How often should you wash your hair?

There’s no universally correct answer for “How often should I wash my hair?” Because depending on your hair type, not washing your hair enough can cause dandruff, irritation, clogged pores, and even hair loss, whereas washing too frequently can lead to stripped, straw-like hair, an increase in oil production, and scalp inflammation. “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. It becomes hard to find the perfect middle ground, but we at Currie have compiled all of our tips, tricks and secrets to spill in today’s blog post!

Age Plays a Role

Finding the perfect hair-washing schedule is important. Wash your hair too much, and it will become dry and brittle. Don’t wash it enough, and it will become dirty and lifeless. In addition to skin type and oil glands, age plays a role. The younger you are, the more active your oil glands are. As such, younger people may feel the need to wash their hair more in order to avoid a messy mane.

Hair Type Matters

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. It usually comes down to personal preference. For guidance, take a look at your hair type and styling choices. For the average person, every other day, or every 2 to 3 days, without washing is generally fine.

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 a very humid place. The thicker your hair and
the less oil, the less you need to shampoo. Some people with dry hair or curly hair can wash much less frequently without problems.

How long is too Long Without a Wash?

There is no average recommendation. If hair is visibly oily, the scalp is itching, or there’s flaking due to dirt, those are signs it’s time to shampoo. If your hair is styled, you may be able to get away with going longer without lathering up.

How to Go Longer Between Washes

In recent years, more and more products have become available to extend how long you can go between washes, like dry shampoos that can extend your shampooing timeline and assist with styling. Try to spray dry shampoo where oil and dirt tend to accumulate: roots only. Spray at the hairline and nape of the neck, and then lift and spritz small sections of hair. The ingredients in the spray dry shampoo are usually a mixture of absorbing agents, aerosol propellants, conditioning ingredients, solvents, and fragrance. Use a dry shampoo before your hair gets oily or greasy, not once that has already occurred.

Lifestyle matters

The kind of lifestyle you’re leading matters when you’re trying to decide how often you should wash your hair. You wash, blow dry and style your hair in the morning. You’re looking fresh and turning heads all day. Then, you hit the gym and your hair’s oil city and you have to wash your hair AGAIN. Unfortunately, the more active you are, the more often you should wash your hair. The reason is pretty simple: sweat piles up, clogs your pores and dirties your scalp and roots faster.