Tik Tok trends… that’s a phrase many of us have become familiar with in recent times. Trends seen on the platform reach into many areas of our lives, so it’s no surprise to learn that some Tik Tokers are providing ‘hair care tips and advice’ as well. We added inverted commas there because as you might guess, some of these aren’t ideal to follow. Hair training is one of them.
I’m going to take you through the basics of this trend, before explaining why following it could potentially lead to hair loss.
What Is the Hair Training Trend on Tik Tok?
The basic premise is simple to understand. Tik Tokers say that you should wash your hair less often. The timings vary depending on who you watch, but many say they go for a month or more between washes. Many Tik Tokers build up to the longer period between washes too.
This apparently means you can ‘train your hair’ to get used to infrequent washing. In turn, this allegedly means your hair will look better and your hair and scalp will be healthier.
Does Hair Training Work?
There is nothing to suggest it does, no. Your hair is exposed to all manner of things during the average day. Depending on the time of year, you could have anything from wind to rain to snow to deal with. Then there’s dirt, possibly transferred from your hands to your hair and scalp. You’ve also got residue there from the hair care products you used when you did wash it. That might mean shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, mousse… you name it, your hair and scalp will likely have some of it sitting there.
What Are the Risks of Hair Training?
We’re all different, of course, and this applies to our hair too. Some of us have naturally greasier hair than others. However, your scalp produces sebum, a natural oily substance that prevents it from drying out. If you go a few days without washing your hair, this will build up and cause that greasy look.
Over time, if you continue to go without washing it, the sebum can build to an extent that you may be at risk of seborrheic dermatitis. This causes the scalp to become itchy and inflamed. You might notice that if you go a few days without washing your hair, your scalp does tend to be a little itchy. It’s hard to resist scratching it in this situation, and that’s what can potentially lead to hair loss.
This isn’t just a theory either. One study conducted in 2021 found that people who washed their hair five or six times per week exhibited healthier scalps than those who went longer between washes.
What Is the Ideal Hair Washing Routine?
This depends on your scalp and hair type, and it can change throughout your life, too. If you have naturally oily hair, you’ll probably need to wash it daily or every other day, to prevent that build-up of sebum. If you have much drier hair, you’ll be better off washing it perhaps three times a week. Experiment a bit and see what works for you but be prepared to change occasionally depending on age and how your hair might change. Similarly, if you use lots of hair products, daily washing to remove residue that could irritate your scalp is better than leaving it all in there.
So, there’s nothing scientific to back the hair training trend that’s doing the rounds on Tik Tok. You know your own hair better than anyone, so keep an eye on its condition and think about how best to manage it. Your hair stylist can provide advice here too, as they’ll know your hair as well as you do.
Following the hair training approach may get millions of views for some Tik Tokers, but it won’t bring the results many of those viewers might be hoping for. Stick to paying close attention to your own hair to help you figure out the best approach to prevent hair loss.
To learn more about scalp care for healthy hair growth, contact the team at Unique Hair Concepts for a complimentary hair and scalp analysis.
