We did our research and found that these are your top burning questions. Can you wash your hair with Dawn dish soap? Why does my hair smell burnt after I wash it, and how often should you wash it to keep it healthy?

We Answer Your Top 3 Burning Questions

You may have seen viral videos on TikTok of people washing their hair with Dawn Dish soap and proclaiming, “It works!” or “I can’t believe it.” We’ll talk about that a little later. First, let’s talk about how often you should actually wash your hair to maintain its health!

How Often Should You Really Wash Your Hair for Better Health?

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Hair Washing Myths Debunked

If you’re like most people who see their hair get a little oily, they immediately rush to the restroom and wash their hair like there’s no tomorrow. (Even if it means washing 3-4 times a week!) Sometimes we even confuse oily hair for sweat. (Guilty!) But did you know there is a window of when it’s best to wash your hair?

The general rule of thumb is to wash your hair 1 – 2 times a week. Suppose you’ve had a chemical treatment, i.e., chemical relaxer, hair texturizer, permanent wave, bleaching, or specialty and design perms. In that case, you should wash it less than once a week to avoid breaking your hair, split ends, or developing brittle hair.

We’ve broken down wash days per hair type for clarification!

Thin/Fine Hair

Here’s a quick way to tell if you have thin hair or fine hair, or both! Grab a handful of hair in your first (length permitting), and then look at the roots. If you can easily see your scalp through the hair, it’s thin.

If you have thin hair, you really only need to shampoo every other day. This provides it with the moisture it needs to be healthy and grow. Cleansing helps remove buildup and oils that oftentimes weigh fine or thin hair down.

Medium/Thick Hair

Not sure if you have medium hair? Let’s find out! Take a front section of your hair and pull it to the side. If you can visibly see sections of your scalp underneath or through your hair, then your hair is thin, but if you barely see your scalp at all, your hair is thick. If your hair is somewhere in-between, then you have medium thickness.

For medium/thick hair, washing your hair about every 3 – 4 days is recommended. Thick hair shouldn’t be washed every day because it can dry out and make it less manageable. 3 – 4 days is ideal since it allows the hair to build up its natural oils.

Can You Wash Your Hair With Dawn Dish Soap?

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TikTok Dawn Dish Soap Viral Videos

It was early 2022, COVID was still in effect, and people were discovering new remedies for shampoo. Some found natural ingredients like yucca root, aloe vera, and some found Dawn dish soap. Dawn advertises their dish soap as ”so versatile, it can be used to clean many other items around your home.” (So, can you really blame people for conducting their own research?)

Here are the facts.

Dawn Dish Soap Fact

Dawn dish soap is safe to use on your skin if you don’t have a skin condition like eczema — a condition that causes your skin to become dry, itchy, and bumpy. This condition weakens your skin’s barrier function, which is responsible for helping your skin retain moisture and protects your body from outside elements.

Viral Video Sensation

Would you consider 23.5 million views a sensation or trend? TikTok users found themselves trying the latest fad. The videos showed women with natural hair claiming that it works. Even articles emphasize “the strong formula of this detergent may help remove excess oil and dandruff.”

We’re not suggesting that you run off and get Costco-size Dawn dish soap, we just answered one of your burning questions!

Why Does My Hair Smell Burnt?

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After Showering

Have you ever taken a nice long hot shower only to come out and have your hair smelling burnt? Here’s exactly why that is! When you take a hot shower, your cuticle and hair shaft essential get burned. Although it’s not common, it does happen. You can also burn your hair shaft by exposing your hair to extreme and unprotected sun exposure. (Remember always to wear a hat!)

After Using Hair Straightener

Your hair smelling burnt after using a hair straightener is more common than it smelling burnt after showering. That’s because the hair straightener is actually vaporizing the water in your hair. If your hair is too wet, the hair straightener won’t do such a good job, resulting in a nasty, burnt smell.

But don’t worry, the smell will fade with every wash. And, if you’re really invested in maintaining your hair’s health optimal, we’ve included some hair tips on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis!

Healthy Hair Tips

Photo by Anna Shvets

We know how jarring it is when you’re doing research to learn about the latest supplement or herb that promises real results. We’ve rounded up suggestions and tips from real experts to help you achieve and maintain healthy hair!

Daily

• Wash oily hair more frequently
• Concentrate shampoo on the scalp
• Use conditioner after every shampoo + concentrate on the ends

Weekly

• Use a hair mask
• Use a protective spray when using heat-styling tools
• Use hair oil for moisture in-between washes

Monthly

• Trim split ends

Annually

• Have a haircut

We hope this answers your burning questions, and you can use this information to help maintain your hair as healthy as possible!