How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Washing your hair is commonly viewed as a straightforward, routine form of self-care. But the more that’s researched about how this seemingly simple task affects your hair health, the more confusion there seems to be about how you should wash your hair, what products to use, and how often to do it. How often should you wash your hair? The answer depends on your hair texture and type. Find out if you should be washing every day or once a week in our complete, informative guide!

I. How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

You’ve probably heard that washing your hair every day is a bad idea. Shampooing often strips your hair and scalp of its natural oils, causes frizz, and fades color fast. But going too long between washes has its own problems. Excess oil, clogged pores on the scalp, and product buildup can all result from washing too infrequently. So what is ideal frequency?

The Short Answer

You should wash your hair 2 to 3 times a week on average. You might need to shampoo every day if you have fine, thin hair that tends to get oily fast. If you have thick, curly, or damaged hair, spacing your washes out a bit more is beneficial while fine, straight hair needs to be washed a lot more frequently than coarse, curly hair.

You might only need to wash your hair 1-2 times a week if you have very thick, curly, or coily hair. But there’s more to it than these general recommendations.

The Long Answer

Deciding how often to wash your hair starts with knowing your hair’s characteristics. However, in reality, there isn’t a one size fits all answer. How often you should wash your hair comes down to your hair type and lifestyle choices; these will vary for everyone. It could be anything from daily to weekly so it’s something that you’ll need to experiment with and try out for yourself. The only thing you need to be wary of is drying out your hair or causing damage.

Regardless of your hair type it’s a good tip to only concentrate the shampoo at your roots to avoid drying out the lengths of your hair. Massage it into your scalp with your fingers and leave the shampoo to rest for 3 minutes before rinsing it off. This will make sure it has enough time to soak in and work its magic on any product buildup.

II. How Often Should You Wash Dry Hair?

It’s best to wash dry hair less often than other hair types to make the most of your scalp’s natural oil. You could get away with washing your hair twice a week with the help of a little dry shampoo to keep your strands super nourished.

Best Shampoo for Dry Hair: Redken AllSoft Mega Shampoo

All Soft Mega Shampoo improves manageability, suppleness and shine. The shampoo is formulated with Argan Oil to moisturise the roots and leave the hair silky soft.

III. How Often Should You Wash Oily Hair?

If you can’t go a day without washing your hair that’s totally understandable but it’s important to make sure you’re not causing any damage. There’s nothing wrong with daily scrubbing as long as you use a gentle shampoo and try and keep heat to a minimum. Switch to a super nourishing shampoo and if you can, let your hair air dry.

Best shampoo for Oily Hair: Davines Solu Shampoo

Solu Shampoo works to eliminate any product build-up and hair dirt. This gentle cleansing shampoo is perfect for regular use, nourishing your hair as it cleanses, leaving a silky, glossy finish.

Formulated with a cocktail of natural actives, this shampoo refreshes your roots and scalp to liberate your hair for any accumulated dirt which will potentially compromise volume, leaving your hair limp. You may also notice not having to wash your hair as often with this deeply cleansing shampoo.

IV. How Often Should You Wash Curly Hair?

As the natural oils from your scalp take a little longer to work their way down curly hair types you may find washing your hair less often a better option. It is advised to wash curly hair one to three times per week. You might want to try co-washing too which is when you only use conditioner. They still contain a small amount of cleansing agents so your hair will feel fresh but it can be more gentle to your curls. It is advised to always ensure the cuticles of curly or coiled hair are closed, blow drying the hair with a diffuser attachment where possible.

Best shampoo for Curly Hair: Kerastase Curl Manifesto Bain Hydratation Douceur Shampoo

Curl Manifesto Bain Hydration Shampoo refreshes the hair from scalp to length, removing dirt, impurities and product build-up. Formulated with Manuka honey and Ceramides to help hydrate and soften thirsty strands whilst nourishing curls.

The gentle cleansing shampoo resists weighing the hair down, leaving curls revitalized and detangled.

V. How Often Should You Wash Coloured Hair?

It’s best to wash coloured hair as little as possible if you want to keep it looking salon fresh; the recommended amount to be around two to three times per week. For anyone who washes their hair every day try and push it back to every two to give the dye a little more staying power. Ensure you use products that work for coloured hair as harsher formulas will strip it back.

Washing too often can fade colour-treated tresses, so if you’ve got coloured hair try to shampoo no more than two to three times a week. To help maintain your hair’s colour and vibrancy, use a shampoo designed especially for coloured hair.

Best shampoo for Coloured Hair: L’Oréal Professionnel Serie Expert Vitamino Color Shampoo

Vitamino Color Radiance Shampoo will ensure the longevity of your hair colour. The product works to gently remove residue and impurities from the hair, without compromising your hair colour. The protective shampoo helps keep your colour looking vibrant and shinier for longer.

VI. How Often Should You Wash Damaged Hair?

It’s best to wash damaged hair as little as possible to avoid drying it out any further or having to heat style it. Try and go as long as possible between washes and be as gentle as you can with your hair. Shampooing every five to seven days is recommended for extremely dry or damaged hair; this will allow your scalp to retain some of the hair’s natural oils. You also want to use nourishing products which are formulated to strengthen your strands and tame the split ends.

Best shampoo for Damaged Hair: Olaplex Bond Maintenance Shampoo

Bond Maintenance, aka No4 Shampoo protects the hair from everyday stresses whilst repairing broken bonds; including damaged hair, split ends and frizz. The Olaplex range works by re-linking broken bonds in the hair, leaving the hair more manageable, shinier and healthier. Bond Maintenance Shampoo is colour-safe and scientifically proven to reduce breakage and strengthen all hair types.

We hope you’ve enjoyed our guide. While you’re here, be sure to check out our other articles to learn about the best hairstyles, hair products, and much more.