Hair care is a highly personal choice. 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. Here’s our process for choosing the right shampoo and conditioner for your hair.
Hair texture
Dry hair is more likely to be dry when it is: thick curly aging or gray treated with chemicals, such as dyes or chemical relaxants.
- Very oily hair may look greasy a few hours after washing. People with oily hair might choose to wash their hair daily or every other day.
How shampoo works
Shampoo cleans the hair with chemicals called surfactants.
- Many shampoos also contain compounds called sulfates, which produce a rich lather that removes oil from the hair.
- Assessing whether the hair is oily or dry can help someone decide how frequently to shampoo.
- When does the hair look best?
- Oily hair tends to look best on the day of a shampoo. Normal hair may look best the following day, while dry hair may not look its best until several days after shampooing.
- Does the hair break easily? Dry hair often breaks easily and may have split ends.
Scalp condition
The condition of a person’s scalp will also affect the condition of their hair. People with very dry scalps tend not to produce as much sebum.
- Washing the hair less often can help the scalp remain healthy, prevent itching and flaking, and keep the hair soft and shiny.
Hair styling preferences
Much of the decision about how frequently to wash the hair depends on personal styling preferences.
- People who wear complicated hairstyles or who have very long hair may also prefer to shampoo less often, as less frequent shampoos mean less time spent styling the hair.
