Yes, shampooing too often can cause hair loss because the scrubbing that occurs as you use shampoo can pull hairs out prematurely. And too much shampooing could cause your hair to become dry and brittle making it prone to breakage.
As the strands break, it may look like hair loss. But it’s not just the shampooing itself that may cause the appearance of hair loss, it is also the way you dry your hair.
Towel drying hair causes additional pulling and friction compared to air drying, and cotton towels may add additional friction when compared to some microfibers that are designed not to snag. Using high heat with a hair dryer can dry your locks out making them prone to breakage, and not using the correct type of hair brush can break already brittle hairs.
When you shampoo too often, you strip your hair strands of the body’s protective oils called sebum. A lack of sebum can cause hair to become dry and brittle, then break. This is especially true if you use sulfate based shampoos, (which are perfectly safe and effective).
The purpose of sulfates is to remove buildup from your hair, and using them too often removes the needed oils as well. You can condition your hair to help protect it, but make sure you have a hair oil or conditioner that can penetrate the shaft like coconut or argan, and also add a protective layer to the outside.
Shampooing too often also causes hair loss by weakening your hair shafts with repeated swelling and drying leading to something called “hygral fatigue,” which weakens your hair strands making them easier to break off.
Your hair stretches and swells when it absorbs water, which then evaporates. Think about repeatedly tugging on a shoelace until it eventually breaks, it’s the same concept. And the water you use might be making this worse.
If you live in a place with hard water, the minerals in the water make this worse and weaken the hair even more. And while it feels great to bathe your body in a hot bathtub, turn down the temp when it’s time to shampoo since cold water is better for your hair. Hot water opens up your hair’s cuticles and makes the strands absorb more water, which stretches them more, which leads to more breakage.
Don’t Overwash Your Hair With Shampoo
We have this guide on how often to wash your hair, but washing may or may not include shampoo and conditioner. Shampooing too often can lead to pulling hairs out before they’re ready. At any given time, about 10% of your hairs are in the “telogen” or resting phase before they’re ready to shed.
Washing too often may also replace the sebum on your scalp, causing your scalp to become dry and itchy. When you go to scratch the itch away, you’re also pulling on your hairs and likely causing shedding.
The shedding may cause the appearance of hair loss. In some extreme cases, it could lead to a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium, but only a licensed medical professional can verify if that is something you’re facing.
Yes, shampooing too often can lead to hair loss. And the loss is from the added stresses to your hair and scalp. Did you find this guide helpful? Subscribe to our blog below for more just like it.
