One Wash, Two Wash, Three Wash, Four?

You’ve probably heard about a hundred different rules for how often you should wash your hair. Some say every day is fine, some say once a week, some say never truly wash it (“no-poo”, anyone?). So really, what’s the right answer?

Well I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad (hair) news but there is no real answer. The amount you should wash your hair depends on many things: your personal preference, your hair’s texture, or how you usually style your hair being just a few of the factors.

For people with fine hair, a shampoo every day may be the best for you; you may notice your hair gets greasy faster and that you can’t skip a day showering. If that’s true, just be sure to use a good moisturizing shampoo and conditioner so you’re not drying out your hair or your scalp. For those with thick and/or curly hair, you can probably make (hair)do with one or two shampoos a week. You may even find that your hair looks better after that second or third day.

If you can’t go a day without your beloved hair straightener or curling iron, then that gives more reason to wait between washes. Extreme heat-styling can leave your hair dry and damaged, and stripping it of its natural oils with constant washing will just cause more damage. If you feel like you need a bit of a wash to get your style perfect, though, a
good dry shampoo could be an excellent option!

Finally, the best advice we can give is to make sure you are aware of your own hair. Again, there’s no right answer to the question of “how often should I wash my hair?” If your hair feels very greasy or your scalp is itchy, that’s a good sign that you are due for a wash. However, make sure you recognize each symptom for what it is. For example, a dry, flaky scalp does not always mean dandruff and using dandruff shampoo or constantly washing will only dry your scalp out more.

No one knows your hair better than you. In the end, it really does come down to personal preference. If we were to give one answer for this debate, it would be that the average person should try to wash their hair only two or three times per week or as they see fit for themselves.