From women who insist on washing their hair every night to those who are immersing themselves in the “no-shampoo” or “co-washing” movements, who wins out? With numerous hair washing trends emerging and “How often should I wash my hair?” being one of Google’s top 10 beauty searches for 2014, we’ve turned to NYC-dermatologist, Dr. Marnie Nussbaumand celebrity hair stylist, Naté Bova to save you (and your hair) a headache. Here is their easy-breezy guide to help you gauge the right routine for your locks:
Co-Washing . “Co-washing is extremely beneficial to those with dry, dehydrated or damaged hair, otherwise it will simply weigh down those the fine-haired. Since unshampooed hair retains more of its natural oils than shampooed hair, the conditioner’s moisturizing agents will now leave strands even smoother and silkier than usual,” says Bova.
Non-Foaming Shampoo and ‘No-Poo’. “The biggest problem with ‘no poo’ is many experience extremely oily and greasy looking strands in the beginning, because your scalp keeps producing natural oils at the same rate it did when you used a basic shampoo that stripped your hair. You can still get healthy hair results by opting for a shampoo that is made with natural or organic ingredients and one that doesn’t contain sulfates, paraben or harsh chemicals like Aviva’s Hydracreme Shampoo . Formulated with an assortment of botanical extracts, the shampoo works to eliminate buildup without stripping your hair of the moisture it needs, leaving your locks nourished and your scalp soothed,” says Dr. Nussbaum.
I love Aviva’s Hydracreme Shampoo! It has a great, uplifting fragrance and thoroughly cleanses my hair. I love the way my hair feels after I shampoo with it. My hair is very shiny and when I run my fingers through my hair, it feels like silk.
Cleansing Conditioners. “ Cleansing conditioners work well with thicker, wiry hair because they leave more humectants throughout the hair. It is also a frizz controller because the humectants in most of these products can give a ‘weight’ to the hair strands keeping unruly hair under control. Dry or dyed hair can also benefit from these products, because they leave your hair feeling conditioned. Those with finer hair can also use these products, but should alternate regularly with a regular shampoo” says Bova.
Scalp Washing. “Incorporating a soap and alkali-free scalp shampoo into your weekly regimen can help to stabilize you hairs structure, as well as treat sensitive and delicate scalp conditions while eliminating dandruff. I often recommend Sebamed Scalp Activating Shampoo to patients as it’s a pH balanced wash that naturally supports scalp circulation – which is essential for hair growth and thicker-looking hair” says Dr. Nussbaum.
I use SebaMed shampoo once per week. I rub it into my scalp and let it penetrate my roots for about 3-5 minutes. I have noticed that I lose much less hair while washing than I used to. My husband definitely has thinning hair and so he is also using this shampoo. I have not noticed any hair regrowth on him yet, but I am hoping this will help prevent further hair loss for him. It really leaves my hair feeling clean and shiny as well as fuller than it was before.
As far as to how often you should be washing your hair? Dr. Nussbaum says , “All of these routines allow your hair to retain its natural oils, which will prevent dryness of the scalp and strands. Depending on the texture and condition of your hair you shouldn’t wash your hair on a daily basis. The drier your hair, the less you should wash but I do recommend using a regular shampoo once or twice a week to cleanse the scalp and alleviate product buildup left behind from hairsprays, mousse or gels.”
I personally wash my hair every other night. I could probably go longer, but m hair tends to get pretty greasy if I don’t. I also use hairspray and other styling products that tend to build up, so washing m hair every other day works well for me.
Disclaimer: I received samples of these products to review and to keep. All opinions are my own.
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