How Often Do You Really Need to Wash Your Hair?

While washing your hair may be just a hum-drum part of your self-care routine, finding the right balance of how many times you should lather up each week can be tricky. Washing too much may dry your hair out, but not washing enough may leave your hair feeling and looking oily. Since there’s no one-size-fits-all solution, here are some factors to consider when figuring out your hair-washing cadence.

How Often You Wash Your Hair Varies From Person to Person

Experts generally recommend waiting an average of two to three days between washes.  However, this isn’t a golden rule. Various factors may influence how frequently your hair needs to be washed.

• Activity: People who exercise regularly may need to wash their hair more frequently to avoid unpleasant odors and unmanageable sweaty hair. 

• Age: As people age, their scalps produce less natural oils. As a result, older people can wait longer between washes.

• Hair Type and Texture: People with textured or dry hair may become brittle if cleaned too often. Additionally, curly hair requires less washing because too much cleaning can cause hair to dry out and frizz.

• Hair Length: Shorter hair becomes greasier faster than longer hair, which may mean it needs to be washed more often. 

How to Properly Wash Your Hair

Regardless of how often you wash your hair, everyone should do a few basic things to ensure a proper and thorough clean. 

• Wet your hair thoroughly. 

• Use the proper amount of shampoo. A nickel-sized dollop works well for short hair, while people with long hair may need to cover their entire palm.

• Use the tips of your fingers to massage the shampoo in your hair for three minutes.

• Spend one to two minutes thoroughly rinsing out the soap.

• Avoid applying conditioner directly to your scalp and focus on the body of your hair and the ends.

• Let the conditioner sit for two to three minutes before rinsing.

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