How Often Should You Shampoo Your Hair in Summer? – News18
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The frequency of washing your hair in summer largely depends on understanding your individual scalp needs, activity levels, and using the right hair products.
Shampooing Your Hair: The most important part is knowing how frequently you should wash your hair to keep it hydrated, healthy, fresh, and free from damage and dandruff.
Summer months bring warmer weather, higher humidity, and increased outdoor activities. Hence, it’s essential to adjust your hair care routine. The most important part is knowing how frequently you should wash your hair to keep it hydrated, healthy, fresh, and free from damage and dandruff.
The frequency of hair washing in summer can vary depending on several factors like scalp type, hair type, activity level, and environmental exposure.
Dr. Viral Desai, Board-certified super-specialist, cosmetic plastic and hair transplant surgeon, and Medical Director – DHI India, shares a guide to help you determine the right shampooing routine to suit your summer needs.
Scalp Health
Your scalp’s condition directly impacts how often you should wash your hair.
Oily scalp: If you have an oily scalp, summer months can amplify oil production. The heat, combined with sweat and humidity, leads to more noticeable oil buildup. In this case, washing your hair daily or every alternate day may be necessary to maintain a non-greasy, fresh look and remove oils, sweat, and debris.
Not washing it frequently can lead to scalp infections, dandruff, etc.
When washing daily, it’s important to use a gentle shampoo to avoid stripping away the essential oils required to keep the scalp healthy.
Dry scalp: For individuals with a dry scalp, washing too often can cause irritation or worsen dryness. Hence, washing it twice a week is sufficient. Use moisturizing shampoos to maintain scalp hydration.
Sensitive or diseased scalp: If you suffer from a scalp condition like psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis, etc., it is better to consult your dermatologist to determine how often to wash your hair.
Activity Level
The amount of sweat due to your day-to-day activities is a key factor in determining your shampoo needs.
Active lifestyle: If you exercise regularly, spend time outdoors, engage in physical activities, or play sports frequently during summer, you are likely to sweat more. This can make your hair look greasy and weighed down. In such cases, you need to shampoo more frequently—maybe daily or every alternate day—with a gentle shampoo.
Swimming: Swimming in chlorinated pools can take a toll on your hair, causing dryness or buildup. It’s important to wash your hair immediately every time you come out of a pool to remove chlorine residue. Using clarifying shampoos once a week along with a conditioner can help maintain hair health for regular swimmers.
Low activity: If you spend most of your day in air-conditioned rooms or don’t engage in many outdoor activities, washing your hair twice a week is sufficient.
Other Important Tips
If you have a dandruff-prone scalp, using an anti-dandruff shampoo containing active ingredients like ketoconazole or salicylic acid once a week, along with regular shampoos, is recommended.
If you have an extremely oily scalp but no dandruff, clarifying shampoos containing salicylic acid, tea tree oil, kaolin, or activated charcoal are recommended once a week, along with a conditioner or hair mask.
Dry shampoo is handy for people with oily scalps who want to extend the time between regular washes, as it can absorb excess oil and add volume to the hair.
Sulfate or Sulfate-Free Shampoos – Which One to Choose?
Sulfates are detergents (surfactants) used in shampoos. The most common sulfates are Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES). They are effective in producing lather and breaking down oil and dirt, making them great for people with oily, greasy scalps, as they help with deep cleansing.
Sulfate-free shampoos can be a great option for people with dry scalps, colored hair, sensitive scalps, or curly hair.
The frequency of washing your hair in summer largely depends on understanding your individual scalp needs, activity levels, and using the right hair products.
