Most of the hair care experts agree that there is no fit-all answer to the question of how often people should shampoo based on their hair type. Going 2 to 3 days without washing is generally fine for the average person. Some of the signs that it is time to shampoo your hair are the hair being visibly oily; the scalp is itching or flaking due to dirt and oil.
However, different people experience those signs at different times. People that have curly or dry hair can wash much less frequently without having any troubles, while people with thin hair and naturally greasy scalp need to wash it more often. There are special instances, as well. For example, if you have a blow-out or if your hair has been styled with a keratin treatment, you may not need to wash it more than once a week, given that too much washing can put even more stress on your hair. All in all, how and how often you need to wash your hair depends on your hair type.
How to Wash Your Hair Depending on Your Hair Type
Different hair types require different types of care, and frequency of washing is included. We have broken down the four different types below and wrote everything you need to know about how to wash and how often to wash.
Thin / Fine Hair
Fine hair is the easiest to weigh down by too much oil. If you have fine hair and want to make sure that it is always its best, you should shampoo your hair every other day (or every day, if you feel like your hair needs it). Not washing your hair for much longer than a day or two can leave your hair falling flat and looking greasy.
Straight / Thick Hair
When the hair is straight, the oil can easily move down the hair shaft, which makes the hair look oilier faster than curly hair type. Straight hair usually starts to look oily two or three days after the wash day, especially if it is thick. When you do wash your hair every 2-3 days, make sure that you are using a shampoo-conditioning routine that hydrates the hair without weighing it down.
Wavy Hair
Wavy hair is usually drier than straight hair, but still not as dry as curly hair. Everyone’s hair and the wave pattern are different, but a good rule of thumb to follow for wavy hair is to wash your hair twice a week using a hair care routine that enhances your natural texture, adds a bit of moisture, and fights off the frizz.
Curly / Coily Hair Type
Because of wavy hair’s spirals, oil from the scalp cannot work its way down to the whole strand, which leaves the hair’s ends dry. Depending on your curl pattern, you may not need to fully shampoo your hair as often as straight-haired girls and guys do. Like we mentioned earlier, with wavy hair you may want to wash every third day, and the same goes for very loose curls. If your hair has a kinkier texture, you should do a full-on shampoo routine just once a week.
