Growing up, I never washed my hair more than three times a week. Despite being a year-round runner (hello, sweaty scalp) and hair-spraying my flat-ironed mane every weekend like it was my full-time job, I always believed that shampooing every day was, um, *really bad* for my thick, curly hair.

Looking back, I can't even pinpoint where I first heard this—was it a friend, a teen magazine, or even my own hairstylist? Who knows. But that "rule" stuck with me. I could take the sweatiest hot yoga class and I'd still find a way to stretch my wash day, even if it meant feeling a little uncomfortable or having to get seriously creative with styling.

That all changed when I spoke with Maria McCool, a long-time hairstylist and the founder of Calista. "One of the haircare myths that I like to debunk a lot is that you're not supposed to shampoo your hair often," she said. "Back in the day—I'm talking like the '50s, '60s, '70s—the shampoo was so strong and sulfate-y, and it would really strip the hair... so you would try not to shampoo it as much [to avoid] your hair getting damaged." But the market has evolved since then, and newer, more nourishing products (like Calista Jousse Cleanse & Condition) make all the difference when it comes to your scalp and strands.

Wait... what? After years of strategically planning my wash days and fighting the urge to soap up, could it really be okay to shampoo daily? Needless to say, I had questions for McCool—and she had answers. Here's her scoop on washing, and why she wants everyone to give the Calista Jousse line a try.

Why washing more often can actually be good for your hair

McCool isn’t just giving us permission to shampoo more often—she’s saying it might actually help maintain better hair and scalp health. Think about it like skincare: You wouldn’t leave sweat and grime on your face for days, right? So why would you treat your scalp any differently?

She also highlights the impact of DHT (dihydrotestosterone), a hormone that, when left to accumulate on the scalp, can clog hair follicles and contribute to thinning and hair loss, especially in men. “If you’re thinking about these kids who are working out all the time, they go to the gym and then they don’t shampoo their hair—and that DHT sits there, on the scalp, without coming off,” she says. “And it really does cause clogged pores that deter the hair from growing.”

Translation: If you’re an active person who sweats a lot, skipping shampoo might not be doing you any favors.

Calista Jousse Super-Size Cleanse & Condition 32oz. Duo — $69

The shampoo that lets you wash without worry

Of course, not all shampoos are created equally. Plenty of products still contain ingredients like sulfates, which can cause dryness and damage. That’s why McCool formulated Jousse Cleanse and Condition, her sulfate-free shampoo-and-conditioner duo, which gently cleanses while supporting your scalp health.

The whole Jousse line is basically like drinking juice for your hair, she says. McCool worked with a chemist to create a formula that uses ingredients like saw palmetto, red clover, and willow herb—all of which are known for promoting hair growth and scalp health. Jousse is formulated to exfoliate and cleanse the scalp while delivering nutrients, which is why McCool calls shampooing "juicing." “I can juice three times a day if I want,” she says. “It’s not going to damage my hair.”

So, should you wash every day?

The bottom line: There's no reason to fear the daily wash, especially if you’re using a gentle, sulfate-free formula like Jousse Cleanse and Condition. That said, McCool isn’t about pushing a one-size-fits-all approach. The best routine is the one that works for you, she says. So if you love that just-washed feeling? Go for it. BRB, off to break a lifetime of hair-washing habits.