Dr. Khetarpal says no. “Even with daily exercise, you don't need to wash your hair daily.” She says it's more important to consider your hair type, texture and amount of oil production you usually experience.
Hair Washing Frequency and Tips
“I recommend washing your hair two to three times a week,” Dr. Icecreamwala says. “If your hair is dry, you may only want to wash it twice a week. If it is on the oilier side, every other day is recommended.”
For the average person, every other day, or every 2 to 3 days, without washing is generally fine. “There is no blanket recommendation. If hair is visibly oily, scalp is itching, or there's flaking due to dirt,” those are signs it's time to shampoo, Goh says.
Washing your hair every day can strip away more oil than it should from your hair, which leaves your hair drier and more likely to break. Washing your hair every day can cause dryness, and that makes your hair much more prone to split ends. Split ends are the enemy of happy and healthy curls!
It's not uncommon for people to wash their hair with astringent shampoo on a daily basis. All of this cleaning can lead to dry, damaged hair.
Daily shampooing removes oils that are healthy, to some degree, but a too-oily scalp can nourish fungus that causes seborrhea, a condition that leaves the scalp itchy and scaly. If your scalp is naturally oily or you work out daily, washing once a day may be right for you.
Use dry shampoo and use it right
On those unwashed hair days, dry shampoo is definitely your best friend since it's one of the main ways to prolong a regular shampoo. Nothing does the trick of making your hair look clean even when it's not washed.
Depending on your hair type, you can wait three to five days between washes, and we've got the scoop on how to survive the process while you're waiting for sebum production to slow down. We'll admit, the first two weeks are the most difficult, but after about week four, you should see a significant difference.
There are some benefits to not washing your hair, especially if you have dry hair, damaged hair, or tightly curled hair. Depending on your ethnic background, less frequent washing can also help reduce breakage and hair loss.
Water is effective at washing away dirt, dust, and other water-soluble debris from the hair and scalp without stripping the hair of this sebum. However, Mamelak notes that if there are other oils in the hair (from a haircare or styling product, for example), a good portion of these will be left behind as well.
However, daily showers do not improve your health, could cause skin problems or other health issues — and, importantly, they waste a lot of water. Also, the oils, perfumes, and other additives in shampoos, conditioners, and soaps may cause problems of their own, such as allergic reactions (not to mention their cost).
Dermatologists universally agree
The idea of needing to shower every 24 hours is great for soap manufacturers, but most people only need to take a few showers a week, depending upon their activities and environment.
Jeff Chastain, a hairstylist in New York City, recommends that women get their shampooing down to once or twice a week. Less washing, he said, means stronger and longer hair. And women with curls need not wash their hair as often as others.
A dermatologist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating the skin, hair, and nails. Dermatologists care for people of all ages.
Your dermatologist will prescribe medication to help with hair loss. Topical minoxidil, commonly called Rogaine, can help with hair growth and thickness. In some cases, your doctor will prescribe Finasteride in oral form.
Your hair could smell nasty or stop growing
Prolonged periods of not washing can cause cause buildup on the scalp, damaging hair and even impeding its ability to grow, Lamb said. Grime from dirt, oil and hair product can show up within four to six days for people with finer, straighter hair.
Lifestyle and diet changes to fix oily hair
Your diet should consist of foods rich in vitamin B, especially B2 and B6. It is believed that these components in your diet can help keep your sebum production in control. So, consider adding foods like leafy vegetables, pulses, and seaweed.
Those with fine or thin hair, however, may find their hair looks greasy after just one day. It's all to do with the amount of oil your scalp produces, as well as how well your hair can carry that oil.
This is a process, and your scalp will need time to adjust. We recommend starting by adding a day in between each wash until it feels natural. This may take about a week or so, depending on how heavy your shampoo and conditioner are. Every time that your scalp feels adjusted, add another day in between washes!
Recently, many have switched to co-washes, washing with just conditioner, or using household items like apple cider vinegar and baking soda. These products sufficiently clean hair, but will keep more of its natural moisture intact.
Fortunately, you can actually train your hair to reduce its oil production. When you develop a routine that eliminates daily washing, your hair “learns” it won't be losing those useful oils so often.
Not only does washing your hair frequently enough for your hair type keep your scalp healthy and clean, but it can also boost hair growth and help you achieve certain styles easier.
Many salons include a shampoo in the price of a haircut service. If that's the case at your salon, there's usually no need to wash your hair first. But if a shampoo isn't included with your haircut, your stylist expects you to come in with reasonably clean hair.