How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Dr. Seemanthini Desai, a leading microbiologist of Dr. Desai Microlab, Bengaluru, advises on the frequency of hair washes and why we should keep our scalp clean.

Dirty and unkempt hair can ruin your personality and cause several hygiene-related health issues too. Even though the hair is made up of keratin, the skin of the scalp is very much alive and has active oil glands. Unwashed hair can become smelly due to the deposition of oil, dirt and dead cells, providing an ideal breeding ground for bacteria. Greasy and oily hair can lead to fungal infection, then to dandruff.

So how often should you wash your hair?

Men with short hair can wash it every other day.
Women and men with long hair should wash their hair every 3rd day.
If you spend most of your time outdoors, you can wash your hair with a mild shampoo daily too.
People who work out or experience more than normal sweating should wash their hair on a daily basis.
If you use a lot of hair products, it’s advisable to wash them off as soon as possible. Most of the haircare products are full of chemicals that can harm your scalp’s health.
Children should get their hair washed every alternate day or as and when required as they spend most of their time at play.
During summers and monsoons, you may require frequent hair washes than in winters.

You should keep your hair and scalp clean to be presentable and avoid any infections.

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