How often should your hair be washed?

We are all guilty of looking online to find out how often we should shampoo our hair. Some people give their hair a thorough scrub once a week, while others do it every other day.

However, a TikTok trend that suggests you not wash your hair for prolonged periods of time is becoming popular. one woman leaving it 17 days between washes.

A woman using the Twitter handle @emilyalexaander posted a video in which she explained that she finally washed her hair on day 18. It “doesn’t smell bad” and doesn’t seem to be very greasy. This is what you would expect after nearly three weeks without washing her hair.

There’s also a growing focus on styling unwashed locks with hashtags such as ‘dirty hair’ clocking up 169.1m views while ‘dirty hairstyle’ has an incredible 19.7m.

Is it possible to make your hair less dirty? “Your scalp is skin and you cannot train any skin to need less washing,” advises Anabel Kingsley, Trichologist at Philip Kingsley. “Like the skin on your face, or underarms, it is a living tissue that sweats, produces oils and sheds dead skin cells. Your hair, once grown, is dead tissue.”

Which means you can’t actually train it to do anything. But, before we lose you, it’s worth noting that while you cannot train your hair to need less washing you can You can change up the way you wash your hair. This could reduce oil buildup that can hinder your efforts to wash your hair more often.

Continue reading: Have we been washing our hair all wrong?

What happens to your hair when you wash it less often?

“Initially, your hair simply gets dirty, and your scalp greasy,” explains Kingsley. “The long-term implications can be more serious. You can endanger your health by not washing your scalp regularly enough. You may experience itching, flaking and other irritations, such as excessive oiliness, flaking, itching, flaking, or general irritation. This can have a knock-on effect on your hair, as scalp health is closely interlinked to hair growth.”

What happens to your hair when you wash it more often?

It is best to shampoo daily or every other day.

“It keeps the scalp clean and healthy, and in turn this supports hair growth,” advises Kingsley. “Frequent shampooing also removes daily grime and product debris from your hair.”

When is the best time to let your hair dry between washes.

TikTok may have us believe that it takes 17 days. Kingsley says we should be applying lotion every day or every other day.

“That said, if washing your hair more means you are heat-styling more often, you may encounter problems with the condition of your hair,” she explains. “It is about finding a balance. As a general rule, do not leave more than three days between shampoos.”

Watch: Motorcyclist washes her hair in the rain, while waiting at traffic lights

So it isn’t possible to train your hair to need less washing?

Unfortunately, no. “Your scalp is skin and should be given similar care to the skin on your face,” explains Kingsley.

“Shampooing daily to every other day helps to keep the scalp healthy and clear of flakes, sweat and excess oils. Shampooing your hair removes dirt, dust, and old products.

Kingsley suggests you think of hair products in the same way that you would make up.

“You wouldn’t leave foundation or blush sitting on your face for days – and nor should you leave styling mousses or hairsprays on your hair for an extended period.”

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How can you prolong the life of your hair between washes?

Kingsley recommends using an astringent, soothing scalp toner after shampooing in order to regulate oil production. She recommends the Philip Kingsley Scalp Toner. It contains witch hazel, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory ingredients, and helps to absorb excess oil.

“Once weekly, apply an intensive pre-shampoo conditioning treatment to your hair,” she adds. “Alongside your deep conditioner, apply an exfoliating scalp mask to your scalp. Like your face, your scalp benefits from gentle weekly exfoliation,” she continues.

Kingsley also recommends that you only apply conditioner to your ends and mid-lengths. “Applying conditioner to your root area can weigh your hair down and make it limp and flat,” she explains.

Is it true that the more you wash your head, the more you have to wash it.

Not necessarily. “You will simply get used to your hair and scalp looking and feeling a certain way,” Kingsley explains. Apply the same logic to your hair/scalp that you apply to your skin. Washing your face frequently does not mean that you will need to wash it more.”

So now we’ve got to the bottom of the hair washing dilemma here’s some other barnet busting myths…

Myth: Cold rinses make hair shiner

Although cold rinses can be revitalizing, they don’t make your hair shiner. “If anything at all, a cold rinse may be bad for your hair as it constricts the blood capillaries in your scalp which carry nutrients to each follicle,” Kingsley explains.

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Myth: Your hair gets used to the exact same shampoo

While you may think that you should change your shampoo brand often, your hair will get used to shampoos.

“If your shampoo stops giving you the results you want, the condition and needs of your hair have most likely changed,” explains Kingsley. “For instance, you may have had it cut, coloured, relaxed, straightened or grown it longer.

“Or, the season might have changed. For example, it may be more humid, the sun is brighter, or the air is dryer. Your state of health or hormone levels may also be different from recent illness or your monthly cycle.”

Myth: Regular shampooing makes your hair oilier

Nope this isn’t true either. “You might as well say that the more you shower, the dirtier you get,” Kingsley says. “Clean hair shows grease faster than hair that is already oily; similarly, clean clothes show dirt immediately, whereas dirty clothes have to get much dirtier before it becomes noticeable. It all depends on how you perceive it.

“Just as cleansing an oily face doesn’t produce oiler skin, shampooing does not make your scalp oilier. Things that actually can increase oil production are hormones and stress.”