There’s a prevailing misconception circulating on the internet suggesting that you should avoid washing your hair on the same day you plan to color it. Let’s dispel this myth. While a bit of natural scalp oil can act as a protective barrier when applying hair color, excessively oily hair can actually impede the coloring process. To clarify, it’s essential to understand the distinction between lightener (often colloquially called bleach, a term I prefer not to use) and tint. Lightener is employed in the lightening process, and it can either be directly applied to the scalp or isolated in foils for highlighting purposes. On the other hand, a tint is typically applied directly to the scalp, often used to darken or conceal gray hair.

While approximately 40% of women may notice visible hair loss by the time they reach 40, discovering more hair in your hairbrush might not necessarily be a cause for alarm. I take this question seriously, and my first inquiry would be whether your hair feels thinner to you. If you’re unsure about that but have recently observed more hair in the drain when washing it, it could simply be due to changes in your hair care routine that make it seem like you’re shedding more hair than usual.

On average, people naturally lose around 50 to 100 hairs daily, which is a normal part of the hair growth cycle referred to as the telogen phase. If you’re frequently tying your hair back tightly, those fallen hairs don’t have anywhere to go throughout the day. Consequently, when you eventually let your hair down and brush it, you may notice a greater amount of hair coming out than usual because these hairs have been trapped rather than naturally shedding from your scalp. The same situation applies if you’re washing your hair less frequently; the detached hair has already separated from the hair follicle but remains in your mane until you thoroughly wash it, at which point it finally heads for the drain.

The frequency of hair washing depends on various factors, but the general guideline is to avoid daily washing. There are several reasons for this practice. Firstly, your scalp naturally produces oils, and daily washing can strip these oils away, leaving your hair looking dry and lifeless. Additionally, frequent washing can cause your hair color to fade more quickly and increase the risk of heat damage if you’re using heat styling tools daily. It can also mean earlier wake-up calls each morning, which might not be ideal.

If you work out regularly and feel the need to remove sweat from your hair daily, consider rinsing your hair thoroughly and using conditioner primarily on the ends. If you wash your hair frequently to achieve more volume, experiment with using dry shampoo every other day.

In my personal opinion, washing your hair 2-3 times a week with a quality deep-cleansing shampoo is usually sufficient. If needed, washing every other day is acceptable, but if you use heat styling tools each time, make sure to apply a heat protectant to prevent damage to your hair ends.