How Often Should You Really Wash Your Hair? We Ask 2 Experts
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Whether you loathe hair wash day because you don’t have the energy or you get a huge kick out of it because this is the day you’ll do the perfect blow dry, washing your hair is vital for both hair and scalp health.
But have you ever thought that perhaps you’re not washing yours enough? Or that maybe you wash it too much? Strike the right balance with these tips from Gwenda Harmon, hair expert at Power Your Curls, and Eva Proudman, resident trichologist at Absolute Collagen.
How often should you wash your hair?
“For most people, we recommend every day or every other day,” advises Proudman. “This is to keep the scalp clean and well-balanced as we forget that the scalp is made of skin, just like our faces, so needs the same cleansing and care.”
If you have an oily scalp, Proudman recommends using active ingredients. “Wash regularly with a shampoo with active ingredients to help with the overproduction of sebum (natural oil), such as tea tree, salicylic acid and good cleansers such as TEA or MEA sulphates,” she says. “A clarifying shampoo that gives a deeper clean can also sometimes help to manage the oiliness.”
Also, avoid using anything too heavy. “Be wary of products with added oils as with greasy scalps you are looking for something to deep clean the scalp, not to add more oil to it,” she warns. “Silicones can also weigh down oily hair and make it look lank, so avoid shampoos with silicones added.”
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Does your hair type play a part in how often you should wash your hair?
Harmon says your hair type can make a difference. “For example, curly hair is naturally drier so you do not need to wash it too often but if you have straight hair that gets oily quickly, then you might need to wash it more to keep it fresh,” she explains.
And what about dry hair?
Harmon says to reduce your washes if you have dry hair though. “It is best to wash it only 1-2 times a week,” she says. “If you wash it too often, it takes away the small amount of natural oil made by your scalp, and this can make hair even more dry. You want to give your hair enough time so it can take in the oils that make it soft and strong.”
And what type of shampoo should you use on dry hair? “Find moisturising shampoos which include things like shea butter, argan oil or glycerin,” she suggests. “These ingredients help to keep your hair hydrated and lock in moisture.”
She recommends using a lightweight shampoo. “Choose shampoos that are light and clear with ingredients such as tea tree oil or salicylic acid because they help manage oil without making your hair feel weighed down.”
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But what are the actual benefits of washing your hair?
Despite the new ‘hair training’ trend (where trend fans wash their hair as little as possible in the belief it will improve scalp and hair health), the experts say that hair washing is actually good for us.
Apart from keeping the hair clean, washing your hair benefits your scalp too. “Shampoo takes away oils, dirt and any old hair products,” explains Harmon.
“The longer you leave it between washes means more time for oils and sweat to build up on your scalp,” explains Proudman.
“And while natural oils are good for your skin, excess oil can build up on your hair strands too, giving your hair a greasy and damp appearance. What’s worse, these oils can trap dirt and impurities from elsewhere causing more damage to your hair.”
Infrequent hair washing has also been linked to conditions like dandruff, since it can cause a buildup of Malassezia, a specific type of yeast. Not washing often enough can also lead to issues like itching and flakiness.
In fact, one 2021 study found the best results on scalp health when washing hair between 5 and 6 times a week.
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Is dry shampoo a good idea to extend time between washes then?
Who doesn’t love a can of dry shampoo?! Anything to buy yourself some more time in the morning, or have an extra half an hour in bed. “If you are busy and can’t find time to wash your hair, then using a dry shampoo to extend the washing for just one day is fine, but not for several days,” Proudman warns.
“The dry shampoo will build up on the scalp and can cause irritation, which we don’t want. If your hair is long then wearing it up can help you to stretch the time between washing and when it is short, often it needs more frequent washing and care to keep the style and shape.”
The takeaway
The general advice is to wash your hair either every day or every other day, whilst particularly dry hair is lower maintenance and can be washed 1-2 times a week.
Choose a shampoo that best suits your hair type so that you know you are washing it not only frequently enough, but with the right formula too. Top up on dry shampoo for a day at the most but be careful not to spray too much or the powder will build up and could cause blocked pores and/or irritation.
Meet the experts
Gwenda Harmon is a Hair Expert at Power Your Curls.
Eva Proudman is a resident trichologist at Absolute Collagen.
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