How Often Should I Wash My Hair?
How Often Should I Wash My Hair
You may be thinking this is a silly question. Some women shampoo their hair every day, then there’s other women who are lucky if they wash their hair once a week. The spectrum for hair washing is big. But the answer isn’t so cut and dry. There’s no one answer because it differs depending on each person’s hair type and texture and lifestyle. And there are many things to consider before making the decision.
Lifestyle
Regardless of hair type or texture, if you’re someone who regularly works out (you go girl!) and gets sweaty, then you’ll probably need to wash your hair more regularly than what we would recommend to someone who isn’t as active. Sweat piles up, clogs pores, and dirties your hair and scalp faster than when you’re not active. Dry shampoo can still help quite a bit, but you’ll likely need to shampoo every other day.
Know Your Hair Type
There’s a reason that there are so many different shampoos and conditioners. We don’t all have the same hair type. So just as you wouldn’t use hair products that aren’t right for your hair, so too should you take into account the washing schedule that best suits your hair type. If you have thick hair, then you can go longer without washing. Conversely, if your tresses are thin, they will get dirty and oily faster, thus, requiring more frequent washes. Furthermore, if you’re rocking natural curls, then you can also skip a wash or two as curly hair tends on the dryer side. The opposite is true for straight hair.
Brunettes
Women who have darker hair will, in general, want to wash their hair less frequently because they will lose the pigmentation in the hair. Excess washing can turn your beautiful chocolate brown hair into a mousy color. Hair that is glossy and shiny hasn’t been stripped of its natural oils.
So How Often Should I Wash My Hair?
Hair that is naturally oily may need a daily cleanse; however, hair that’s on the dryer side should skip every other day. If you have thick, curly, or processed hair, you can stick to the every other day schedule, or maybe even wash less frequently. For those of you who are lucky enough to end up with normal hair, you have the luxury of washing when you feel like. Just keep in mind, over washing will strip your hair of its natural oils. As your hair gets used to the new schedule of skipping the shampoo once in a while, your hair/scalp will learn to cut back on the amount of oil it’s producing. If you’re new to the whole skipping a wash scene, then maybe try just rinsing your hair off. Sometimes all your hair needs is a rinse and not the full shebang of shampoo and conditioner.
Go Dry
We mentioned Dry Shampoo earlier, but we’re going to get into it here. Dry Shampoo effectively washes the hair without getting it wet. Without washing your hair, dirt, dust, and sebum can build up on your hair. Dry shampoo gets rid of that without the hassle of getting your hair wet to shampoo, condition, blow dry, and style. While we love dry shampoo and highly recommend it as part of your hair regimen, be sure to shampoo your hair in equal amounts that you’re using dry shampoo. For example, if you go two days in a row using dry shampoo, then you’ll want to wash your hair twice the next time you do so. That will ensure that you get all the build up off of your hair and scalp.
Hopefully you feel better equipped with how to approach your hair and how often you should wash it. Everyone is different, of course. So take this as a guide instead of specific instructions. If you have any questions, we’d be more than happy to talk about your specific needs in the salon.
