How Often Should You Wash Your Hair?

An age old debate that has plagued the hair care community: how often should you wash you hair? Some will say that it should always be daily, some will gasp and say that’s sacrilege and that no one should wash every day, some will go weeks without washing, while some sit in the chill middle and do it every couple days or a few times a week.

So, is there a right answer to this question? Yes! But it might not be what you think. Fair warning: there’s really no all-encompassing answer for this question and in the debate, no one is right or wrong! It’s all a matter of knowing what it is your hair needs exactly. And this can vary from person to person. In this article, we will go over all the different things you should consider to know how much you really should be washing your hair.

Consider your hair type

Curly

Curly hair requires a lot less washing than any other hair type. This is because curly hair is prone to dryness because of its biological makeup. It requires a lot more moisture and should not be washed often to avoid drying out the scalp and the hair. For curlies, once or twice a week may be the most frequent you should wash your hair. However, for some, it can be two weeks before they need another wash. It all also depends on your lifestyle and the amount of styling products you put in your hair.

Start with once a week washes and if you can adjust the frequency as you learn what your hair needs. Daily washing or frequent washing is not recommended for those with curly hair.

Wavy

Wavy hair is just a step below curly hair. It’s also a drier hair type and requires more moisture but not as much as curly hair. Waves also come in different types just like curly hair. The general rule of thumb is the curlier/wavier your hair is, the drier it is. So, you may be able to determine the frequency of your washes just by observing how wavy your hair is. If it’s looser waves, more frequent washes may be needed. For those with tighter, more voluminous waves, less frequent washing may be needed.

Start with once a week washes for wavy hair and adjust as needed. You may want to wash your hair more if you feel that your roots are being weighed down or if your wave pattern is looser and your hair and scalp tend to produce more natural oils.

Straight

Straight hair is the best at producing and keeping moisture when it comes to all the hair types. This means more frequent washing is needed. Straight hair can become dull, greasy and weighed down if not washed enough. While daily washing is not recommended, it is highly likely you will want to wash your hair every other day or every two to three days or so to maintain cleanliness and volume.

Start with a hair washing frequency of every three days. If you feel that your hair gets oily too fast, adjust the frequency and wash every other day or every two days until you feel that you have hit your right schedule.

Read more related articles:

1. What Type of Hair Do You Have?
2. Best Hair Care Routine for Your Hair Type
3. Best Hair Care Routine: Step-by-Step Guide for Healthy Hair

Consider your hair texture

Fine

Fine hair is much easier to saturate with heavy styling products as well as just the natural oils that the scalp produces. This means that you may have to wash your hair more often. You can determine if you have fine hair by pinching one strand between your fingers and sliding it between them. If you barely feel anything there or don’t feel anything at all, you have fine hair.

Fine hair is more common in those who have straight hair but those with wavy hair may also have it. It’s a bit more rare for those who have curly hair to have fine hair.

Thick

Thicker hair can be determined by the same test. If you pinch a strand between your fingers and can easily feel the hair there, that means you have thick hair. Thicker hair is more resilient when it comes to buildup. It will be less likely to look or feel heavy or greasy quickly which means you can get more time between washes.

Consider your hair porosity

Low Porosity

Knowing the porosity of your hair is also important when it comes to determining the perfect hair washing schedule for you. Low porosity hair is when the cuticle is mostly intact and hair secures moisture inside. Because it is sealed, it also takes longer to let moisture absorb or anything else for that matter. This means it’s less likely to become saturated with buildup and you can go longer in between washes.

To know if you have low porosity hair, you can observe how long it takes for you in the shower to saturate your whole hair. If it takes a few minutes to fully soak your hair in water, that means you have low porosity hair.

High Porosity

High porosity hair is when the cuticle of the hair has more holes. This can be natural or caused by damaging practices like chemical processes or heat styling. Porous hair doesn’t seal moisture in well and it also absorbs things easily. It can be prone to buildup, moisture overload, and dehydration. If you have high porosity hair, you should keep hair washing to a minimum but it may be difficult if the hair absorbs too much moisture and product.

Avoid using too many styling products that may cause buildup in your hair to lessen the frequency of your washing. That’s because high porosity hair absorbs water and also lets it out easily. This swells the hair up and drains it which causes frizz and damage.

To know if you have high porosity hair, observe in the shower how long it takes to soak your hair. If it’s immediately saturated and only takes a few seconds, that means you have high porosity hair. You can also determine this if you have had chemical processes like coloring, bleaching, and perming. Or if you regularly style your hair with hot tools. If you’ve had multiple chemical hair processes or style regularly with hot tools, you are likely to have high porosity hair.

Consider your scalp condition

Oily Scalp

Your scalp is probably the biggest factor to consider when it comes to finding the perfect hair washing schedule. If your scalp is naturally oily, that means that you wil have to wash your hair more frequently. Those with straight or wavy hair usually are more prone to having an oily scalp.

It’s also important to know if your scalp is just naturally oily or if there is an imbalance. Typically, a naturally oily scalp should have significant buildup within 2 days. If your scalp is oily enough to be greasy after only a few hours or so, there may be an imbalance. A clarifying shampoo once in a while and scalp scrub will be beneficial.

Normal Scalp

A normal scalp is ideal because it requires least maintenance. Buildup will usually occur 3 to 5 days after your last wash. This may vary from person to person and some can go longer without washes. You’ll know if you have a normal scalp if you don’t experience greasiness within 2-3 days of washing, you don’t experience dandruff or itchiness, and your scalp is free from any flakiness or dryness.

Dry Scalp

A dry scalp requires a bit more care but less frequent washing. Curly and wavy haired people are more likely to have a dry scalp. The scalp hardly produces any oil and some can go weeks without washing their hair. However, do note that once hair washing day does come, you should use moisturizing products that will infuse hydration into your scalp and hair.