Can hair be washed daily? Some people wash their hair every day to keep it fresh; Some people also say that washing hair too often will lead to increased dandruff and increased oily hair? How often is it best to wash your hair? Will washing your hair every day hurt your hair? What is the best frequency to wash hair?
In 2021, the medical journal Skin Appendage Disord published a study on the effect of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair condition.
The results of the study confirmed that the number of times you wash your hair is related to scalp health and hair condition.
The research experiment selected 1500 Chinese, male and female, hair length variety, dry and oily, age range 18~75 years old, and have a healthy scalp.
Without any treatment or intervention, the 1,500 people were divided into 5 groups according to the frequency of washing their hair: ≤ 1 time/week (7 days without hair or only once), 2 times/week, 3-4 times/week, 5-6 times/week and 7 times/week (once a day).
After a 2-week comparative study, three results were obtained, washing hair every day compared with not washing hair for 7 days: first, the more you wash, the less scalp and itching; Second, the more you wash, the better the scalp feels; Third, the frequency of washing hair has increased, and the hair quality has not been significantly damaged.
Contrast 7 days without washing hair (top) versus washing hair every day (bottom).
So, what is the best frequency to wash your hair? Of course, it is still necessary to determine each person's own situation, and summarize some conclusions based on the results of the experiment:
1. Choose the shampoo frequency according to the individual scalp and hair quality. If your hair tends to become oily or dandruff is noticeable, you need to shampoo more often, such as washing your hair every day or every other day; For people with oily hair and less dandruff, they can wash their hair less frequently. Recommendation: Oily hair: wash your hair every 1-2 days; Dry hair: Wash your hair every 3-4 days.
2. Using a well-formulated, gentle shampoo will not cause damage to the hair. Even washing your hair frequently will not affect the lipids inside the hair.
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Many people do not wash their hair correctly!
1. Apply conditioner to the roots
Miao Yong, deputy chief physician of plastic and aesthetic surgery at Southern Hospital of Southern Medical University, who specializes in hair transplantation and hair loss treatment research, reminded in a Health Times article in 2017 that when applying conditioner, apply it to 1~2 cm away from the hair root, and do not rub the scalp. Because conditioner can only care for hair, if it remains on the scalp and is not washed clean, it is easy to clog the hair follicles, causing hair loss.
2. Apply conditioner for a long time
It is best not to take more than 5 minutes to care for your hair with conditioner, because the moisturizing effect of the conditioner is not proportional to the time it is used. Dr. Miao Yong explained that for too long, the conditioner will stick to the hair and become difficult to clean, and these unclean "residue" conditioners are especially easy to make your hair dusty, and over time it will also block the hair follicles.
3. The water temperature is too high when washing your hair
The temperature of the shampoo should not be too high, but not too low, the most suitable temperature is between 38 °C ~ 40 °C. Dr. Miao Yong said that washing hair with too hot water not only does not wash the hair cleaner, but also irritates the scalp, hurts the hair follicles, and makes them produce more oil; If this is the case for a long time, hair loss may occur.
The "Chinese Skin Cleansing Guide" issued by the Skin Beauty Business Development Working Committee of the Dermatologist Branch of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association in 2016 also pointed out that the water temperature of the shampoo is slightly higher than the body temperature, and it is advisable not to exceed 40 °C, and the time to wash the hair is about 5-7 minutes.
4. Scratch your scalp with your fingernails
There are many people who like to wash their hair and prefer nails to scratch their scalp, and Ran Yuping, chief physician of the Department of Dermatology and Venereology of West China Hospital of Sichuan University, reminded in an article in the Chengdu Business Daily Sichuan Famous Medical Journal in 2021 that such a practice actually hurts the scalp the most. Nails are generally sharp, easy to hide dirt, scratching hard can easily hurt the scalp, causing infection, folliculitis and other problems, which in turn causes or aggravates scalp diseases (such as hair loss). When washing your hair, use the fingertips of your fingers to gently rub and massage your scalp.
5. Rub your hair with a towel after washing
Many people like to dry their hair by rubbing their hair with a towel after washing their hair. Dr. Ran Yuping reminded that rubbing this action is very easy to hurt the hair scales, and too much force will cause the hair to break and fall out. The correct way is to wrap the hair with a towel and squeeze it repeatedly so that the towel absorbs excess moisture from the hair.
6. The hair dryer is too close to the hair
After washing, use a hair dryer to blow the hair temperature, do not be too high, and do not get too close to the hair. Too high a temperature and too close a distance can cause hair damage.
7. Don't pull hard when combing your hair
When washing and combing your hair, don't pull it hard. There are often knots in the hair, and hard pulling not only hurts the hair, but also hurts the scalp. When combing long hair, comb the ends of the hair first, then comb the middle of the hair, divide it in order from bottom to top, and slowly comb it apart. Avoid using plastic combs, which are prone to static electricity.
(Health Times)