There’s a burning haircare question that can stump even the most seasoned hair enthusiast: How often should you wash your hair? Too often, and you risk stripping your hair of its natural oils. But wait too long, and things can get, well, a bit greasy. We’re here to let you in on a little secret: Finding the sweet spot for washing your hair is not universal. Your hair type, lifestyle, and personal preferences all play a major role in what works best for you. Ahead, discover how often you should wash your hair based on your needs. We’re also revealing some of our favorite L’Oréal professional products to accompany your wash days (and the time in between).
Good hair day by @lauraelenahairartist.
How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?
There’s no hard and fast rule dictating how often you should wash your hair. According to the Cleveland Clinic, it ultimately boils down to things like age, activity level, and hair type or length. Your environment (usually, hotter weather means a sweatier scalp) and hormones can also affect how often you should shampoo. What works best for your friend’s short, wavy hair may not be the most effective routine for your long, curly locks—and that’s totally normal.
Is it okay to wash your hair every day?
Generally speaking, it isn’t “bad” to wash your hair every day. In fact, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) says that those with oily scalps may benefit from daily hair washing. However, the same may not be true for everyone, and you don’t want to wash too much.
Just as you can overwash your face, it’s possible to overwash your strands. And those with certain hair types (such as textured hair, which is naturally drier) may be prone to experiencing damage from overwashing. A few signs that can indicate you’ve gone overboard include brittleness, breakage, split ends, and a dry, irritated, or itchy scalp. If you’re a daily hair washer and notice any of these concerns, consider reducing your wash days and seeing how your hair responds. If the issues persist, book an appointment with your stylist to help you get to the root of the problem.
Pick-me-up formulas like dry shampoo can help extend the time between your shampoos, making your hair appear fresher for longer. We love Redken’s Deep Clean Dry Shampoo. The absorbent formula helps refresh up to fourth-day hair and provides a cooling sensation for a deep-clean feel.
Pro Tip: You can also apply your chosen dry shampoo to your roots before bed to get ahead of the grease. The same ingredients that work to absorb existing oil can also help improve the longevity of clean hair. Just spritz your dry shampoo along your part line before bed, then massage it into your scalp in the morning to help blend any leftover residue.
How Often You Should Wash Your Hair Based On Your Hair Type and Concerns
As mentioned, your hair’s specific needs can help you determine how long to wait between shampoo sessions. Here’s how often you should wash your hair based on your hair type and concerns.
If you have fine hair:
Battling greasy, flat strands is a struggle fine-haired folks may know all too well. In most cases, you may have to wash daily or every other day to help remove oil buildup and restore hair’s volume. We recommend investing in a volumizing duo like Matrix High Amplify Shampoo and Conditioner to help deeply cleanse your hair and build long-lasting body.
Massaging a few drops of Biolage Professional’s Scalp Sync Oil Balancing Serum onto your scalp can also help keep excess oil at bay. With continued use, this lightweight, leave-in serum helps rebalance an oily scalp by absorbing oil and reducing excess sebum production.
If you have thick hair:
The thicker or curlier your hair, the longer you can usually go between shampoos. This is because your hair’s texture can make it more difficult for oils to travel down your strands and make them appear dirty. As such, experts often suggest washing your hair every 5-7 days, although you may need to wash more or less depending on your physical activity level. Our article, A Celeb Hairstylist Taught Me How to Thoroughly Wash My Thick Hair, can give you more pointers on washing thick hair (you’ll definitely want to know about the double-shampooing method).
It’s worth noting that stretching the time between washes may leave your hair feeling dry. To combat this, we suggest applying a bit of Shu Uemura Art of Hair’s Ashita Supreme Hair Serum from the mid-lengths to ends of unwashed hair. It’ll help lightly nourish and rehydrate your parched strands.
If you have coily hair:
If you have a coily hair type, you may find that you can go longer than most people between shampoos—typically, about once a week. But as with other hair types, you’ll have to experiment with a schedule that keeps your mane clean without drying out your delicate texture. Pick up a hydrating range, like Pureology’s Hydrate Sulfate Free Shampoo and Hydrate Conditioner, to help give coils the in-shower nourishment they need.
