Finding the perfect hair-wash schedule can be impossible sometimes for people. Wash your hair too much–and it will become dry and brittle. Don’t wash it enough–and it will become dirty and lifeless. It becomes hard to find the perfect middle ground, but I have compiled some tips, tricks, and secrets to spill in today’s blog post.
1. Hair Types Matters
You may not know this but there is a reason why there are different products for different hair types. Every texture and hair type requires particular and specific attention and your wash routine is no exception.
Hair with thicker strands can go longer without cleansing, while thin tresses tend to get dirty and oily quicker. Curlier hair tends to be on the dry side, so it can go longer without washing, while straight hair may require more frequent washing. Coarse hair can be left alone for a while longer without a good scrub, while silky hair can’t…you get the picture.
2. Activity and Lifestyle
Here’s something many people may not consider: the kind of lifestyle you are leading. Does the following situation sound familiar? You wash, blow-dry, and style your hair in the morning. You’re looking fresh and turning heads all day. Then, you hit the gym and your hair’s in oil city and you have to wash your hair AGAIN. Unfortunately, the more active you are, the more often you should wash your hair. The reason is pretty simple: sweat piles up, clogs your pores and gets your scalp and roots dirtier faster.
3. So, How Often Should I Wash My Hair?
Generally speaking, dry hair types should shampoo a maximum of two times a week, while oily hair types may require washing on a daily basis. If you have normal hair and don’t suffer from dryness or oiliness, you have the luxury of washing your hair whenever you feel like you need to.
It also depends on your hair type. Hair that’s thicker, curlier, or processed can go without a wash for longer than hair that is fine. This is because the oils in your scalp don’t travel down the hair shaft as quickly as it does in finer hair strands.
If you’re like me and feel nasty without a shower, try a body shower. You can purchase a shower cap to keep your hair dry while you cleanse the rest of your body. Or try just rinsing your hair without using any product. Sometimes, all the hair needs is a little water rather than a full wash.
We’re all well-trained to lather, rinse, and repeat. But chances are you’re washing your hair far too often. Instead of traditional shampoo-and-conditioner routine, many experts say we should be co-washing more–short for conditioner-only washing-embracing a little grease and letting your hair’s natural oils do their job.
4. Brunettes Get Special Treatment
Dark Haired? Then consider washing your hair twice a week at maximum regardless of your type and texture. This is because shampooing brunette hair too frequently will make it lose some of its pigments, resulting in a faded and mousey color. The pigments also help to keep the hair looking less oily. Dark hair colors tend to keep their shine longer, and frequent shampooing can damage that natural shine.
5. When In Doubt Go Dry
It can become quite a hassle to constantly measure the frequency of your rinses and balance out your hair’s health with its appearance. What to do when you want to get rid of dirt, but you don’t want to coat your tresses in too much shampoo.
Opt for dry shampoo instead. It absorbs dirt, dust, and excess sebum, making it the ideal quick fix for that big meeting that you’d rather not wash your hair for. In simple terms, dry shampoo is a magical substance that cleans the hair without water. It basically works by absorbing excess oil from your hair and scalp and makes it feel and smell freshly washed. The ingredients in the spray dry shampoo are usually a mixture of absorbing agents, aerosol propellants, conditioning ingredients, solvents, and fragrance.
This type of shampoo is not meant to replace regular washing with water, rather, to help lengthen the intervals between washes. They usually come in two forms; powder and aerosol spray. Whichever your choice, be sure to choose one that closely matches your color. Dry shampoos are not just great for lengthening the period between washes, they are a perfect choice when a normal shampoo is just not practical. A quick brush of dry shampoo can save the day on those mornings when you snooze your alarm one too many times. You barely have time to slip on your pants, let alone wash your hair.
Not only is dry shampoo a time saver, but it also adds texture and fullness to your hair, it can be a great styling product to help your updos stay in place. If you prefer a natural alternative to commercial dry shampoos, which can sometimes contain several chemicals to help in the absorbing process, you will find organic dry shampoos which are made exclusively from natural ingredients.
6. The Universal Formula
If it feels too difficult to figure out all these factors that influence frequency, you’ll probably rejoice to know that there is an average recommendation. If you wash your hair once every 2-3 days, you should be just dandy. The less you wash your hair, the more it trains itself to adapt to less washing. When your hair realizes it isn’t being stripped down as often by the shampoo and other hair products, it realizes it can produce less oil. Training your hair can take lots of time, but it is super worth it in the long run.
The Bottom Line
So, how often should you wash your hair? Generally speaking, once every three days at maximum. If your wanting the best results, however, consider diving into the specifics of your hair. Ponder texture, styling, how you treat it, the kind of lifestyle you’re leading, and other factors which can sum up the perfect washing routine for you.
