To shampoo or not to shampoo? That might be your question each time you head into the shower. The frequency of shampooing is a hotly debated topic in haircare, and there's no one-size-fits-all answer. It usually comes down to personal preference and your hair's texture. Experts say there's no single answer to how often people should shampoo. You may not need to do it as often as you think.
Shampooing is an important component of any haircare routine, but for the best results, it’s important to take the right approach. Finding the right shampoo for your needs is part of the equation, but so is determining how often you should shampoo-because different hair types often have very different needs.
Shampoo traps oils, so if you do it too frequently, you may dry your hair out, leaving it prone to breakage, says Angela Lamb, MD, an assistant professor of dermatology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. Breakage is more likely for some hair textures. For instance, Black people’s hair is more fragile and at risk for damage.
"Hair produces natural oil called sebum, and shampoo is an emulsifier that captures and traps excess oil, dirt, and product residue, which you then rinse out to clean the hair," Lamb says. "Sebum, or oil, serves an important role for our hair by moisturizing it," explains Dr. Maender. Glands located all over the scalp, called sebaceous glands, naturally produce this oil into hair follicles. As it travels up each hair shaft, the oil coats hair strands and keeps them from becoming dry and brittle.
For the most part, some dirt is OK and natural -- and you definitely want some oils to remain in your hair. “They provide moisturizing and a protection barrier for the skin and hair,” says Carolyn Goh, MD, assistant clinical professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.
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Several factors influence how often you should wash your hair, including hair type, scalp condition, lifestyle, and environment.
Your hair type is one of the first factors you should consider when seeking to determine how often to wash your hair. Hair is typically characterized by its texture (fine or coarse), density (thin or thick), and curl pattern (straight, wavy, curly, or coily).
Those with finer, straighter strands typically need to suds up more frequently than those with thicker, coarser, or curlier hair. That’s because oil travels more easily throughout fine, straight strands than it does coarse or curly hair.
Straight Hair: If you have straight hair, you’ll typically want to lather up daily or every other day. As mentioned above, straight hair transports sebum well-so the straighter your strands, the quicker your hair is likely to get greasy. If you’re in a pinch and don’t have time to hop in the shower, dry shampoo can help mask oiliness.
Wavy and Curly Hair: Those with wavy and curly hair can adopt a less frequent washing schedule-depending on your scalp condition, one to two times per week is generally ideal. Waves and curls tend to be drier than straight hair, and over-washing may leave it dry, brittle, or frizzy.
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Coily Hair: Coily hair-also known as type 4 hair-tends to be prone to dryness and breakage.
People with thick, curly, or long hair should shampoo less frequently, as their hair type tends to not distribute oil as easily down the shaft of the hair," explains Dr. Maender.
In addition to your hair type, your scalp condition helps determine how often you should wash your hair.
Oily Scalp: Those with oilier scalps should lather up more often-you can wash your hair every day, or every other day.
Dry Scalp: If you have a drier scalp, you may find that shampooing once or twice a week is sufficient to keep your hair clean and minimize greasiness.
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Sensitive Scalp: You may assume that if your scalp is sensitive, you should shampoo less often, but the reverse may be true.
Dandruff: Dandruff isn’t always caused by dryness-sometimes, it’s caused by a yeast that feeds on sebum (the oil that your skin and scalp produce). Dandruff is the most common form of seborrheic dermatitis, appearing as flaky skin on the scalp without severe redness or irritation. So if you’re experiencing a lot of flaking, it may be a sign that you should lather up more frequently. When you do, reach for a shampoo and conditioner duo formulated specifically for dandruff control, like the CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Shampoo and CeraVe Anti-Dandruff Hydrating Conditioner.
Wondering how often you should wash your hair goes beyond knowing your scalp type and hair type.
Exercise Frequency: You don’t necessarily have to wash your hair more often if you exercise, experts say. However, sweating heavily can contribute to odor.
Chemical Processing: Coloring or chemically treating your hair (for example, with a perm) can dry out your strands.
Use of Styling Products: Using products like hair gels, pomades, waxes, and hairsprays can all lead to product buildup on your hair and scalp.
The Weather: The environment can have a big impact on your hair and scalp, especially as the seasons change. Your scalp may become oilier in hot, humid weather, and drier in cold or windy weather.
Exposure to Pollution: How much time you spend outdoors could impact your wash schedule.
Age and climate are also considerations. "People with fine, thin hair will have oil distributed over the hair shaft more quickly and need to shampoo more often," says Dr. Maender. As you age, it may be best to wash your hair less often than when you were younger. The reason is that aging hair leads to less active oil glands. Your oil glands are under the control of androgens (male sex hormones)," reports Dr. Khetarpal. “This is why younger people typically have more active oil glands, since their hormone levels are higher.” Women after menopause have a decrease in androgens, which leads to less oil production. Men have less active glands, too, the older they get.
