19 November 2023 , 17:05
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Many beauty fans swear by 'hair training' - a divisive trend currently sweeping TikTok which may leave cleaning fanatics feeling a little queasy. This practice involves delaying washing your locks for as long as possible, based on the idea that some shampoo ingredients can cause havoc with your beloved tresses.
Avid hair trainers will gradually increase the amount of time between washes, with some particularly enthusiastic practitioners working their way up to 30-day gaps. Although some swear that this method results in a healthier, less greasy barnet, a professional hair expert has warned that not washing your hair enough could result in adverse effects including hair loss.
Trichologist Kate Holden told the Sun: "Shampooing our hair is vital to keep our hair and scalp clean. It removes the oil, dandruff, dirt, pollution, harmful microorganisms, and residue of hair-care products that can cause scalp irritation, and dull, knotty, and straw-like hair."
Delving into the logic behind hair training, Kate went on to concede that getting your hair wet can indeed result in breakage while choosing the wrong shampoo for your hair type could well strip or overload your tresses. A fine balance is required, however, and being more mindful of the products you use would be far more beneficial than skipping out hair washing altogether.
In fact, according to Kate, not washing your hair enough can lead to seborrhoeic dermatitis - a very unpleasant type of dandruff that can result in scalp redness and itching, greasy, yellow scaling, and ultimately hair loss. Kate explained: "Dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis are predominantly caused by a fungus that lives on the scalp, which feeds on oils and produces an acid called oleic acid. Around 50 per cent of adults are sensitive to oleic acid, so when the fungus produces this acid, your scalp reacts by becoming irritated, itchy, and producing more skin cells to try to protect itself."
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She cautioned: "Seborrhoeic dermatitis and inflammation in the scalp can cause a type of hair loss called telogen effluvium, which causes increased hair shedding throughout the scalp." With this in mind, Kate would recommend making sure to shampoo your locks at least once a week to ensure optimum scalp and health and a luscious mane of hair.