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People are sharing a trend on TikTok where they only wash their hair every few weeks.
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Some people believe “hair training” — or washing hair infrequently — leads to a healthier scalp and hair.
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But some experts say it can cause hair loss and other scalp conditions.
People are hopping on a trend where you don’t wash your hair for up to a month — but experts say it could lead to hair loss.
Dubbed “hair training” by TikTokers, the trend centers on people washing their hair as infrequently as possible, believing it will train the scalp and hair to look healthier and more beautiful. They also believe the practice will eventually make their scalp less greasy and leave hair in a state where it won’t need to be washed as much.
The hashtag #hairtraining has amassed some 164.1 million views on TikTok.
In one of the most popular TikToks on hair training, hair content creator @cherries_87 said she hadn’t washed her hair in 33 days — and that it was only her third time washing her hair this year. The video, posted on April 7, has garnered 5.7 million views and over 613,000 likes.
“Before I wash my hair I soak my roots in rosemary oil and I do a leave-in conditioner overnight,” @cherries87 said in the video, adding that she last washed her hair on March 5, more than a month prior to the date of her video.
Several people said they were skeptical of hair training, writing that their hair often looks greasy after a day or two of not washing it.
“How do you manage to only wash once a month? My scalp gets so itchy after a few days of not washing x,” one person commented on @cherries87’s video.
Another person wrote: “If you only wash it every month that means you only wash your hair 12 times a year. That is so crazy to think.”
Others said hair training will do wonders for those who want thick, luscious hair.
“It’s better for your hair if you don’t wash it often x,” one person commented.
But several experts disagree, saying the practice might eventually cause hair loss. Fariha Anwar, an aesthetic doctor at Euromed Clinic Dubai, told the health website Healthline that not washing your hair can cause excess sebum — an oily substance that coats the skin — to build up on your scalp.
“For me, the biggest issue with not washing hair regularly is that you could be at risk of developing seborrheic dermatitis, a common skin condition that primarily affects the scalp and is characterized by red, itchy, and inflamed skin,” Anwar said. She added that the condition might cause an itchy scalp and that scratching it can lead to hair loss.
A 2021 study published in the journal Skin Appendage Disorders also found that not washing your hair frequently can harm your scalp. Surpriya Punyani et al. studied 1,500 people in China and found that those who washed their hair five to six times a week had healthier scalps.
Their research also found that infrequent hair washing can cause scalp sensitivity, leading to an increased risk of hair loss.
How often a person should wash their hair depends on their age, skin type, and hair texture, according to the American Academy of Dermatology Association. For example, people with curly and coily hair should wash their hair once a week or every other week, per the AADA’s website.
But people with oily scalps and skin types should wash their hair as often as once a day, the AADA stated.
It’s not the first time hygiene habits have divided people online. In 2021, several people on TikTok went viral for saying they only showered every two to three weeks.
@cherries_87, Anwar, and Punyani did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider sent outside regular office hours.
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