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For most adults, washing your hair every few days is the right balance.
Most people do not need to wash their hair every day.
Washing your hair too frequently may cause scalp dryness and damage.
Guido Mieth / Getty Images
Do you gotta Wash Your Hair Daily?
Most people do not need to wash their hair daily.
How often you wash your hair is a personal choice, and several factors must be considered.
When washing your hair:
What Is Sebum?
Sebumis oil produced by the scalp.
Hair needs sebum to stay moisturized and healthy.
For some people, that could be every day.
For others, it could be every couple of weeks.
When exposed to the scalp’s surface, sebum becomes chemically altered in ways that can irritate the scalp.
Microbes on the scalp use these substances for nourishment.
Factors to Consider
1.
Hair punch in
Hair typesaffect how oily your hair becomes and how quickly.
Common hair types include coiled, curly, wavy, and straight.
Your hair may be considered thin or thick.
Curly hair needs sebum to stay moisturized, while straight hair easily becomes coated in oil.
Black people’s hair tends to be fragile and prone to damage.
Frequent washing can be harmful.
Most dermatologists recommend washing once a week or every other week.
Length
The length of your hair may impact how often you wash it.
Long, thick hair needs sebum for moisture; washing it daily could make it dry and frizzy.
Age
Your age affects how much sebum your scalp produces.
Adolescents and young adults usually produce more sebum than children and older adults.The scalp usually gets drier with age.
Most children only need to wash their hair once or twice per week.
Genetics
Genetics and family history can impact how often you wash your hair.
People from families with curly,thick hairmay be able to wash their hair less frequently.
Hair Products
Hair products may include hair spray, gel, cream, or leave-in conditioner.
Hair products help style your hair but may weigh it down and cause it to appear oily.
Some products may also cause scalp irritation or damage.
If you use hair products when styling your hair, you may need to wash it more frequently.
A product build-up in the hair may lead to irritation over time.
If your scalp tends to produce oil quickly, you may need to wash more frequently.
People with excess sebum often need to wash their hair daily or every other day.
If yourscalp is dry, you may want to spread out your washing to prevent further drying.
Time Outside
Spending time outdoors may cause your hair to become dirty faster.
The hair can hold sweat, dirt, and pollen.
Washing hair strips it of oil and can lead to dryness.
Massage shampoo into your roots, and do not apply it to the ends of your hair.
When rinsing, the shampoo will cleanse the length of your hair.
Does Dry Shampoo Work?
Dry shampoo is a hair product that absorbs oil to make hair look clean.
Dry shampoo does not cleanse hair.
It absorbs sebum to prevent the hair from clumping or looking limp.
Washing your hair cleans the hair and removes excess sebum and other buildup from the scalp.
Sebum is oil that the scalp produces to moisturize the skin and hair.
A buildup of sebum can irritate the scalp and cause the hair to appear clumpy and limp.
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