Is it okay to wash your hair every day? Answered by a dermatologist

There is no single answer to the question of how often you should wash your hair. Another question is whether it’s harmful to do it every day. Let’s get to the bottom of it with an expert.

Is it safe to wash your hair every day?

dermatovenerologist, cosmetologist

“The rate of contamination of the scalp depends on the intensity of production and composition of sebum. This individual peculiarity, laid down genetically”.

Sebum production can vary slightly throughout life, depending on the season, lifestyle, grooming and other factors.

When your scalp gets dirty quickly, there’s nothing wrong with washing your hair every day.

Another question is whether the greasiness of the head is not a manifestation of a disease, such as seborrheic dermatitis (a skin disease against the background of increased secretion of sebum).

The benefits of daily hair washing

Washing your hair is an important part of hair care. It helps remove dirt, grease and styling product residue from the scalp.

Most experts recommend washing your hair every two to three days, although it certainly depends on your hair type. Thinner hair tends to get dirty faster and may require daily washing. Meanwhile, people with thick and curly hair can go without this procedure for much longer, about a week.

Among the pros of daily washing of the head: freshness of the skin and cleanliness of the hair. It gives a person self-confidence and good mood.

Also, clean hair is easier to style. This factor can be important for people working in a field where appearance matters.

Minuses of daily washing of the head

Frequent washing can disrupt the natural balance of the scalp, causing it to dry out. Shampoos, especially those with harsh ingredients, remove natural lipids, making hair brittle and lifeless.

The minuses of daily washing can be in the case when a person uses the wrong care that does not match his skin and hair type.

In addition, this procedure requires more shampoo and conditioner every day, which can lead to additional expenses.

Often, patients who have to wash their hair every day complain about the consumption of personal time, water and grooming products.

How often should I wash my hair?

Hair should be washed as often as it is dirty. Many people have probably noticed that on different days their 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 frequently, change your hairstyle during the day, touch your hair or scratch your head. And also with age and changing hormone levels.

There is a common myth that hair can be “conditioned” to wash less frequently by walking around with dirty hair longer. However, sebum production will remain as it is genetically determined. In addition, the multiplication of opportunistic flora in the nutrient environment of sebum can lead to the development of diseases.

What factors affect the frequency of washing?

How often you should wash your hair depends on many of the following factors.

• Congenital sebum production, the condition of the scalp. All people have different levels of sebum activity. Some people have a more sebum-producing scalp – they tend to need to wash their hair more often to avoid sebum build-up and dandruff.
• Care Features. 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 it fresh and clean.
• Use of styling products. The use of gels, mousses, hairsprays, and other products usually contributes to rapid hair contamination.
• Age. As you get older, sebum activity and hair texture change. Washing frequency may decrease.

• Hairstyle. Fine and short hair tends to require daily washing. Meanwhile, people with long and curly hair require this procedure less frequently.
• Season, air temperature and weather. In warm weather and humid conditions, hair tends to get dirty more quickly and therefore requires more frequent washing. In winter, when the air is dry, you can afford to wash your hair less frequently to avoid drying out 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 a shampoo according to the type of scalp.

Thus, for oily scalp are well suited products with surfactants (surfactants), which dissolve sebum and rinse the hair well.

For dry and sensitive skin, which already has little grease, milder sulfate-free shampoos for constant use are suitable.

For normal skin, it is acceptable to alternate between different types of products or choose one most comfortable.

To care for the length is useful to use conditioners, nourishing balms, masks, as well as indelible products that smooth the hair, facilitate combing and protect against the effects of temperature. Colored hair also requires special care.