With all these factors in mind, here are some general guidelines:
When it comes to hair-washing frequency, Dr. Maender says most people should wash their hair two to three times per week.
Maybe you’re committed to your daily wash and you’re reading this wondering, “Is it bad to shampoo every day?” Depending on your hair type, the answer varies.
In general, no-it’s not typically necessary to wash your hair every single day. In fact, depending on your hair type, doing so could do more harm than good. However, there’s no hard-and-fast rule, and the best shampooing schedule for you depends on several factors, including your hair type, scalp condition, lifestyle, and environment.
The experts agree: Only a small group needs to shampoo daily, like those with very fine hair, someone who exercises a lot (and sweats), or someone living in very humid place, Goh says.
Shampooing removes oil. And it's totally logical to think that shampooing more would mean less oil-totally linear. But we don't live in that kind of world, and forcing yourself to space out those washes-let’s say, every other day, to start, then you actually train your scalp to produce less oil over time. It learns and responds. For daily washers, part of the reason it gets so oily on a daily basis is because you’re washing it every day. That hair wants so badly to stay nourished, and so the scalp overproduces sebum, so that the sebum can make its way up the hair shaft and stay hydrated. By going to one extreme (the daily wash), your scalp goes to the other extreme (the overproduction of sebum). So, take it easy on your head, and simply shampoo less. Healthy hair should always focus on moisture and conditioning, not excessive cleaning.
Knowing how to wash your hair-and with what-is as important as knowing how often to wash it.
Even if you follow a shampoo routine based on your hair type and scalp condition, you still need to pay attention to what’s happening in between washes. If you notice increased dryness, oily skin, or scalp irritation, that could be a sign that you’re either over-washing or under-washing your hair. Washing your hair too much can lead to hair that’s dry, brittle, or breaks easily, or a scalp that’s dry, irritated, or itchy. Conversely, under-washing may lead to dandruff. If you’ve noticed any of these concerns and need help determining how to proceed, we suggest consulting with a board-certified dermatologist.
If you think you’ve been over-washing, try extending the time between washes by a day or try cutting out one wash per week. It may take some time for your scalp and hair to adjust, but that’s OK.
Between washings, there are other things you can do to keep your hair healthy, clean and protected, too:
Use dry shampoo. Dry shampoo can help absorb excess oil and dirt. But you shouldn’t use it as a complete replacement for traditional shampoo. “Dry shampoos contain powders that help absorb your hair’s oils, and these oils are further removed when you comb it through,” Dr. Khetarpal explains.
Focus your conditioning. “For longer hair, it’s best to focus conditioning treatments on the ends, rather than the roots,” she reiterates. “Some people also like to use natural oils, like coconut or jojoba - but my recommendation is not to overdo it.”
Evaluate your styling products. Gels, hairspray, creams and serums can build up on your hair and scalp, which can lead to irritation and damage and make your hair feel oily. “If you use a lot of styling products, consider using a clarifying shampoo one to two times per month to remove buildup,” suggests Dr. Khetarpal.
Shampoo just your roots. If you use it too much, shampoo can damage your hair. Instead, try just shampooing your roots to ensure you clean your scalp and remove excess oil. “This prevents the ends from getting too dry and breaking,” notes Dr. Khetarpal.
Any time you shampoo, you should always follow it with a conditioner. (Don't even get us started on 2-in-1 products, which you should banish from your shower permanently.)
You can (and should) rinse your hair every day, which will flush away most oily and sweat and hair product (since most products these days are water soluble anyhow).
Plus, you can, and should, use conditioner as much as you want, though daily might be a stretch for many guys. If you have more textured hair, it’s also worth trying to co-wash (“conditioner-wash”). This is where you let your fortifying conditioner help rinse away excess grime and oil buildup. This could buy you time between shampoos-perhaps a couple extra days.
Lamb agrees there’s a lot of variation, and you should think about a style’s overall prep work.
"Some of it is cultural, the natural texture and thickness of your hair, how much you sweat and exercise, and how it’s styled,” she says. “If it’s styled with keratin treatment or you have a blow-out, you may not need to or want to wash more than once a week and put more stress on your hair.”
Just remember, your hair has its own “personality” and needs based on different factors. What works for a friend might not work for you. Go with your gut and preference, with one caveat. “Regardless of how your hair feels, though, don’t go longer than 14 days, ever,” Lamb says, who doesn’t buy into the total ‘no poo’ movement.
From a medical perspective, Goh says some of her patients only wash their hair once a week. She says as long as they don’t have scalp problems that seems OK. She doesn’t advise them to wash more often.
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