HOW OFTEN YOU SHOULD WASH YOUR HAIR
How many days can you go without washing your hair? How often to use shampoo? What are the alternatives to shampoos.
INNA CODRU , DECEMBER 17, 2018
Have you ever asked your girlfriends how often they wash their hair? Did their answers surprise you? Someone says "I wash my hair every day", someone does it twice or thrice a week, and someone even once every two weeks 😳. Determining how often to wash your hair can be difficult. When you do it less often than usual, you will end up looking like you have oil spilled on your head 😁. And when you do it often, your hair looks like it got an electric shock. Finding the golden mean is a difficult task.
In principle, making a schedule for washing your hair is almost as difficult as sticking to it. However, there are no specific rules that determine how many times your hair should be washed and how often. It all depends on your hair type, lifestyle and physical activity. Let's look at the reasons why you need to wash your hair.
WHAT CAN MAKE US WASH YOUR HAIR MORE?
1. Secretion of the sebaceous glands
Just like your facial skin, your hair also becomes oily due to the secretion of sebum, which acts as a natural moisturizer. Sebum is secreted from the sebaceous glands located near the hair roots in the dermis layer of your skin. And it is they who make the scalp oily. However, the amount of sebum produced differs from person to person due to genetic and hormonal changes.
2. Oily hair
Although sebum is the main cause of oily hair, different types of hair require different levels of our attention. Excess sebum secretion can lead to regular hair washing, while insufficient secretion will allow you to go without washing your hair for some time.
Thin and straight hair needs to be washed more regularly. This is because the scalp becomes very dirty and oily due to the easy spread of sebum. Thick and curly hair, on the other hand, stays dry for a longer time.
3. Sweat and dirt
Are you a fitness freak? Are you doing physical exercises that make you sweat a lot? Do you live in a hot area? If yes, you will need to wash your hair frequently. There is a direct link between physical activity and washing your hair - the more you sweat, the more often you should wash your hair. This is because sweat clogs your pores and leaves your scalp greasy.
4. Dandruff
This is a skin condition in which dead skin cells leave the scalp in white flakes and itchy. Sebum and sweat exacerbate dandruff problems. How often, in such a situation, you need to wash your hair depends on the severity of the manifestation of dandruff (mild, moderate or severe).
5. Styling residue
If you're an enthusiastic stylist who often experiments with your hair, you shouldn't wash your hair often, as overwashing can lead to brittle and brittle hair.
Since this is the case, the question arises.....
HOW MANY TIMES A WEEK SHOULD I WASH HAIR?
Immediately, we note that the answer to this question will differ from person to person - because everyone's hair is different and has its own unique needs. In general, it is advised that people with oily scalps wash their hair every day, people with dry scalps wash their hair two or three times a week, and people with normal scalps can do this whenever they deem it necessary. Ultimately, it depends on hair type, lifestyle and preferences.
- Hair Type or Hair Texture: Your hair texture is one of the important factors in determining the answer to the above question. The type of hair affects the distribution of sebum along the entire length of the hair. Thick, coarse and curly hair restricts the rapid and even distribution of sebum, while fine and straight hair ensures smooth filling from root to tip. Therefore, the latter type of hair needs to be washed more often.
- Scalp type: Oily scalp needs to be washed more often than dry scalp, this is an axiom. Washing a dry scalp too often increases the likelihood of dandruff and brittle hair. You need to understand your hair and scalp type in order to benefit from the oil naturally produced by your sebaceous glands and personalize your shampooing routine accordingly.
- Your lifestyle: If your physical activity causes excess sebum and sweat in the body, then your hair needs to be washed more regularly. The lifestyle you lead also affects how you wash and care for your hair. If you regularly use a curling iron or blow dryer, you should limit the number of times you wash your hair to prevent it from drying out.
It may surprise you that washing your hair and shampooing your hair are two different things. Washing the hair, for example, may simply involve rinsing the hair with water. So, how often should you wash your hair? Scroll on to find out!
Question 1: How often to use hair shampoo?
If you try to wash your hair less often, then you are training your scalp to produce less natural oils, thereby reducing the number of times you have to wash your hair. While there is no definitive answer to this question, as it depends on your personal preference, one thing is certain - shampooing too often can decrease the chances of your hair being healthy. First, let's understand the use of shampoo.
Question 2: How does the shampoo work?
The shampoo acts as an emulsifier and washes away excess oil, make-up and dirt accumulated on the scalp. Washing your hair too much removes essential oils from your scalp, leaving it dry and flaky and making your hair brittle. So what can you do if you want to wash your hair without using too much shampoo? The best option is dry shampoo. However, it should be remembered that dry shampoo is only used as a way to increase the intervals between hair washes by simply absorbing excess oil. It will save you time on busy days.
Question 3: Who needs to use shampoo daily?
Not everyone needs to shampoo their hair daily. Experts say that only people who have fine hair, oily scalp and dandruff, those who engage in a lot of physical activity (which leads to excessive sweating ), and those who live in hot and humid environments need daily shampooing.
Question 4: Who can go without washing their hair for several days?
People who have thick hair or dry scalp may not wash their hair for several days, as their hair does not become greasy. On the other hand, frequent shampooing is recommended for people with oily scalp or fine hair.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR HAIR?
There are no hard and fast guidelines here. A person with normal scalp and normal hair type can go 2-3 days without washing. Itching, visibly oily hair, and a flaky scalp are signs that tell you it's time to wash your hair. And yet, for some people, limiting how often they wash their hair has helped improve the quality of their hair.
In addition to using shampoo, you can also use hair spray, co-washing, or water as alternative ways to wash your hair. You will learn more about these methods in the next section.
ALTERNATIVE WAYS TO WASH YOUR HAIR
- Dry shampoos
Did you know that you can clean your hair without water? Dry shampoos are a blessing for people who don't want to wet their hair often. Usually available in powder or aerosol form, dry shampoos primarily contain conditioning agents, aerosol propellants, fragrances, and absorbents that absorb excess sebum and leave hair smelling fresh. They are a beneficial combination of cleansing, conditioning and styling. Organic dry shampoos are more attractive in terms of hair health than chemically-filled commercial dry shampoos.
- Co-washing (Co-Washing or Conditioner Only washing)
Co-washing or "washing with conditioner" or simply no shampoo is a method where you replace shampoo with conditioner to wash your hair. After wetting your hair, you apply the conditioner all over your hair, leave it on for a few minutes and rinse off with water. This not only cleanses your hair, but also helps to retain moisture in a natural way.
- Only water
Sometimes plain water works like a health elixir when it comes to washing your hair. Are you having a bad day for your hair? Riding a bike in a cloud of dust, or just a strong wind outside and dust got into your hair? Just got home from a day in the hot sun? Give yourself a shower with plain cool water. This will preserve and maintain the health of the hair.
So, as the saying goes, "Spare no expense on your hair, it's a crown you can never take off."
With these amazing tips and techniques, you can conquer the world with your healthy and beautiful hair. Have you already tried any of the above methods? Do you have any other hair washing recommendations? Let us know in the comments below.