Here’s how often you should wash your hair, according to a dermatologist.

Is it a myth that frequent washing makes hair oilier?

Dermatologist Alex Docampo categorically rejects the widespread claim that frequent washing can “awaken” additional oiliness.
According to him:

“Many people believe that frequent washing damages hair or that more washing causes the scalp to produce excess sebum. This is not true at all. The important thing is to tailor your routine to the needs of your own scalp.”

The reason? Sebum is produced by the sebaceous glands under the influence mainly of hormones and individual physiology — not by the number of washes.

Are 3–5 washes a week appropriate?

This frequency helps to:

• removing sebum and styling product residues

• better “breathing” of hair follicles

• reducing the risk of irritation

• control of unpleasant odors

• limiting the development of bacteria and fungi, especially in warm weather and sweating

Of course, every scalp has different needs. People who exercise daily, live in hot climates, or wear a hard hat/hat for work may need to cleanse more frequently.