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Having clean, healthy hair is important, but is it bad to wet your hair every day while doing that? Learn whether it is bad to wet your hair every day and, if so, what you can do to control the damage.
Does Wetting Your Hair Every Day Damage Your Hair?
Everyone wants hair that is clean and vibrant, but many people think that routinely dousing your hair with water can damage it. The reality is that while some water might cause some damage to your hair, the chemicals you use in hair products do a lot more damage.
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What to Know About Wetting Your Hair
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If your water is chemically balanced, you can probably wet your hair daily and see no detrimental effects. Your personal preference should factor in, and you should monitor how your hair looks and feels if you opt to use water only on days between cleaning it with hair products.
Hard Water Can Damage Your Hair
Hard water contains a lot of calcium and magnesium and can also have other minerals such as copper, zinc, and even lead. In addition to being “murder” on your plumbing, hard water can also damage your hair.
Common hair issues created by hard water include, but are not limited to:
- Dry, itchy scalp
- Brittle hair follicles
- Frizzy hair
- Dull and lifeless hair.
Of all those issues, the critical issue is brittle hair follicles, which can lead directly to hair splitting and breaking. After follicle damage, the next significant issue is a dry, itchy scalp, which might not harm you, but can lead to your skin cracking and bleeding.
A cracked, dry, itchy scalp can also lead to scalp infections. If your water is hard, using water to wash it out every day can lead to issues, particularly if you are prone to having scalp and hair issue.
Read Next: Can You Boil Hard Water and Wash Your Hair With It?
Hot Water Can Damage Your Hair
Hot water can damage your scalp and hair in a few different ways:
- It can dry your hair
- It can lead to breakage because of brittleness
- Hard water can burn and even scald your scalp
- Dandruff is often caused by using excessively hot water on your hair
Of all these negatives, damaging your scalp and weakening your hair because of dryness or brittleness are the two most significant causes of hot water. Dry, brittle hair breaks, splits and pulls out easier.
A damaged scalp can lead to itchiness, flakes, and infections. The water you use on your hair needs to be comfortable to touch and, even then, a few degrees less warm.
You Need to Moisturize Your Hair
Hydration is essential for your hair, much like it is crucial to the rest of you. That said, water is not the only way of hydrating it. Yes, you should frequently rinse and wash your hair.
But you should also use hydration and sealing products if your hair needs them. The thicker or coarser your hair, the more you need to use hydration products.
Your Hair Products Matter
The hair products you use also play a major role in whether it is safe to wet your hair daily. Since everyone’s hair is different, what products to use is determined by your hair type.
Coarser, thicker hair needs an emphasis on moisturizing. Think, brittle hair needs more conditioning. Research the type of treatment your hair needs and talk to the stylist that does your hair.
Since those folks usually have brand-specific products to sell, you may want to take their specific recommendations and research other similar products on your own. Your stylist is also a good source of advice regarding what products you should not use on your hair.
Read Next: Take Our “What Hair Products Should I Use” Quiz!
Stop If Damage Occurs
If you decide to wet your hair daily, you should keep a close eye on it to catch any potential damage early. If you spot damage or even a change in your hair you do not like, modify your routine.
Read Next: How to Know If Your Hair Is Damaged
Frequently Asked Questions
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Many people frequently ask questions about washing their hair, wetting their hair, and how to avoid damaging their hair.
How Often Do You Need to Wash Your Hair?
There is no consensus on how often you should wash your hair. There is agreement that washing it too much can damage it. Cleaning it, however, is different from wetting it. Generally, the amount you wash depends on whether you are damaging it and how often you want to wash it.
How Often Can You Wet Your Hair Without Doing Damage?
The answer to this depends on the type of water you use. Hard tap water will expose your hair to too many minerals that might not be good for your hair (although some minerals are suitable for your hair.) If you are not using hard water or super-hot water on your hair, you can wet your hair daily, but, again, the stuff you use in addition to water does the most damage.
How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
That depends on personal preference, your hair needs (the type of hair you have), and what you use on your hair. Fine or thin hair needs washing more often than thick or coarse hair. Using gels or waxes requires at least rinsing with water regularly. How your hair feels to you is a significant factor as well.
Does Daily Washing Damage the Hair?
Not necessarily. You should not wash daily if you use an off-the-shelf shampoo and nothing else, although, with some people, it does not seem to matter. If you use hair products tailored to your hair’s needs, daily washing is not damaging and may even be good for your hair.
Do People Really Only Wash Their Hair a Few Times a Month?
Some people only wash their hair occasionally or when they feel it needs a wash. Some people wash it every day and even two or more times a day (not recommended.) The driver should be how often your hair feels like it needs washing and the products you use. Infrequent washing can be acceptable if you take good care of your hair and it is the right kind of hair.
Do People Really Only Wash Their Hair a Few Times a Month?
Some people only wash their hair occasionally or when they feel it needs a wash. Some people wash it every day and even two or more times a day (not recommended.) The driver should be how often your hair feels like it needs washing and the products you use. Infrequent washing can be acceptable if you take good care of your hair and it is the right kind of hair.
Read Next: Learn All About The “Curly Girl” (No Poo) Method
So, Is It Bad to Wet Your Hair Every Day?
If you wash your hair daily and use harsh chemicals, you might damage your hair or even lead it to secrete more sebum, which can attract dirt and debris. If your routine involves wetting your hair in between cleaning it and using just water, you should be fine.
You should also always keep tabs on how your hair is doing in between washes. Ultimately, while using just water on your hair daily might not harm your hair, whether you should do so comes down to personal preference and whether your hair is showing any damage.
If your hair is showing damage, you may have hard water, which you want to address for reasons other than just your hair. So what are you waiting for — test out our tips for taking care of your hair today!