How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

Whether you have short, long, or no hair at all, one question always looms: How often should I wash my hair? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. Keep reading to find out the best way to determine how often is right for you.

Are your locks going crazy?

Many of us have been taught that we should shampoo our locks every day. However, this isn’t necessarily the best advice for everyone. How often you need to wash your manes depends on a number of factors, including your hair type, your lifestyle, and the products you use.

For example, if you have oily hair, you may need to wash it more frequently than someone with dry locks. And if you live an active lifestyle or use a lot of styling products, you may also need to shampoo more often. That said, there are a few general guidelines that can help you figure out how often to wash your hair.

If you have normal hair and don’t use many styling products, you can probably get away with shampooing every other day or even every third day. If your locks are on the dry side, you may only need to shampoo them once or twice a week. And if your scalp is particularly oily, you may need to shampoo every day or even twice a day.

Ultimately, the best way to determine how often to wash them is to experiment and see what works best for you.

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We all experience this phenomenon at some time or other, so what do we do?  Tie it up, wear a hat, chuck a sickie?

Did you know that how we feel about our hair is directly related to how we feel about ourselves? There is a definite psychological boost to having a good hair day and it may all be in how often we wash them or not.

In medieval times the populace may only have washed their hair a handful of times a year.  If you were poor, quite possibly less! They used powder to soak up scalp oils and to hopefully suffocate head lice in between washes!

A mixture of ashes, vine stalks, and egg white was used as shampoo; all natural and no processed products with unpronounceable ingredients here!

The general acceptance of shampooing wasn’t until the 1800s and by the turn of the century (1900s that is) it was relatively commonplace for our locks to be washed once a month until an advice columnist for the New York Times suggested that every two weeks was fine. Jumping forward to the 1950’s it was de rigour for ladies to regularly visit the hairdresser weekly for a shampoo and style.

So, How Often Should I Wash My Hair?

Everyone has an opinion on how often you should wash your hair, but what it really boils down to is what is right for you.

General consensus amongst the experts is difficult to find but some interesting snippets to take into consideration regarding how often should I wash them are:

• The longer, thicker, curlier, and more processed your hair is, the longer you should leave it between washes.  The oils don’t travel down the shaft as swiftly so they tend to be less oily.
• If your hair is constantly frizzy and unmanageable, try shampooing less.
• Daily washing, whilst on its own may not necessarily be a problem, can lead to possible overuse of styling products which build up in the hair making it limp and heavy. Also, heated styling appliances such as dryers and straighteners used daily can ultimately do more harm to the hair than the actual washing.  The solution? Wash less and dry naturally occasionally.
• Pick a shampoo and conditioner that is right for your hair type preferably sulphate free. Sulphate free shampoos won’t foam as much as other shampoos but are free from harsh chemicals.  It’s not the foam that does the cleaning, that is just perception about how a shampoo should work.

The idea and movement

There is also a minority movement around those who choose not to wash their hair at all.  The idea is that after a prolonged period of no washing, the locks and scalp will settle down and little maintenance will be required apart from a regular rinse.  I do know a couple of people that have tried this but only lasted about 3 weeks. Apparently, their shoulder-length manes would hold a ponytail without the elastic band!

A couple of maintenance ideas floating around this theory are massaging a paste of bicarb soda and water into the scalp to control the scalp oils, and rinsing with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice. I’m sure most of you will have heard of the old egg shampoo from back in the 70s. Well, they are still around, new and improved, but I like the following idea much better.

Those that purport to survive without ‘washing’ their hair also suggest that cracking a whole egg over your head and giving a good rub does wonder for conditioning your locks. I would suggest for those of you that like a very hot shower to perhaps cool the water for this one, I think raw egg works way better than cooking!

How often should I wash my hair is a very individual thing.

Sometimes life just gets in the way of spending that extra 5 minutes in the shower. Small children that follow you everywhere, even to the toilet, giving a whole new meaning to the words “I’ll just have a quick shower”, or you sleep in and have 10 minutes to get ready for work, coffee in one hand and toothbrush in the other, who has time to wash their hair?

What are some tips for keeping them clean and healthy?

Anyone with hair knows that it can be a real hassle to keep it clean and healthy. Here are a few tips to help you out.

• First, invest in a good shampoo and conditioner that are designed for your type.
• Secondly, make sure that you’re washing them regularly – this could be every day or every other day.
• Thirdly, take the time to give your locks a good brush before you wash them – this will help to remove any tangles and knots.
• Lastly, try to avoid using heat-based styling tools as much as possible, as these can damage your tresses.

By following these tips, you’ll be well on your way to keeping your manes looking their best.

Is there a way to wash your hair without shampoo?

Though it may seem like second nature to us now, shampoo is actually a relatively new invention. Before the 20th century, people typically cleaned their tresses with soap, which could strip away natural oils and leave locks feeling dry and unmanageable.

In the 1920s, a new care product was developed that would change the way we clean our locks forever: shampoo. The shampoo is designed specifically for hair, and it helps to gently cleanse away dirt and build-up without stripping away natural oils. However, shampoo isn’t the only way to clean them.

There are actually a number of alternative washing methods that can be just as effective as shampoo, and they may even be better for your hair in the long run. For example, you can try using a mixture of baking soda and water, or you can use apple cider vinegar as a rinse after shampooing. If you’re looking to ditch shampoo altogether, there are plenty of options out there for you to try.

How often do you wash your hair every day, twice a week, at all?