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How and how often should you properly wash your hair to keep it healthy?
October 12, 2023
How often should you wash your hair? Is it harmful to wash them every day? Is there a shampoo that keeps hair clean for a long time? Questions about hair are frequently asked on the Internet, and they show that concerns about proper care and cleaning of hair, including the choice of shampoo, continue to arise. Let's find out how often and how you should wash your hair to keep it healthy, lush and clean, whatever the occasion.
There is a lot of advice on how to wash your hair online. The most common and most important questions revolve around three aspects:
How often should you wash your hair?
What is the correct way to wash them?
What type of shampoo should be used and how much of it?
Special attention is also paid to the after-treatment (styling, blow-drying, etc.).
From Corriere della Sera to Harper's Bazaar, from Vanity Fair to ScienceAlert, and even the Italian Society of Trichology, we tried to collect some answers.
What are the main enemies of our hair?
According to the Italian Society of Trichology and various experts in dermatology, the main enemies of hair health are:
environmental pollution (smog);
Excess skin fat (Sebo);
Use of products that are not suitable for hair care and cleaning depending on hair type;
Long-lasting hairstyles or the application of cosmetics that change the hair exit angle (which is 120°) and thus irritate the hair follicles;
Using products with too many chemical substances;
Excessive styling immediately after washing (dryer too close, too hot, brushing too vigorously, using hairspray, foam and gel).
Now let's try to answer some of the most common questions about hair.
How often should you wash your hair?
Washing your hair too often 'can do more harm than good,' said Kaiser Permanente dermatologist Paradi Mirmirani in response to a question posed to her by Business Insider magazine and also in an article about 'How Often You Should Wash Your Hair,' based on scientific findings' was published in Science Alert.
In addition, each hair type has its own texture, which can be more or less greasy. Washing your hair every day is not necessary because, contrary to popular belief, with frequent washing your hair tends to produce more sebum to protect itself.
Boston Medical Center dermatologist Lynne Goldber shares this opinion. Washing your hair often is not effective, on the contrary: 'It's paradoxical, but people who wash their hair frequently to get rid of the oil dry out their scalp and produce more oil.
Wash your hair or scalp?
Sebum is a fatty and oily substance produced by special sebaceous glands. It helps keep the skin supple and protects it from external influences. Sebum is present in higher quantities near the hair follicles, on the face and in the mid-chest area." (Treccani.it)
The production of sebum by the sebaceous glands varies from person to person and depends on various factors such as age, stress, hormonal changes, excessive washing and the climate. The sebaceous glands are located near the hair roots in the layer of the skin called the dermis.
The ducts of the sebaceous glands lead to the hair follicle, whereby the sebum is secreted.
During puberty, the production of sebum increases and the hormones responsible for sebum production and acne increase. For this reason, both hair and skin become oilier during this time.
Why is Moringa shampoo 'revolutionary'?
It gently cleanses the scalp and hair and protects them from impurities by creating a protective barrier.
It strengthens hair regardless of its structure (oily, normal or dry).
It helps hair to regulate itself thanks to Moringa seed extracts with their antipollution properties.
How often should we wash oily hair?
Dr. Daniele Campo, on the website of the Italian Society of Trichology, agrees with international experts:
If the scalp produces a lot of sebum, the hair should be washed more frequently (every two days or even daily) with a single cleanse (a single application of the product) using a gentle shampoo.
It is better to wash the scalp instead of the hair as this is where sebum production begins.
You should wash your hair by gently massaging the scalp with your fingertips to avoid stressing and damaging it.
Wash your hair or scalp?
Another myth that should be dispelled is that when we wash our hair, we are actually cleaning our scalp, which is where the production of sebum comes from.
Trichologist Anabel Kingsley (Director of Communications and Trichology at Philip Kingsley Products Ltd), in an interview with Harper's Bazaar UK*, claims that we should replace the phrase "wash hair" with "wash scalp" because it is living Tissue that, as much as it can regulate itself, just like the skin of the face and body, needs proper attention and care.
In fact, we should take care of our hair every day, just as we take care of our facial skin with water, special cleansers and protective or moisturizing creams, especially if we live in cities and polluted environments.
In addition, there are many sources of pollution in our homes too.
How much shampoo should you use to avoid damaging your hair?
Another important factor for hair answers the question of how much shampoo to use. According to Vanity Fair*, the more shampoo you use, the more nutrients are removed from the scalp.
Shampoo should cleanse the hair and free it from impurities without affecting its vital properties.
As already mentioned, a small amount of high-quality, extremely gentle product is enough to remove dirt without damaging the scalp and hair.
The frequency of washing depends on the type of hair
The frequency with which you wash your hair also depends on your hair type. According to experts at Columbia University*, if your skin and hair are neither oily nor dry (normal), you should wash your hair no more than once or twice a week. However, if you have an oilier scalp, it is better to wash it more times a week.
In Italy the same question "How often should you wash your hair?" from Corriere.it* to Dr. Cristiana Colonna, a dermatologist in the field of pediatric dermatology at the Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan. She replied that it depends on lifestyle, as for people living in the city it makes sense to wash hair often, for example every two days, to remove dust and smog.
