Dr. Murad Alam, Associate Professor of Dermatology at Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University (USA), said that whether washing your hair every day is harmful or not depends on a number of factors such as hair structure, the amount of lubricant, the washing process, your living habits and age.
According to The New York Times, shampoo cleans the scalp and hair by removing environmental pollutants such as dirt and pollen, as well as dandruff, sweat and hair care products. It also dissolves sebum, a substance produced by sebaceous glands near hair follicles.
Dr. Rosemarie Ingleton, clinical assistant professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York (USA), said that sebum helps keep your scalp from getting too dry and protects it. skin from infection. But if sebum builds up, it can cause problems.
According to Medical News Today for most people washing your hair is not necessary to have health well. Simply rinsing your hair with water a few times a week will remove most visible dirt and dandruff. The decision about how often to wash your hair is a matter of personal preference.< /p>
People with very dry hair do not need to wash their hair every day or even every other day. Instead, washing their hair less often will help preserve the natural oils on the scalp and keep it well moisturized Washing your hair weekly or even every other week may be enough for people with very dry hair.
Hair is more susceptible to dryness when thick, curly aging hair is treated with chemicals, for example. such as dyes or chemical relaxers.
Oily hair can look greasy a few hours after washing, especially in the summer or after exercise. People with oily hair may choose to wash their hair every day or every other day.
Most people fall somewhere in between these extremes and can wash their hair 2 to 5 times per week depending on their needs. their personal preferences.
When should you wash your hair every day?
Dr. Alam said using shampoo every day could be an option. suitable for those with oilier scalps where sebum can build up making hair greasy and possibly smelly.
You may also need to wash your hair daily if you use it regularly products like hairspray can build up on the scalp and cause irritation or even hinder hair growth by clogging hair follicles.
When Which hair should not be washed daily?
According to Dr. Ingleton, not all hair structures can withstand daily washing, which can cause dry hair to become brittle. or break if washed every day or even every few days.
Dr. Shereene Idriss, dermatologist and founder of Idriss Dermatology New York (USA), gives stricter recommendations for shampooing regardless of how thin or greasy the hair is.
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She usually does not advise people to wash their hair every day because it can lead to irritation, inflammation and other scalp problems.
Meanwhile, according to Dr. Alam, the methods Chemical hair treatments such as hair dyes and relaxers can make the hair shaft more susceptible to damage. Therefore, for chemically treated hair, he recommends washing hair 2-3 times a week.
Some medications such as statins, antihistamines and diuretics can also increase the condition. dry skin and scalp. So if you are taking these medications, wash your hair with a mild shampoo containing moisturizers to avoid dryness and irritation.
It may also help to wash your hair with warm water instead of hot water because lathering with hot water can remove too much oil from the scalp.
According to him, age can also determine your shampooing schedule. Sebum production is usually slow during childhood, increases sharply during puberty, stabilizes in adulthood and slows down after age 70. So if you are older your scalp may be drier and may not need to be washed every day.
What to do if you exercise regularly?
Dr. Alam said if you regularly exercise and Sweating too much salt from sweat can clog pores and hair follicles. Therefore, you need to wash your hair to remove salt and secretions to avoid folliculitis.
Dr. Idriss adds that this becomes even more important if you have oily hair. You may need to wash your hair every day, but you don’t always need to use shampoo.
“Washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner every day can help minimize flaking oil on your scalp. And wetting your hair with plain water may also be an option for you,” the expert emphasizes.
If you can’t skip washing your hair, choose a gentle formula that says “sulfate-free” or “gentle” on the label, and avoid using hot water and scrubbing too hard. Both can irritate the scalp.
Regarding blow drying Dr. Alam recommends letting your hair dry naturally whenever possible as this causes the least damage to your hair.< /p>
“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, then keep doing what you’re doing,” says Dr. Alam.
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