Ground rules. Try not to shampoo every day, as washing too frequently can strip the hair, leaving it brittle and prone to breakage. Aim to wash every other day at the most, or wait a few days between shampoos if you're able.
Are you washing your hair too much? Shampoo is designed to clean the scalp and remove excess oil. But if it's overused or if you work it all the way down the length of your hair, shampoo can damage your hair. Shampoo strips the important oils the scalp produces and can leave the hair and scalp too dry.
Who Should Shampoo Daily? 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. “If you have oily scalp, then daily washing is needed,” she explains.
In fact, you should not shampoo every day. The exact number depends on your hair, but think more like two or three days a week. Shampooing removes oil. And it's totally logical to think that shampooing more would mean less oil—totally linear.
There is rarely a medical reason to wash hair at all. So the decision about how frequently to wash hair depends on a person's hair type, scalp texture, how oily the hair gets, and personal preference. For some people, too-frequent washing can cause damaged hair and a dry, itchy scalp.
Feisal shares that “washing with water alone is like taking a shower without soap—great as a quick refresh, but probably not ideal for most of us to do all of the time. Water will only help rinse the hair's surface of dust and debris, but will not do much else and especially won't 'wash' your hair.”
In case you're wondering, there's no need to switch up your go-to shampoo every once in a while, either, because hair actually appreciates consistency. "Hair will not become 'used to' a shampoo such that it won't work any longer," Romanowski said. And don't forget about conditioner!
While your hair does need both, they don't need to be used at the same time. Unlike shampoo, conditioner can be used everyday, as it re-hydrates hair and replenishes nutrients. You might also want to consider conditioning on the days you don't shampoo (remember, keep that to two or three days a week).
How often should you wash thick hair? Thick hair textures normally become drier as the days go on so washing your hair every other day or up to once a week is sufficient. But, if you find that your thick hair becomes greasy, wash it more frequently.
Daily shampooing removes oils that are healthy, to some degree, but a too-oily scalp can nourish fungus that causes seborrhea, a condition that leaves the scalp itchy and scaly. If your scalp is naturally oily or you work out daily, washing once a day may be right for you.
“People with fine hair should be shampooing three to four times a week, and using conditioner only one to two times a week,” he says. Oropeza also emphasizes the importance of how to condition by recommending that we always steer clear of the scalp and stick to the ends.
"Two to three times a week is best to 'wash' your hair with a shampoo," Paves says. "For the days in between, I recommend rinsing the hair with water alone. For a fresh feel and smell, you can condition from the mid-shaft out."
Kimble's advice? "You should really wash your hair at least once per week, if not every 2-3 days." And if you're more active and are prone to a sweaty scalp, Rutlin suggests that everyday washing isn't as bad as you think.
Oil your hair no more than 1 to 2 times a week. Leave it on for approximately an hour or two but you don't need to leave it on longer than that. When you leave oil on too long you run the risk of zits because oil will run down onto your skin and you also don't add any real benefit by leaving it on longer.
Women who can benefit from double conditioning are those with curly hair in need of an extra dose of moisture. Giving your curls the double conditioning treatment will help them retain moisture better than the traditional shampoo-then-condition process.
The frequency of shampooing necessary to control dandruff varies from person to person. Some need to shampoo twice a week, others more frequently, even daily. Many people forget that the scalp as well as the hair needs to be shampooed.
Prolonged periods of not washing can cause cause buildup on the scalp, damaging hair and even impeding its ability to grow, Lamb said. Grime from dirt, oil and hair product can show up within four to six days for people with finer, straighter hair.
Rinsing your hair with water every day helps cleanse your scalp and hair, while allowing the natural oils to protect and nourish your hair and scalp. This process is a stop to washing your hair with chemically treated products in order to avoid pumping out the natural oils from your hair.
Those with thinning hair are also more prone to getting greasy hair. This is because there is reduced surface area of hair for the oils produced by the scalp to spread over.
Q: How often do celebrities wash their hair? Shampoo your hair 1-2 times a week, max. If you go to the gym and sweat, you can rinse the hair and run a light conditioner through the ends, but don't use shampoo. Washing too often leads to a dry scalp and dry hair.