It would also be advisable to use "a high-quality shampoo with gentle surfactants (these are the substances that bind to dirt and remove it). Shampoos with less foam or oils are the gentlest cleansers and are therefore recommended, as shampoos are too aggressive on the hair can dry out and damage."*
Curly, wavy or fine hair - How often should you wash your hair?
The frequency with which the hair should be washed is directed directly into the structure of the hair. The experience of the Columbia University* suggests that the capelli crespi or ricci possono essere lavati and solo una volta a settimana, poiché the structure of the capello influence sulla velocità with the sebo raggiunge the point: the capelli ricci or ondulati rallentano the flow of sebo, Mention the quelli lisci e sottili lo accelerating.
The result is the capelli lisci or molto sottili tendono to essere più oleosi e richiedono a lavaggio più frequente (2 volts a settimana or più).
Inoltre, fate attention allo styling: I capelli theneggiati e trattati chimicamente (colore, permanente, stiratura) richiedono meno lavaggi, come consigliato dalla dermatologa Mirmirani*.
Moringa Shampoo: Cleansing and Protective Properties?
RedMoringa shampoo is a product without parabens, without silicones, natural, cruelty-free and made in Italy.
Moringa extract has detoxifying properties (antipollution: it forms a thin film around the hair that protects it from impurities).
The detoxifying properties of Moringa have long been known.
In fact, Moringa seeds have been used to purify water for centuries in Egypt.*
Pennsylvania State University has deepened research into the detoxifying properties of moringa, focusing on the cationic (positively charged) protein of this tree.
The peptide sequence in the Moringa protein acts as a kind of "molecular knife" that can penetrate the bacterial membranes and kill them.
Harmful substances are condensed into flakes and deposited at the bottom, keeping surface water clean.*
Recent data* has shown that the polypeptide in Moringa seeds causes the bacterial membranes to fuse, concentrating them into a single membrane with all the organic material, rendering harmful bacteria inactive.
The shampoo made from moringa seed extract not only cleanses the hair and protects it from impurities, but also has other qualities that help strengthen the hair, making it more elastic, resilient and soft, and even prevents hair loss.
Shampoo Moringa INCI (list of ingredients)
Made in Italy, the Moringa Shampoo formula has been dermatologically tested. It contains no parabens, silicones, mineral oils, SLS/SLES, PEG/PPG or allergens and consists of 98.3% natural ingredients.
Moringa seed extracts, thanks to the detoxifying and antibacterial peptide, act as a barrier against smog and UV rays.
The natural peptide extracted from the seeds of the moringa tree (Moringa Pterygosperma G extract) has achieved amazing results after dermatological tests and clinical studies on skin exposed to environmental pollutants such as smog, cigarette smoke and particulate matter. It obviously shows cleansing effects and makes cleaning easier.
These cleansing properties also work on oily hair, making it cleaner and regulated.
The benefits of Moringa shampoo
Similar to a conditioner but without weighing down the hair, Moringa shampoo forms a protective film that protects the hair from environmental pollution.
This happens thanks to the Moringa extract, which has anti-pollution properties, that is, it repels impurities and protects the hair, keeping it clean for at least 72 hours and supporting regeneration with natural extracts.
Moringa + Argan Oil + Pomegranate + Rice Proteins = Elixir of Youth for the Hair The combination with Argan Oil acts as a powerful antioxidant to preserve the youth of the hair.
In fact, argan oil is particularly rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, which together regenerate hair.
Argania spinosa, from which argan oil is obtained, is a plant native to Morocco and has always been valued for its medicinal, nutritional and cosmetic properties, as it "naturally contains a high amount of vitamin E, many essential fatty acids Omega 6 and Omega 9".
In addition, "Argan oil has been used since ancient times by Berber women as a moisturizer for dry skin, an anti-aging agent, and a nourishing and repairing hair product." (Wikipedia)
Other beneficial ingredients in Moringa shampoo include behenic acid, a highly nourishing fatty acid, pomegranate extract and rice proteins.
Pomegranate and argan
The pomegranate is a fruit rich in vitamin E, polyunsaturated fatty acids, especially punicic acid, but also contains flavonoids, phytohormones and phytosterols.
All these elements contribute to nourishing the hair and giving it strength, tone and shine, especially in cases where the hair looks weak, dull and brittle.
Cold-pressed argan oil from the fruits of the argan tree (Argania spinosa) is a true quality secret: it has antioxidant properties and is rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vitamins.
Its presence in Moringa shampoo therefore has a nourishing, moisturizing and elasticity-promoting effect and strengthens the hair so that it is less vulnerable to external aggressions.
Rice proteins
Finally, rice proteins, obtained from carbohydrate-rich grains rich in minerals and vitamins, have a moisturizing function and interesting protective properties for the hair. You can strengthen it, add volume and moisturize at the same time to avoid unsightly knots." RedMoringa
Guide to washing your hair without breaking or damaging it
Use a small amount of the product and massage it evenly onto the scalp, focusing more on the hairline and neck.
Gently detangle your hair with your fingers.
Instead of using your fingernails to scratch the scalp, massage it with your fingertips.
Do not rub your hair or ends, and avoid circular motions that tangle them.
Use mild shampoos and avoid over-styling.
References:
*https://www.sitri.it/document/aver-cura-dei-capelli/Ppelle e capelli: l'avamposto della nostra salute