Most people have stood in front of the mirror at some point, wondering whether they’re washing their hair too much, too little, or just plain wrong. It doesn’t help that we grew up hearing all sorts of mixed advice—wash every day, wash once a week, avoid shampoo completely, or use as much as possible. None of it matched, and most of it never had much science behind it.
Dermatologists now offer clearer guidance: for most people, washing their hair three to five times a week keeps the scalp clean without drying it out. It’s not a strict rule, but a helpful starting point that supports a healthy balance.
As we get older, things become even more confusing. Hair texture shifts, scalps become more sensitive, and the natural oils we used to battle in our teens and twenties gradually decrease. The good news is you don’t need a complicated routine to manage these changes—just a focus on keeping the scalp clean and comfortable.
A clean scalp is the real secret behind healthy-looking hair. Sweat, oils, dust, and styling products collect quickly, even when we don’t notice. Leaving that buildup too long can make the scalp feel irritated or heavy. And contrary to a long-standing myth, shampooing doesn’t cause the scalp to produce more oil. Oil production is simply a skin function; it doesn’t “speed up” because you washed your hair.
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