How often should you use cleansing shampoo?
Dr Sri Sahithi Konidena, founder and dermatologist of Prime Derm Dermatology and Hair Clinic, Hyderabad (India), says clarifying shampoos are usually formulated to be stronger than conditioning shampoos, which help deep clean and prevent hair from becoming greasy.
Clarifying shampoos are often recommended when a thorough cleansing of the hair is required, for example after using styling products or when the hair is heavily oiled.
However, using it too often can dry out the hair and scalp, so it is often recommended to alternate it with moisturizing shampoos.
“The ideal frequency depends on how you care for your hair. It can be used once a week or every three weeks. People with dry scalps should use it about once a month or every six weeks,” says Dr. Sri Sahithi Konidena.
How often you use it depends on whether you use styling products or swim in chlorinated water, as clarifying shampoos remove buildup, says Dr. Konidena.
“Cleansing shampoos contain high levels of surfactants, which are very powerful but cannot replace regular shampoo,” emphasizes Dr. Sri Sahithi Konidena.
How to use cleansing shampoo effectively
Dr. Konidena shares that you should not overuse cleansing shampoo because it can dry out your scalp and hair, and people with sensitive scalps should not use it regularly.
You can apply a small amount to damp hair and rinse. After shampooing, you should apply conditioner to avoid drying out your hair.
In addition, people with scalp diseases such as psoriasis should be cautious when using this product.
For those with oily and dry scalps, clarifying shampoos strip the oils from the scalp. Therefore, it is not suitable for dry hair as it can cause frizz, flyaways and itchy scalp.
In case you have dry hair, you need to use this product about once every 6 weeks. As for those with oily scalp, they can wash their hair once every 2 weeks.
