How often should I wash my hair? This is without a doubt one of the most frequent enquiries salon professionals get. But there may not be a simple solution. Each type of hair (and scalp) calls for an individual shampoo and a special routine for optimal cleanliness. You may have heard that shampooing your hair less frequently is better for it. Maybe you want healthier, better-looking hair but are thinking about skipping shampoo!
Yet, experts disagree on how often people should shampoo their hair. It’s possible you won’t need to do that all that often. Ultimately, it boils down to a matter of taste. For advice, consider your hair type and how you typically wear it.
What Factors Determine When You Should Wash Your Hair?
Hair types and textures
In order to maintain its moisture, coily, coarse, or curly hair has to hold onto as much oil as possible, so people with these hair textures should wash it less frequently than once per week. Extremely straight or fine hair must be washed more frequently, as any leftover oil from the scalp or product quickly becomes a greasy mess.If you wash your hair more frequently than once every other day to maintain these textures, go for a mild, sulfate-free shampoo.
Oily hair and scalp
Wash your hair more regularly if your scalp becomes oily quickly. It doesn’t mean you have to do it every day, though. It’s important to remember that your natural oil production fluctuates with the seasons and years, so you may need to alter how often you wash your hair. Some who struggled with oily scalps in the past may find they can go longer between washes as they age.
Hair Colour
Overshampooing your hair is the number one way to fade away your colour. It also removes natural oils from your hair and scalp, which can make your hair look dull.
Related: How to tell if your hair is healthy.
How Shampoo Works
So, what exactly is shampoo meant to do? Due to the shampoo’s ability to trap oils, using it too regularly will dry up your hair, making it more brittle than usual and more likely to break.
Shampoo is an emulsifier that removes excess oil, debris, and product residue from hair. Sebum is a naturally occuring oil that the hair produces. In the majority of instances, a small amount of dirt is acceptable and even natural, and you do want to retain oils in your hair.
How Many Times A Week Should I Wash My Hair?
Finding the perfect number is not always easy. For the average person washing your hair every three days, depending on the components in the shampoo, seems to be the most prefered number of times to wash your hair each week; however, it really does depend on your hair type:
- If your hair is oily, you would typically want to wash it every day to prevent buildup. The only exceptions to this rule are if your hair is really long, very coarse, or highly curly.
- Hair that is dry or damaged. Even though it varies by person and hair condition, you should shampoo every five to seven days. You may need to allow some of the hair and scalp’s natural oils to get into the mix until that time. However, if your hair is dry and damaged, it could be that you’re shampooing too often. Don’t overdo it with the clarifying shampoo, as doing so might deplete the hair of essential oils and leave it more vulnerable to dryness and breakage.
- While caring for wavy or curly hair, shampoo every 4-5 days. It will depend on the density of the hair, but this is a decent approximation for this hair type. If that sounds like too much of a stretch, decrease it by a day or two and watch how your hair and scalp react.
- Weekly washes for coily hair promote healthy development. Conditioning is just as essential as washing for optimal results.
- Fine hair will need to be shampooed every other day to provide it with the moisture it needs to flourish and grow. In addition, cleansing helps remove debris and oils that can weigh down fine or thin hair.
- Hair that is thick and coarse should only be washed once a week, according to Courtney’s recommendation.
For optimal hair growth, follow the instructions for your specific hair type. No studies have shown a connection between the frequency of washing and hair growth.
Is It Healthy to Wash Your Hair Every Day?
Some people, including those with very fine hair, those who exercise frequently (and so sweat a lot), and those who live in extremely humid areas, probably need to consider shampooing their hair every day.
Washing your hair every day is necessary if you have an oily scalp. In certain cases, more frequent cleaning is also good for people who think they have a dry scalp because of dandruff.
Is It Better Not To Wash Your Hair?
For healthy hair and development, regular washes help get rid of the buildup of styling products and dandruff that can irritate your scalp. In addition, not washing your hair can lead to concerns with dryness, knots, and ultimately hair loss. As long as your hair and scalp are healthy, your hair will grow.