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Your haircare routine is something that should be highly personalized to you and the needs of your hair. The products you use and how frequently you wash your hair are dependent on your hair type and how greasy your scalp gets, but unbeknownst to you, how often you shampoo could actually be aggravating hair issues. We asked an expert for a rundown on just how often you should actually be washing your hair, and this is what he had to say.
If you’re washing your hair everyday, there’s a chance you’re actually making things much worse for your scalp. Dove Hair Stylist Mark Townsend explains, “Shampooing too frequently can strip the hair of its natural oils, which help keep our strands moisturized. When the hair is stripped of its natural oils, it can become dryer and more brittle. I tell my clients to wash their hair every 2-3 days to avoid drying out the hair. For days between washes, dry shampoo is your best friend!”
Washing your hair everyday can also lead to fallout, as your strands are weak and brittle from the constant attention. Townsend notes, “The constant, aggressive scrubbing of the scalp could cause strands to fall out or break more frequently than they would if you washed your hair every few days or once a week. I really like Dove Hair Therapy Breakage Shampoo because it actually strengthens the hair follicles and prevents breakage.”
Shampooing too frequently can have another surprising effect on your scalp--one that you’re likely already struggling with if you feel the need to wash so often. “[Shampooing too often] can actually cause more oil production in the scalp. While this may seem counterintuitive (we would think to wash our hair more if it's oily or greasy), over-shampooing strips hair of its natural oils, which can cause the oil glands on the scalp to over-produce, compensating for the lost natural oils. This overproduction of oil can lead to buildup on the scalp, causing itchiness or dandruff,” Townsend explains. To solve this issue, he recommends Dove’s charcoal-infused clarifying shampoo, which can help eliminate product buildup and purify hair at the scalp.
If you’re having trouble getting your hair to last in between washes, a good dry shampoo is the key to fixing your hair woes. In fact, Townsend says that second day hair can actually look even better styled than freshly washed locks. While it may be difficult at first to adjust to your new washing scheduling, over time your hair will benefit from a less intensive cleansing cycle. You can still take daily showers (in fact, it’s encouraged!) but save the shampoo and conditioner treatment for every 2-3 days for better, stronger strands overall.
