Thursday, May 2, 2024

How Often Should You Wash Your Hair in 2024, According to Experts

how many times should you wash your hair

According to Drouillard, you can generally expect to get what you pay for with hair care, so it can be worth it to devote some extra cash to your hair care routine. If you have hard water, though, your hair may eventually have a filmy, dry texture to it. You’ll know you have hard water if you see film buildup around your shower, sink, and faucets. Unless you apply styling products, your shampoo is only meant to cleanse your scalp. The ends of your hair are the oldest, most fragile portions, and they need special care like added moisture.

If You Need to Shampoo Daily or Every Other Day…

“Triple washing allows you to focus a specific shampoo on a different part of the hair,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Clarifying shampoos can be used at the root, while hydrating, color-safe options should be applied to the length of a hair.” For color-treated hair, we love Moroccan Oil Color Care Shampoo. Incorporate a chemical exfoliant as your first step, perhaps Act+Acre Salicylic Acid Scalp Exfoliator. Reavey explains that this product has salicylic acid, which gently removes product buildup, calms scalp irritation and itch, and addresses conditions like dandruff and psoriasis.

how many times should you wash your hair

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how many times should you wash your hair

There’s a good reason for that, but in your case, washing more often won’t harm your hair or strip it of natural oils. Also, use the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. This can include products designed for color-treated hair or shampoos made for tightly coiled hair. Low porosity means your hair has trouble absorbing moisture because the cuticle layer is tight and flat.

Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair Super Moisture Shampoo

And those white flakes you see can be a sign of seborrheic dermatitis a.k.a. dandruff, which is an SOS from your scalp alerting you that you may need to wash more often with a dandruff shampoo. It also dissolves sebum, an oily, waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands near your hair follicles. Sebum keeps your scalp from becoming too dry, said Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, and protects the skin from infection. Shampoo cleanses your scalp and hair by removing environmental contaminants like dirt and pollen, as well as dandruff, sweat and hair-care products.

Oily or straight hair

“People like foam, but it is not necessary, and no-poo shampoos work quite well.” No-poo can also mean you clean your hair with water or shampoo alternatives such as coconut oil, baking soda or apple cider vinegar. If you shampoo daily, you may be doing more harm than good for your locks. Our experts give you the skinny on exactly how often you should wash your hair. A peskier scalp sensitivity is likely seborrheic dermatitis, says MacGregor, and redness, grease and a scaly texture are telltale signs. To calm a seriously sensitive scalp or a flakey flare-up, she recommends using Nizoral shampoo and let to it soak in for five to 10 minutes.

Hair texture is important in determining how often to shampoo, because “straight hair tends to need more frequent washing versus curly hair,” Holden tells USA TODAY. If you wear your hair in a protective style, such as braids, she recommends spacing the number of days you shampoo to every two or three weeks. If your hair is dyed or damaged, Holden adds that you might need to be more careful with the frequency of hair washes, as hair is fragile when wet.

How Often You Should Wash Your Hair in 2024, According to Experts

Gently massage your scalp in a circular motion while washing to help get rid of any buildup. According to Healthline, if you’re overly elongating the time between hair washes, excess sebum you’ve accumulated on your scalp will clog hair follicles, causing dandruff. Dandruff, also known as seborrheic dermatitis, is caused by the overgrowth of malassezia, a yeast that lives on the scalp, according to Mayo Clinic. “If you leave it too long in between washes, the yeast will grow and irritate the scalp,” resulting in flaking, inflammation, and a red rash around your hairline, Holden notes. Uyehara says she became a fan of the Moroccanoil Dry Shampoo after getting a few free samples from Sephora — she likes the smell of the formula and the fact that it doesn’t leave a white cast on her dark hair. To help you extend the time between washes, experts we spoke to say that cleansing with a good shampoo will set you up for success, then they suggest using dry shampoo in between cleansing.

