Is shampoo bad for your hair? This is an all too common question that people worried about proper hair care in Greensboro, NC want answered. Let’s start by finding out why it matters what you wash your hair with.
Here are a few things you ought to take into account to ensure you’re treating your hair right.
How often you use shampoo
If you’re like the average American, you probably shampoo your hair four or five times a week, maybe even every day. This is a lot compared to most Europeans’ two to three hair washings per week. The thing about shampoo is that it’s meant to clean the scalp and roots, not your hair itself. Shampooing every day is unnecessary, and can even be harmful, as it strips away much needed oils produced by the scalp, leaving hair dry and brittle and with split ends. You’ll likely see a noticeable improvement when you shampoo only once or twice a week.
Your hair and scalp type
Some people fall into the group that needs to wash their hair every day or almost every day. These folks have straight, fine, thin hair, which means oil travels down from the scalp through the hair more quickly. Oily scalps can look weighed down and dirty-wet.
Then there are people whose scalps are prone to dryness. If this the case for you, your hair may look healthier when the scalp’s natural oil is allowed to do its job. And if you color, relax or highlight your hair, chances are your follicles lose moisture easily—repeat washings are not recommended.
Instead of adding moisture, certain types of hair cleaning products can actually contribute to dry scalp. What’s more is that choosing a shampoo that isn’t filled with chemicals (parabens, sodium lauryl, synthetic fragrances) is better for your health. Research shows that our bodies absorb the bad stuff that’s in shampoo, which is made worse by hot showers. The hair follicles all over your body are prime entryways for chemical absorption through the skin—especially when blood vessels and pores are dilated by heat.
The products and brands you use
Certain shampoo brands are undoubtedly worse for hair than others. This is why it’s important to have a basic understanding of the ingredients on the labels. However, in the United States, labeling requirements allow shampoo and cosmetic companies to omit certain chemicals or obscure their presence with different terminology. For example, phthalates, which are linked to a variety of organ damage, may be listed as “fragrances” on shampoo ingredient labels. Anyone worried about these chemicals should opt for natural, organic shampoo products.
Your lifestyle
If you work out daily, showering afterwards is likely a priority, but you don’t have to wash your hair every time. You can either skip a day or two or use a dry shampoo instead. Living in a hot or humid area also calls for daily showers, but again, it’s okay to skip shampoo from time to time.
Call Raveen Hair Replacement to learn more about proper hair care in Greensboro, NC, and about the link between shampoo and dry hair.