It’s an immutable ritual: you can’t take a shower without washing your hair. This widespread habit is not ideal, however. But then, how many times a week should you shampoo? Daily, every other day, once or twice a week at most… It is sometimes difficult to find a unanimous answer to this question. Dr. Anthony Rossi, dermatologist and member of the American Academy of Dermatology gave his opinion on the subject in the columns of CNN.
Wash your hair once or twice a week, the ideal frequency
“Some people think they have to wash their hair every day. They may not tolerate not washing their hair for too long a period of time because they feel like their scalp is becoming very oily.“, explains Dr. Anthony Rossi. However, this seemingly harmless habit is in reality not recommended. The cause? Too frequent washing.”can dry out and dull hair“, he explains.
According to the dermatologist, it is advisable to wash once or twice a week. And in some cases, you should even limit yourself to less than once a week. “If you’ve had chemical treatments that can make your hair drier, like bleaching, perming, or straightening, it’s best to wash your hair less than once a week to avoid brittle or split ends.“.
Washing your hair: different advice depending on the nature of your hair
Curly, curly, straight… How often you should wash your hair depends on several factors, particularly the type and style of your hair as well as your activity level. Indeed, the dermatologist specifies that if you practice regular physical activity, it is not useful to systematically wash your hair, “unless there is an overgrowth of bacteria or your hair or scalp starts to smell bad.”. Likewise, for people who have curly or frizzy hair, the American Academy of Dermatology explains that hair may be more prone to becoming dry or breakage if washed too often: “Thick, curly hair generally doesn’t need to be washed every day or even every week“, we can read.
But then, what about dry shampoos? According to the dermatologist, most dry shampoos are considered safe for hair, but you should not use them too often, as Dr. Rossi says. “If you have very oily hair, this is good in a pinch. But you have to wash them. You don’t want it to build up on the scalp.”
How often should you wash your hairbrush?
Having clean hair and styling it with an uncleaned brush is obviously counterproductive. But how often should you wash this styling accessory? In an interview previously given to Current wifeDr. Nina Roos, dermatologist, answered this question: “We wash the hairbrush every 15 days, especially if it gets dusty”, she explained. Enough to have impeccable hair hygiene and healthy hair!
Sources:
- The truth about how often you should wash your hair, CNN, June 2023
- 6 curly hair care tips from dermatologists, American Academy of Dermatology