Washing your hair every day? 7 reasons it's doing more harm than good

Do you wash you hair every day? Do you wake up early every morning just to get your shampoo fix? Can you not stand the thought of second day hair?
Well stop it. Now.
Because while you may think that washing your hair every day is doing it the world of good, it’s actually doing the opposite.
I know it’s hard. I used to wash my hair every day too. But ever since finding out about the following seven reasons not to, I’ve learned to embrace the idea of a sleep-in and a shorter shower.
Reason #1: your colour won’t fade as much
When you shampoo, you’re effectively opening your hair cuticles. The hair cuticles are what hold on to colour, so by opening and washing them every day you’re losing double the amount of colour you would if you only shampooed every second day.
Reason #2: a little grease is good
Do you curls fall within five minutes? Does your ponytail droop unless you tie it as tight as possible? A little grease and dirt in your hair makes styling so much easier. It helps to hold the hair where you want it, meaning less time to style and less hair spray.
Reason #3: you won’t be stripping your hair’s natural oils
By washing your hair every day, the natural oils produced by the hair and scalp are being stripped. These oils are what keep your hair healthy and shiny. If you give them a chance to work, you may just find you don’t have to wash your hair as often.
Reason #4: you’ll tame frizz and increase shine
Even just one day without washing gives the hair’s natural oils a chance to shine. Not to mention it helps to hold down flyaways and tame frizz. If you have frizzy hair and you’re washing it every day, that’s a big part of the problem.
Reason #5: you’ll be doing less heat styling
If every time you wash your hair you have to also blow dry, straighten or curl it, that’s a lot of heat damage you could be avoiding. If you wash it less, you’ll need to style it less, meaning fewer split ends and less dryness.
Reason #6: you’ll save money
Shampoos and conditioners aren’t cheap. And if you’re using both every day, they’re running out a lot faster. So save yourself some money and make your products last twice as long by using them half as much.
Reason #7: you’ll have less product build up
Most people wash their hair every day because they say it’s oily and greasy if they don’t. But the oil and grease could actually be a result of product-build up rather than not washing it. By using shampoo and conditioner every day, the residue from each is building up in the hair, making it greasier and heavier. When you first stop washing it, your hair may take a while to adjust but once it does, you’ll notice less oil and grease and less need to wash.
3 products to help kick-start a new hair washing routine:
1. Shu Uemura Art of Hair Clarifying Astringent Cleanser Cleansing Oil Shampoo - to remove product build-up.
2. ELEVEN Australia Give Me Clean Hair Dry Shampoo - to get you through the transition phase.
3. nak Scalp to Hair Energise Conditioner - a lightweight conditioner to help keep roots lifted (particularly great for those with fine hair who wash often because their hair is weighed down).
How often do you wash your hair? Did you know that daily washing is actually bad for the hair?
Have you tried any of the products mentioned above?
Review them now to earn points that you can swap for free beauty products in RewardsRoom.
204 Member Comments
I didnt realize i never pushed myself past the transition phase, all that product is building up on my head!
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I used to wash my hair everyday, but I skip a day if Im staying at home or only going to uni
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I'm sorry but I'm an every day girl...I don't feel clean if I don't wash my hair every day. I only use styling tools once possibly twice a week. I've just started using a Sulfate free shampoo and conditioner and I've noticed my hair is softer and less frizzy...not bad for my wavy hair
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Totally agree; I tried washing every few days, using dry shampoo in between, but I noticed how dull my hair was, no matter how much I brushed, and I backed off to washing every other day. Now I have returned to daily washing. Not only does it feel glorious and so refreshing, I don't spend half my life fingering an itchy, irritated scalp.
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I stopped washing my hair every day a long time ago and it has paid dividends.
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If I don't wash it every 2nd day it gets so oily I look like a homeless person!
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I wash my hair every other day. I have very fine hair and it gets really limp and greasy easily. I use a tiny amount of shampoo though and only put conditioner on the tips of my hair.
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I do agree with this article. I personally wash hair every 2-3 days.
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Every 3 days or so seems my time frame. I don't go by days but rather how it feels to me. Washing daily would be a chore for long hair and definitely dry it out to much, couldn't imagine doing that.
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Mine is lucky to get a wash twice a week, especially at the moment with cold wet winter weather as it takes a long time to dry and I dont like having a cold head. You could say I'm doing it to look after my hair but in reality it's out of laziness
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i try washing my hair on the third day, but sometimes on the second day if my hair is partially greasy or i have a special event. i don't have the time and effort to wash my hair everyday either!
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I used to wash my hair everyday until I discovered the wonders of dry shampoo - now I can go a whole week without washing and my super-fine hair styles soooooo much better.
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I live in a very hot area so wash my hair daily in summer. It's the only way to stop my scalp smelling. In the winter I was it every 2 days unless I've been painting or gardening and its got debris in it.
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I wash my hair twice per week as it is dry ,brittle and I suffer from dandruff and itchy scalp, I use anti dandruff shampoo but I have to alternate as my hair gets used to it.
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I used to wash my dry curly hair every second day. A yar ago I changed all that to twice a week and the difference in my hair is amazing. Once I got used to that "not sqeaky clean feel" I relaxed and noticed less frizz less dryness and my colour lasting
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During winter, I was it every second or third day but during summer it's daily...
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I was 'forced' into washing my hair every 4 days, once the colour started coming out too fast!. My grey hairs were being revealed after only 2 weeks. I am so glad I changed. My hair is in better condition and I am saving a stack of money
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Really interesting article, makes sense though, wash mine twice weekly so looks as though I'm doing the right thing.
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I used to wash my hair almost everyday some years back but also cut back dramatically for many of the reasons listed above.
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I tend to wash my hair every 3 days, but I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes it gets to once a week. Yes, it looks pretty feral by then. All I can say is thank goodness for dry shampoo.
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I'm still not convinced about the idea of using dry shampoo.
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I've washed my hair every day since I was a teenager because I daily have excessively oily hair, but about 6 months ago it dawned on me it's probably oily because I do wash it that often. So I've changed my ways after discovering how wonderful Dry Shampoo is. I absolutely love the stuff!!! I can wash my hair every 2nd or 3rd day now & be very happy with how my hair looks, in fact I believe it looks better by the 3rd day. It gives my hair more body that it's ever had, my colour lasts twice as long than it did before & I have heaps more time up my sleeve in the morning plus the fact it got to be better for my hair because I'm not drying & straightening my hair every day. So yes, I'm a convert:)
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I have only been washing my hair twice a week lately because of these reasons. If it looks a little off I tie it up. I am also using my own very easy to make shampoo and treatment, it's so easy and cheap works great as well. Not to mention no carbon footprint at all.
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I wash every third day. I would do it less often but my scalp gets too oily by four days. Even on day three I sometimes have to use dry shampoo. My daughter, lucky thing, only has to wash hers once a week.
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to be honest I'm too lazy to wash my hair every day, good to know it's good for me
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