type, scalp’s tendency to produce sebum, and your daily routine. Haircare is the same as skincare. You need to take time out to tend it and maintain the natural lush. Otherwise, it turns into a frizzy, course disaster.
Whether you have thin, thick, curly, frizzy hair, there is a shampoo and conditioner for you out there. So choose a shampoo according to your hair type.
How Often Should Men Wash Their Hair?
The No-Poo movement has led people to spend more time between hair washing. However, extra sebum levels in the mix of dirt, hair products, and other pollutants DO NOT bode well for scalp health. We recommend a suitable hair wash frequency to keep your scalp free of dirt and other pollutants. For most people, this amounts to 2-3 times a week. However, how often you should shampoo your hair depends on your routine, lifestyle, and hair type.