Does Dirty Hair Grow Faster?
That dirty hair grows faster than clean hair is one of the myths that have been around for ages. This mistake is easily explained and not washing your hair will not make it grow faster. Nor will it make your hair healthier. Many dermatologists and hair specialists advise against going ‘no poo’.
So, how did this myth come to be? This association comes from the fact that if you wash your hair too frequently, there will be more hair manipulation. This leads to a dryer scalp and hair brittleness which leads to more breakage. Dirty hair will, therefore, look longer in the initial stages because there is less breakage.
Unfortunately, these initial gains of not washing your hair are temporary. After some time, the buildup of natural oils, scalp buildup, dirt and other residues will make your hair look worse. And any hair products you use will not work because of this barrier. Most of the hair creams and products we use usually stay on your scalp if you do not use shampoo regularly. Therefore, it is likely to start experiencing scalp inflammation if you forgo washing altogether.
Almost every hair specialist will tell you not to shampoo your hair every day (unless you are an exercise buff). This is the key to having healthy and longer hair. We have hair specialists who proudly say they go for a month without washing. However, they do not advocate for dirty hair. Dirty hair is downright unhygienic.
Dirty hair starts smelling after a while. Some lucky few may not develop a bad smell, but the majority isn’t so fortunate. After going for weeks, months or years, the trapped bacteria will become smelly. And it is not a smell you would wish on anyone.
Keep in mind, the rate of hair growth is 6 inches per year, whether dirty or clean. Keeping your hair clean and smelling good is not only advisable, but it will boost your confidence.