Although I make my own homemade shampoo and even created a better-than-conventional shampoo and conditioner at Wellnesse, I don’t use them every day. How often to wash hair depends on several factors, but there are some big benefits to skipping the daily suds.
Here we’ll explore why too much shampoo can damage hair, how often you need to lather up, and other hair-raising facts.
Lather, rinse, repeat. It’s simple right? We all know what shampoo and conditioner are, but there’s a little more to the story.
Shampoo is designed to cleanse the hair and scalp while restoring things like shine and strength. Most brands however rely on harsh detergents that strip hair of its natural oils. Conditioner is supposed to replenish the oil we just lost, but it often coats the hair with a film of chemicals.
So while it’s important (and feels great) to wash your hair, we’re also disrupting the natural balance of oils and potentially damaging hair and scalp health. Natural shampoo is gentler on hair and scalp, but it does still remove protective oils.
Over-washing hair can cause damage over time to both our hair and scalp. Hair follicles try to compensate by producing more oil, which leads to more washing. This can lead to dry, damaged hair that’s more likely to break and harder to handle.
Too many hair care products, including shampoo, can actually cause hair to age faster. A 2020 study in the international Journal of Cosmetic Science found shampoo and conditioner have some negative consequences. Overuse of these products damaged the hair cuticle and quality.
Other issues come into play too. The popular “no poo” method is natural, but it can be harsh on hair for several reasons. Although it doesn’t use conventional shampoo and conditioner, the method often uses baking soda. Not only is baking soda abrasive to the scalp, but it has a pH of around 9, while our skin is around a 4.5 pH. Some people love it, but for many, no poo is too harsh over time.
Now that we’ve covered all that, what’s the real answer? What’s the magical number of times a week we need to break out the shampoo bottle? It’s not as simple as that and how often you wash your hair depends on several factors.