To shampoo, or not to?

Q: How often is it actually necessary to wash your hair? If I wash it everyday it gets harder to control and a little wispy. ……………….. Sherry, D

A: Dermatologists and hairdressers seem to agree that there is very little reason to shampoo every day, especially with harsh shampoo products containing SLS (sulfates). We’ve been conditioned to think that all those frothy white bubbles means ’clean’, in shampoo as well as household cleaners and laundry detergent, when in fact cleaners without sulfates using natural products are a lot less harmful to the hair and scalp and clean much more safely. Keep in mind that shampoo is for the scalp and conditioner is for the hair.

According to my hairdresser, and other hair experts as well, shampooing everyday is not necessary, in fact it is harmful to the scalp and hair shafts. Constant shampooing dries out the scalp and removes the natural protective oils created by the body to nourish the hair shafts. We then add all sorts of products to the hair to control it, straighten it, curl it, spray hair spray on it, adding product to it, repeating the process every day. Often the body creates an overabundance of oils to compensate for the constant removal of the protective shield.

Experts agree that less frequent washing is the key to healthier hair. If you can’t go ’cold turkey’ at least switch to a shampoo that contains no sulfates. Reduce your dependence on shampoo gradually, ending up washing no more than once or twice a week with ’safe’ shampoo.

When my hairdresser first suggested that washing my less frequently would be better for it, I was highly skeptical. Being a child of the 60’s and 70’s, raised on the new thought TV commercials — remember the one about telling two friends, who tell two friends………

But I did as she suggested and now do something called co-washing. My hair seems easier to style when it is wet and the curls come back better, so I ‘shampoo’ with conditioner only and it comes out great. The water rinses out any residual product and the conditioner makes my hair much more manageable.

In case you need an incentive to shampoo less often, studies have shown that hair needs to be trimmed less often because it has fewer split ends, less static electricity in winter, is shinier and less tangled. Many of the leading beauty manufacturers are getting the message and making no-poo products that are safer to use. You can also use time tested home remedies like baking soda, lemon juice, beer and the like. Check out the “No ’Poo” community on Facebook.

Have a question, or is there something you’ve always wondered about?

Ask Madalyn invites your questions.

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it