going on 3 weeks or more since your last wash day?
here’s what’s happening to your hair when you do this
depending on how often you exercise or sweat, unwashed hair can lead to product build up and excess oil and bacteria on the scalp. all of the excess stuff clogs the pores on your scalp. this makes your hair itchier, smellier and harder to grow.
while it’s true that your scalp produces its own natural oils (known as sebum) that helps keep the hair follicles lubricated and less likely to lose moisture, an overproduction of sebum can lead to scalp build-up. and untreated scalp-build up leads to flakiness, irritation, redness and in some cases, even mold (definitely not fun).
here’s what you should be doing
everyone is different and how often you should wash your hair is dictated by a wide variety of factors including lifestyle, hormone levels, what medications you’re taking, hair texture and even your genetics. a rule of thumb you can use is if your scalp is feeling particularly oily or itchy, it’s time to wash your hair. if you wash your hair more than twice a week, then aim to use a shampoo free of sulfates or parabens (to limit how dry your hair and scalp will feel). anything past a month may mean your scalp will most likely suffer through a few of those symptoms.
and if you don’t have the time or motivation to do the right thing right now, here’s a good enough work around:
look - depending on your hair length and texture, wash day can be an ordeal. it’s definitely understandable why you would skip it. so if you plan to leave more time in between washes, then consider incorporating a detoxing steam treatment into your hair care routine at least once every 21 days (ideally twice a month if you can swing it). hair steaming opens the pores on your scalp. when paired with a good detox or cleansing mask, those impurities can be pulled up to the surface and be easily rinsed away!