This viral TikTok trend seriously causes hair loss

That you don't have to wash your hair every day has become clear to us by now. So clear, in fact, that the phenomenon of ‘training your hair’ has emerged. For those who spend a few hours here and there on TikTok, you may have heard of it. When you train your hair, you ensure that gradually more time passes between washes, causing your scalp to produce less oil. This way, you can enjoy a fresh hairstyle for much longer without it turning into a deep fryer up top.

On TikTok, it is definitely a huge hype and people swear by it. Some can go weeks, even months, without touching a bottle of shampoo — a promise that sounds very tempting for many people with oily hair. But whether this is really good for your hair?

Dr. Hannah Kopelman, hair transplant surgeon and dermatologist, tells Huffpost that it's not worth your days of fresh hair. No matter how tempting it sounds: if you don't wash your hair regularly, all sorts of things will accumulate on your scalp that you won't be happy about. Think of sebum, sweat, and residues from hair products, which can lead to hair loss  or other scalp problems.

Now, sebum itself is not a negative thing. In fact, sebum is actually something very good. It is the natural oil that hydrates the scalp and hair and protects against dryness. If too much sebum is produced, it can lead to clogged pores, dandruff, and hair loss. How much sebum your body produces depends on a few factors. While your genetic makeup plays an important role in determining how oily or dry your scalp is naturally, your hormonal changes, stress levels, diet, and environment also play a part. For example, you can experience oily locks much faster in a humid climate. Are you going through a stressful period? Then it may be that your hairstyle becomes oily faster than before.

The moral of the story: sebum production is a natural process that is largely driven by your genes and hormones. Training your hair does not suddenly change the amount of sebum produced on your scalp. Training your hair is actually just a myth.

I hear you thinking: how often should I wash my hair? A week is not good, but even after a day is not ideal. Unfortunately, there is no universal answer to this. It all revolves around understanding your own hair type and scalp condition. Generally, people with curly, dry, or coarse hair can extend the time between washes longer than those with thin, fine hair. If you still want to try to keep your hair fresh for a day or two longer, according to Kopelman, there are a few options that are NOT harmful to your hair:

1. Use a brush with natural bristles and gently brush your scalp. This lightly exfoliates the scalp to remove excess sebum and dirt. Additionally, it stimulates blood circulation for healthier hair growth.
2. Don't use too many styling products. These weigh the hair down and are the cause of faster sebum buildup.
3. Blow-dry on a lower heat setting and focus mainly on the roots of your hair.
4. Let your hair air dry as little as possible. The moisture that remains on your scalp can signal your sebaceous glands to produce more oil.
5. No matter how tempting it is: do not use too much dry shampoo. This clogs the hair follicles with excessive use. Once a week is more than enough.

Source: huffpost.com