This Is Why You Shouldn’t Wash Your Hair Everyday
We’re long past the days of all-purpose soap, but there is a near-barbaric simplicity to admire about those times. Image: Wikimedia Commons
Lest you think we’re pushing the grease-bag look, no, Watson, we’re not.
We are a grooming company. We don’t want you to have the hair of an ‘80s wrestler. We want what’s best for you (and your hair). If we wanted to mess with you we’d hack your bank account or something.
Maybe you’ve already heard your coworkers mention it.
“Hey, you know, my wife says you shouldn’t shampoo everyday or your scalp could dry out. I totally gave it a shot and it feels like I have a whole new head, bro.”
Was is it something like that? Either way, not washing your hair everyday isn’t a new thing. It’s not what all the fashion editors are doing right now. No one’s pushing some New Age agenda here. It boils down to this: If you want a full, healthy head of hair, don’t wash it everyday. The consummate rule of thumb for shampooing frequency is two to three times a week (or every other day, but we’ll get to that).
And no, you won’t bald if you wash everyday, that’s not how it works.
We’ll tell you why too much shampoo’s bad, but first, a quick word on corporatism and how it ties into all this.
“Don’t Hate Me Because I’m Beautiful.”
If we look back a few decades, shampooing everyday was a practice imparted on the populace via good old advertising. Women of the ‘70s and ‘80s in particular were promised that “silky, supple hair” could be had if you just had the right daily routine. The idea was that any old daily routine wouldn’t work if you bought shampoo from some other brand. But if you went with the brand at hand, well, different story, partner. It was either that, or celebs like Farah Fawcett telling you she “used to worry” about washing her hair everyday, that is until she discovered that one, perfect shampoo.
When you’re conditioned to think shampooing everyday’s good, you’ll do it and you’ll help fill the coffers of companies whose main game is to move as much product as possible. No one said making money’s bad, but neither is questioning our habits, right?
The Secret’s In Your Scalp.
If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll know the term we’re about to drop. For those of you who are new, remember: How often a man should shampoo is directly connected to how much “sebum” his scalp makes. Sebum’s a natural oil that keeps it from turning into the Mojave. Our skin and hair counts on sebum to stay moisturized and a lot of shampoos tend to strip that sebum while they clean. Blame this on something called “surfactants.” Surfactants are the main cleaning agents in most shampoos you’ll see, and believe it or not, they’re often the same ones found in dish-washing detergent.
Yes, that means many shampoos and dish soaps are basically the same thing.
Don’t worry, though, this isn’t necessarily bad. Surfactants won’t harm skin so much as leave it without its only means to stay moisturized (but, some, like “lauryl sulphates” can definitely irritate sensitive or allergic skin, so heads up); Surfactants do their job so well they slough everything off the scalp, including all of your sebum.
What’s more, if you shampoo every day, you’re telling your scalp to make even more sebum. So if your hair’s not the oily type to begin with, then shampooing it everyday’s a good way to get there.
There’s a flip side to this, too.
A: Our Fortifying Shampoo’s good for both thin and thick hair. We put hydrolyzed wheat protein in it to help keep those locks strong. Image: Brian So
B: Here’s a tip — if your hair gets too greasy on non-shampooing days, use some conditioner to soften things up. You’ll keep more sebum where it belongs this way. Image: Brian So
It’s All About Hair Type.
We’re not ignoring you guys with greasy hair (or you guys with thin hair that gets greasy fast).
According to this 2015 study published in the Indian Journal of Dermatology, “most modern” shampoos use a combination of surfactants for “optimal” cleaning. That’s why some brand name shampoos are good for specific hair types, like oily hair. Guys with oily hair could do with a little less sebum, and there are shampoos that’ll solve that sort of thing. But even then, it’s wise to shampoo every other day and not everyday. The same advice goes for all you athletes, too. Sweat can muck things up, but resist the every day temptation (besides, a little sweat’ll replicate that salty, surfer hair look we get when we’re in sea water).
That 1986 Study
Too much shampooing can strip you of important minerals, like potassium and calcium, and we’re not kidding. In an oft-referenced experiment conducted in 1986 by the late American chemist, Dr. Raymond F. Leroy, one of three randomly-controlled studies using strands of men’s and women’s hair showed that “the more washing that is done, the more minerals are removed,” and Dr. Leroy himself asserted the following:
“…we are dealing with highly soluble compounds of calcium, sodium, and potassium, which are required by our body chemistry, and that these losses come from an integral part of the hair fiber.”
Here’s a cool fact about Dr. Lerory: He spent almost 50 years as a member of the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quarter Singing in America.
The Verdict
So what do you do, right?
It’s not complicated. Just use a modest amount conditioner on off days; While shampooing everyday’s no good, conditioning everyday is, in fact, beneficial for your hair and scalp. Conditioner rehydrates your hair and scalp, and it’ll clean some up grime that can build up in a day.
Make sure you rinse well on off-days, too. Water alone will get rid of a lot of dirt that gets caught in there.
But whatever you do, don’t wash your hair everyday.
Not if you like it, anyway.