It’s a beauty debate that has been going on for decades: How often should you wash your hair? We’ve been told that washing your hair every day is bad for it, stripping it of necessary natural oils. We’ve been told that not washing it every day can lead to oil and dirt build-up (or product build-up if you style your hair). So what is the truth? Should we be reaching for that shampoo bottle daily or once a week? It turns out, the answer depends on your hair type. We’re breaking it all down below:
How often should you wash your hair for Fine, Oily Hair…
You should wash your hair every day. If you have fine hair that is prone to oiliness, feel free to wash your hair every single day. In fact, not washing your hair every day will lead to oil build-up that will leave your hair looking greasy and weighed down. That’s not a good look for anyone, honestly. Also, fine hair is more prone to product build-up from styling products, meaning it will need to be washed often to remove the excess substance.
How much should you wash your hair If You Have Thick, Dry Hair…
You should wash your hair about twice a week. Thicker hair that is dry and prone to breakage should be washed about every three days. Thicker hair is less likely to be weighed down by any oil build-up, so that is less of a concern with this hair type. Hair that is dry and prone to breakage can benefit from the natural oils produced by the scalp, and washing your hair every day will strip those oils, leaving your hair even more damaged and dry.
How often should you shampoo and condition your hair if You Have Dyed Hair…
You should wash your hair about once or twice a week. When it comes to dyed or color-treated hair, the general advice is to go as long as you can without washing. However, that’s gonna lead to some oily, smelly hair. We suggest washing your hair once a week and relying on dry shampoo halfway through the week. Washing color-treated hair too often is bad for two reasons. The first reason is that frequent washing is going to strip the color that you probably paid a lot for. This will only lead to more frequent dyeing, which will eventually lead to irreversible hair damage. The second reason is that dyeing your hair already does a certain degree of damage to the hair shaft. Once you have dyed your hair, you want to nourish and repair it so that it can remain healthy. Washing too often is going to strip the already vulnerable hair of its natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle.
