How Often You Should Wash Your Hair? Here Is The Answer

Hygiene is one of the most important things for human beings. Bad hygiene can trigger many diseases and allergies in the human body. However, doing something more than the needed amount can also cause problems. For example, washing your hair daily can have negative effects on your hair. This is the reason why many people wonder, How often you should wash your hair? Well, we have the answer for you, and it might surprise you. Let’s focus on how often you should wash your hair. 

How Often To Wash Hair?

According to a survey conducted in the United States of America, more than 50 million people suffer from dry scalp or dandruff. For this reason, people often ask how often you should wash your hair, which depends on many factors and differs from one person to another. For most people, washing hair 2 or 3 times a week will do the job just fine. However, for some people, this might not be the case. So, let’s find out how often you should wash your hair, how often to shampoo and on what factors your hair wash depends:

1- Age

One of the most significant factors to consider when asking how often you should wash your hair is your age. Depending on your age, the oil scalps in your head will be more or less active. For a young person, the oil glands are much more active than that of an older person and as you age, your oil glands become less active. Moreover, women after menopause see less secretion of oil due to the reduced count of androgens. So, if you are young, washing your head 4 or 5 times a week may be fine. However, if you are a little old, make sure you don’t wash your hair more than 3 times a week. 

2- Type Of Hair

Another important factor in determining how often you should wash your hair is your hair type. Some people have silky straight hair, while some have dry and curly hair, and the answer to how often you should wash your hair differs in each case. Your hair type also depends on your ethnicity. For example, African Americans have dry and curly hair and for them, washing their hair 2 or 3 times a week will do the job just fine. However, if your hair is not dry, you can wash them as much as 4 times a day. But remember, the chemicals in shampoos and conditioners tend to make your hair more fragile. 

3- Exercise And Sweat

How much you sweat, or exercise plays a crucial role in deciding how frequent to wash hair. When you sweat after a session of exercise, your hair gets full of Sebum, which can give it a dry look. However, washing your hair every time you are sweaty can result in dry and fragile hair. The best way to deal with a sweaty scalp is to rinse your hair with plain tap water. This way, you can get rid of all the sebum from your hair and maintain the moisture of your hair. 

4- Hair Length

Long hair tends to get dry easily. This is because the oil glands of your hair are present on your scalp and the oil has to travel all the way from your scalp to the ends of your hair which makes your hair dry and is one of the main reasons for tangles in your hair. If you have hair like this, you might want to put more emphasis on conditioning rather than washing your hair. So, the answer to how often you should wash your hair, in this case, is 2 to 3 times a week. Make sure you use shampoo only on your scalp and not on the ends of your hair. 

5- Styling Products You Use

How often you should wash your hair also depends on the hair styling products you use. Many gels, waxes, and hair sprays dry your hair after repetitive use. However, there are some hair styling products that contain essential oils in them. These products moisturise your hair and give it a more shiny and silky look. Depending on your hair styling product you can either wash your hair 2 times a week or 4 times a week. 

With this section, we have tried to answer your question of how often you should wash your hair. However, many people wash their hair more than recommended. Are you one of them? Here are some signs to know if you are washing your hair too often:

Sign You Are Washing Your Hair Too Often

Now that you know how often to wash hair and how often to shampoo hair, let’s talk about how to know if you’re washing your hair too often. 

One of the best ways to know if you are washing your hair too often is to see the dandruff in your hair. Dry hair with dandruff can be a sign of washing hair too often. If you are experiencing this, you might want to stop using regular shampoo for a while. Using medical, over-the-counter shampoos can benefit you in this condition. More importantly, you should condition and oil your hair to reduce dandruff and dryness. Another sign of washing hair too often is itching in the scalp, which is caused by the dryness itself. 

Don’t Wash Your Hair Daily!

So, the answer to your question of how often you should wash your hair depends on your hair type. However, generally speaking, washing your hair 3 times a week is more than enough to keep your hair and scalp clean. Also, using shampoo every time might not be the best option. Using some alternative shampoo can be a good option. You can use dry shampoos, cleansing conditioners or only water to wash your hair. Also, eating food that contains biotin can improve hair’s health and growth. With this, we conclude our blog on how often you should wash your hair. Feel free to comment and let us know what we should cover in our next blog.