Can washing your hair everyday make it fall?
March, 04 2020 | By Dr. Sangay Bhutia (Hair Transplant Specialist in Delhi)
Who doesn’t love freshly shampooed, conditioned, blow dried hair; It looks fuller and bouncy, feels clean, and smells great. But whether we should be washing our hair everyday -- is one of the biggest questions people have about hair. This is primarily because almost everyone has heard from somewhere that too much washing will make hair dry, brittle, and lead to hair fall.
It is also one of the biggest myths about hair loss. A regular healthy person loses about 80-100 strands of hair everyday. It’s just that people might notice some hair fall during washing and it can be worrisome. Usually, a few strands of hair in the drain shouldn’t be a cause of concern, it is usually hair which would fall out anyway. However, if it is a bunch, that might be a reason to worry and in which case it is best to see a doctor.
Washing hair frequently or even everyday is not necessarily bad for hair, it is instead the hot tools, excessive blow drying, or harsh products that are the enemy. In fact, doctors recommend frequent hair washing to people living in hot and humid climates, or those who sweat more because of exercising or playing a sport.
It is absolutely okay to wash your hair 3-4 times a week or even everyday provided you are using a very mild shampoo. It is important to keep the scalp clean; the scalp is also skin which gets dirty because of dust, pollution and other dirt particles. Secondly, hair is nourished by sebum, which is secreted by the sebaceous glands on the scalp, and it creates a build up if not washed regularly. Washing will prevent your hair from becoming greasy and smelly. People with oily hair will notice their hair becomes imp if they don’t wash it often; this is because of the oil that the sebaceous glands are producing.
But there are a few things to remember if you need to wash your hair frequently or even everyday. Firstly, it is important to pick a shampoo which is mild and best suited to the texture of your hair and it’s particular needs. There are sulphate, paraben-free shampoos, available in the market, which are relatively gentler on your scalp. If you have coloured hair, it is important that you pick a shampoo meant specifically for coloured hair.
It is also important to not comb hair immediately after washing, if you do, use a wide-toothed comb. Secondly, you can also let your hair air dry instead of blow drying it after every shampoo. Too much heat is not good for the hair, it can make it dry and eventually lead to hair fall. Using a hair dryer at a cool setting is a good option.
It is also wise to not layer too many hair products, they can cause a buildup and lead to dandruff, making the scalp itchy.
People with very dry hair can avoid an everyday wash and wash it less frequently. However, if you are in a humid place and you sweat a lot, it is better to wash to keep your scalp clean. Here the choice of shampoo becomes very important.
Washing hair is not the cause for hair fall; Some of the common causes are stress, nutritional deficiencies, genetics, crash dieting, or sudden illness. A sedentary lifestyle combined with a poor diet can lead to hair loss. To keep your hair healthy, it is important to eat well, exercise, indulge in mindful activities or get professional help to relieve stress if you suffer from it, and keep the scalp clean. If you are washing your hair frequently or everyday and losing more hair than normal, it can be because of one of the aforementioned reasons. In such cases, it is best to seek timely professional help.
