According to Popular Science China, recently, topics such as #How often are you used to washing your hair##When is it appropriate to wash your hair in winter## and other topics have repeatedly appeared on the hot search and sparked heated discussions.
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Some netizens believe that you should wash your hair every day, otherwise it will be easy to get oily. Some netizens also feel that it is easy to lose hair when washing hair every day, so it should be washed once every three to five days. Some netizens suggested that the time for washing hair should be changed from morning to evening, and washing in the morning is easy to get a headache.
However, some netizens said that washing their hair at night and sleeping without dry hair are more likely to cause colds, headaches and other discomforts.
So, when and how often is the right time to wash your hair? Today, we will analyze them one by one to understand the correct posture for washing hair.
How often should I wash my hair?
The answer to this question depends on the quality of the hair, the weather, and your preferences and habits. If you have oily hair or have a lot of dandruff, then it is recommended to wash your hair more frequently, or if you are prone to sweating in summer, then you can also wash your hair more frequently, and even wash your hair every day.
So, will washing your hair every day cause damage to your hair?
In 2021, a study published in the medical journal Skin Appendage Disorders on the effect of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair condition found that washing your hair every day was associated with less itching on your scalp and no visible damage to your hair than not washing your hair for 7 days.
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It is important to note that although you wash your hair every day, it does not mean that you must use shampoo and conditioner every day, and you can only wash your hair with water every other day, depending on the situation. This not only removes stains from the hair and scalp, but also maintains and regulates the balance of oil, leaving the hair clean, shiny and elastic. There are also concerns about whether washing hair every day will lead to severe hair loss, and there is no scientific basis for this fear. As long as you do it right, washing your hair every day won't be worse than washing less hair. Of course, this does not mean that everyone needs to wash their hair every day, people with normal or dry hair, people with less oily hair and dandruff, the frequency of washing hair should be appropriately reduced, and it can be adjusted to wash 2~4 times a week. The above are suggestions based on hair type and weather conditions, if you have your own hair washing frequency and are well adapted, and your hair is clean and healthy, you can continue to wash your hair at a frequency that you are used to. Summary: Oily hair: It is recommended to wash it every 1~2 days. Normal & Dry Hair: It is recommended to wash every 2~4 days.
Is it better to wash your hair in the morning or at night?
Some people think that washing their hair in the morning is easy to cause headaches, while others think that washing their hair at night will cause headaches. The answer to this question is: you can wash your hair in the morning and evening, but there are a few things you need to pay attention to. Some people get up early in the morning and wash their hair immediately, and they will experience dizziness, which is actually because the blood pressure and blood circulation have not fully recovered after getting up in the morning. There are also some people who are in a hurry to go to work and school after washing their hair in the morning, and their hair and scalp are still wet and go out, and when the cold wind blows, their hair and scalp are stimulated at the same time. People who wash their hair in the morning are advised to try to avoid both of these situations. There are also people who wash their hair at night and go to bed without waiting for their hair to dry, which may cause problems such as damaged hair, colds, headaches, etc. This situation should also be avoided as much as possible, do not wash your hair at night before going to bed, and reserve a period of air-drying time for your hair.
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Suggestion: If you have already experienced the above situation, it is recommended not to wash your hair as soon as you get up, but brush your teeth, wash your face, go to the toilet, and wait for the blood circulation to return to the level it should be before washing. After washing your hair, allow it to air dry or blow dry before going outside or going to bed. If you have never experienced the above, then wash it when it is convenient for you.
8 misconceptions about shampooing your hair
Everyone will have some small preferences when washing their hair, but there are 8 common small habits that may cause damage to the scalp and hair, and everyone should pay attention to avoid them.
1
Do not comb your hair before washing it
If the hair is not soft before washing the hair, and there is a phenomenon of unkempt and knotted, especially for people with long hair, you should first comb the hair with a comb with a wide tooth gap and a round head, and then wash your hair, which can reduce hair loss when washing your hair. In addition, a lot of dirt and dust are hidden deep in the hair, so combing your hair before washing your hair can comb out some dirty things first, which can reduce the amount of shampoo and water, and also reduce the irritation of the scalp.
2
The water temperature is too high or too low
The water temperature of washing hair should be about 35~38 degrees, and the body feels warm, neither cold nor hot. Some people who have a lot of dandruff and itchy scalp like to wash their hair with high-temperature hot water, and feel that the hot water is comfortable to wash, and the effect of anti-dandruff and itching is better. In fact, hot water can not only damage the hair, but also take away too much oil, making the scalp oily and dandruff worse. It is also not recommended to wash your hair with too cold water, because it is easy to cause headaches and colds in winter, and it is not easy to wash off the oil on your scalp and hair if the water temperature is too low.
3
Indiscriminate use of shampoo
It is not advisable to use shampoo indiscriminately, as choosing the right shampoo for your hair type is very important. Generally speaking, people with oily hair are recommended to choose products with strong cleansing ability, not products with moisturizing or repairing functions; people with oily hair are recommended to choose products with dual effects of hair care and oil control; and people with less oily hair or even dry hair are recommended to choose products with strong nutrition and hair care functions; and finally for people with itchy scalp and dandruff, it is recommended to choose products with effective antifungal ingredients.
Image credit: pixabay
4
Apply shampoo directly to your hair
Many people like to apply shampoo directly to their hair when washing their hair, which is wrong. If the shampoo does not come into contact with the water beforehand, it will cause irritation to the scalp and hair if it comes into contact with the hair or scalp without saponification, and it is not easy to wash the hair with an unsaponified shampoo. Suggestion: Squeeze some shampoo in the palm of your hand first, add a small amount of water to rub it, make a rich lather, and then wipe it on your hair, so that your hair will be washed cleaner.
5
Scratch your scalp with your fingernails
Many people like to scratch their scalp with their nails when washing their hair, which is very comfortable, but doing so is easy to scratch the scalp and induce skin diseases such as folliculitis. It is recommended to gently rub the scalp with the fingertips in circles when washing hair.
6
Apply conditioner to your scalp
If conditioner is applied to the scalp, the chemicals in it can easily clog the hair follicles and cause scalp health problems. In addition, it is the newly grown healthy hair that is close to the scalp, and the hair that is close to the ends is aging, split ends, and damaged hair, so it is recommended to start at least 1~2 cm away from the scalp and apply the conditioner in the direction of the hair ends. Brush less at the roots, a little more at the ends, and oily hair with just a few more conditioners on the drier ends.
7
The conditioner stays on for too long
Generally speaking, leave the conditioner on the scalp for 3 minutes to be well absorbed by the hair and repair the damaged hair, and then rinse it off with water after 3 minutes. Remember to rinse well and don't leave conditioner on your scalp and hair, as the residual conditioner can easily adhere to dust, make your hair dirty, and clog the pores on your scalp and cause inflammation.
8
Itchy and dandruff are often caused by insufficient cleaning efforts
Eczema, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis and other skin diseases, as well as excessive stress, nutrient deficiencies, endocrine disorders, etc., will cause dandruff and itching. Malassezia furfur living on the scalp is the main cause of excessive dandruff, which feeds on the oil secreted by the scalp, and if the oil secretion is excessive, Malassezia will overmultiply, causing the metabolism of the epidermal stratum corneum of the scalp to accelerate, forming large areas of dandruff. Therefore, maintaining a balanced production of scalp oil is the best way to avoid excessive dandruff.
bibliography
[1] Supriya Punyani.et al. The Impact of Shampoo Wash Frequency on Scalp and Hair Conditions[J]Skin Appendage Disorders.2021 Apr策划制作