Most men do it every day. Selena Gomez does it twice a week. Kim Kardashian goes five days without it. Then, there are people on TikTok who swear by skipping it for a full seven days. (And we don’t even want to know Sansa Stark’s number.) How often you should wash your hair, it seems, really boils down to personal preference. Right?
Not so fast. The answer to that question is murky, but can be summed up in four words: for the most part – but there are a few factors to keep in mind. (Fine, that’s 14 words.) First, there’s the matter of stripping your scalp of its natural oils when you overwash, which is something you never want to do. “Then, you must consider your hair type, hair texture, scalp condition, damage, and the style you wear,” says Kevin Mancuso, hairstylist and global creative director for Nexxus. Oh, and don’t forget your environment. (“If you live in a polluted city, you’re going to want to wash your hair more frequently than you probably do,” he says.)
So, how often should you “do” it? We asked a handful of pros – including a hairstylist to dermatologist to colorist – for their opinion on how frequently you should be washing your hair. That way you can consider the search, well, done.
How Often to Wash Your Hair, According to a Hairstylist
Generally speaking, and from a hairstylist’s perspective, how often to suds up depends on your hair type as well as how oily your roots get. For example: “If you have an oily scalp, washing your hair every day or every other day can be good for it, especially if you have fine, straight, wavy, or curly hair and you are seeking volume and lift at the root,” says Mancuso. “If your hair is very curly to 4c, daily washing may not be practical if your styling requirements are laborious. In this case, I suggest washing as frequently as you can (every two weeks should do). If you have a dry scalp, this doesn’t necessarily mean you get a free pass to a filthy scalp, but I have many clients whose hair looks amazing after three days and beyond.”
TLDR; It depends on your hair type. Wash your hair every day or every other day if you have an oily scalp and fine, straight, wavy, or looser curls. For dryer scalps, every three to four days is best. If you have kinky coils or 4c curls, suds up every other week.