Is it true that if you wash your hair a lot it falls out?

At some point, we have probably heard someone say, “If you wash your hair a lot, it falls out . ” We even discovered that we came out of the shower with handfuls of hair in our hands , as if we were at risk of a sudden fall without explanation.

Dermatologists are aware of the issue and, in addition, have sufficient scientific endorsement to respond to the situation. They receive multiple queries for this supposed symptom and have investigated it to give a solution.

The truth is that the idea that if you wash your hair a lot falls out is a myth. It would even be counterproductive to avoid showers for fear of getting peeled. Hair washing is essential for hair vitality.

On average, the human being loses 80 to 100 hairs every day. This fall is expected and logical as part of the natural hair process. However, due to humidity during the bath, that hair loss is more evident, especially if the person has long hair.

The accumulation of them, all together in the same place, is scary. However, we are not facing an exacerbation of the phenomenon. We just record what happens and it seems exaggerated without being it. The same amount continues to fall as always; possibly the same as the day before if we hadn’t bathed.

The phases of the hair

Hair goes through a series of phases in its life cycle. These phases will culminate with the fall of the same to give rise to a new one . The journey begins with growth, continues with a stability or transition, and finally enters the period known as telogen.

If you wash your hair a lot, it doesn’t fall out for its own sake, but at the same time you shed many hairs in the telogen period. Those hairs would fall out anyway. But let’s take a closer look at the phases:

• Anagen hair: the first phase is growth. The hair follicle is active and causes hair to grow in size, about 0.3 millimeters per day. It is a long phase that can last for years. It is also a time when hair is more susceptible to damage from its working metabolism.
• Catagen phase: the period of transition or stability is short, approximately two weeks. The hair comes out of its growth to stop cell reproduction. The hair follicle shrinks and undergoes a series of changes that make it unfeasible for that hair. There will be no more growth.
• Telogen: the final period of the hair lasts about three months. It is hair that will no longer grow and is in a state to fall out. It no longer has vitality. From this group, the 100 daily hairs that we lose come out.

How often do you have to wash your hair?

We already know that if you wash a lot your hair does not fall out. Now, how often do you have to wash it? Is it okay to do it every day? Do you need a half day break to avoid stressing it out?

Dermatologists, in general, believe that hair should be washed when necessary due to dirt or sebum accumulation . This is not a general rule, but a wash would correspond to the perception of accumulation of dirt .

The myth that many do not wash their hair frequently is false. On the contrary, not doing so favors the production of fat in the scalp, which can really affect the hair follicle. In long hair, and in those that produce excess sebum, there is no place to let hygiene pass. If daily washing is necessary, it should be practiced.

The pathologies that derive from poor hygiene on the scalp are not negligible. The production of fat in the area with hair is hormonally regulated, and in women there are marked changes regarding the menstrual cycle .

Extreme seborrhea results in the settlement of pathogenic microorganisms that alter the balance of the hair. In specific cases we can favor infections with symptoms such as alopecia, generating hair loss by not washing.

How to wash your hair correctly?

Knowing that it is a myth that if you wash your hair a lot it falls, it is convenient to concentrate on how to do a correct wash, since, in addition to doing it when the state of the scalp requires it, you have to practice certain rules that improve effectiveness washing.

• The water should be warm in the first instance. The use of shampoo is useful, as long as it is dermatologically tested and used in a recommended amount, without exceeding it. It is enough with small amounts to distribute throughout the scalp.
• Rinsing is also essential. There should be no product residue on the hair when leaving the shower. Before leaving, you can favor a jet of cold water, which would cause vasoconstriction of the small arteries near the hair follicle.

If you wash a lot, the hair will not fall

In conclusion, it is a myth that if you wash your hair a lot it will fall out . The fall of the hair responds to the telogen period of the hair and this phase is not increased due to daily hygiene.

Dermatologists recommend washing hair as many times as necessary, without letting grease or sebum build up. You should do it with warm water, a reduced amount of shampoo and applying a final blow of cold water to benefit the hair follicle.