A word about dandruff or other conditions

As a result, a person may not need to wash their hair as often. To avoid drying out your ends, you should concentrate the shampoo in your scalp only. Conditioner helps to replenish moisture in the middle and ends of your hair. On the flip side, if your hair feels dry, coarse, and frizzy, you may need to scale back the number of times you wash it. "Washing your hair is not a one-size-fits-all process," says Erinn Courtney, a hairstylist and natural hair expert in Los Angeles.

“Some simply react to it and produce inflammation that leads to flaking,” Dr. Goldenberg explains. “And some things make it worse, such as harsh chemical treatments and shampoos, stress and poor diet.” Frequent washing with a regular shampoo is the best way to get rid of dandruff. After shampooing natural hair, it is important to treat your hair to a nourishing conditioner to lock in hydration and moisture and protect the hair from environmental factors that can be very damaging. Keep the washes to once or twice a week, but make them really count by taking your time to wash and protect against dryness. Thick hair tends to be naturally dry, which causes the strands "to expand and make the hair fuller," says Fekkai.

Now, if you’ve got a head full of natural curls, you may think that curly hair tends to be drier than other types. People with type 3 and type 4 hair don’t always have a drier scalp—their scalps can get oily, too. Drouillard strongly advises against using clarifying shampoos more than once a week. She also typically doesn’t recommend two-in-one shampoo and conditioner products, especially if you have an oily scalp. Hair type plays a role in how often a person should wash their hair.

Is It Bad to Wash Your Hair Every Day? Experts Weigh In - Real Simple

Is It Bad to Wash Your Hair Every Day? Experts Weigh In.

Posted: Wed, 29 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Additionally, if you want to extend the number of days between hair washes without compromising your scalp health, Holden recommends a product containing salicylic acid. While “you can't train your sebaceous glands to produce less sebum,” shampoos with salicylic acid are effective at reducing oil production on the scalp, she says. NBC Select’s editorial director Lauren Swanson says this dry shampoo has a lovely scent and made our list of best dry shampoos.

If your hair has lost its shine, that's a good sign it isn't moisturized and needs a break between hair-washing sessions. You may also notice more split ends than usual if you're overwashing your hair since wet hair is more susceptible to damage and breakage. Styling your hair every time you wash it can also lead to damage from too much manipulation. If you are prone to scalp buildup or if you live a more active lifestyle, Eaddy says co-washing is an amazing way to gently cleanse the hair in between wash days while adding hydration and helping bring your curls back to life.

If you notice any issues such as excessive hair loss or scalp flaking no matter how often you wash your hair, you may want to talk to a dermatologist who can help you discover the root of the problem. Conversely, if you shampoo too often, dryness and breakage can wreak havoc on your hair. So, before you reach for that bottle of shampoo in the shower, how often should you really be washing your hair? Also, with an abundance of shampoo options to choose from, what product is best for your hair type? USA TODAY spoke with two experts to break down everything you need to know about finding the right hair care routine.

Now you know how often you should wash your hair according to your hair type and care needs. Take a look below to learn a little more about how often you should wash your hair and tips to have your best hair days ever. If you don’t wash your hair often enough, it starts to look greasy and slick.

Coarse or dry hair, meanwhile, may be better off only being washed once a week to prevent further damage. That really depends on your specific hair type and the shampoo you are using. "Washing your hair daily can cause dryness and breakage, but generally will not cause excessive hair loss," says Angela Styles, a hairstylist in West Hollywood, CA. While some hair types should avoid a daily wash for those reasons, those with super oily hair "can benefit from washing every day because of the amount of oil it produces," Courtney explains.

If you feel like you’re washing your hair the right amount and still have concerns, see your stylist or dermatologist for advice. However, not everyone can last for more than 24 hours without washing their hair. If this sounds familiar to you, then you may have an oily scalp. You can also re-wet your hair and condition it more often, too,” Lamb says. This is sometimes called "co-poo" for using conditioner to shampoo.

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