For years, the subject of how often to wash your hair has caused controversy on social media and among hair stylists.
Many people insist on using shampoo as little as possible, while some claim they must rinse every day to feel grease-free.
Scientists have now resolved the controversy.
And anyone who detests washing their hair may find their response disappointing.
Experts say that washing your hair five or six times a week makes it happiest and healthiest.
Researchers discovered that practically daily bathing produced the finest scalp condition and the most “great hair days” in one trial.
Researchers say that concerns about “overwashing” are unjustified, however they warn that the precise frequency will depend on hair type.
Board-certified dermatologist Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal of the Cleveland Clinic cautions: “You can get an overgrowth of bacteria and yeast when the hair and scalp are not cleaned frequently enough.”
The frequency of hair washing has been a contentious topic on the internet, but experts have recently determined that you should wash your hair five to six times a week.
Participants in a big trial reported more “great hair days” per week as a direct result of washing their hair more frequently.
Social media users have been debating how frequently to wash their hair for years, and many people are still adamant that their approach is the best.
On the one hand, it’s widely believed that using shampoo too often might harm hair or eventually cause the scalp to become greasier.
One Reddit user commented, “If I rinse my hair after exercise, I can go a week straight without shampooing it and it looks fine.”Another person said, “My hair is thick and curly, and it is much better if I don’t use shampoo every day; sometimes I just get it wet and put in conditioner.”
“I legitimately shampoo my hair once or twice a month, if even that,” said a different commenter.
Similarly, some social media users claim to have completely stopped using shampoo and to have “trained” their hair to require less frequent cleaning.
“My hair must be washed with shampoo every other day or it gets slimy and disgusting,” one user noted, yet many people still claim that waiting more than a day or two between washes leaves them feeling oily and unclean.
Many people insist on using shampoo as little as possible to prevent harming their hair, even if some claim they require a daily rinse to feel grease-free.
According to one study, washing one’s hair five or six times a week is generally the healthiest.
Others might benefit from bathing a little less frequently, though, given this study only included Asian people.
Regardless of hair type, research has shown that washing every other day improves the comfort and health of hair.
Therefore, you should wash your hair at least four times a week, and if it feels comfortable, up to five or six times.
Make careful to shampoo the scalp rather than the hair and use a conditioner to shield the hair strands.
Another reported that shampooing their hair every day left it feeling “so soft and beautiful, hydrated.”
According to research, those who urge for more frequent washing are correct.
Over 1,500 men and women were included in a Procter & Gamble study to investigate the impact of various hair washing routines.
Either once a week, twice a week, three to four times a week, or five to six times a week was how the participants washed their hair.
They then scored the number of “great hair days” they experienced each week as well as how healthy their hair felt.
The study discovered that respondents thought their hair looked better the more often they washed it.
The greatest frequency of beautiful hair days and the lowest levels of self-reported itching, dandruff, and scalp irritation were seen in those who washed their hair nearly daily.
Some social media users even asserted that they wash their hair “once or twice a month” without experiencing oiliness.
“Washing your hair every day is bad” #hairtok #glasshair #shinyhair #longhair #silkyhair
This is due to the fact that prolonged periods of not washing your hair allow sebum, an oily material, to accumulate.
Sebum typically keeps the scalp healthy and helps hair retain moisture, but too much of it can cause problems.
According to Dr. Khetarpal, colonies of bacteria and yeast that reside on your scalp eat this greasy stuff.
Folliculitis, or acne-like pimples on the scalp, can result from bacterial overgrowth. Dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, which causes flaking, itching, and redness of the scalp, might be signs of yeast accumulation.
Sebum begins to chemically change if it remains on the scalp for an extended period of time, which exacerbates the situation.
Free fatty acids and oxidized lipids, which are known to cause skin irritation, are released as a result.
Because of this, washing the scalp with shampoo more often keeps the hair healthier and cleaner for longer.
Although the experts warn that your hair type determines the best cleaning routine, more recent study indicates that this may not be the case.
Regardless of hair type, a study indicated that washing every other day improved hair cleanliness and reduced itching, dryness, and dandruff.
Thick, curly hair has traditionally been advised to be washed less regularly than thin, straight hair.
But according to a 2023 study, more frequent washing actually helped all kinds of hair.
Participants reported improvements in dandruff, dryness, itching, and cleanliness when they washed their hair on alternate days.
This even applied to “type-4” coily or Afro-textured hair, which individuals are typically told not to wash too often.
Crucially, the participants who washed their hair the least frequently before to the start of the trial showed the greatest benefits, according to the researchers.
These results contradict the notion that using shampoo more frequently will harm hair by removing beneficial oils, resulting in drier strands.
More frequent washing did not result in more hair damage, according to both studies.
The Procter & Gamble study actually discovered that participants’ hair held onto more moisture than less frequently cleaned hair.
The gains were greater for those who washed their hair less regularly before switching to more frequent cleansing. This implies that shampooing your hair more frequently is much healthier for it.
Similarly, when compared to a baseline of shampooing once a week, people who shampooed every day did not exhibit any variations in levels of internal lipids, which are good for hair.
Experts do warn, though, that you still need to exercise caution to avoid damaging your hair by washing it more frequently.
Dermatologist Dr. Antonella Tosti of the University of Miami told the Daily Mail: “The scalp, not the hair fiber itself, is what is important to wash frequently.”
“It’s crucial to use conditioners to protect the hair shaft because excessive washing can harm the hair fiber.”
