What does Shampoo do for your scalp?
We all know that Shampoo is good for our scalp and something one should regularly apply when washing your hair, but what does it actually do?
Shampoo functions to clean the hair and scalp with chemicals called surfactants. Surfactants are a substance which serves to reduce the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved. So shampoo is a soap that removes surface debris from the scalp and hair.
Maintaining some oil on the hair is incredibly important to avoid damaging the hair. Some people prefer to use products without sulfate or moisturizing shampoos to preserve hair and scalp health. Other people opt to reduce the frequency in which they wash their hair. Some people even advocate giving up shampoo altogether.
This isn’t a one size fits all situation, though. Not everyone has the same type of hair or needs in maintaining a healthy level of moisture on the scalp. The key is understanding where your hair is at on that spectrum to see what your hair needs most to thrive.
How Often should shampoo be used?
Far too many people, especially women more than men, will only shampoo their hair three times a week, sometimes only two times a week, and this is actually really bad for the scalp and therefore for your hair. Scalp and hair health is essential to maintain healthy hair growth; therefore, we would say it is important to shampoo every day for the following reasons.
Having fine or thin hair
If the texture of your hair is fine and thin, those hair strands tend to get greasy and at a much quicker rate than those with thicker or curlier hair. This occurs because oils from your scalp can travel with ease down your hair. This is what gives them that oily appearance. On the other side of the spectrum, curlier hair keeps oil closer to the scalp since there’s no straight path for it to reach the ends of the hair. Washing your hair daily helps reduce extreme oil levels of the scalp and hair to a healthier level of the oil that the scalp needs.
If you are active daily or live in a humid climate
Being active, sweating daily, or living in a more humid climate can lead to a buildup of excess oil on your scalp. This can cause skin problems. So if you live somewhere more humid or are doing activities that cause you to sweat daily, it’s definitely a good idea to wash your hair every day to maintain a healthy scalp.
If your scalp Is too oily
Shampooing your hair daily may, to some degree, remove oils that are healthy, but a scalp that is too oily can nourish fungus that causes seborrhea. Seborrhea is a condition that leaves the scalp itchy and scaly. If you have a scalp that is naturally oily, washing your hair every day is incredibly advisable to avoid this from happening.
You are experiencing dandruff.