Hair Care Practices in Different Populations: What Makes a Difference?

The document presents a study that aimed to determine whether sociodemographic factors (SD) or hair attributes (HA) are better predictors of hair wash frequency (WF) among different populations. The study involved 96 patients from a general dermatology outpatient clinic who completed an 18-item questionnaire. The study found that sociodemographic variables such as race, gender, and age group were better predictors of hair wash frequency than hair attributes like hair type, texture, length, and scalp type. Specifically, the best model for predicting WF included only SD factors with an adjusted R² of 0.59, indicating that these factors were statistically significant. The study concluded that hair care practices, such as wash frequency, are more likely influenced by social or cultural norms rather than the physical attributes of the hair. The study had limitations, including reliance on patient recall for WF and a sample that may not be representative of the general population.