There is often a debate about the right frequency for washing your hair. Is it better to wash your hair every day? Or is it better to only do it when it's really oily? In this article, we will look in more detail at how to wash your hair. In practice, there is no one-size-fits-all advice.
Is there a difference between women and men?
You may be wondering how often a man should wash his hair and whether this is any different from the ladies. However, it is not that simple, and it is certainly not true that men should wash their hair less often than women.
In practice, what matters most is what kind of hair type you have and what you do during the day. If you play sports or are in a dusty environment, for example, you're likely to have a higher need to wash your hair than if you're just at home or in the office all day.
How often you should wash your hair depending on its type
When deciding on the right frequency to wash your hair, you can look at the basic needs of each hair type. But of course, the following recommendations are rather general, and you should always decide according to the current external factors. If you spend an evening by a campfire or apply a lot of hairsprays, you'll probably want to wash your hair as soon as possible.
Fine hair
For fine and fragile hair, washing every other day is recommended. This will prevent the build-up of grease and dirt in the hair. Their superfluity could make the hair look even finer than it actually is, and also cause its breakage.
Normal to strong hair
This type of hair can usually tolerate less frequent washing than fine hair. Therefore, the optimal frequency of washing is twice a week. Choose your shampoo according to whether you have dry or oily hair.
Tight to coarse hair
Coarse and tight hair generally needs a lot of sebum to look good and smooth. That's why you don't need to wash it too often and washing it only once a week will do.
Curly hair
How to wash curly hair? It can be fine, normal or coarse. So, depending on what type of hair you have, decide on the right frequency of washing it.
Hair with extensions
If you've decided to add length to your hair, sooner or later you'll have to decide on how to wash your hair extensions. The important thing to remember is that you shouldn't wash your hair extensions for about 48 to 72 hours after application. After that, you can usually just reach for a shampoo twice a week. Be careful when massaging the scalp and hair to avoid breaking the hair extension joints.
What can improper frequency of washing cause?
Washing your hair too often deprives it of its natural oils. In this case, there is a risk that you will dry them unnecessarily and the hair will tend to break.
On the other hand, if you don't wash your hair often enough, a lot of sebum and dirt will accumulate on your scalp. This causes clogging of the hair follicles, which can lead to dandruff and general skin irritation.
Dry scalp shampoo: yes, or no?
You may be thinking that you can prolong the time between washes by using dry scalp shampoo. But beware. You should only use this product as a lifesaver in the most urgent situations. In fact, frequent use can do more harm to your hair and scalp.
Although the ingredients in dry shampoo are great at fighting grease, they clog the pores of the skin. The scalp cannot breathe, and dandruff sets in. Likewise, hair can lose its shine and overall vitality. If you already use dry shampoo, it is recommended to wash your hair as soon as possible in the conventional “wet” way to get rid of the product.
In short, your hair needs to be washed in a way that suits you to achieve a beautiful and healthy look. Keep in mind that each person's hair washing frequency is individual and it is influenced not only by your hair type, but also by external factors such as perspiration, the environment or the amount of styling products used.
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