8 gross things that can happen to your hair if you don’t wash it regularly

Have you ever wondered what will happen if you don’t wash your hair at all? If the answer to that question is ‘yes’, you definitely need to concentrate a little more on your tresses because they need to be kept clean and fresh just like the rest of your body!

Of course, you don’t have to wash your hair daily but doing so at least twice a week is a must.

In fact, this frequency is recommended by dermatologists because not meeting this requirement can leave you with stinking hair.
Not just smelling hair, here are 8 serious hair and scalp problems you can face if you skip a wash:

1. Folliculitis

If you sweat a lot or have a rigorous workout routine, folliculitis can be an issue. Not washing your hair can lead to sebaceous secretion which can cause infection of the hair follicles. If you have dandruff, it tends to get mixed with the sebaceous secretion, increasing the risk of folliculitis.

“Folliculitis causes inflammation of the hair follicles that can result in infection. Severe cases of folliculitis may cause crusty sores that take too much time to heal. These sores can cause permanent hair loss and scarring,” said Dr Kusumika Kanak, Consultant – Dermatology & Cosmetology, Columbia Asia Hospital, Pune.

2. Dandruff

When you wash your hair, your scalp gets exfoliated as well. This removes dead skin from the surface. Not washing your hair regularly can make the scalp flaky and lead to dandruff. It will make you feel itchy and you can also get rashes on your scalp.

“You can develop major dandruff problem if you don’t wash your hair for 1 or 2 weeks,” she warned.

3. Hairfall

“When hair is not washed regularly it leads to hair fall, itching, and change in the texture. When we wash our hair, the scalp gets nourished as well due to an increase in the oxygen supply,” she said.

4. Excess oil and oily scalp

If you don’t wash your hair, the oil will get accumulated on the surface of your scalp. “Oil is not necessarily a bad thing. Your natural sebum protects your scalp from losing moisture and drying out too quickly. Too much oil, however, can cause greasiness, allowing fungi and bacteria to grow and resulting in dandruff and other scalp conditions. Washing your hair regularly can help you avoid these issues,” she said.

5. Hair Breakage

Dandruff and an oily scalp can lead to hair breakage. “Due to our routine, pollution and multiple products used on the scalp can cause build-up which can lead to multiple issues. If the hair is not washed regularly, it can lead to hair breakage and brittleness,” she said.

6. Acne

Scalp is also skin. Hence, acne can develop on the scalp as well. “A dirty scalp causes oily secretions leading to acne. The main areas affected are the forehead, hair line, upper arms, and back. Therefore, regular cleaning of the hair is mandatory,” she said.

7. Seborrheic Eczema

“This condition, even though its cause is not known, is aggravated by an unwashed scalp. It leads to scabs on the scalp. The scabs are usually very itchy and the scalp can become red. Therefore, treatment includes tar shampoo or salicylic acid-based shampoo,” she said.

8. Tangles

Not washing your tresses will make them unmanageable. One way to keep your hair from getting tangled is to wash it regularly. It will also reduce hair fall.

Skipping a hair wash might seem easy but it can definitely cause more harm than you can imagine!