Health Myths #273: Should men shampoo daily?

Men’s hair matters to a lot of us. It’s part of the first impression we make, and there’s a reason why the perfect pomade, gel, or wax is so sought-after. But when it comes to health and care, men’s hair often doesn’t get the same attention women’s hair does. After all, we have less of it. But a lot of men ask us the same thing over and over: how often should I be shampooing my hair?

Myth 1: If you don’t want greasy, smelly hair, you need to shampoo it every day – FALSE

This myth seemed especially pervasive in middle school, where our peers were just a little too keen on judging. And it’s true, the last thing anybody wants are a bunch of unshowered teenagers after gym class. But for most men, shampooing your hair daily isn’t necessary. In fact, it can actually be bad for your hair. Here’s why:

Hair is naturally coated in oils, or sebum. Shampoo is essential for cleansing the hair of dirt and grease, but it also strips the hair of this natural oil, which is necessary for a healthy head of hair (and the scalp that produces that hair). When you shampoo too frequently, you can also cause your scalp to begin overproducing sebum, leading to even greasier hair down the road.

Myth 2: If you want healthy, hydrated hair, you shouldn’t shampoo it every day – FALSE

We know, it’s confusing, but hear us out. Shampooing every day for most guys isn’t necessary, but there are some exceptions when it night be a good idea:

1. You exercise and sweat heavily each day – shampooing daily can be a good idea if you’re sweating buckets on the regular.
2. You have very fine, straight hair – thick or curly hair slows the rate at which oil travels along the follicle, so men with very thin hair will get greasy sooner
3. Your hair product needs to be removed – if you use a pomade or cream that should be removed daily, but won’t wash out with water alone, you’ll probably need to shampoo most days.

Conclusion: For most men, shampooing daily isn’t necessary, and can lead to dry, frizzy hair. The best recommendation depends on your hair type, but for most guys, shampooing every 2-3 days is about right.

But that doesn’t mean you can just ignore the top of your head for 3 days. Get in the shower and give it a good scrub under the water. That will help remove dead skin cells. You can also apply conditioner if you notice that it starts to develop a slight smell, without stripping those natural oils entirely. Keep it up, and you’ll have the best hair on the block in no time!