Skip to main content

HOW OFTEN DO CHILDREN NEED TO WASH THEIR HAIR?

 When children are between the ages of 8 and 12, parents often ask dermatologists this question. If you’re a parent trying to answer this question, you’ve come to the right place.  In three easy steps, you can figure out how often a child between 8 and 12 years of age needs to shampoo.  Step 1: Consider your child’s traits To determine how often your child needs to shampoo, you first need to consider your child’s: Hair type (straight, curly, oily, dry) Age Activity level Step 2: Find your child’s traits on the following chart Shampoo guidelines: Children 8 to 12 years old Shampoo every other day or daily 12 years of age or starting puberty Oily, straight hair Active: Plays outdoors, plays sports, or swims Exception: Hair is dry and curly Shampoo 1 or 2 times per week 8 to 11 years of age Exception: Hair is dry and curly Shampoo every 7 to 10 days Dry and curly hair, even hair with braids or weaves After heavy sweating or swimming, rinse and condition the hair Step 3: Fine tune to get

TIPS FOR HEALTHY HAIR

 How you wash your hair and the products you use can go a long way toward maintaining smooth, shiny hair. Follow these simple tips from dermatologists to maintain healthy hair.


Wash oily hair more frequently. How often you wash your hair should be based on how much oil your scalp produces.


If your scalp is oily, you may need to wash it as often as once a day.

If you have chemically treated hair, your hair may be drier, so you may want to wash it less frequently.

As you get older, your scalp makes less oil, so you may not need to shampoo as often. But if you see flakes in your hair, you may not be shampooing enough. This can lead to dandruff and other scalp diseases.

Concentrate shampoo on the scalp. When washing your hair, concentrate on cleaning primarily the scalp, rather than washing the entire length of hair. Washing only your hair can create flyaway hair that is dull and coarse.


Use conditioner after every shampoo unless you use a “2-in-1” shampoo, which cleans and conditions hair. Using a conditioner can significantly improve the look of damaged or weathered hair by increasing shine, decreasing static electricity, improving strength and offering some protection from harmful UV rays.


Concentrate conditioner on the tips of the hair. Because conditioners can make fine hair look limp, they only should be used on the tips of the hair and not on the scalp or length of the hair.


Choose a shampoo and conditioner formulated specifically for your hair type. For example, if you color your hair, use a shampoo designed for color-treated hair. If your hair is damaged or chemically treated, consider a “2-in-1” shampoo. Regardless of cost, many shampoo and conditioner brands provide the same benefits.


Protect hair when swimming. Protect your hair from the damaging effects of chlorine by wetting and conditioning your hair before swimming. Wear a tight-fitting swim cap and use a specially formulated swimmers shampoo and deep conditioner after swimming to replace lost moisture.


If you have questions about caring for your hair, you should make an appointment to see a board-certified dermatologist.


Related AAD resources

10 hair-care habits that can damage your hair


Teaching your child healthy hair care habits


Coloring and perming tips for healthier-looking hair


Hair care: Darker skin tones

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

COLORING AND PERMING TIPS FOR HEALTHIER-LOOKING HAIR

 Many treatments that enhance the appearance of your hair can actually damage it, causing your hair to become dry and brittle. Follow these dermatologists’ tips to prevent dry, brittle hair: When dyeing your hair, stay ‘on shade’. Choose a dye within three shades of your natural color. Typically dyeing hair darker is better than lighter. Lightening your hair more than three shades requires higher volumes of peroxide, which causes more hair damage. Test store-bought hair color before using. Follow manufacturer’s instructions. If you develop a rash or redness, swelling, burning or itching, you are having an allergic reaction to the die. Do not dye your hair and consult your dermatologist for further allergy testing. Protect your hair from the sun. The sun can make your hair weak, dry, rough, faded and brittle. This is especially true if you dye, bleach or perm your hair. Wear a wide-brimmed hat when you go outside. Use caution when perming hair to prevent long-lasting damage. Set a timer

Does Breastfeeding Prevent Breast Cancer?

 How does breastfeeding lower your risk of breast cancer? Breastfeeding is a protective factor for breast cancer. It’s unclear exactly why this is the case. However, a combination of the following factors is likely at work: Breastfeeding promotes changes in breast cells that may make breast cancer less likely to occur. The hormonal changes that happen during breastfeeding can delay the return of your period, meaning you’re exposed to less estrogen while breastfeeding. Long-time exposure to estrogen raises breast cancer risk. It’s more likely that people who are breastfeeding engage in healthy lifestyle choices, such as eating a balanced diet, avoiding alcohol, and not smoking. Now let’s look at what some of the research on breastfeeding and breast cancer risk has found. Research into breastfeeding and breast cancer risk Older research from 2002Trusted Source involving data from 47 studies across 30 countries found that the risk of breast cancer decreased by 4.3% for every 12 months of

MUST-TRY SUMMER HAIR CARE

 Summer activities can do major damage to your hair. A few simple steps can keep your locks looking healthy all summer long. Mother and young daughter having fun in swimming pool. Though it is part of our routines to make sure to protect our skin before heading out for a fun, sun-filled summer day (and every day!), rarely do we give our hair the same attention. From chlorinated swimming pools to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays, our hair experiences heightened stress in the warmest months of the year. To avoid damage and provide protection to our locks, it’s essential to understand the risks and take proactive measures. To keep your hair healthy, silky, and shiny, try these board-certified dermatologist-approved swim season tips. What happens to our hair in the sun Hair, similar to skin, is susceptible to damage from the sun — specifically UV damage, says Dr. Farah Moustafa, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor and director of laser and cosmetics at