Confession: I wash my hair almost every single day. I know, it sounds like a cardinal sin for a beauty editor, up there with sleeping in your makeup and skipping sunscreen every morning. But hear me out! How often you should wash your hair is fully dependent on your hair type, oil levels, and styling goals. I have an oil-prone scalp, aka I need to wash my hair more often to remove buildup, flakes, and sebum. However, someone with dry, coarse, curly hair, or 4c hair might be able to wash their hair just once a week.
You should base your wash-day schedule on a lot of factors. “How many times should you wash your hair is not a one-size-fits-all answer," says professional hair stylist Gabbi Jeanne. "It depends on your hair type and lifestyle," like whether you have dandruff or if you tend to load up on styling products every day. And to help you figure it out, our experts break down exactly how often you should be shampooing.
The "best" system for hair washing completely depends on your hair type and the condition of your scalp. Although many dermatologists recommend washing your hair two or three times a week to avoid product buildup and scalp irritation, it can vary. Keep scrolling to find the best hair washing schedule for your specific needs.
According to dermatologist Iris Rubin, MD, finer and straighter hair types (types 1-3) typically need more frequent washing than coarser and curlier textures (type 4). Sophia Emmanuel, Trichologist and Cosmetologist, explains that "with type 4 hair, natural oils don’t easily travel down the strand due to tighter curl patterns, so shampooing once a week is sufficient, but on the other hand, for straighter and finer hair types, oils accumulate and spread more easily along the hair strands, which means they often require cleansing up to three times a week or every other day."
And if you have a protective style in, wash day is also important. "Cleansing your scalp is the only way to ensure your protective style is supporting healthy hair," says Jeanne. "This wash routine is usually spaced out a little longer than traditional wash day." The type of shampoo or cleanser you use may vary depending on your style. "Hair extensions, box braids, twists with hair added in are some styles that can be washed with the style in because you have access to your scalp," explains Emmanuel. "Other protective styles, such as crochet braids, can be more challenging to wash depending on the type of hair that is used and limited scalp access."
If you’re experiencing any itching, flaking, product buildup, greasy strands, or unpleasant smells, you may want to consider cleansing your hair more often. "Regular shampooing up to three times a week helps manage dandruff, itching, and helps control sebum production," says Emmanuel. "If you do not have a scalp condition or an active lifestyle, you can shampoo once a week."
It's okay to wash your hair every day, as long as you're not stripping your hair and causing dryness. Think about it: You wash your face every day (or twice a day) without fail to wash away the dirt, grime, and gunk. The same could go for your scalp, especially if you have straight, fine hair.
Keep in mind, though: If you do shampoo daily, you’ll want to make sure to use a mix of gentle cleansers to prevent scalp dryness, irritation, and itch. For example: If you can’t stretch your washings to every other day, you can cleanse daily with a gentle shampoo that’s filled with nourishing ingredients (like hyaluronic acid and aloe vera), then, once a week (for one wash only!), swap in a clarifying shampoo to break down oils and hard water buildup. We have all our favorites below.
And if you are washing every day, make sure you’re replenishing your hair’s moisture each time with deep conditioners, hair masks, and/or leave-in conditioners to keep your hair from drying out from the water (yes, water itself can actually be drying!). You’ll also want to avoid heat-styling as much as possible—so no blow-drying after your daily showers—or you’ll strip and damage your strands, leading to dull, brittle hair over time.
Again, how long you can go without washing your hair will depend on your hair type and oil levels. You should go a week without washing your hair if you have dry, thick, and/or coily hair—not because you can’t stretch your wash-day out even longer, but because you really shouldn’t if you’re trying to prevent breakage, dryness, and irritation. Your scalp and your strands need moisture to stay healthy, so try to cleanse once a week if possible.
If you’re working with fine or thin hair, or you have an oil-prone scalp, you may need to suds up a few times a week, every other day, or even daily (if you’re, say, doing sweaty hot pilates every morning). And though, yes, your dry shampoo can help absorb some scalp oil, it won’t magically get rid of it or leave your scalp clean. So you’ll still need to wash your hair regularly for optimal scalp and hair health.
So, you can't really train your hair to be less greasy, FYI. Essentially, hair training is the idea of scaling back on how often you wash your hair to slowly reduce how oily your hair becomes. Here's the thing, though: The whole "feedback loop" of oil production is a myth, meaning that no, just because you wash less doesn't mean that your hair will naturally be less greasy. For some, this could be the case if you have a naturally dry or normal scalp. But if you're born with an oily scalp (ty, genetics), it doesn't really matter if you skip a few washes—your scalp is still gonna be oily.
Not washing your hair enough can lead to dandruff, irritation, clogged pores, breakouts, and even hair loss over time, says Dr. Rubin, explaining that these issues are usually the result of buildup and residue from sebum, hair products, and dead skin cells. "The follicles on your scalp are literally the manufacturing plant for your hair, so for your best hair health, it’s important that they don’t get clogged,” she says.
Jasmine Hyman is the assistant beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about all things hair—from the trendiest hair colors to the best blow dryers. For this story, she tapped hair experts and spent weeks testing and researching the best shampoos for each hair type/need.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan with nearly five years of experience researching, writing, and editing hair stories that range from rosemary oil for hair and castor oil for hair. She’s an authority in all hair categories, but is an expert when it comes to how often you should wash your hair after constantly bugging dermatologists if she’s overwashing her oily scalp.
Beth Gillette is the beauty editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers skincare, makeup, hair, nails, and more across digital and print. She can generally be found in bright eyeshadow furiously typing her latest feature or hemming and hawing about a new product you "have to try." Prior to Cosmopolitan, she wrote and edited beauty content as an Editor at The Everygirl for four years. Follow her on Instagram for makeup selfies and a new hair 'do every few months.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat. Follow her on Insta to be inundated with pictures of her meals.
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