Washing your hair regularly is a habit that is widely accepted as being beneficial for the health of your hair. However, there are a lot of different opinions out there about how often you should wash your hair and whether or not washing it every day has an impact on its growth. So, does washing your hair every day make it grow faster?
Washing your hair every day will not make it grow faster because hair growth is a slow process, and you do not have much influence over the speed at which your hair grows. It grows approximately one-tenth of an inch every month, or about one-half inch yearly. The growing cycle of your hair is broken up into three uncontrollable phases.
The following article illustrates more about the growing speed of a human’s hair and the impact of washing your hair regularly.
Does Washing Your Hair Every Day Make It Grow Faster?
A study by L’Oréal and the National Center for Scientific Research recently revealed something shocking: washing your hair every day is doing more harm than good. So what’s the deal?
Natural oils can do wonders for keeping your scalp healthy and hydrated without all of the strippings from shampooing.
So How Does Daily Washing Affect Hair, Exactly?
Let’s first take a look at what happens when we wash it. All those shampoos and conditioners added to your hair after each wash do far more harm than good.
High levels of sulfates, petrochemicals, silicones, and silicone derivatives can destroy your hair follicles. Your scalp can get irritated or inflamed if there is insufficient moisture or damage to its protective barrier.
You may experience dandruff, dryness, and itchiness, while the external effects cause a lot of drying out.
You must get the right balance of oils to maintain healthy skin and hair. Dermatologists recommend you never wash your hair more than two times within a week and with suitable oils.
Anything more often will be counterproductive and harmful. It would be best if you never left in shampoos and conditioners for longer than the recommended time either because the chemicals are only doing further damage.
So What Can You Do Instead?
Firstly, ensure that you use a shampoo and conditioner without sulfates, parabens, or silicone derivatives. Secondly, ensure that natural oils flow freely and are retained in the body as required.
Work out thoroughly before you hop in the shower to remove as much moisture and sweat as possible.
The Science Behind The Fast Growth of a Humans Hair
Hair grows in cycles. There are three phases involved with hair growth: initiation, elongation, and cessation.
1. Initiation is the first stage of hair growth. This is when the follicle (the root of the hair) starts to produce cells that will later form the new shaft of the hair. About 10-30% of your follicles may initiate in every cycle.
2. Elongation begins when tiny hairs begin to grow out of the initial stage and start weaving their way through your existing strands.
This procedure can occur in up to three months. By this time, however, most people have stopped shaving and cannot see anything happening.
3. Cessation begins when the hair reaches its maximum length. This is when one of the hairs on your scalp becomes noticeable. It is then pushed out of the follicle, and a new cycle begins.
Factors Affecting Hair Growth Cycle
Hair growth becomes increasingly difficult as you age. This process results from the increased production of DHT, also known as dihydrotestosterone, an androgen hormone found in both men and women. The following are some factors that may have a significant impact on your hair growth cycle:
1. The number of cells on the scalp
Cells stop dividing and undergo DNA damage over time due to natural aging or environmental factors like UV rays.
When cells stop dividing, they release a chemical called telomerase, an enzyme or viral protein that helps keep the DNA in a young state, so the cells don’t die.
But with time and aging, the ability of the “telomere,” or end of a chromosome, to disable telomerase wanes, and DNA becomes damaged.
This results in cellular senescence, which can cause cells to die through apoptosis and lead to cell damage, affecting hair growth.
2. Hormonal balances
Females and males have different hormones that are released into the body. The hormones released in females usually spike during puberty, ovulation, ovulation, and menopause. These spikes affect the hair growth cycle in various ways.
3. The levels of various minerals in your system
The natural process that determines hair growth takes place at an average pace; some people may have problems with slow-growing hair, while others may have excessive rapid hair growth.
The levels of various minerals in your system significantly affect your hair’s growth cycle. Diet determines mineral levels in the body, so it is essential to maintain a healthy diet to provide enough minerals for healthy and balanced hair development.
4. Your hair type
Generally, fine or coarse hair will grow more quickly than thick or curly hair.
5. The length and quality of hair
Some studies show that the hair growth cycle can depend on the type of hairstyle someone prefers. For example, people with long hair may be able to grow their hair longer by tying it up at night because this will make the follicles stay resting, and there is less stress on them.
