Your hair gets greasy because the glands in the skin produce an oily substance called sebum. Each of us produces a different amount of sebum. Everything from genetics and hormones affects how much sebum we produce at a given time. So how much washing is right for you? Hair experts have a few pointers for you:
- Don’t wash every day. Washing too often can do more harm than good. People who wash their hair a lot to get rid of oil end up drying out their scalp and producing more oil.
- What’s your skin type? If your skin and hair are anywhere from normal to dry, and not too oily or too dry, you probably only need to wash it once or twice a week. If you have a greasy scalp, you probably need to wash your hair more often.
- Texture matters. Texture affects how quickly sebum spreads from your roots through the length of your hair. Curly hair slows down the spread, so if you have curly hair you may only need to shampoo once a week. On the other hand, if your hair is fine and straight you will need to shampoo twice a week or more.
- Over-treated hair? If your hair is processed or damaged by styling, you should wash it less frequently. In general, avoid overusing hair products like gels, hairspray, and hair waxes, which can build up on your hair and make your dandruff worse.