The Outdated Boomer Hair Hygiene Rule Millennials Are Leaving Behind

Much like outdated boomer shower items millennials can't stand using, hair hygiene is part of the growing list of disagreements that define the complicated relationship between the two generations. In fact, along those lines, one boomer showering habit has plenty of millennials in a lather: shampooing frequency. It's fair to say that both generational groups want their hair to be healthy, shiny, bouncy, and all the other adjectives used by beauty product brands. However, boomers are more likely to embrace daily shampooing, a practice that younger adults just aren't having.

Is washing your hair every day actually bad, though? To be honest, millennials have a bit of science to stand behind their belief that daily hair washing just isn't necessary. As dermatologist Michelle Hanjani told NPR, "If you wash your hair every day, you're removing the sebum [natural oil]." Hanjani added that the body's natural response would be to produce more sebum, causing an excess of oily residue to build up on the scalp and hair.

What about Boomers who are into fitness and sweat up a storm? It turns out that they still don't need to overdo their hair-washing frequency. Dermatologist Dr. Shilpi Khetarpal explained to Cleveland Clinic that shampooing, even after a workout, isn't as necessary as people assume. "I typically advise people to keep to a standard hair washing schedule, whether it's three times per week, once a week or once every other week, regardless of activity level," said Dr. Khetarpal.

Why are boomers so bent on cleaning their hair every day, then? Their upbringing might shed a clue. Although women in the 1960s were taught that shampooing once a week was fine, the 1970s sent a far different message. During that decade, shampoo manufacturers ramped up their advertising campaigns to encourage daily use of their products. And thanks to their use of vibrant hair models like Farrah Fawcett, they succeeded in making shampooing seven days a week a normal routine for many people.

This doesn't mean that all boomers still prefer to wash their hair every time they shower. Some of them find that they just don't need to wash their hair much. This phenomenon is perfectly natural, given that the quality and needs of hair change over time. Hairstylist Colin Ford talked more about this reality during a CNN interview: "After reaching 40, many people experience noticeable changes in their hair due to a combination of aging, hormonal shifts and lifestyle factors."

Essentially, there's no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to hair washing. But that won't necessarily stop millennials from shaking their heads when their boomer parents insist that daily shampooing is a must. To be fair, though, there are millennial hygiene habits boomers just don't understand as well.