In contrast, people with short hair will experience more breakage due to chemical treatments and styling and a lot more shedding because these people’s follicles are always in an active state of production.
6. The body’s ability to produce DHT
The body’s ability to produce DHT contributes to hair growth. Hair is primarily made up of protein with some water and oils mixed in, giving it a similar makeup as skin.
The cells that line the hair follicle produce keratin, which makes up the hair shaft. Hair growth depends on how quickly these cells grow and divide.
When they divide too slowly or stop altogether, your hair will stop growing and eventually fall out if you don’t get treatment (make sure you’re eating a well-balanced diet).
In both men and women, the levels of DHT can affect how effectively your scalp produces keratin for healthy hair production.
7. Your diet
Diet affects hair growth in many ways, and it’s essential to know the facts.
– Your diet can contribute to your risk of chronic diseases that can impede hair growth, such as anemia, diabetes, high cholesterol, and more.
– Certain nutrients promote healthy skin that supports healthy hair growth. Examples include vitamin C in citrus fruits and vitamin D from oily fish like salmon or tuna.
– A lack of protein in your diet can lead to dry skin, which is uncomfortable and impairs follicle health too, which is the cause of premature aging and loss of shine from the scalp; this also weakens our immune system.
8. The quality and quantity of fluids (water, plasma) you are consuming
Lack of fluid like water can impact your hair growth cycle. The types and quantity of fluids you consume can affect the amount of protein transferred from the bloodstream to the hair follicle. Several hair loss treatments use proteins to promote healthier hair after cutting out cancerous cells.
9. Your sex life and exercise level
Hair loss often occurs in both men and women as they age. This is due to the natural aging process at work, but it can also be caused by other factors such as not exercising, an unhealthy diet, or an improper hair care routine.
When thinning becomes too noticeable, we might seek treatment options like medication or surgery.
10. Stress levels
Often, people wonder what the reason for thinning hair and baldness is. The answer lies in stress. Stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline block the production of crucial proteins that give structure to our hair.
Too much pressure may divert DHT from the scalp to other body areas, allowing your hair follicles to slow down their cycles. Thus, stress levels affect hair growth.
Assume that your body has no way of coping with stress (whether from an outside source or from within); it can harm your hair.
Advantages of Regular Hair Washing
Washing your hair is an easy and affordable way to keep it clean and help prevent bacterial buildup. It’s also a great way to remove any product you may accidentally use that might be irritating your scalp or hair in general.
It sounds like something that would lead to more frequent visits to the salon, but research has shown time and time again that there are no ill effects for people who choose not to go as often.
The occasional wash at home can help the color last longer by removing any residue left behind from styling products or minerals that have built up from hard water. Additionally, it will also help to remove dirt and style products that have accumulated in your hair.
The first wash with shampoo should be done at a salon, regardless of your hair type. It is crucial to start on the right foot, so the haircut and color can be tailored to your specific needs. Although the first visit may seem costly compared to regular visits, it will save you money in the long run.
You want a color that will look great in all lighting situations and not fade quickly, leaving you with excessive trips to get it retouched.
On top of that, a shampoo at home right before an event or special occasion is unlikely to be as effective as one done by someone who has experience doing them regularly.
Disadvantages of Washing Your Hair Daily
Washing your hair has undoubtedly become an essential part of your daily routine. But the only problem is that this method can have some unintended consequences.
We have compiled a list of the main disadvantages associated with washing hair regularly below:
- Less volume.
- More damage to your hair follicles and scalp.
- Smaller strands of hair are less thick and coarse and more prone to breakage when styled or washed in specific ways. The converse effect may also happen, leading to a wider and coarser appearance which will be more difficult for stylists to style as it could be too heavy for them but harder for customers who don’t like a natural look.
- Loss of shine.
- The risk of drying out your hair and causing split ends.
- You end up having less volume in the hair as your hair follicles shrink and fall out, resulting in a thinner appearance to your hair and premature greying due to the shorter growth cycle of the scalp.
- Less volume means less impact on style when it comes to styling, resulting in more damage and breakage when brushed. This can be especially damaging if you brush through wet hair.