Happy Hair: Why it's important to avoid over-washing your hair

For some of us, all it takes is the idea of going a day without washing our hair to make us feel dirty. However, washing your hair daily can in many cases have a negative impact - it can even result in greasy hair. Here’s the science behind why you might be over-washing your hair.

Your skin is covered in a layer of healthy bacteria called the microbiome. Think of this as good bacteria. The microbiome acts as your skin’s layer of armour - it helps maintain its pH level, it protects the balance of your skin’s natural oils and fights against bad microbes. It’s important and needs to be kept intact at all costs.

Here’s the rub: When you overwash your skin you weaken the microbiome in your scalp. This, in turn, can lead to bad bacteria taking over - causing dry skin, inflammation and infection. In the longer term, your hair will become more prone to breakage, damage and thinning.

So, what qualifies as over-washing? Well, depending on the natural composition of your skin and the shampoo you’re using, you should be washing your hair between twice and five times a week. Yes, that’s right - if you wash your hair every day, you are a serial over-washer.

There are two main reasons men over-wash their hair:

If your hair gets greasy too quickly, this is probably because your shampoo isn’t right for you. Sorry, but you might have to bin that three-in-one body wash. You need to invest in a shampoo that’s backed by actual science. It really does make the difference.

Or, if your hair doesn’t smell fresh without showering, it may be down to the hair products that you use. We recommend cutting down on hair products as possible. If you really need a little bit of wax or putty, try switching to all-natural products. 

The bottom line is that overwashing is bad for your hair. It causes that all-important microbiome to break down. So, how do you look after it? Firstly, limit the number of times you wash your hair - five times a week is plenty. Secondly, put all your cheap haircare products in the bin. Lastly, invest in shampoos that are backed by science and opt for natural hair styling products. Follow these three steps and you’ll be well on your way to happier hair and healthier skin.

All of our blog articles are reviewed by our Medical Director before publication.