How Often Is it Okay to Wash Your Hair for Your Hair Type?
It’s become the great debate of a generation. How often should you wash your hair? There is fierce debate on the topic, with some camps claiming you should never put suds to hair more than twice a week. Others are staunchly in the “wash every single day” camp. Who should you believe? That may depend on what type of hair you have.
What Does Shampoo Do?
Shampoos are cleansing agents that trap oil and dirt residues when you lather up. When you rinse out the suds, you are also rinsing away the oil and dirt. While dirt and product residue comes from the environment, the oil comes from within. Skin, including the scalp, produces a natural oil called sebum. This oil helps moisturize the skin and provides a natural protective barrier. Sebum produced by the scalp also coats the hair and keeps it from drying out. When hair is dry, it can be prone to damage and breakage. Shampoo doesn’t discriminate between dirt and oil; it cleans everything. Therefore, when you wash your hair, you are not only removing dirt, but you’re also stripping away the hair’s natural protective oil barrier.
Washing by Hair Type
When it comes to washing hair, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Hair is as unique as the person it is attached to. Some hair types may need daily scrubbing, while others can manage to go almost an entire week without soap and water. Before you ditch the shampoo bottle, consider your hair type:
Fine or Oily Hair
If you have fine or limp hair or you skip a day shampooing, and it looks like the Exon-Valdez ran aground on your head, you may need to wash daily. Some people produce more sebum than others or have more oil glands on their scalp. The production of all this oil can leave hair feeling greasy, unmanageable, and looking limp and dull. Shampooing daily may be needed to help remove the excess oil. For people with oily hair, try using dry shampoo if you skip a wash. It can help absorb excess oil. If your ends feel dry, try keeping the bulk of the suds on your scalp.
Medium Hair
For those with average to medium hair, you can typically get away with washing your hair every other day or every few days. Dry shampoo can help extend the time you can avoid a wash but be sure to scrub every few days to reduce product build-up on the scalp.
Coarse Hair, Curls, and Coils
Hair that is coarse, thick, curly, or has coils needs less washing than other hair types. Typically, people with these hair types produce less oil. Even for those who do produce more sebum, the texture of thick or curly hair tends not to show “greasiness” in the form of limp hair. These types of hair also tend to be more likely to become damaged and break. For these reasons, it is best not to wash this type of hair too often. Some may find that once or twice a week is enough. For those with type 3a to 4c hair, shampooing every two weeks may be sufficient.
Remember, the frequency with which you wash your hair can also depend on your lifestyle and environment. If you exercise, live in an area with heavy air pollution, or it’s hot and humid, you may need to shampoo more frequently. Also, take a cue from your hair. If it feels dry and brittle, skip a day. Looking dull and limp? Give it a good scrub. Just remember, shampooing is important. Your scalp is skin, and it needs to be cleaned and pampered just like the skin on the rest of your body for it to stay healthy.
Need a little scalp pampering? Turn to the team at Therapy Hair Studio in Houston. Our team of highly trained stylists can wash, dry, cut, and style. Whether you want to transform your look or give yourself some extra TLC, schedule an appointment with Therapy Hair Studio today. Call (713) 355-HAIR.