How often should you really wash your hair? (2024)

Those with fine hair should look for a lightweight cleansing shampoo with volumising benefits. Look out for formulations containing thickening ingredients such as wheat protein that will plump strands and make them look and feel thicker.

How often to wash combination hair

Combination or medium hair tends to get oily at the roots and feel dryer towards the mid-lengths to ends but generally can achieve a good amount of body and volume. Those with medium texture hair should look for a moisture-balancing shampoo that will effectively cleanse at the root but still deliver enough moisture for the mid-lengths to ends. “If you have medium textured hair, try to shampoo daily to every other day,” suggests Anabel.

How often to wash thick hair

Thick hair typically has the widest strand diameter and will often have plenty of natural body. “The wide strand diameter means that it is prone to moisture evaporation and dry ends; however, it tends to get oily less quickly,” explains Anabel (back to the plate analogy above). Thus, those with thick hair will find that they can go several days between washes without hair becoming greasy.

To care for thick hair, look for products labelled ‘re-moisturising’, ‘moisturising’ and ‘smoothing’ and those that tame frizz. Even if the hair doesn't look or feel oily, frequent shampooing is still essential to keep the scalp environment clean and healthy. “Ideally coarser hair textures should leave no more than 3 days between shampoos,” recommends Anabel.

How often to wash coiled curls

Coiled, curly hair is often the most fragile of all hair textures due to its unique curl structure. Just like bending a straw, the coils create weak points that can be prone to breakage. Therefore, curls should always be treated gently, especially when it comes to detangling. “Curls have a delicate and porous structure, meaning they absorb and lose moisture quickly, leaving strands dry and brittle,” explains Anabel.

Those with curly hair textures should introduce deeply nourishing, hydrating products into their regime — look out for labels such as ‘moisturising’, ‘re-moisturising’, ‘emollient’, ‘deep conditioning’, ‘elasticising’, ‘penetrative’ and ‘intensive’. So, how often should you wash curly hair? Similarly to coarse textured hair, curly hair will not look and feel oily frequently, however, for the importance of scalp health, you should try and wash your hair every two to three days. This is to avoid creating a breeding ground for bacteria and scalp conditions such as dandruff (which is an oily scalp condition, not a dry scalp condition) and can also lead to hair loss.

Should you wash your hair if it's in protective styling?

You should make sure your hair is thoroughly washed before applying any protective styles, be it braids, cornrows, twists or even locs. However, once your hair is in a protective style then it's advisable you try and use moisturising products that can target the scalp. Build-up on the scalp means that protective hairstyles lose their functionality to protect afro hair. Ideally you want to do a good scalp wash every two weeks, but this will differ depending on your actual protective style of the moment.

Now you know how often to wash your hair according to your hair type, here are some more FAQs about cleaning your hair:

What sort of shampoos should we be using to prolong the time between washes?

Some experts believe that the pH level of your shampoo also plays a huge part in how well your hair reacts to frequent washes. Ambassador for Headmasters Salons JonathanSoonsexplains: “If you’re exercising every day and can’t resist washing your hair daily, be sure to use the lowest PH shampoo you can get – it’s about keeping moisture in the hair.” More acidic formulas that sit further down the pH scale don’t strip the hair as harshly as ones that are more alkaline.

Can the temperature of the water impact hair?

In short, yes. Primarily, the most important thing to keep an eye on when you’re washing your hair (after the shampoo you’re using, of course) is water temperature. While sulphates can strip your hair and scalp of its natural, moisturising oils, having the heat cranked up on your shower can do the same. The cooler the temperature of the water you rinse with, the better shape your hair will be in afterwards.

Jason Collier, celebrity hairstylist and SheaMoisture ambassador reveals: “The temperature of your water is actually a really important element when it comes to your hair care routine. I always recommend washing your hair with room temperature water. If your shower is too hot, the water removes all of the naturally-produced oils that strengthen your hair. A cold rinse at the end can actually maximise shine.”