We all take a bath every day to keep ourselves clean and fresh. But what about the hair? Does it need to be washed every day or is it enough once a week? These are some of the most frequently asked questions about hair washing. A senior dermatologist has the right answers for you! Read on to find out if you’re making any hair washing mistakes.
Health Shots connected with Dr Swati Mohan, Senior Consultant, Dermatology, Fortis Escorts Hospital, Faridabad, to find out how much is too much when it comes to hair washing.
How often should you wash your hair?
There can be side effects of washing your hair every day. Dr. Mohan says you can wash your hair every two or three days, depending on your lifestyle. This means that if you are someone who goes to the gym and sweats a lot, you can wash your hair every other day. The truth is that there is no filter recommendation that you must wash your hair after 48 hours or 72 hours. If you itch or if you see flakes on your scalp, especially due to sweating, you need to wash your hair whenever possible.
It also depends on your shampoo when you wash your hair. If it’s a very mild shampoo or if it’s a sulfate-free shampoo, you may sometimes need to wash your hair more often than with the ZPTO anti-dandruff shampoo. But washing your hair once a week is not a good idea. It is not healthy for your hair and you will end up with hair loss due to sweat, dust and dirt, says the expert.
Common hair washing mistakes
There are many reasons for hair loss, and the way you wash your hair is one of them. Dr Mohan says she deals with many cases of hair loss, which is usually due to the hair care products and the way people wash their hair.
1. Use harsh shampoos
Your shampoo should not be very strong and you should invest in a sulfate-free shampoo. Such shampoos help retain moisture in your hair, so this helps keep your curls soft.
2. Use warm water
Using hot water is something that many women do during the winter. The expert advises not to use hot water as it absolutely dries up your hair and creates a lot of frizz.
3. Keep only one towel
Do you dry yourself with just a towel? It’s time to have a separate towel for your body and a separate one for your hair. The one for your husband should be very soft. Do not rub the hair as with the friction, it will cause a lot of hair breakage and a lot of frizz.
4. Not applying a conditioner
A good conditioner will help reduce your hair loss. When you have damp hair, then apply your conditioner. Do not rub your hair and avoid friction. Just leave the conditioner on for a while and then rinse it off. In addition, it is better to untangle the hair in advance. To avoid breakage, don’t try to detangle your hair when applying a hair conditioner.
5. Not washing off hair oil properly
Many women like to oil the scalp or go for a head massage before a hair wash. If you apply oil to your scalp and if your shampoo is not strong enough, it may not remove the excess oil and this would lead to dandruff. There is also pollution and dust, so if there is a little oil left in the hair, it will attract more dust and dirt.
Don’t go overboard with hair washing and make sure to use a good conditioner and serum that can be easily absorbed into your hair.
