While many have made daily showering an absolute routine, the question is, how often to wash hair, not always that easy to answer. From a purely scientific point of view, however, a practice could be recommended – at least if it is possible after two analyzes have been carried out at the same time.
How often do you wash your hair? These studies speak for a high frequency
Actually, one thing should always apply: How often we wash hair should primarily depend on personal preference. In reality it looks different, of course, because different hair types alone require different care.
If you are still looking for the right routine, you can turn to science. According to the results of two studies published in 2021, one method could be confirmed as recommendable both subjectively by the participating test subjects, i.e. also by objective control points: 5 to 6 washes per week.
This is how the hair studies were done
To find out how often hair should be washed, two Asian groups of participants without specific clinical pictures of the scalp were examined. The researchers carried out an epidemiological study to observe the effects of their own washing frequencies.
This was accompanied by a controlled examination of the washing frequency. For the assessment, the scientists used objective measures for the condition of the hair and scalp in both cases, as well as the self-assessment of the participants.
When carrying out the epidemiological study, the subjects showed the greatest satisfaction with the condition of their hair and scalp inside after washing their hair 5 to 6 times a week.
In addition to the subjective assessments, this observation could also be objectively substantiated. The controlled hair washes also showed that an almost daily washing regimen was superior to a weekly routine in all cases. In addition, no harmful effects on the hair were discernible at this frequency level.
As a conclusion, the participating scientists state that a higher frequency is both more advantageous and preferred among the Asian participants. Concerns about “overcleaning” were, according to the results, subjectively and objectively unfounded.
Alternatively: How often do you wash your hair? Pay attention to your hair type
As is the case with studies, a few copies do not always represent the general scientific view of a problem. It is therefore not a general rule. Daily hair washing is at least not harmful. Shampoos are now mixed with mild ingredients that are precisely aimed at them.
If you are still looking for a more individually tailored washing routine, you can take a closer look at your hair type. There are individual recommendations depending on the structure. The reason: Fine hair, for example, is closer to your scalp and therefore comes into contact with sebum and sebum more quickly. With curls and wavy hair, things look completely different because it stands out more from the scalp. On the other hand, curly hair is more prone to dryness, and frequent contact with water can be harmful.
- Dry hair: 1 to 2 times a week
- Oily hair: every 2nd day
- Fine, straight hair: daily hair wash
- Curls: Once a week
Other criteria that can influence your washing routine are length and color, your skin type, environmental influences and the products you use. They all affect how quickly your hair greases or dries out.
Sources: Skin Appendage Disord: “The Impact of Shampoo Wash Frequency on Scalp and Hair Conditions“, Activebeauty.at