Textured hair may become a bit deflated between shampoos (thanks to things like styling and sleeping). Fortunately, a few spritzes of Redken Refreshing Curl Mist can help redefine up to seventh-day (!) curls and coils. Divide your hair into workable sections before spraying the formula evenly throughout your locks. Then, lightly scrunch or re-coil your curls with your fingertips and let them air dry.
If you have damaged hair:
Damaged hair is already fragile, so overdoing it on the shampoo could potentially make matters worse. Try to aim for no more than twice a week to give your strands proper time to recover from the hair-washing process.
Whether your hair is worn down from heat, salon color, or chemical services, be sure to opt for a gentle, sulfate-free system designed to address the damage. We’re partial to Redken’s Acidic Bonding Concentrate. This powerful haircare regimen helps reinforce weakened hair bonds to strengthen and repair damaged hair. Plus, it helps protect hair from premature color fading and future breakage. Check out our Acidic Bonding Concentrate Review to see how you can customize the collection to address your hair’s unique needs.
If you have dandruff:
According to the AAD, washing your hair with an anti-dandruff shampoo can help manage the symptoms of mild dandruff at home. As you may have suspected, the frequency of doing so depends on your hair type. For daily hair washers, the AAD generally recommends swapping in a dandruff shampoo about twice a week. Those with coarse or naturally curly hair, on the other hand, can try using a dandruff shampoo once every seven days.
One active ingredient to look for in a dandruff shampoo, per the AAD, is antimicrobial zinc pyrithione. You’ll find it in Biolage Professional’s Scalp Sync Anti-Dandruff Shampoo. This gentle shampoo, which contains zinc pyrithione and glycolic acid, helps eliminate scalp itching, irritation, and flaking associated with dandruff. If a dandruff shampoo doesn’t improve your symptoms within a few weeks, schedule an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist.
Good hair day by @gosuamii.
How To Properly Wash Your Hair in 5 Easy Steps
Knowing how often you should wash your hair is just one piece of the puzzle–you’ll also want to ensure you’re washing it correctly. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the cleanest possible mane.
Step 1. Use the right amount of shampoo
First, determine how much shampoo you’ll need based on what the instruction label indicates. Normally, a dime-sized amount works for shorter hair, while longer lengths may require a quarter-size or more.
Step 2. Massage it into your scalp
Wet your hair, apply the recommended amount of shampoo, and gently work the formula onto your scalp using circular motions. Be sure to lather for more than 20 seconds to achieve a deeper cleansing (cue the “Happy Birthday” song).
Since the ends of your hair are typically the driest, there’s usually no need to massage the formula down the lengths of your hair. Just let the foamy residue run down your strands to give them a quick clean.
Step 3: Wring out your hair
This step is important: Rinse your shampoo and gently wring your hair before moving on to conditioning. Applying conditioner to soaking wet hair may cause it to slide right off your strands before it can properly absorb.
Step 4: Apply your conditioner
One of the most common mistakes people make when conditioning their hair is slathering the velvety formula from root to tip. In actuality, you should only apply conditioner to the areas where your hair needs moisture—namely, the mid-lengths and the ends.
You also may need less conditioner than you’d think. If you use too much, it can weigh your hair down and make it appear greasy.
Once applied, let your conditioner absorb for the allotted time (usually around 1-3 minutes).
Tip: For more advice on using conditioner, check out our article How To Use Conditioner The Right Way.
Step 5. Rinse it out
Thoroughly rinse your conditioner using lukewarm water. (Hot water can dry out your strands.) Keep rinsing until it feels like every last trace of your slippery conditioner has been removed from your hair. Use an old T-shirt or a microfiber towel to dry off before applying your favorite leave-in hair treatment.
Next Up: 17 Ways To Protect Your Hair While Sleeping
Header photo credit: @lauraelenahairartist
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