How often do you wash your hair

The Effects of Not Washing Your Hair Enough

What Can Happen if You Don’t Wash Your Hair EnOUGH

There isn’t one clear answer in the great debate of how often you should wash your hair, and thanks to dry shampoo, it’s never been easier to stretch your last shampoo out for an extra day or two. But, just like how washing your strands too often can be damaging, shampooing too little can also have negative effects, and yes, it is possible to overdose on dry shampoo.

“First of all there isn’t one answer when it comes to how often you should be washing your hair,” says Dove Hair Expert Dermatologist Dr. Francesca Fusco. “But in general, taking all skin types and hair types into consideration, a minimum of once a week is enough. Now, if you tend have a really oily scalp, then it’s ok to shampoo every day. You can really tailor it to yourself, and with the number of products on the market, you can pick the one that works best for your hair and scalp type.” If you use a lot of styling products, you may find you need to wash your hair more often, which is completely normal and healthy to do.

Is Your Hair Actually Thick, or Just Really Dense?

So how do you know when it’s time to shampoo? Pay attention to your scalp’s behavior. If you’re experiencing uncommon itchiness, if you experience an unpleasant scent, and if your hair starts to hurt, it’s time to grab a bottle. “The area where the hair emerges from the scalp can start to feel sore from the buildup of excess dead skin cells, and there’s dandruff,” Dr. Fusco explains. “If the dandruff gets worse and the skin becomes inflamed, the inflammation in the hair follicle can translate to feeling a little tender.”

One of the most common mistakes people make figuring out if it’s time to lather, rinse, and repeat, is that if their scalp feels itchy and dry, they think they shouldn’t shampoo, and instead opt for a can of dry shampoo. “What these people are really experiencing i