Why Washing Your Hair Every Day Could Be Making Your Scalp Worse

For many, shampooing on a daily basis is viewed as essential for cleanliness. Having clean hair helps one feel fresh and light while making the hair easier to style. However, recent scientific studies reveal that over-washing may have negative consequences on scalp health.

The dermatology experts explain that the scalp is not only a skin layer covered with hair follicles. This is an active and live system capable of producing oils and featuring protective layers along with a microbiome formed by beneficial bacteria and fungi, which ensures optimal condition of the skin.

Such a delicate balance may be upset if one washes the scalp too often.


The study conducted by the scientists from the University of California, published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology, reveals that the scalp is characterized by a diverse microbial population responsible for the proper functioning of this area and preventing problems such as dandruff. The researchers discovered that daily shampooing for several weeks had no significant effect on the microbial diversity but affected the number of fungal cells.

Frequent washing may affect the scalp barrier

Of course, the most serious issue arising from over-washing the hair is not only dryness but also harm to the scalp barrier itself. Our scalps have a special barrier that keeps them hydrated and protected against irritation. If this barrier becomes damaged, our scalps can be more vulnerable to being irritated, tight, and flaky.

In a study published by the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, scientists have established that more intensive washing led to a greater amount of what is called transepidermal water loss, or TEWL for short, and therefore, a higher risk of barrier disruption. In other words, over-washed scalps are more likely to dehydrate.

In particular, women who washed their hair daily or once every two days experienced higher water loss than those who washed their hair less frequently. This does not mean that we need to stop washing our hair regularly.

Clean does not always mean healthier

The widely held idea that more shampoo equates to cleanliness and good health for your scalp is one that experts claim to be false. Washing your hair too rigorously might result in washing away your body’s natural oils called sebum, which protect the scalp from dryness and keep the hair healthy. Removing sebum frequently will trigger the scalp into making up for this by making extra sebum, resulting in greasier hair that requires frequent washing.

This would have people think they require shampooing their hair every day when, in fact, they have been overwashing it. Scientists also state that the choice of shampoo plays an important role. The International Journal of Women’s Dermatology reports on how some products have performed better than regular shampoos in causing less irritation.

Overwashing may worsen irritation and itch

For individuals struggling with issues related to scalp itchiness or sensitivity, excessive use of shampoos may only serve to exacerbate the problem. As stated in an article in Dermatologic Clinics, itching of the scalp is largely determined by the condition of the skin barrier, irritation, and inflammation.

This is the reason why, when diagnosing patients for scalp discomfort, dermatologists suggest assessing everyday activities first. Sometimes all that one needs to do is change their habits rather than switch to an even more powerful antifungal formula.

How often should you wash?

There isn’t one standard routine since the scalp type, workout routines, hair type, and lifestyle vary from individual to individual. However, many specialists recommend that regular shampooing isn’t essential for the majority unless there’s excessive sweating, extremely oily hair, or underlying health issues.

According to scientific studies, washing hair every second day or even once a week might benefit some individuals since it preserves hygiene while allowing the scalp’s protective layer to function effectively.

Individuals with naturally curly hair or kinky hair types will be required to shampoo less frequently due to their oils taking longer to move through the hair strand. Individuals with oily scalp skin might want to shampoo more regularly, although milder products might aid in avoiding irritation.

Less can sometimes be more

The concept of washing your hair less frequently might seem backward in a society where cleanliness is frequently associated with health. However, scientific research is demonstrating that, in order to function properly, the scalp requires a certain amount of support.

This does not mean that daily shampoos are always bad for you. In fact, daily washing might just be too much for your scalp to handle.

Sometimes, better hair results from using less shampoo, not more.