Washing your hair regularly is necessary to remove the buildup of dirt, oils, and hair products, but many stylists actually recommend not washing your hair every day, because shampoo can strip the hair of its natural oils. Answer these questions to figure out how often you should wash your hair:
Is your hair oily or dry?
Oil glands in the scalp produce sebum, which travels down the hair shaft to lubricate your hair and keep it healthy. Hair can get especially oily during puberty, when you’re PMSing, or if you’re taking certain hormones. People with oily hair should consider washing their hair daily or at least every other day. If your hair is dry, it may be a sign that it's damaged. Look for shampoos specifically formulated for dry hair, which will coat the hair shafts, fill in damaged areas, and help your hair look and feel smoother and more manageable. Try Garnier Fructis Moisture Works Fortifying Shampoo and Conditioner.
Do you process your hair?
Chemical processing, such as perming, relaxing, bleaching, and coloring, as well as heat processing, like blow-drying, hot-curling, and flat-ironing, can make hair more fragile. Repeated wetting and drying can also weaken hair, so if your hair is damaged, you should consider washing it no more than every other day.
Is your hair short or long, curly or straight?
Short hair and long, fine hair both get greasy fast because there's less surface area for the scalp’s natural oils to spread to, so it should be washed daily, or at least every other day. If you have curly, coiled, or coarse hair, it's more difficult for the oil to migrate down the shaft, so shampooing just once or twice a week can be enough.
Do you use a lot of hair products?
If you do, they can build up and make it easier for dirt, dust, and pollution to stick to your hair, so try to wash your hair every day. Regular washing will help prevent buildup and make your hair easier to style.
Do you have a scalp rash?
Seborrheic dermatitis, aka dandruff, is caused by an overgrowth of yeast that feeds on scalp oils. In fact, the flakes that appear to be “dry” scalp are often yeast overgrowth. If you have a scalp rash, wash your hair daily to reduce both oils and yeast, and try an over-the-counter medicated shampoo like Nizoral or Selsun Blue.
