Frequent Hair Washing Is Beneficial for Hair Loss

A study found that daily hair washing results in a better scalp condition than not washing it. "Washing hair frequently resulted in a better scalp condition than not washing it." Experts say that scalp care is essential, especially for East Asians, many of whom have oily scalps. This is because it helps remove waste products accumulated on the scalp, maintaining follicular health.

It has been revealed that Koreans have many genetic variations that suppress body odor. The ABCC11 gene variation, which determines the amount of odor-causing substances secreted from the armpit glands, is particularly common among East Asians. As a result, Koreans have less apocrine gland secretions (proteins/fats), leading to less body odor.

Unlike sweat for thermoregulation, sweat from apocrine glands, which are found only in specific areas like the armpits, differs in composition by race. Professor Jo Dong-chan explained, "We East Asians, Koreans, secrete proteins and fats in a very dry, hard form. This also applies to earwax. Our earwax is dry, while theirs is wet." Koreans secrete less protein and fat, resulting in dry earwax, whereas Westerners tend to have wet earwax.

Differences in perception of body odor exist due to unique dietary habits in each culture. Director Lee Jeong-mo stated that while living in Germany, he smelled garlic on the subway and realized, "This was the smell I hadn't smelled for six years." He became aware of the presence of garlic smell through direct observation. This shows that the everyday smell of garlic for Koreans can be perceived as strong body odor by foreigners.

According to a 2017 Franco-Japanese joint study, Koreans are among the top ranks in sebum secretion by race. "Koreans are also in the top five when it comes to sebum production." It was found to be similar to levels in African Americans, Caucasians, Japanese, and Chinese, with Indians secreting the least.

Hair loss tends to be perceived as a negative social signal. According to a paper published in the US in 2013, while people with closely shaved heads have positive aspects like appearing dominant and strong, those with ongoing hair loss are perceived as having reduced attractiveness and toughness.

According to a 2025 British Journal of Dermatology, abundant hair is perceived as a symbolic sign of health and wealth. Professor Jo Dong-chan explained, "People recognize that if someone has abundant and long hair, they haven't been poor or sick for a long time, which is why people prefer abundant hair." Additionally, strong curly hair is analyzed to be advantageous in protecting the brain from direct sunlight.

The early sign of hair loss should focus on hair thickness rather than the number of hairs. According to a study of 369 people in Japan, "The early symptom of hair loss is thinning hair." In the early stages of hair loss, there is a characteristic decrease in the proportion of thick hairs within the scalp follicular unit.

Studies have shown that when measuring scalp temperature in hair loss patients versus non-hair loss individuals, the scalp temperature of hair loss patients is approximately 1.5 degrees Celsius higher. This suggests that scalp cooling may have some positive effects on the scalp. In fact, scalp cooling is known to be effective in preserving hair during chemotherapy. However, its direct therapeutic effect on male pattern baldness involving DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is not yet accepted as a medical consensus in Western medicine. This means that scalp cooling can be used as an auxiliary means for hair loss prevention and management, but it is not the main method of hair loss treatment.

When using surfactants like shampoo, it is better to use lukewarm water rather than hot water. "When using surfactants, it's better to use lukewarm water rather than hot water." This is because hot water can damage the phospholipid layer, which is the protective barrier of the scalp, more severely.

According to an experiment by a Chinese research team on the correlation between hair washing frequency and scalp health, washing hair frequently was found to be more effective in improving scalp condition than not washing it. "The result was that washing hair frequently led to a better scalp condition than not washing it." Hair falling out from not washing is actually several days' worth falling out at once, and the act of washing itself does not cause hair loss.

Hair damage varies depending on the drying method. Professor Jo Dong-chan explained, "The higher the temperature, the more the cuticles, which are the outer layers of the hair, were damaged. But for natural drying, the cuticles were intact, but the internal matrix structure was more damaged." Natural drying can damage the internal matrix structure of hair, while high-temperature drying above 90 degrees Celsius can cause hair cuticle damage. Therefore, when using a hairdryer, it is more beneficial for hair health to keep a distance of about 15cm from the hair and dry it quickly with cool air.

It is advisable to periodically switch shampoos according to scalp and hair conditions. Professor Jo Dong-chan advised, "It's good to change shampoos occasionally while using them. For example, if you used a deep cleansing shampoo once a week or once every two weeks, then next time, even if your scalp is oily, your hair itself is dry." Since scalp and hair conditions can differ, such as an oily scalp with dry hair, alternating between deep cleansing shampoo and moisturizing shampoo every 1-2 weeks is effective. This is to reduce tolerance to specific ingredients and to address various scalp and hair concerns.

Hair loss patterns differ between women and men. One speaker explained, "Female hair loss often progresses, as the professor mentioned, by thinning hair, while male hair loss progresses genetically by the hair falling out completely." Women typically experience hair loss by thinning hair and reduced volume, often focusing on the crown and part line. In contrast, men's hair loss progresses primarily due to genetic factors, with M-shaped hair loss being common.

Modern medicine has provided various alternatives for hair transplantation. The speaker mentioned, "Modern medicine has now found alternatives. Beard hair is now possible, and so is chest hair." Previously, hair from the back of the head was mainly used, but now hair from other areas like beard or chest hair can also be utilized as transplant material. Transplanted hair will grow with its original hair characteristics even in the new area.

While there are many concerns about side effects when taking hair loss medication, medically, the incidence of side effects is low. The speaker stated, "Side effects are what people worry about most. They're not non-existent, but the risk isn't high. Even if I'm affected at a low frequency, it resolves with time without stopping the medication." Side effects such as erectile dysfunction can occur, but their frequency is low, and symptoms usually recover upon discontinuation of the medication. It's also important to consider that neurologically, libido and erectile function are not separate. Therefore, it is crucial to consult with a specialist before taking hair loss medication to fully understand one's health status and the risk of side effects.