There are many different things that we need to do in order to make sure that our personal hygiene is at a comfortable level for our health and for our aesthetic benefits. One of the oldest questions in the book pertains to your hair and how often you should wash it. There are some women who believe that washing their hair every day is not only great for their scalp, but also fantastic for their personal hygiene. Whereas there are other people who claim that washing your hair everyday may do more damage than good.

This guide will help you to sufficiently answer “How often should you really wash your hair?”

Understanding sebaceous glands

Sebaceous glands are parts of our body that have developed over time and they first appeared during the second trimester of you being in your mother’s womb. These glands are generally found in abundance on your face and your scalp but they can also be found in other areas such as the soles of your feet and your palms.

The interesting part of sebaceous glands is that they are connected to hair follicles and they’re the parts of our body that are responsible for producing sebum. Sebum is essentially oils that are naturally produced and are used to help moisturize our skin and our hair. Through the ingestion of proteins, the sebum helps to protect your hair from damage and extensive drying.

The importance of sebum

Sebum is necessary to not only make sure that your skin and your hair are moisturized, but to also prevent the body from shedding and exposing your cells to harmful environmental elements. Although you may assume that it is important to wash the sebum from your hair and your skin as it will build up over time, it is also important to remember that sebum is necessary to ensure that our bodies remain healthy.

In today’s society, people believe that lathering up with shampoo and soap is the best way to maintain a high level of personal hygiene when in fact, we are depriving our bodies of essential nutrients. With that being said, you will want to make sure that you wash your hair often, but not on a daily basis. Otherwise you could suffer from greasy hair and in some cases, acne.

Accepting personal preference

When people question how often should you really wash your hair, it mostly depends on personal preference as some people are willing to risk their hair follicles in order to feel clean and refreshed. With that being said, some people will spend the time and money on specialty cleansing shampoos to help get rid of grease, even if it deprives their hair of these natural and essential oils.

Dealing with lifestyle choices

In terms of determining whether it is beneficial or not to wash your hair on a regular basis may also depend on the type of lifestyle that the individual has. People who are more active on a regular basis have the tendency to produce more sweat, therefore their hair may become dirtier than the average person. Or someone who works on a construction site may gather more dirt in their hair than a retail sales associate, therefore they would want to wash their hair on a daily basis. Even people who smoke, the smell of cigarettes seeps into your skin and hair follicles. Without a daily shower, you could find your hair smelling like your lifestyle choices on a daily basis.

Overproduction of sebum

Another issue that is commonly presented in people who wash their hair every day is an overproduction of sebum. This is something that not only happens with hair, but it also happens with the skin. By cleansing your hair and skin with shampoos and soap, you are eradicating every trace of sebum. This forces your body to spend more time producing higher levels of the moisturizing element and in most cases, too much. Therefore, allowing a small amount of sebum buildup is preferable and then washing away the excess after a couple of days will help your body to keep a healthy level of sebum without getting rid of it entirely.

Shampoo and the media

Over the years, the media has quickly become aware of the popular debate between washing your hair daily or not. In fact, there was a challenge launched in Australia in 2007 that challenged listeners to try to not wash their hair for 6 weeks after a guest on the show said that he hadn’t washed his hair in a decade. After the conclusion of the challenge, listeners stated that their hair didn’t feel any different than when they would use shampoo on a regular basis.

The media has also been responsible for making other methods of keeping your hair clean popular, as a method to postpone the look of greasy hair until it’s time for you to wash your locks. One of these products is known as dry shampoo and it is easily available from relatively every drug store. It is a scented powder that you apply to your roots that soaks up the oil and makes your hair look as clean as possible.

The different types of shampoo

Although dermatologists and other skincare professionals have determined that washing your hair every day may not be the best option for your body, cosmetic companies have begun developing particular shampoo and soap formulas to help benefit your skin and hair. For individuals who are concerned about depriving their hair of natural oils, there are shampoos that are packed with keratin and other types of proteins to help keep your hair healthier than ever before. Whereas people who are looking for the cleanest shampoo possible, they can use a cleansing formula and then put more moisture into their hair with an after shower cream or balm.

Making sure that your hair is clean is important for your physical and mental health, though it could come at a cost. Therefore, take the steps to protect your skin and your hair by washing every other day, instead of focussing on a daily schedule.

How do you feel about washing your hair every day? Do you have lifestyle choices that influence how you wash your skin and your hair? Leave a comment and tell us your story below.