Cutting down’s rarely welcome. Food, beer, and now washing your hair. Turns out your daily hair wash shouldn’t actually be, well, daily. Just think of the money you’ll save on shampoo. Could spend it on that food and beer you’re cutting down on.
By Beth Ludolf
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1 How much is too much?
Shower daily, obviously, but don’t shampoo every day. The point of shampoo is to wash away excess oil, dirt and product buildup. Shampooing before that excess has built up just strips your hair of the natural oils that keep it nourished.
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2 Overwashing makes it greasier
And greasy is no-one’s “thing”. The more you wash your hair, the more you need to wash it. When you strip it of its natural oils (by overwashing), the scalp produces more oil to overcompensate. Vicious cycle, really. Washing it less actually trains your hair to be less oily. Winner.
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3 So, how often should I wash it?
Depends on how it’s looking – and what your other half would say – but no more than 3 times a week is a good guide. If you’re working out every day, a rinse (water, no shampoo) is actually all you need to wash away the sweat. Just massage the scalp under the water and you’re good to go.
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4 What about conditioner?
Yep, conditioner is fine. Great, actually. Using a light conditioner every day keeps your hair hydrated and helps to break down any leftover sweat or dirt after rinsing without shampoo. Just make sure the product isn’t too heavy – “heavy” as in gives you that limp hair. It wasn’t cool in the 90s, and it isn’t now.
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FAQs
How often should you wash your hair with shampoo?
You should shampoo your hair no more than 3 times a week. Shampooing too frequently strips your hair of natural oils and can actually make it greasier over time. Washing it less trains your scalp to produce less oil.
What happens if you wash your hair every day?
Washing your hair daily strips it of its natural oils, causing your scalp to produce more oil and making hair greasier. This leads to a cycle where you feel the need to wash even more often. Limiting shampoo use helps break this cycle and keeps hair healthier.
Can you rinse your hair every day if you work out?
Yes, you can rinse your hair with water only every day if you exercise daily. Just massaging your scalp under water is enough to wash away sweat, and using shampoo each time isn’t necessary.
Is it okay to use conditioner daily without shampoo?
Using a light conditioner every day is not only fine but also helps keep your hair hydrated. It can break down leftover sweat or dirt after rinsing, just make sure the conditioner isn’t too heavy to avoid limp hair.
Why does washing hair less frequently reduce greasiness?
Washing your hair less often allows your scalp to balance its natural oil production, so your hair becomes less oily over time. Overwashing leads the scalp to overcompensate with excess oil, which is why washing less helps control greasiness.