A dermatologist reveals how many times a week you should wash your hair.
- Dr. Dawn Davis, a dermatologist at the Mayo Clinic, advises washing your hair regularly to limit the buildup of dead skin and oil on the scalp.
- Regarding the frequency of washing, the specialist recommends taking into account the texture of the hair and the needs of each individual.
- In case of dandruff, he recommends using “a mild or medicated shampoo.”
Some people shampoo once a week, others every two days. Although this gesture, which is done mechanically, seems trivial, it is important for the well-being of the scalp and hair. “If you don’t wash your hair regularly, it makes it difficult for your scalp to get clean. This can lead to the buildup of dead skin and sebum, which is an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands in the scalp, which can lead to dermatitis or dandruff, and be very uncomfortable and itchy.”has explained Dr. Dawn Davisdermatologist at the Mayo Clinic, an American university hospital and research federation.
Take hair texture into account to determine the right washing frequency
To avoid irritation and this greasy appearance, you should wash your hair frequently. But what is the right frequency? According to the specialist, it is necessary to take into account the texture of the hair (fine, curly, frizzy, thick, straight, colored, etc.) and the needs of each individual. “For people of color, it is recommended to shampoo once or twice a week, spaced a few days apart, so that there is no dryness. For white people, we recommend washing hair with minimum every two to three days and some patients may shampoo up to daily. It just depends on whether their hair or scalp needs cleaning.”
In one of our interviews, the dermatologist, Catherine Laverdet, specified that the frequency of washing also depends on age. “As we age, hair becomes finer, duller, more fragile, in particular because of the drop in hormone levels from the age of 50. Generally speaking, the older we get, the more we need to be careful and space out the washes over time.”
In case of dandruff, you should use a “gentle or medicated shampoo”
For adults with dandruff, a different approach to hair hygiene may be necessary. “Dandruff is the most common form of seborrheic dermatitis, manifesting as flaky skin on the scalp without redness or severe irritation. It can usually be managed by regular use of a mild or medicated shampoo to reduce the accumulation of sebum and skin cells”, said Dr. Dawn Davis.
