Is it bad to wash your hair every day?
Q: I’ve heard that washing your hair every day strips it of its natural oils, making it dry, brittle and causing scalp irritation. Is that true? And what if I exercise regularly?
Whether you need to soap up daily depends on a number of factors, said Dr. Murad Alam, vice chair of the department of dermatology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Among them, he said, are the texture of your hair, how greasy it gets, how processed it is, your lifestyle and your age.
Shampoo cleanses your scalp and hair by removing environmental contaminants such as dirt and pollen, as well as dandruff, sweat and hair care products.
It also dissolves sebum, an oily, waxy substance produced by the sebaceous glands near your hair follicles. Sebum keeps your scalp from getting too dry, said Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, an assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, protects the skin from infection.
But when sebum builds up, she said, it can cause problems.
When to wash daily
Using shampoo every day, said Dr. Alam, may be the right choice for those with oilier scalps where sebum can accumulate, leaving hair limp, greasy and possibly smelly.
Those with fine hair, said Dr. Alam, may also notice that it gets greasy faster as there is less hair to absorb the oil. For them, a daily lather may be warranted.
Daily washing may also be necessary, added Dr. Alam it, if you frequently use products like gels or hair sprays, which can build up on your scalp and cause irritation – or even stunt hair growth by clogging hair follicles.
When to avoid daily shampooing?
Not all hair textures can tolerate a daily wash, said Dr. Ingleton, inclusive curly or curly hair, which can dry out, become brittle or break if washed daily or even every few days. If you’re black, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends washing your hair every week or every other week.
Dr. Shereene Idriss, a dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology in New York City, has stricter washing recommendations no matter how fine or oily hair is.
“When it comes to the health of your scalp, I don’t recommend washing your hair regularly every day,” said Dr. Idriss, adding that this could lead “to irritation, inflammation and other scalp issues.”
Chemical treatments such as hair colors And relaxers can make the hair shaft more susceptible to damage, said Dr. Alam. He recommended washing chemically treated hair two to three times a week.
For example, certain medications such as statins, antihistamines and diuretics can also make the skin and scalp dry, said Dr. Alam. If you take them, he added, wash your hair with a gentle shampoo that contains moisturizers to prevent dryness and irritation.
It may also be helpful to shampoo with warm rather than hot water, as lathering with hot water can remove too much oil from the scalp, said Dr. Alam.
“While it may seem like the scalp is squeaky clean and oil-free optimally, keep in mind that the scalp is a living part of your body and not a plate in your dishwasher,” said Dr. Alam.
Age can also determine your washing schedule, said Dr. Alam. Sebum production is usually slow during early childhood, ramps up during puberty, stabilizes during adulthood, and gradually slows down after age 70. So if you are older, your scalp may be drier and you may not need to exfoliate daily.
What to do if you exercise regularly
If you usually exercise and you’re an excessive sweater, said Dr. Alam, the salt from the sweat can clog your pores and hair follicles. That may require a daily wash or rinse “to clear out the salt and secretions,” he said. “If you don’t at least rinse your hair afterwards, you can get an inflammation of your hair follicles, which is called folliculitis, and pimples on your scalp.”
This becomes even more important if you have oily hair, Dr. Idriss said. You may have to wash it every day, she added, but you don’t always have to shampoo.
“Alternating a shampoo wash with a water rinse every other day can help minimize stripping your scalp of oil,” said Dr. Idriss. And drenching your hair with plain water, she added, “may be enough to get you through to the next day.”
If you just can’t skip the shampoo, Dr. Idriss, opt for a mild formula with “sulfate-free” or “gentle” claims on the label, and avoid hot water and excessive scrubbing, both of which can irritate skin. scalp.
As for drying, Dr. Alam to air dry whenever possible, “which is least traumatic for your hair.”
If you wash your hair every day and your scalp isn’t irritated, your hair isn’t dry or brittle, and you’re not losing hair, said Dr. Alam, “then keep doing what you’re doing.”