Let your hair do its thing, and it will repay with kindness
When it comes to how often you should wash your hair, there are two schools of thought: some men prefer to wash every day, and others prefer to space out as much as possible. Behind this otherwise innocuous decision, there are a lot of benefits at stake: saving time, product, and even improving hair health.
The more we wash our hair, the more they need washing
It goes with you everywhere, keeps you warm in winter and you don’t really know what to do with it in summer: your hair is like a pet. As a result, it doesn’t necessarily like being washed frequently. In fact, the more you wash your hair, the more you stimulate the scalp and sebaceous glands, which react by producing excess sebum – an oil that the hair activates only to protect itself – and consequently a greasier scalp. With force, it can also sensitise and weaken your hair, which is not ideal if preventing baldness. A vicious circle, but one that is easy to break.
Space shampoo days for the sake of your hair
Since your hair will adapt to how often it is washed, you can space shampooing as much as possible. This saves time, but also the product. By reducing the frequency of washing, the scalp learns to regulate sebum production. Of course, it also depends on your lifestyle. Someone who exercises often, works on dusty construction sites, rides a bicycle, and / or lives in a polluted city will have a harder time going without shampoo, than a WFH executive. When your sweat evaporates, some of the sebum is drawn along your hair, resulting in the appearance of an oily texture. Especially after exercise.
Shampoo every other day is good enough. Twice a week is even better. Some people even manage to wash their hair only once a week – and their hair seems perfectly fine.
How to hold out until your next shampoo?
Spacing out the frequency of your shampooing requires a small period of adaptation where you will have to resist the temptation to be delivered from evil (aka excess sebum). To better endure the wait before your next wash, a brush stroke can help: It rids impurities such as dust, and distributes the sebum all over the hair so that the effect is less greasy. In addition, simply rinsing with clear, cool water (heat attacks the scalp, producing more sebum) can help by eliminating any styling products used to give the hair a fresh boost. Especially after a sports session.
Another tip, the conditioner can be used in place of shampoo: it won’t wash the hair, but will maintain it. Thanks to this treatment, your hair will be nourished, hydrated, and disentangled.
If it takes even longer, dry shampoo can help. Contrary to its name, it should not be used as a washing product but as a sleight of hand to give the impression of shampooed hair. It often comes in spray-form, to be applied to the roots so that it absorbs excess sebum. Leave this concealer to act for one minute, then brush to remove the excess and regain the texture of voluminous, freshly washed hair. Watch out for the dried-up effect if you employ this magic effect for several days in a row.
Shampoo in the morning or in the evening?
When it comes to the question of right timing, the answer is only a matter of personal choice. In the evening, shampooing sufficiently before bedtime gives the hair time to dry naturally. An important detail since humidity opens the scales of the hair, which are more porous than fragile. If it’s still wet against the pillow, they’re more likely to get tangled and break from friction than dryness.
In the morning, drying is also important because wet hair is more sensitive to external pollution. This is easily adjusted with a towel or a hair dryer at lower temperature.
In short, the more you can space out washes, the better the hair. To keep you occupied before the next shampoo, a brush, a simple rinse, conditioner, or dry shampoo will help you retain that perfect look.