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How often should I wash my hair? It is a question that has plagued the minds of people since the beginning of time. People all over the world have their own opinions on this subject. Some say as often as possible, and others say not very often at all.
It is indeed a very valid question to understand how to keep your hair healthy, for it to be strong and healthy and for you to maintain a beautiful hairstyle. Many people often wash their hair too often, which can take a toll on your hair! Others do not wash it often enough, leading to problems like scalp issues, clogged follicles, and more.
The answer to this complex question lies in a fine balance between hair health and personal preference. Your hair type and texture, activity level, and environment all play a part in how often you should be reaching for the shampoo bottle. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
This article will cover hair washing in general, plus it will also review the differences between specific hair types.
Honestly, everybody has their own preference. Shampoo types also play a role in exactly how you will wash your hair.
Listed below are some best practices.
Even if you try to cut back on washes, some reliable signs that you’re still over-washing your hair are:
If you notice any of these signs, try waiting one more day between your usual wash cycle, and see if that makes a difference. On the other hand, if your scalp feels itchy, flaky, or if you’ve been sweating, then it’s probably time to wash your hair.
Overwashing your hair can strip it of its natural oils, leaving your strands dry, dull, or damaged. Additionally, washing too often can upset your skin and hair’s microbiome, inviting bacteria, fungus, or dandruff.
It’s tempting to wash your hair when it looks oily, but washing hair every day is likely what’s making it greasy in the first place. Your scalp naturally produces sebum, protective oil that coats your skin and hair. Sebum moisturizes the hair shaft, defending it from sun exposure, free radicals, and bacteria.
However, washing with shampoo signals your scalp to produce more sebum, replacing the protective coating that’s been rinsed away. This cycle can lead to an overproduction of oil, as the glands work overtime.
Is it bad to wash your hair every day? Not necessarily, if you’re getting sweaty or grimy. You should usually wash your hair after an intense workout if you live in a humid area or if your hair is dirty or germy. However, most people don’t need to wash their hair every day, and doing so can damage your hair strands, tips, and scalp.
Cutting back on hair washes can be difficult, but it’s worth it to make your hair shinier and stronger. You might wonder, how many times a week should I wash my hair? Before you go down a rabbit hole googling “how often do you wash hair???”, know that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Different hair types require different hair care practices.
Listed below are some guidelines to follow.
If you have very fine, thin, or oily hair, wash your hair more frequently. Straight, fine, or thin hair shows oil production more obviously than thicker or curly hair does. In general, aim to wash fine or thin hair every other day. Any more will jumpstart oil production, leaving your scalp slicker than before.
If you have thick or wavy hair, your hair routine generally falls somewhere in the middle of the extremes. You’ll want to keep your hair conditioned and clean without over-drying. A good goal is to aim to wash your hair 2 or 3 times a week.
For many people, washing wavy, thick hair can be a chore. Using the correct brushes and styling tools after washing will make caring for your hair much easier. Pay attention to #4 listed above under how often should I wash my hair.
Curly hair is considered the most important and stylish hair in the world. Curly hair needs specific care, and it is what defines you. It even has its own established routines and programs called the Curly Girl Method. It is important to learn how to take care of curly hair because you will never have the same curly hair as your relatives or the next person.
It is imperative to wash curly hair with a gentle, hydrating shampoo and always condition to get the cuticle closed to keep the scalp healthy. Use a gentle back and forth motion while taking care to avoid smashing the curls together. We recommend using our scrunching towel to help remove the excess water before wrapping it in our microfiber hair towel.
Curly hair is generally considered the driest of all types since it takes the longest for sebum to move all the way down the hair shaft. Because of this, you can get away with shampooing the least frequently. Shampoo curly and coily hair, ideally only once a week.
If you have damaged hair from heat styling or coloring, you should wash hair as infrequently as possible. Five to seven days is a good rule of thumb, but you may want to try to go even longer to give your hair time to recover. Brittle strands are especially vulnerable to breakage.
Hair damage can occur in many different ways and produce different results. The answer to how often to wash it really comes down to the type of damage. At times it may be better to wash less frequently to allow the protective oils to re-establish themselves. Other times the damage may be an excess of oils and residue, in which case it will need to be washed to flush out the harmful materials.
A hairstylist you ask or a friend will give you a different answer in every article you read. The truth is, don’t worry about following a specific schedule. Those are guidelines only. Instead, pay attention to your hair and wash it when you see or feel it needs to be washed.
