How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

Some people wash their hair several times a day. It may start as a quick shower in the morning to start their day, followed by another wash and shampoo after they get done with their morning workout at the gym. Then, later that same day, they get home from work and feel “scuzzy” so they jump in the shower and that makes for “wash number 3” of the day. That’s a lot of hair washing, don’t you agree?

How often should you wash your hair?

We grow up getting used to lathering, rinsing and repeating. It becomes the norm to wash the hair (and our bodies) at least once daily in most American households. But when that happens, we don’t let our hair’s natural oils do their job. Instead, we strip our hair of them. We can get very dry scalps because of this, along with dandruff.

Then there are some people who wash their hair once a week or so. They might get a grease (natural oil) build-up on their hair that’s unappealing to others who have to look at it. This can be mitigated by using hairspray.

Did you know there’s such a thing as “dry shampoo?” People who use it tend to be people with thinner hair or those who work out regularly and don’t want to “overdo” it with typical shampoo.

So what do experts think? The general consensus is this: less washing leads to stronger and longer hair. Those with curls don’t need to wash as often as those without. Interestingly, it’s suggested that people use shampoo once or twice a week on their hair, and in the interim, they should use conditioner on their hair and scalp. Regular use of conditioner helps give moisture to hair and tame it as well.

For black people with highly textured hair, it’s suggested to wash hair every two weeks using conditioner and then once a month with clarifying shampoo.

The next time you visit a hairdresser/barber, don’t be afraid to ask them for advice about washing hair and what products to use or products to avoid. Stylists spend a lot of time working with people’s hair, and they tend to know the ins-and-outs of proper hair care customized for each person (and each person’s head of hair) they work on.