How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Most of us wonder how often we should be washing our hair. We all know someone who swears by daily washing or has apparently taught their hair to clean itself. But what’s the real answer? How can we keep our hair healthy and strong without overdoing and stripping away natural oils? It’s all very complicated sometimes.

How Often Do You Need to Wash Your Hair?

The answer to this question comes down to the hair type and texture. On average, hair stays clean for up to three days. However, what you really need to look after is your scalp. The scalp is the support system for your hair. The scalp is skin and so it needs to be cared for like the rest of your skin on your face. It’s best to give it a daily cleanse to ensure it stays healthy. No one would go days at a time without washing their face, so why go that long without washing your scalp?

Of course, not everyone benefits from washing their hair every day. Experts recommend that people with finely textured hair wash their hair with shampoo every day. Textured hair has more oil glands, which means that it gets greasy easily. The oils from your scalp help to lubricate hair as it emerges from the follicle, rather than being there to keep the tips healthy. Washing your hair only gets rid of the excess oils.

If you have thick, coarse, or curly textured hair, then you likely won’t want to – or need to – apply shampoo each day. Doing this could leave it dry and unhealthy. These hair types also last longer before grease starts building up. An infrequent gentle cleanse is much better for your hair than a co-wash. A full co-wash is like washing your hands using hand lotion. It won’t clean your hair, meaning that pollution and toxins remain in your hair and on your scalp.

Does Washing Hair Every Day Cause Damage?

People with curly or coily hair should be careful to avoid over-washing their hair. These hair types are fragile and easy to break. We recommend using a moisturizing shampoo that cleanses your hair. Try to find a wash pattern that works well for your hair. It’s about finding the right balance for your hair. Thin and fine hair can be washed more often but you should use a lightweight but strong conditioner. Thick and coarse hair needs to be washed less, but you shouldn’t neglect your scalp. Use a dry shampoo to keep your scalp clean without the need to restyle your hair. Remember that your hair is twice as fragile when wet so you should be gentle and avoid washing too much.

As for other hair types, washing too much is never a risk. However, it’s worth your time to find a well-formulated shampoo. Formulated shampoos don’t strip vital nutrients from your hair or scalp. Remember, your scalp produces oil. Washing your hair removes excess oil, which is replaced by the scalp. Your scalp has more glands than other areas of your body, so it isn’t prone to drying out.

 

Susan Peterson
Susan Peterson

According to my kids I'm a obsessed with eating healthy, circuit training and Yoga. Oh I'm also the geek who keeps the website running smoothly

Gabbro Health