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I'm an 18 year-old male with really thick hair wishing to grow my hair out long. I've read numerous posts on this board of telling claiming that you should only shampoo your hair once a week and just use conditioner wish u take a hot shower. Why exactly should I do this, isn't it bad for my hair? Does it have any longterm effects on my goal of growing my hair out or even for years to come?
Your hair needs the natural oils produced by your scalp. The longer it gets, the more oil it needs. Washing it strips out the oils. When your hair is short, there is more than enough oil, so the excess makes your hair look greasy. Frequent washing removes it. However, when your hair is long, it needs all that oil, so washing just once per week to remove dirt is better, and will keep your hair healthier.
Also, do not use hot water. Use cool water. It is much easier on your hair.
> Why exactly should I do this, isn't it bad for my hair? Does it >have any longterm effects on my goal of growing my hair out or even >for years to come?
I've found that I have to wash my hair every day
or it looks like shit (greasly and all).
There are a variate of views and experiences to washing hair frequently or rarely. Now, here's some facts:
1. Our hair consists of dead cells and is naturally dry. Only through conditioning, the hair becomes "lively" and "healthy". Our hair follicles secrete natural sebaceous oils for this purpose.
2. Due to genetic causes, some people have overactive sebaceous glands that results in an over-production of oils, this leads to oily hair. Some people experience the converse (underactive glands, dry hair).
3. Shampooing strips off natural oils from your hair (be it dry or oily). The main culprit for this is the ingredient "Sodium Laureth (Laurel) Sulfate (Sulphate)" or "Ammonium LS". They are strong cleansing agents that forms lather (Ammonium more active than Sodium), and thus, removes the oil in your hair by emulsification. But due to such emulsifying actions, the natural oils will usually be stripped off nearly completely (85~95%) and thus, leaving you with dry, lifeless and frizzy "post-shampoo" hair.
4. Therefore, whether you have dry or oily hair, always apply conditioner to your hair after shampooing. This would provide a "conductor" for your subsequently produced natural oils to travel down your hair shaft.
5. Since oily hair will make one feel very uncomfortable and especially hair oil usually attract ambient odours, this means that people with oily hair should shampoo more frequently than people with dry hair.
6. Only shampoo if you feel you need one. It is a GRAVE MISCONCEPTION to feel that the hair will be clean ONLY IF the shampoo LATHERS. Wrong! In fact, the more it lathers, and consequently, the "squeakier" your hair feels, that means an "overstripping" of natural oils. Prepare then for a frizzy head.
7. To alleviate such problems, dilute your shampoo with 2 parts water, 1 part shampoo and then apply to your scalp. It is advised against applying the concentrate directly.
8. For drier hair, try applying some leave-in conditioners after shampooing and conditioning. For oily hair, just do the routine shampoo-condition :)
I think I've nearly spilled my entire hair-washing knowledge on this "book". I hope that helps and have a good hair day :)
Cheers,
Jin